It is commendable that people like TonyM are trying their best but realities are – there are other, more established and better supported teams in SA that are already in the Super 15. On a lighter note, there is a case for banishing the Lions. Instead of lumping the Cheetahs with the Lions and calling them the Cats, because of geographical compatibility, merge the Bulls and Lions together and call them the Minotaurs or something.

Don’t stuff the Cheetahs around – I don’t think that any union contributes to SA player strength on a per capita basis than the Cheetahs do – they are the heartland of SA rugby – the equivalent of the Packers in Greenbay.

As has been sed a million times; SARU at present are self-interested amateurs. There is little go forward with this pack.

I said fruit basket because your subtotal (that shows “costs”) included a mixture of apples and pears i.e. implied revenue lost, sunk costs that haven’t happened, and sunk costs that have, plus equity that has this nominal value for a fictional organisation, all added together.

Very confusing, if you think about it, but all cleverly wrapped up into this nice, round, quotable, but ultimately misleading figure.

But rough with the smooth hey?

I learn something from Tony, if only a different point of view. Although I think he was shafted.

Agree or disagree, but in my book he is articulate and committed to E Cape rugby, and I think most agree that Spears were shafted.

But overriding principle is he adds value & color to a blog that I enjoy reading.

You have a mouse.

in both instances…

Here is quick Factoid for you.

The sponsorship figure of R15m I quoted is the minimum required from a title sponsor. Cheetahs went off with the R10m per annum for 5 years that was to go to the 5th franchise allocated in 2005.

The SANZAR Super 15 bid document required a $8.2m-$12.5m underwriting for the Super rugby franchise which is a +R60m per annum figure.

If there is no tournament or fixture list for the Southern Kings or any other team that stands down or does not get promoted, for the next 5 years, the 6th franchise is toast and DOA.

Quite simply there is a perceived threat of the prospect of being relegated and the loss of income from sponsorships by the existing 5 SA franchises.

If this was performance related one could have relegation and promotion matches – which themselves would be incredibly popular, but more than that there needs to be a second tier Super Rugby tournament under the Super14/15 to keep the Super14/15 hot.

Translated to Afrikaans:

Hoe is julle verhouding met mekaar?
Ons het ‘n goeie verstandhouding. (Ek het die verstand, hy het die houding.)

Even cricket’s attendance in PE is the highest in SA….