SANZAR Looks to Break Stalemate

Ahead of negotiations to renew its broadcasting deal, this week's meeting of the SANZAR Executive Committee (made up of the rugby unions of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia) in Dubai has considered competition structures for southern hemisphere rugby from 2011.
In a joint press statement following the meeting, the Executive Committee stated that it had been "provided with a detailed options paper by (a) joint Working Party involving representatives from all three National Unions and the Players Associations of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa."
The statement continued "SANZAR has appointed a dedicated project manager who will continue to work with the Working Party in refining the preferred competition structures for Super Rugby and Tri Nations. This will see an expansion in the format of Super Rugby with geographically based conferences and expanded finals."
The Executive Committee also considered a further report from Argentina and has asked the Working Party to perform further analysis on the viability of Argentina joining the Tri Nations.
All three unions are also keen to negotiate new television broadcasting deals with respective pay TV platforms in their own countries. Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd has owned the rights to southern hemisphere rugby since 1995, selling the rights to Channel Seven and Foxtel in Australia.
This weekâs statement added that "SANZAR remains confident that it will be in a position to present a compelling offer to its broadcast partners by the end of June."