New SANZAR chief Andy Marinos on how to keep rugby Super

26 November 2015 - 02:38 By Craig Ray

The best way to ensure that the quality of Super rugby remains high during a phase of expansion is to have the best players playing in it. That's according to new South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby (Sanzaar) chief executive Andy Marinos.The former Welsh centre, who is currently commercial general manager at the South African Rugby Union, will take up the post on January 1 and will oversee the expansion of the tournament from 15 to 18 teams.There are concerns that the quality of rugby will suffer as more teams and more territories are included, and Marinos conceded it will take a little time to adjust.But as long as the best players were retained, then the tournament should continue to deliver high quality, he said.Marinos hinted that Saru should look to follow New Zealand and Australia by placing restrictions on selecting overseas-based players for the national team.Currently, the Boks can choose any player they like.But All Blacks are only drawn from within New Zealand's playing structures, while the Wallabies will only select players with over 60 Test caps from overseas."It's down to the player's personal aspirations and I believe that every player plays this game to represent his country and play for them at the highest level," Marinos said."The only way in which you can manage that is by more of a control coming out of the national unions in terms of retaining those players."South Africa is a unique market because of our weak currency, because of the attractiveness of the euro and the yen and the pound, and it does make it increasingly difficult. Putting my ex-player's hat on - if you want to be playing in the best competition in the world, Super rugby is it."If you want to be in the best condition and shape in order to play international rugby and really promote yourself on the international stage, playing in the southern hemisphere competition structures is a pretty good place to start."Marinos said no firm decisions were taken on whether to expand the tournament beyond its current 18-team format and those decisions would be taken only after two seasons in its present incarnation."The focus in the short term is to ensure that this competition is working with competitive performances and then we can look at expansion or contraction," he said...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.