The front foot has been put out, and it is a long stride.
NZ Rugby has announced — sort of — what Super Rugby will look like in this neck of the woods next year, and it is clearly calling the tune.
Backed by the fact it is playing the game in front of full stadiums and its teams have been massively successful in the competition, NZ Rugby (NZR) has proposed an eight or 10 team competition is the way of the future.
NZR undertook the Aratipu review over the past three months, and the finished review went to the NZR board on Thursday.
In a release yesterday, it said it would work with the five NZ franchises over new licences, and there are bound to be changes that give the likes of the Highlanders and Crusaders more say in their direction, and bring more capital into the game.
The Highlanders, like the other franchises, have private licences, but they are limited in what they can get in income and are looking to change that.
NZ Rugby has also stated the desire to have a team from the Pacific Islands in the new competition. It points to the proud history of the Pacific players and how a stand-alone team would provide a pathway for players.
But it does not outline how the team would be financed and where it would be based. A team from Hawaii has been floated, backed by former All Blacks, but that appears a long shot.
NZR is not waiting for Rugby Australia to come to the party with the teams.
It is calling for expressions of interest from teams from across the ditch and hopes to have it wrapped up by the end of next month.
Australia has little to offer — weak teams, declining fan interest and a meagre broadcasting deal.
NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said it wanted competitive teams that fans will want to watch.
With eight teams, a double round robin would bring 14 games before finals. A competition with 10 teams would perhaps have a structure with two rounds of derby matches and one round against other opposition.
NZR was working with Sanzaar, but any play against South Africa and Argentina may take the form of a playoff after the new Super Rugby competition is finished.
