Explaining Super Rugby expansion – Japan vs Singapore

Since SANZAR's confirmation of Super Rugby expansion from 15 to 18 teams from 2016, alongside the addition of the Southern Kings and an Argentine franchise the other spot is being tightly contested by two options from Asia in Japan and Singapore.

 

The Japan bid

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There are some obvious factors that Japan has in its favour notably the fact they are far more of a credible rugby nation compared to Singapore, and are now acknowledged as an improving side and are set to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Japan coach Eddie Jones has been lobbying for a Super Rugby team and said a team in Singapore would be "crazy" and not credible

All this makes their bid favoured by the IRB, with the hope being it could boost Japan moving forwards towards hosting their showpiece event.

Whereas a Singapore team would be "plonking a team of Pacific Islanders there" as Eddie Jones put it, a Japanese side would actually be made of players of relevance to their location. Whilst that plays in their advantage there is however some uncertainty surrounding the bid.

Whilst the Singapore bid is pretty clear as to who would compete would more simply fit into the schedule, who the main backer is etc. Details for the Japanese side are far more complicated to work out with an existing rugby structure already in place, and inevitably differing views as to how the process of selecting a team and who controls it should work.

In short Japan can't work from scratch like Singapore, and there would be more internal politics and bickering involved. There already exists a professional league which would need to be cared for as a produce, and although it has been suggested could shift to accommodate Super Rugby that is easier said than done with the whole structure of the season then put into question.

If there was no reduction to the Top League, with the season running from August to February adding Super Rugby onto that with internationals would leave 12 months of nonstop rugby for players. Add to that the ludicrous level travel thanks to being in the African conference, which would be draining for players, and adverse effects on the standards of the team.

Altering the Top League and
going through JRFU politics is easier said than done

Something that doesn't play in Singapore's favour is the lack of crowds, which in a 55,000 stadium would stick out like a sore thumb on the TV product. A recent 10's tournament day out got a reported figure of 10,000. Averaging more than that over the course of 6/7 games is far fetched and a sell out even more so.

Japan have had their own issues regarding poor crowds and would find it possibly even tougher competing during the football/baseball season, but with a team that resembles the locals and more Japanese interested in rugby it would likely be easier for them to attempt to build a following.

Obviously the Japan Rugby Football Union is in favour of the bid, with Eddie Jones lobbying on their behalf with his trademark strongly worded remarks. But crucially the Australian Rugby Union are also in favour of Japan, publicly stating that it is their preferred option.

If the ARU hadn't been favouring Japan, then this discussion wouldn't likely be happening. The Australians have less of the travel issues South Africa face, less of the links to Eric Series APD bid that the NZRU have, and likely feel that Japan are the bigger more credible market to pursue.

The Singapore bid

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Obviously the Singapore bid has nothing to do with a side made up of players from the nation ranked 58 in the world rankings. The Singapore side would be the Asia Pacific Dragons, who currently operate as an invitational side bankrolled by Mauritius based French businessman Eric Series.

Asia Pacific Dragons’ backer Eric Series is supported by the SRU and has strong connections to the NZRU

To give an example of the make up of the personnel of that side, in their most recent game in May against a Japan XV the APD fielded a squad with 13 Pacific Islanders, 7 Japanese along with a couple of Koreans and Kiwis.

Something along those lines is what the side might resemble and that's also part of the appeal to the bid. It would represent a professional side for the Pacific Islanders; whilst at the same time possibly involving Asian players and offering a commercial pathway involving the Asian market that could be attractive to SANZAR who have already relocated Bledisloe Cup games to the continent.

Unsurprisingly with aligning themselves with the Islands the APD bid is backed by the Samoan Rugby Union. Series even mentioned the possibility of relocating some games in Apia, along with other big cities in the region such as Hong Kong, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Tokyo possibilities for odd games away from the ultra modern air conditioned Singapore Sports Hub base.

Whilst they play on the romantic point of offering a professional Super Rugby team for Pacific Islanders, there is a much more significant more point that plays strongly in their favour and has put them in the position of favourites is logistics.

With no direct flights from South Africa to Japan flights can take 22 or 23 hours. That is just under 2 whole days flying for an away game and highly inconvenient when the Asian side has been placed in the African conference. The Asian based plays 9 of 15 games against South African opposition.

22 hour flights to Japan are a
major issue for South Arica

Singapore by contrast is half that, more like 11 hours from South Africa, and

offers a good stop off point to travel from there to Australia. And it is that reason which is exactly why the South African Rugby Union have publicly thrown their weight behind the APD bid.

Although considered more open to being persuaded otherwise, the New Zealand Rugby Union are also thought to be quietly supporting the Singapore bid.

The point about having a team for the Pacific Islanders would appeal to the NZRU for a few reasons, whilst APD backer Eric Series also already has fairly strong connections to the Union. Series' company Sealegs is an All Blacks sponsor, he's already put money into the Super Rugby franchise the Chiefs, and the Maori All Blacks are set to face the Asia Pacific Dragons in Singapore this November.