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New Zealand rugby players believe their bosses at HQ have missed a real opportunity to add value to their franchise competition with a slight to the Pasifika team that has caused a feeling of “betrayal” in a community that deserves much better.
That was the view taken by an angry head of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, Rob Nichol, when he spoke to Stuff on Friday about the national body’s announcement that Pasifika would not participate in Super Rugby next year. There was even a hint that they might be prepared to force a rethink, if that was the point.
Nichol is typically a determined and unflappable guy who understands the value of a strong relationship between players and their employers in New Zealand Rugby. It doesn’t necessarily court controversy as a means to an end.
But in this case, Thursday night’s decree from NZ Rugby President Brent Impey that next year’s franchise competition, under restrictions imposed by Covid, would consist of the five existing Kiwi teams playing one round- double robin and finals, followed by a possible crossover. with Australia, if it can be negotiated, it has ignited a vigorous response.
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What has upset Nichol, and by extension the players he represents, is Pasifika’s shutout for next year, despite prior recognition that it is the direction NZ Rugby wants to take.
The simple message from Impey was that the offers from the four anonymous organizations that had gone through the expression of interest process, at least two of which represented Pasifika’s interests, were not piling up and needed more time.
Nichol disagrees and is concerned about the message the snub sends to a community justly excited by the prospect of finally having some representation at New Zealand’s flagship franchise competition.
“From the players’ perspective, we feel like it’s not now, when for Pasifika? Forty percent of our Super Rugby squads are made up of Pasifika players. They have contributed enormously. It’s about Covid and recognizing opportunities and planning for different scenarios.
“We have another scenario that we have proposed to NZ Rugby and that involves six teams and one side of Pasifika next year. Although existing Super Rugby clubs are concerned that a sixth team will erode their fan or player base, we do not believe that is the case.
“We have been able to show that you can build a strong team from outside of New Zealand’s player base. They are all here in New Zealand, Australia and the islands. And there is a group of quality coaching.
“On top of that, we believe it will improve the fan base, both within New Zealand and globally. It is such a wonderful opportunity: a group with Pasifika’s hopes and aspirations on their shoulders that comes out and puts on a wonderful show ”.
NZRPA even commissioned a feasibility study, conducted by Deloitte, and believed they had a strong enough plan to chart a way forward.
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Fiji and the other island nations have been waiting a long time for a seat at the Super Rugby table.
“It’s a live proposition that we have on the table with NZ Rugby and yesterday’s announcement ruined it and threw it in our faces,” said Nichol. “We are disappointed by that.
“We believe that the NZR board should recognize where we are and direct its management to work with the Players Association, with Pasifika, with key partners such as existing clubs and Sky, and exhaust every possibility of whether we can support this team in the next year or not. “
Nichol confirmed that his plan for the sixth team was a collaboration between NZRPA, Pasifika and the Counties Manukau union and had not yet had a chance to work out the required details.
“It seems absolutely a missed opportunity,” added the NZRPA CEO. “We are saying not to be missed, and we are not going to allow it to be missed. As far as we are concerned, this remains an active option and is supported by the fact that NZR and the players’ association must agree on any advancing competition and financial arrangements. “
Nichol thinks adding a sixth team for next year makes perfect sense. It would increase a 21-game season with five teams to 33 games, including three playoffs at the end. Rather than having just four home games, the franchises would have five and the possibility of a sixth.
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Rob Nichol: “It’s about partnerships and strengthening alliances, not destroying them.”
“Given everything that is happening right now, the most important question we have is why? We are in a pandemic, a situation where we all need to work together, ”said Nichol. “It’s about partnerships and strengthening alliances, not destroying them, and not being a kingmaker or a dictator.
“The only thing you get from becoming a kingmaker or a dictator is that a lot of people want to bring you down.”
Nichol said Thursday’s announcement had caused “incredible distress” among the Pasifika community. “They feel let down, they feel betrayed. I have no doubt that this will manifest itself in the coming weeks, unless NZ Rugby takes a very quick turn. “
From Nichol’s perspective, it’s not even about approving the inclusion of a team. It simply gives you the opportunity to go through an evaluation process.
“If we work with them to exhaust the possibilities, the worst case scenario is that we all accept that this cannot happen next year and you have strengthened relationships. The best case scenario is that it really works, and by working together we have succeeded. “
For Nichol, it all comes down to messaging.
“I heard the message that we are open to working with Australia, and that is good. But get rid of the other one, put it on the back burner, and if it all falls to Australia and the island nations, come back with our five teams if that’s the only option.
“But that’s not the starting point, and it’s time someone said so. We are calling it. We are saying that you stop, that you take a breath and that when you put positions think about how it is received, because not only in the last 48 hours they have alienated the Pasifika community, but they have once again shaken up this whole trans- Tasmanian relationship “.
