In a bold critique, Brent Impey, former chairman of NZ Rugby, has laid the blame for Super Rugby’s financial woes right at South Africa’s doorstep. He argued that the departure of key South African teams was not just inevitable but a financial necessity. His timely commentary aligns with another crisis point for Super Rugby Pacific, as Moana Pasifika faces potential dissolution and the league contemplates another significant restructuring.
Speaking on the DSPN podcast, Impey outlined the multifaceted economic challenges that precipitated the South African teams' exit.
"I don’t think there was any choice,"
he explained. The COVID-19 pandemic had already strained international travel, creating insurmountable logistical and financial burdens.
"There was that restriction, which was significant, and the cost of airfares meant that it became completely uneconomic and that unfortunately included the Jaguares out of Argentina."
The shift in broadcast revenue models was the last straw according to Impey. In 2020, the switch from US dollars to the South African rand by SuperSport drastically altered the economic landscape. "In 2020, SuperSport in South Africa changed it to the rand … By 2020 it was 12 to one," Impey recalled. This move, he claimed, was the "killer blow" which rendered the financial model unsustainable. New Zealand Rugby would have been forced into a position where it needed to subsidize not just Australia and Argentina, but every participating nation, a scenario it could ill afford.
The future of Super Rugby Pacific hangs in the balance with these revelations and ongoing financial challenges. The potential folding of Moana Pasifika has already sparked discussions on the need for yet another overhaul, raising questions about the sustainability and structure of international rugby competitions.
As Super Rugby Pacific confronts these turbulent times, the global rugby community watches keenly, hoping for a resolution that preserves the competitive spirit and financial viability of the sport.
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In a bold critique, Brent Impey, former chairman of NZ Rugby, has laid the blame for Super Rugby’s financial woes right at South Africa’s doorstep. He argued that the departure of key South African teams was not just inevitable but a financial necessity. His timely commentary aligns with another crisis point for Super Rugby Pacific, as Moana Pasifika faces potential dissolution and the league contemplates another significant restructuring.
Speaking on the DSPN podcast, Impey outlined the multifaceted economic challenges that precipitated the South African teams' exit.
"I don’t think there was any choice,"
he explained. The COVID-19 pandemic had already strained international travel, creating insurmountable logistical and financial burdens."There was that restriction, which was significant, and the cost of airfares meant that it became completely uneconomic and that unfortunately included the Jaguares out of Argentina."
The shift in broadcast revenue models was the last straw according to Impey. In 2020, the switch from US dollars to the South African rand by SuperSport drastically altered the economic landscape. "In 2020, SuperSport in South Africa changed it to the rand … By 2020 it was 12 to one," Impey recalled. This move, he claimed, was the "killer blow" which rendered the financial model unsustainable. New Zealand Rugby would have been forced into a position where it needed to subsidize not just Australia and Argentina, but every participating nation, a scenario it could ill afford.
The future of Super Rugby Pacific hangs in the balance with these revelations and ongoing financial challenges. The potential folding of Moana Pasifika has already sparked discussions on the need for yet another overhaul, raising questions about the sustainability and structure of international rugby competitions.
As Super Rugby Pacific confronts these turbulent times, the global rugby community watches keenly, hoping for a resolution that preserves the competitive spirit and financial viability of the sport.