Melbourne awarded 15th Super rugby team
12/11/09 08:16 AM
Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill has applauded "a vote for common sense" after Melbourne was awarded the franchise for the 15th Super rugby team when the competition expands in 2011.

The Victorian capital was chosen by independent arbitrators after the board of SANZAR (South Africa New Zealand Australia Rugby) failed to reach an agreement last month between it and a competing bid from South Africa's Southern Kings.

Former World Cup-winning captain David Kirk and retired New Zealand High Court judge Barry Paterson conducted the review of each bid before deciding on Melbourne.

The existing Super 14 competition will be reorganised along a conference system with five teams now in each of the three countries.

SANZAR said a 15th Super rugby team in South Africa would have reduced broadcasting revenue by between $US15 million and $20 million over the term of a contract.

"The Melbourne application provided considerably greater commercial benefit... than the Southern Kings application," SANZAR said in a statement.

O'Neill added in a statement: "This is a vote for common sense.

"Melbourne has an extraordinary capacity for sport and we can now deliver them a Super rugby side they can embrace and support in an established competition of genuine international standing."

Victorian Rugby Union president Gary Gray said the new franchise should get some concessions to contract players.

"So we'd be able to recruit experienced and successful players from other parts of the world, but importantly, there is a lot of depth in the Australian rugby ranks and part of the benefit of having the fifth team is to further strengthen what's sometimes referred to as the fairly low in depth ranks of quality players in Australia," he said.

The team will play at the purpose-built rectangular stadium opposite the Melbourne Park tennis centre and within sight of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.


Source: Reuters