Planet-Rugby

Brumbies want Super 14 format change

Monday 24th March 2008

The Super 14 tournament could see an expanded six-team play-off series next year.

In the current format the top four teams face off in two semi-finals but that could change.

Brumbies Chief Executive Andrew Fagan said that they have made a proposal for two more teams to be added to the play-off phase which the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) was supportive of.

In Australia, the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) both offer play-off places to eight of their 16 teams.

Fagan said he would prefer to see all six teams play off on the first week of the knockout stage.

That would see the two lowest-ranked losers knocked out and the rest seeded as per the current system - one versus four and two versus three.

"I know that John O'Neill from the ARU perspective is talking to SANZAR about all those possibilities at the moment with a particular push of expanding the Super 14 competition overall," Fagan told Super14.com.

"But if that's going to become a 2010 or 2011 potential start point I think there's some things we should do in the mean time to freshen up the competition and ensure we can maintain some interest.

"And in the event that's not on the cards, a middle-ground of expanding [for 2009] is a six-team Finals series."

It's no surprise that the Brumbies want a six-team play-off set-up - over the past two seasons, they have finished fifth and sixth.

Both times, they have won more matches than some teams in the top four, but didn't pick up as many bonus points or have a better points differential.

"I think a top six in a 14-team competition is appropriate," said Fagan.

"It would allow an evening out of some factors that can influence such a short competition," he added.