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Agence France-Presse

New Zealand is not to blame for the problems that are forcing Australia to axe one of their five Super Rugby teams, New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew said on Monday.
Amid anger and finger-pointing on the Australian side of the Tasman over the decision announced on Sunday, Tew admitted Super Rugby over-reached by expanding to 18 teams last year.
But he denied reports in Australia that New Zealand was the driving force in pruning the competition back to 15 teams and had insisted one team from Australia must go.
“There will be pain and there’s going to be a lot more emotive commentary in Australia and it’s not unusual for us to get the blame,” Tew told Radio Sport.

Tew said the Sanzaar nations that run the competition made a collective decision, adding: “We had the figures in front of us, that’s what some of the more emotive commentary won’t take into account.”
He said viewer numbers in Australia and South Africa were concerning in the first year of the expanded competition, then “plummeted” this season.
Super Rugby to cut two teams in shake up for next season, claims Cheetahs boss
In addition, he said market research had shown fans were concerned about too many lop-sided mismatches, reinforcing the need to revamp the competition.
Under the new structure, there will be 15 teams, with two cut from South Africa – rumoured to be the Southern Kings and Central Cheetahs – and one from Australia – either the Western Force or Melbourne Rebels.

Two of the teams introduced last year, Argentina’s Jaguares and the Sunwolves of Japan, will remain.
Tew said South Africa had “taken note of reality” by agreeing to reduce their teams from six to four amid financial pressures and difficulty retaining top players.
When the 18-team blueprint was released in 2014, Tew was among those touting the possibility of even more expansion further into Asia and North America.
Embattled Western Force ask fans for A$10m to save Super Rugby franchise
But he conceded it was now apparent that Super Rugby had been too “bullish” in taking the game to new frontiers
“Just think about the human element,” he said. “You’ve got fans, you’ve got established team structures, you’ve got players and families, there’s a whole lot of stuff going on.”


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Super Rugby 2017

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Irne Herbst of the Southern Kings (centre) in action against the Western Force. Photo: EPA

FILES-- This file photo taken on June 01, 2016 shows New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew arriving for a press conference in Auckland. New Zealand is not to blame for the problems that are forcing Australia to axe one of its five Super Rugby teams, New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew said on April 10, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MICHAEL BRADLEY

Australian Rugby Union Chairman Cameron Clyne, left, and CEO Bill Pulver discuss how the southern hemisphere Super Rugby tournament is reduced from 18 to 15 teams next season in Sydney, Monday, April 10, 2017. The Australian Rugby Union says it will decide within three days whether the Melbourne Rebels or Western Force will be culled from Super Rugby. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

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epa05638448 Players of Italy celebrate after the Rugby test match between Italy and South Africa at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence, Italy, 19 November 2016. Italy won 20-18. EPA/MAURIZIO DEGL'INNOCENTI

CAP03:SPORT-RUGBY:BLOEMFONTEIN,SAFRICA,3AUG96 - South African rugby fly-half Joel Stransky (R) kicks a penalty as teammate Gary Teichmann looks on during their Tri-nations test match against Australia, August 3. South Africa won the match 25-19, with Stransky scoring all his teams points via a try and six penalties. mh/Photo by Mike Hutchings REUTERS

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New Zealand's Hurricanes celebrate their victory after the Super Rugby final against the Lions of South Africa. Photo: AFP

epa05428296 Stormers players celebrate with the Conference trophy after the 2016 Super Rugby Union game between the Stormers and the Kings at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa, 16 July 2016. EPA/RYAN WILKISKY

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Jaguares lock Javier Ortega Desio (right) fends off Highlanders lock Mark Reddish as he is tackled by centre Rob Thompson. Photo: AFP

epa05402910 Stormers coach Robbie Fleck (C) watches his side warm up, during the Round 15 Super Rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and the Stormers at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia, 02 July 2016. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

epa05385938 Warren Whiteley of South Africa during a training session at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth on 23 June 2016, ahead of their upcoming Test Series rugby match against Ireland. EPA/Gavin Barker

epa05416688 Israel Folau (C) of the Waratahs pushes through the Hurricanes defence to cross and score during the Round 16 Super Rugby match between the NSW Waratahs and the Hurricanes at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia, 09 July 2016. EPA/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Japan’s Sunwolves stun Los Jaguares for first Super Rugby win

The Sunwolves celebrate after defeating the Jaguares 36-28 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday for their first Super Rugby win. Photo: Kyodo

Derek Carpenter, right, of Japan's Sunwolves is tackled by Matias Alemanno of Argentina's Jaguares during their Super Rugby match in Tokyo, Saturday, April 23, 2016. The Sunwolves won 36-28. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

epaselect epa05273080 Facundo Isa of the Jaguares throws the ball during the Super Rugby competition match between the Sunwolves of Japan and the Jaguares of Argentina at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, 23 April 2016. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

epa05273079 Hitoshi Ono of the Sunwolves in action during the Super Rugby competition match between the Sunwolves of Japan and the Jaguares of Argentina at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, 23 April 2016. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Sport

Rugby

Under the new 15-team structure two teams will be cut from South Africa – rumoured to be the Southern Kings and Central Cheetahs – and one from Australia – either the Western Force or Melbourne Rebels
