USA supports the idea of Super 20
by Brian Lowe
February 6, 2001

USA Rugby has given an in-principle thumbs up to a proposed Super 20
competition. The sport's governing body in America was responding to a
proposal put forward by Australian Rugby Union chief executive officer John
O'Neill.

Under O'Neill's plan, the existing Super 12 tournament would be expanded to
a 20-team competition which would include Argentina, Canada and the US,
along with teams from Japan and the South Pacific.

The rationale behind the proposal is to create a truly global rugby
competition, as well as to counter the popularity in Australia of rugby
league and Aussie Rules football.

While giving guarded support for the proposal, USA Rugby president Anne
Barry believes such a plan is not likely to come to fruition any time soon."A Super 20 competition is an ambitious and probably long-term vision, butcertainly there are American players who would benefit from the opportunityto play more high-level rugby.

"And every professional-level game played in America is also a chance to
showcase the sport to a vast audience. USA Rugby's mandate is to grow the
profile of the game and develop athletes, so we would look closely at anyopportunities to do so."

O'Neill commented that a Super 20 would be a legitimate global competition
and he added that until the US gets involved in a mainstream tournament, it
will continue to meander.

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