SANZAAR has moved to quell talk of breakaway rugby competitions being created amid the coronavirus pandemic in declaring that all four member unions remain committed to the alliance through to 2030.
A trans-Tasman provincial tournament or a Champions League-style Super Rugby competition are just two of a number of suggested models that have been circulating in the media, the push for the former a particularly strong narrative within Australia.
But SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said any new competition structure would have to be agreed upon by each of the alliance's partners and that, as of Monday, no individual Union had formed a splinter plan to break away from the current provincial or Test formats.
"Having spoken with my SANZAAR Board members I can confirm that none of the suggested models or structures that have been commented on recently, such as stand-alone trans-Tasman formats, have been agreed by any of the SANZAAR unions individually or collectively," Marinos said via a media release. "All such reports are merely speculative and have no basis to them. "This is not to say that we are not having realistic discussions on what may have to eventuate should COVID-19 restrictions continue beyond 2020. We are presently looking in detail at various competition formats but any agreed format will include teams from all four stakeholder national unions.
"Due to uncertainty over what various government restrictions, if any, may look like next year including international travel, no date has been set yet as to when a decision will be made on 2021 and beyond. A major consideration is that we also have an obligation to discuss any contingencies with our Broadcaster partners in the first instance after which we will make public comment."
A trans-Tasman competition appeared to be gathering momentum in Australia and New Zealand with the two countries having negotiated the COVID-19 pandemic better than most.
The nations' respective leaders will later this week discuss the possibility of a "travel bubble" being opened between their two borders, raising the possibility that Super Rugby teams and then the Wallabies and All Blacks could engage in cross-border play.
Domestic Super Rugby competitions in both nations, so too South Africa, appear to be the most likely format in which the competition could restart, though there have been no indications as to whether the first seven rounds of the competition would carry any value upon the resumption.
SANZAAR confirmed a strong domestic focus was likely when the provincial competition resumed.
"With respect to 2020, it is likely that once the green light is given to commence the playing of rugby matches in the various stakeholder territories, that a revised Super Rugby competition format will be implemented," the statement read.
"In all likelihood, this will mean a strong domestic focus in each territory given the travel, border and government restrictions that we believe we will have to adhere to. SANZAAR will in due course make the appropriate announcements on the restart of rugby matches."
If international travel remains affected in 2021, SANZAAR would need to renegotiate any changes to either the planned 14-team Super Rugby competition or four-team Rugby Championship, with its broadcast partners.
"As to the future competition structures in 2021 and beyond, SANZAAR has already sold to broadcasters a 14-team Super Rugby cross-border tournament format as well as the four-team Rugby Championship, within the stakeholder core markets," the statement read.
"Again where any changes to these competitions is required, as a consequence of any ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, these will be decided upon by the SANZAAR board."