All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu believes that Super Rugby has fallen behind the big European leagues in terms of quality and excitement.

The world game used to follow the top club event in the southern hemisphere, but over time, interest in it has declined.

It is financially dwarfed by competitions such as Japan Rugby League One and the Top 14, and as a result, a number of prominent figures from Australia and New Zealand have chosen to relocate north.

The South African teams from Super Rugby were also gone at the beginning of the decade; the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, and Stormers subsequently joined the United Rugby Championship.

A beneficial move

It has proven to be a successful move for those franchises and has helped improve the standard of what used to be called the PRO14.

Nonu therefore believes that the Top 14, URC and the Premiership – despite the latter’s fiscal struggles – are ahead of Super Rugby Pacific.

“I think the Top 14 edges Super Rugby two notches. For one, you’ve got the best players in the world in that competition,” he told the Kick Offs and Kick Ons podcast.

Since I haven’t played there, I hadn’t brought up the Prem and the URC, but I would rank them second and third, or perhaps second equal.

“Super Rugby remains a competitive sport due to the presence of Australian and New Zealand players, who may not have as much exposure to players from other nations.

“South Africa has achieved great success. Their teams have improved steadily, but they departed due of SANZAAR. In their debut season in the URC, the Stormers emerged victorious.

“Super Rugby may be having difficulties; its future is uncertain.” Although I think the Top 14 is ahead, the level is still there.

Where the MLR stands

Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Nonu is still active at age 41, having extended his contract with San Diego Legion for one year prior to the 2024 Major League Rugby season.

When asked to rank the MLR in relation to the world’s best leagues, the great center said, “In a nice way, it’s probably at the bottom,” but he also noted that the tournament is still relatively new.

“The MLR is a very new organization, having launched seven years ago. Many players come to the United States because they are unable to play in the Premier League, Super Rugby, or France, he said.

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‘I don’t see why rugby should have an issue with it’ – Mike Tindall’s controversial view on Saudi Arabian investment

England Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall has backed the potential involvement of Saudi Arabia in rugby union, despite the country’s human rights abuses.

It was reported in January that four Premiership clubs were in talks with the Saudi sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF) about potentially putting money into the English game.

The talk has not stopped there with Steve Diamond, Newcastle’s director of rugby, revealing that he is keen to see Saudi investment.

Other Saudi Arabian investment

Numerous sports, such as football, boxing, and Formula One, have already profited greatly from the oil-rich kingdom; they are also making notable strides in tennis.

Despite Amnesty International’s condemnation of the Middle Eastern country’s human rights record, Tindall maintains that rugby should welcome the country.

Although it’s a hot potato, I’d say sure. We appear to be a sport that never receives recognition for our devotion and moral principles. In addition, he stated to The Good, The Bad, and The Rugby podcast, “I believe that the Amnesty International report is just one side of the story.

“If you went and spoke to UAE people looking at the west, they would have their view on how we run our countries; our country is not perfectly run at the moment, there are loads of issues around that.

“I don’t believe that is particularly meaningful when you put it back in a sporting context. Saudi Arabia is the source of money for every other sport. Aramco has been investing in a variety of sports for a very long time.

“Now, all other sports are entering. Rugby isn’t a sport, in my opinion, that could truly change itself. The hard effort and dedication of the players on the field is not supported by the money off the field.

“I don’t see why rugby should have a problem with that if there is a better way to do it and other sports have shown it can be done, managed, and people can get past it.”

Other investment and new competitions

Saudi Arabia is not the only Middle East country to be interested in rugby with reports in December 2022 revealing Qatar’s plans to dip their toes into the sport.

They had reportedly drawn up plans to host a British and Irish Lions clash, while they are also looking to invest in sevens given its Olympic connection.

According to a recent report in the Daily Mail, Qatar has submitted a bid to host the Nations Championship, a new competition that would pit the top international teams against one another, starting in 2026.

They’ve suggested a three-day competition that would feature six play-off games, dubbed the “Superbowl of rugby.”

Rugby would be greatly benefited by investment from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but given their differing human rights records, there would be much debate.

Nevertheless, Tindall is in favor of bringing them on board, and they explored a potential plan with former Gloucester wing Mark Foster, who also made an appearance on the show.

When asked how a significant investment could change the nature of the sport, Foster, who serves as Senior Vice President of Finance at LIV Golf, responded.

Together with the former England center, he proposed purchasing the best players on the planet, assembling eight or ten teams, and holding an international championship lasting three months. The proceeds would be reinvested in the unions and clubs.

“I think this is the direction that sports are going,” Foster stated. “You can do concerts and junior and women’s games on Friday nights, and then on Saturday, you have double and triple headers with international DJs.”

“You change it from having people on site for five hours to 8 am to midnight.”