Former All Black Stephen Donald insists that Super Rugby Pacific should not be looking to expand to America and should instead try to bring back their old rivals, South Africa.
A report recently emerged which claimed that World Rugby and Super Rugby have entered talks about having a team on the west coast of the United States.
The US is the global governing body’s big target, having already announced that they will be hosting the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
Concerns over the US stagnation
However, there are worries that the team will not be competitive enough in six years’ time and they are therefore looking at ways of improving the Eagles.
Donald does not believe it would benefit Super Rugby, though, with the 2011 Rugby World Cup hero looking towards Argentina and South Africa.
“If you’re gonna expand – we’ve learnt so many lessons – you can’t expand for expansion sake. Right now, we’ve got a great competition, the Drua and Moana this year more than ever have added so much,” Donald said on The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav.
“Yes, you can say the Drua are on the bottom of the table, but you can’t tell me that the tries they’ve scored, the upset against the Chiefs and whatnot have not been brilliant.
“If I’m expanding, I’m not going for a Mickey Mouse team out of America. If I expand, I would go South America and I would have the Jaguares back.
“They still don’t have a professional club team out of Argentina and that seems ridiculous for a top-four nation, and I say top-four because at World Cups they invariably make the semi-final.
“[And] if we could expand Super Rugby for the benefit of the competition, it’s bringing back our friends from Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg.”
Host Kirstie Stanway sought confirmation that Donald’s preference would be seeing South Africa back in Super Rugby by asking: “You’re bringing back the South African sides?” To which the former All Blacks playmaker responded: “100 per cent.”
All Blacks great backs USA Super Rugby team idea which could ‘entice’ South African return
The Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers were ousted from the competition in 2020 with Australia and New Zealand deciding to create a trans-Tasman tournament.
They have since formed Super Rugby Pacific with Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika joining, although the latter is based in Auckland.
Meanwhile, the South African franchises are playing in the United Rugby Championship alongside teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
The benefits South Africa bring
Donald believes that New Zealand and Australia are missing out in a number of ways by not having teams from the Republic in Super Rugby.
“It’s a different brand of rugby, it’s one of the great rugby nations, so you’re bringing back a level of player,” he said.
“Obviously, they left to get more money and for the time zone, and it has worked for them. They’ve been able to put more in the coffers, but you sometimes see and read things that maybe everything’s not rosy where they are playing domestically.
“If there was a chance of bringing them back, you would bring them back. For the players, it’s a great experience off the field, but on the field, you get tested when you go to South Africa like never before.
“Yes, you’re playing against big, big humans, but also it’s the toughest place to go and play. It’s the only place you play in the world where you actually feel intimidated by the environment because it is hostile.
“If you’re playing at Super Rugby level at a three-quarters full Loftus Versfeld or in Cape Town and Kings Park, it is a hostile environment and a great place to go and learn your trade. You’re going to have to front up, both as a rugby player and as a man – you are up against it.
“I just think that we are missing them so if there was any chance – maybe two teams or three teams or whatever they have available – you would have to expand that way before you jump into an American team, which I think would be for the benefit of America more than our Super Rugby competition.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/all-blacks-hero-would-bring-back-south-africa-to-super-rugby-instead-of-mickey-mouse-american-expansion
