Rugby Australia has received the support of its broadcast partner and billionaire backer Andrew Forrest to create a Super Rugby split with New Zealand.
Last month, Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan caused a stir, when he revealed it was considering a beefed-up domestic competition, instead of renewing its Super Rugby allegiance with NZ Rugby, when the current deal expires after the 2023 season.
The claim raised eyebrows among the Australian rugby fraternity, with former Wallabies hooker Jeremy Paul among those dismissing the idea as detrimental to the development of the game across the Tasman.
But McLennan has continued to gather support for his position, with Forrest lending his considerable clout to the prospect of going it alone.
"I always carry the oranges out for Australia, so I completely support it," Forrest told Sydney Morning Herald.
"I had a very good experience with Global Rapid Rugby, where we had other teams included, when we looked north into Asia. We were able to have rule changes, so that made the game faster and more entertaining, and a lot less stop-start, with more time in play, so I'm not concerned that it doesn’t have a lot of options, if it decided to go it alone."
Stan Sport - which holds broadcast rights in Australia - has also put its support behind a potential split, with boss Ben Kimber saying it was open to any innovation Rugby Australia deemed worthwhile.
"We've shown over the last 18 months or so that we've got a fantastic, innovative partnership with Rugby Australia, and we're constantly working with them to drive further growth for the game," Kimber told SMH.
"We're happy to sit down and consider any strategic options Rugby Australia develop to continue the upward trend we're already seeing in the game here."
With a British & Irish Lions tour in 2025 and the Rugby World Cup in 2027, McLennan believes RA's financial forecast is strong, giving its some leverage with its NZ counterparts.
Forrest, whose investment company Tattarang funds Perth-based Super side Western Force, said the timing was right for Australia to priortise its own financial interests.
"It's commonsense," he told SMH. "New Zealand is the best sporting team in the history of the game, and there's no question that part of that is the natural loyalty and spirit and talent that comes from there.
"But also, a chunk of that is money, and they've been able to invest in their game and their fans. Australia has to have the same opportunity, if it is to really grow on an equal footing.
"I'm a person who relies on fairness in any business judgment I make and I'm also a person who loves New Zealand, but I run the oranges out for Australia."
