International Rugby
Erasmus targets launch of rugby's T20
Scrum.com
June 23, 2010
Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus speaks to the media, Stormers Super 14 press conference, Bellville High Perfomance Centre, Cape Town, South Africa, February 17, 2009
Rassie Erasmus wants to start a lucrative shorter form of the game © Getty Images
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Former Springbok flanker Rassie Erasmus is reportedly behind a move to launch rugby's version of Twenty20 with the competition set to begin in 2012.

The format, hoping to cash in on the success of cricket's IPL, would see matches played in two 20-minute halves with rules amended to reduce kicking.

Erasmus, currently director of coaching at Western Province, is thought to be targeting international stars, including All Blacks players Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, to spearhead the lucrative competition along with some of the other biggest names in the game. The targeted players are thought to have national contracts that expire in 2011.

The Rapport newspaper in South Africa said that the new World Cup football stadiums in Cape Town and Durban could host the matches.

The report suggested an eight-team league with more than 200 of the world's top players involved. The tournament would supposedly be played in January on the back of next year's World Cup in New Zealand.

With New Zealand, Australian and South African players traditionally involved in Super 15 training in January and Europe's best in the Six Nations mix, the competition would need a substantial financial lure from backers to secure the services of top players.

Proponents of the T-20 series suggest it could be a way for southern hemisphere countries to help fight the player drain to Europe. The big financial rewards could provide a quick-fix for top players to boost their earnings and remain free to play Down Under.

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