Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has insisted that key powerbrokers and stakeholders in Australian rugby union are supportive of the prospect of leaving the Super Rugby Pacific tournament.
McLennan made comments last week that the governing body were serious in leaving the Super Rugby pacific competition in order to receive a larger revenue in broadcasting. New Zealand Rugby currently collects a reported $91 million in the current deal whereas Australia only receives $29 million.
Rugby Australia is contracted until the end of the 2023 season, but McLennan said that there was no guarantee of an extension especially with the financial leverage of the Rugby World Cup in 2027.
“It’s been quite controversial,” McLennan said on 1170 SEN Mornings.
“For Rugby Australia and our chief stakeholders, we all felt it was a good time to reassess our position.
“We need to look at what is right for us.
“It should be noted that we initially wanted a longer term arrangement with New Zealand and Super Rugby.
“They only wanted two years and as the wheels turned, we have looked at our position and decided it’s time to reassess.
“More Aussies playing in a domestic competition will ultimately rate better.”
Following a disastrous 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign in which the five Australian sides won two games between them with three sides being winless, just three Aussie team had a winning record in 2022 and qualified for finals.
McLennan dismissed reports that his stance was a bargaining tactic and that the outcry from New Zealand over the announcement is hypocritical.
“New Zealand have done what’s right for them for years and years and years,” he said.
“Don’t forget, these were the same guys who said to us just two years ago that we are going to create a competition and you (Australia) can just have two teams.
“That would’ve destroyed our game.
“They really don’t like the fact that we are pushing back which is hilarious because they made life so difficult for us two years ago.
“We can make a fist of it and I think the standard really good.”
The Wallabies kick off their international schedule on July 2 against England in Perth.