The tense relations between South Africa and Tri-Nations partners Australia and New Zealand will be raised at a meeting among the three unions next week.
The Sanzar body that runs the Tri-Nations and Super 14 will meet in Christchurch for a strategic review addressing the future of both competitions, reported the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday.
David Moffett, the former head of the New Zealand, Wales and New South Wales rugby unions, called for South Africa to be expelled from Sanzar earlier this week.
Moffett believes New Zealand and Australian rugby would be better served with a Super 10 home and away series. However, Australian Rugby Union chief John O’Neill on Wednesday labelled Moffett’s suggestion as ”premature and unnecessarily pre-emptive”.
O’Neill agrees there are many issues to be resolved to improve relations with the South African Rugby Union, but says now is not the time to get into it. O’Neill believes they should be confined to the Sanzar meeting next week. And even then nothing should be pushed vigorously until after a scheduled International Rugby Board meeting in November.
One of the major issues it will address is the proposed integration of a global season that would affect the scheduling of the Tri-Nations.
O’Neill also warned against dumping South Africa from Sanzar. ”One has to be very careful about arguing that we should discard South Africa,” he said.
”The beauty of the Sanzar joint venture is the sum of the parts and the value that comes out of those parts. No one should underestimate the significant value.” — Sapa