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NZ Rugby under fire after Players' Association boss claims legal obligations breached in explosive interview

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association boss Rob Nichol has taken aim at NZ Rugby’s “blunt and ill-conceived” plans for the future and the power play approach that threatens to alienate its closest partners.

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In an explosive interview, Nichol says NZ Rugby breached legal obligations to consult the Players’ Association before announcing plans for the 2021 Super Rugby season. He is refusing to give up hope of getting a Pasifika team off the ground next year, and says NZ Rugby’s kingmaker approach to Super Rugby risks isolating this country from the rugby world.

On Thursday, NZ Rugby announced Super Rugby Aotearoa would return in 2021, with the addition of a final, and the hope of then staging cross-over matches with the five Australian teams.

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The Aussie Rugby Show | Episode 20

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The Aussie Rugby Show | Episode 20

NZ Rugby’s board rejected several proposals for a Pacific side in 2021, including one from Moana Pasifika which had the Players’ Association’s support, with chairman Brent Impey saying the team would not be ready in time and the commercial arrangements did not stack up.

From 2022, NZ Rugby plans to add a minimum of three teams to Super Rugby Aotearoa. Negotiations are ongoing with Moana Pasifika, Kanaloa Hawaii, the Western Force, Fiji Drua and the South China Lions, whose pitch is to be based out of Bay of Plenty.

Nichol, however, says future formats are far from set in stone.

“From our perspective we were affronted yesterday. New Zealand Rugby has a contractual obligation to us to agree any competitions and all related financial arrangements. We haven’t agreed what’s come out in the last 24 hours so we’re sitting there going ‘where’s that respect gone’,” Nichol said. “As far as we are concerned that conversation is still live.

“There’s a big difference between a blunt and rather ill-conceived statement that came out of the New Zealand board yesterday – there’s another option where you work with people and they accept it because they are a part of it and they respect you for making that effort.

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“Rather than the Pasifika community feeling let down, frustrated, disappointed and relationships strained to say the very least you actually end up with them standing alongside you.”

While a sixth New Zealand-based team faced opposition from the five existing franchises due to concerns around cannibalising talent, support and commercial resources, it would allow each side to stage more home matches and alleviate some of the heavy attrition rates felt during the inaugural season.

“What we’re still pushing for over the next three weeks is rather than people working in isolation we’re able to create an opportunity where NZ Rugby, the Players’ Association, Pasifika community and other key stakeholders like the clubs, Sky TV get in a room and exhaust all opportunities to see where this fits.

“That opportunity hasn’t presented itself because with NZ Rugby running its bid process it creates all sorts of issues – and as it turned out it was a bit process with nothing at the end of it; no certainty, no nothing. It’s left a real hollow feeling. They’ve announced some intentions but they’ve got nowhere with it. It doesn’t allow for cooperation.

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“The players told us this year how tough it was playing Aotearoa and to maintain performance when you’re playing the best teams for more than three games in a row is a really big ask. When you bring a sixth team in you can immediately place the byes where you want; you can immediately afford to rotate.”

NZ Rugby’s expressions of interest approach to reshaping Super Rugby has drawn widespread criticism, particularly from Rugby Australia who were essentially told to cut at least two teams and therefore did not apply.

Nichol says there needs to be perspective about how much Australia can bring to the table, and a changing of attitudes in the way in which NZ Rugby conducts its business.

“What we don’t want is someone trying to be the kingmaker in this situation. As soon as someone feels they’re in a position to dictate, a whole lot of other people want to take them down.

“We have five teams and a commercial market that’s smaller than New South Wales. Australia comes with assets. They come with experience, and legacy. Respect that legacy and work with them. This business of an eight-team competition with three new teams, we don’t get that.

“From our perspective you don’t go out with another option until you’ve exhausted the logical one which is working with Australia and the Pacific Islands to form something across trans-Tasman Pacific.

“If you’re Australia, you’re asking ‘what have we done wrong?’

“Why would you have a competition that involves the Western Force and not New South Wales, Queensland and the Brumbies? That splits Australian rugby. New Zealand players, we don’t want to be part of that. Not unless it’s an absolute last resort. It’s not our starting point.

“Our advice is to work with Australia, help make them stronger, that’s what is going to benefit us all in the long run. We prefer a humble approach where we work with people and attempt to come up with solutions.”

In failing to work with its partners, Nichol says NZ Rugby hasn’t considered all the options such as World Rugby potentially supporting Pacific Island development teams to underpin a Pasifika team, and continuing the revived North versus South concept that proved a major hit this year.

“It went down so well this year. The players absolutely loved it; the fans loved it and that was without crowds. Imagine if you had crowds and did three game series a la State of Origin. And imagine in a World Cup year if you included the women, and did an age grade team to make it three games a weekend.”

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With existing SANZAAR contracts in place Nichol says NZ Rugby cannot commit to anything for 2022 and beyond.

“When you’re running a bidding process for something you can’t commit to, what’s going on? That’s the first big question.

“There’s nothing wrong with New Zealand doing what they feel is best. But we don’t think the approach New Zealand has taken in saying we have to be the kingmaker is necessarily the right approach. This a pandemic. You get through these things by working together.

“We fully appreciate the five existing clubs want certainty. Everyone wants certainty right now. But it’s also a time for everyone to stay really calm cool and collected.

“Now is the time for the SANZAAR partnership to get stronger. Otherwise we really do risk becoming isolated in the rugby world.”

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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