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Cape Town - SANZAR boss Greg Peters says Super Rugby could consider including new teams from Canada, the US, Argentina and also Asia in 2016.
Canada and America were this week named as new competitors in the IRB's 2013's Pacific Nations Cup, which sees them join the likes of Japan, Fiji and Tonga - a decision Peters lauded.
And according to the foxsports.com.au website, the three SANZAR nations, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, will decide later this year whether to effectively go global with Super Rugby when the next broadcast deal starts in 2016.
"We are considering whether or not we will include new territories in Super Rugby and one of the factors we'll be weighing up is their competitiveness," Peters told The Australian.
"Super Rugby in its present form is a pretty successful model... and we are not going to water it down. But we'd be derelict in our duty if we didn't consider expanding into areas. The United States is a very big market and so is Japan and Asia generally. Ultimately it all comes down to what is in the best interests of the three SANZAR parties."
Peters did add that travel considerations could become a stumbling block in the decision.
"Player welfare is a big consideration. That said, the conference system does provide us with a degree of flexibility, either in terms of adding new conferences or adding new teams to existing conferences," he said.
The decision though is likely to be unpopular amongst South African rugby administrators, as it is well-known that SARU wants to field six South African teams in order to accommodate both the Lions and the Kings.
The 2013 Super Rugby season kicks off on February 15.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Would you like to see this global expansion of Super Rugby? Or should the tournament only feature teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
Canada and America were this week named as new competitors in the IRB's 2013's Pacific Nations Cup, which sees them join the likes of Japan, Fiji and Tonga - a decision Peters lauded.
And according to the foxsports.com.au website, the three SANZAR nations, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, will decide later this year whether to effectively go global with Super Rugby when the next broadcast deal starts in 2016.
"We are considering whether or not we will include new territories in Super Rugby and one of the factors we'll be weighing up is their competitiveness," Peters told The Australian.
"Super Rugby in its present form is a pretty successful model... and we are not going to water it down. But we'd be derelict in our duty if we didn't consider expanding into areas. The United States is a very big market and so is Japan and Asia generally. Ultimately it all comes down to what is in the best interests of the three SANZAR parties."
Peters did add that travel considerations could become a stumbling block in the decision.
"Player welfare is a big consideration. That said, the conference system does provide us with a degree of flexibility, either in terms of adding new conferences or adding new teams to existing conferences," he said.
The decision though is likely to be unpopular amongst South African rugby administrators, as it is well-known that SARU wants to field six South African teams in order to accommodate both the Lions and the Kings.
The 2013 Super Rugby season kicks off on February 15.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Would you like to see this global expansion of Super Rugby? Or should the tournament only feature teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
