Leading Sanzar toughest job in world rugby

OPINION: The news this week that Greg Peters has been appointed to the position of CEO of Sanzar brought a wry smile to my face.

Having been appointed as the first CEO of Sanzar – which I created in Louis Luyt's Cape Town office in 1995 – the appointment brought back some interesting memories.

As the inaugural CEO I was responsible for delivering the first Super 14 and Tri-Nations in conjunction with the three unions. We did a pretty good job as a committed team and then John O'Neill was appointed as CEO of Australian Rugby.

He almost immediately took the view Australia should have got a much bigger share of the revenue pie and would therefore row their own boat on all other revenue and marketing opportunities.

It was originally intended Sanzar should negotiate naming rights sponsorships and associated revenue programmes along with integrated marketing campaigns. Unfortunately this was shelved when Australia decided to go it alone, after claiming their rights were so much more valuable.

Consequently I was often left with the feeling that O'Neill felt that as an Australian I should have been more sympathetic to his views. This attitude led to an intense dislike for each other, which endures today.

This interference became intolerable when Ian Ferrier, chairman of NSW Rugby, insisted that I sign Jonah Lomu for the benefit of Sanzar. I resigned that day and was subsequently approached by Richie Guy about the New Zealand Rugby Union position.

The result has been a mishmash of sponsorships across the three countries, which has never given Super Rugby the identity of, say, the Heineken Cup in Europe.

I provide this brief history of Sanzar to demonstrate that even today Greg Peters is stepping into one of the most difficult jobs in world rugby.

Peters is a more than capable administrator. Indeed, I appointed him to help try to solve the perennial Bay of Plenty problems in the 1990s.

He is his own man and he will need to be. The egos of people that he will now be dealing with on a daily basis are some of the biggest in world sport.

It is no real surprise that Sanzar is going back to the future. In recent years there have been many issues that have nearly destroyed what is obviously a very fragile relationship. There is almost no discipline when it comes to dealing with the media, with the latest outbreak of hostilities with South Africa a good example. Let us hope Sanzar lets Greg Peters get on with his job, gives him the support he needs and concentrates on building a sustainable future for a brand that may yet deliver something positive for the game.

The three unions can then concentrate on their own backyards, something that is sorely needed in all three countries.

I could not let the stupendous All Blacks Tri-Nations results pass without eating a little humble pie.

The entire group, coaches, players and even administrators have been outstanding on this magnificent run of 14 wins. We have seen consistency in selections, a simple yet expansive mode of play and, most of all, a coaching team that right from day one has obviously decided to ditch the attitude that the whole world is against them.

I did not think they had it in them. I was wrong and long may they continue in this vein. I'm actually starting to look forward to next year.

Please don't make excuses for Sonny Bill Williams, so far he has run true to form. He is fast losing support and respect and he does not deserve that greatest of all rugby jerseys unless he proves to be better, not simply as good as, the incumbents in this All Blacks side edging towards greatness.

David Moffett is the former chief executive of the New Zealand and Welsh rugby unions.

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