Johannesburg - SANZAR has appointed former Rugby World Cup-winning captain David Kirk and retired High Court Judge, the Hon Barry Paterson QC, to act as the independent Expert Determination Panel to adjudicate on the location of the 15th Super Rugby team from 2011.

The matter was referred to the Panel for a binding decision after the SANZAR Executive Committee was unable to reach unanimity on whether Melbourne or the Southern Kings should be awarded the 15th team licence.

Kirk MBE is the former Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax Media, president of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association and was the Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks’ captain in 1987.

Retired New Zealand High Court Judge Paterson CNZM, OBE, QC, is the chairperson of the New Zealand Sports Tribunal and a Member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and is also a former New Zealand Cricket Board Member.

The Panel will review SANZAR documentation and the detailed applications received from ARU, supporting Melbourne, and SA Rugby, supporting the Southern Kings. The Panel may also request further information by way of clarification and/or validation from the applicant SANZAR Member Unions if necessary.

SANZAR expects that a decision will be announced within two weeks.

Members of the Expert Determination Panel will not be available for interview or comment.  SANZAR unions will only comment on the matter once the process is complete.