Sanzar moves to shut down rebel tournament

The southern hemisphere rugby superpowers have delivered an emphatic rejection of a proposed "alternative" competition being mooted by South African entrepreneurs.

In a statement tonight put out by SANZAR, the collective representing New Zealand, Australian and South African rugby said it will not "support or endorse" the hybrid rugby competition that is being proposed in South Africa.

New Zealand Rugby Union boss Steve Tew, who is also Sanzar chief executive, said the southern collective had met with promoters of the competition which is being promoted as the rugby equivalent of T20 cricket.

"We are always open to any ideas that might help promote rugby in our three countries," said Tew.  "We were told we would then receive a formal proposal and this has not happened.

"However, having considered the concept and the way in which it has been developed, Sanzar has decided it has no interest in any further discussion of the proposed competition."

Tew said that the Sanzar unions had discussed the concept with its Super rugby teams and the feedback was overwhelmingly negative due to the potential impact on team's preparation for 2012.

 The competition has been mooted for the January period.

SANZAR is also concerned about the impact on player welfare given the window identified for the alternative competition is the main rest and conditioning period for the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies players.

"We do not see any benefits for Sanzar and we have also expressed our strong disappointment to those involved that approaches were made to players in the Sanzar countries without the courtesy of informing the member unions in advance," Tew added. 

The International Rugby Board has also declined to support the proposal.

All rugby competitions require the prior approval of the game's world governing body.

- © Fairfax NZ News