Rev up Rugby
The Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off in Cape Town later this month and is set to produce some blockbuster entertainment for fans and players alike.
India’s cricket population may not like the idea that South Africa will host the tournament but Cape Town is gearing up for a cricketing carnival.
A record breaking number of spectators will experience the tournament and the cricket, alongside the entertainment features, will ensure that fans get absolute value for their money.
While SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) debates the expansion of the Super 14 and South Africa prepares for the North-South battle presented by the British & Irish Lions Series, rugby is set to continue on its predictable course for the foreseeable future.
The quality of rugby remains the chief concern but spectators need to taste something new. The current Super Rugby format has been running since 2006 and the expanded version is set to be rubberstamped pretty soon, once the SANZAR bosses can agree to the identity of the 15th franchise.
This means that a very stale Super Rugby tournament will continue until at least 2015.
The Cheetahs are already finding it hard to compete against the big guns and more concerning form a commercial view point, is that the Bloemfontein outfit's first home game last weekend against the Brumbies, drew just over 11 000 spectators. While the fans' absence could be attributed to their team's poor showing in the competition, the overall enticement of such a fixture should also come under the spotlight.
A tournament such as the Super 14 may generate substantial revenue off TV coverage but it lacks a broader appeal.
Northern hemisphere competitions such as the Heineken Cup has realised the need to add some flavour, and introduced a number of foreign players into their system. However, this approach may not be such a viable option in southern hemisphere rugby as it could kill off the talent coming through.
What SANZAR, and perhaps the International Rugby Board, needs to do is to use the IPL concept to re-ignite the game and broaden the spectator appeal. Yes, the obvious logistical questions will come up but there is definitely enough time on the rugby calendar to host rugby's version of the IPL.
Wouldn't it be great to have the world’s best rugby players mixed up in various teams playing at some of the most famous rugby stadiums in the world? How would a centre pairing of Stirling Mortlock and Ma'a Nonu combine, or the loose-trio of Schalk Burger, Richie McCaw and Sione Lauaki? I'm pretty sure Matt Damon or Clint Eastwood would also be keen to own one of teams!
The easiest way to implement such a tournament would be, not to expand the Super 14 but in fact reduce the number of teams. This would free up a few weeks at the start or end of the tournament where players could then be auctioned off to play in a 'festival of rugby'.
Cricket administrators realised that the marketability of their game was beginning to struggle as it competed among the other major sports around the globe. Therefore, they have introduced the Twenty-Twenty tournament which has now expanded into the IPL. These tournaments also do not affect the regular international or domestic cricket season. And, what it has done is reach out to new audiences and increase the popularity of the sport.
Cricket has never been so exciting, while rugby becomes more and more predictable. The sports landscape is changing and Rugby needs to move with the times.
By Ebrahim Moerat
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