Super 20 idea deemed a "non-starter"
Super 12
February 6, 2001

Amid talk of the expansion of the Super 12 the SARFU chief executive has said he does not see the competition growing beyond 14 teams.

The expansion of the tournament is due to be discussed this week during a tele-conference between New Zealand, Australian and South African rugby chiefs.

However, ahead of the discussions Rian Oberholzer, the SARFU chief executive, has said the suggestion of a Super 20 is a "non-starter" but that he may be prepared to discuss a Super 16.

But for Oberholzer, an additional two teams would be ideal and he rejected any idea of the time-scale of the competition being expanded because of the disruption it already causes to domestic rugby.

This week the Australians had suggested that the tournament could become a Super 20 with teams from Argentina, the south Pacific and maybe the USA becoming involved but Oberholzer says that South African teams already travel too much and that the financial costs, and physical toll on the players, would be too much.

"There is no way South Africa and New Zealand will support a 20-team competition. It would involve too much time, expense and extra travelling. I also cannot see where we would get four extra teams to bring it up to a Super 16. Both ourselves and Australia would be happy to each have one extra team in the competition. That would bring it up to a Super 14," he said.

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