SANZAAR
 |
|
| Formation | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Type | International sport federation |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°53′28″S 151°15′00″E / 33.89111°S 151.25000°E |
|
CEO
|
Andy Marinos |
| Website | sanzarrugby.com |
SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby) is the body which operates Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship competitions in Rugby Union. SANZAAR meets annually and is composed of the CEOs from its member unions.
It was formed as SANZAR in 1996 as a joint venture of the South African Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby Union. Prior to the 2016 season, its name was changed to SANZAAR following the inclusion of the Argentine Rugby Union as a full member of the organisation.
Created shortly after rugby's move to professionalism in 1995, SANZAR's two products were the Super 12 (now Super Rugby) and the Tri Nations (now The Rugby Championship). This concept was developed by Queensland Rugby Union CEO Terry Doyle, New South Wales Rugby Union CEO David Moffett and Australian Rugby Union CEO Bruce Hayman. To fund the competition SANZAR looked to News Limited, eventually being offered $555 million over 10 years for worldwide television rights.Rian Oberholzer was the first CEO of SANZAR.
In 2002, a proposal to expand the Super 12 to fourteen teams, supported by Australia and South Africa, was vetoed by the New Zealand Rugby Union. This led to calls for the Australian and South African teams to withdraw from the competition, but the partnership continued and the issue was revisited before the end of the original 10-year broadcasting deal.
By the addition of two teams, SANZAR agreed to expand the Super 12 competition for the 2006 season and to increase the number of Test matches played in the Tri-Nations. Licences were granted for franchises based in Bloemfontein and Perth, creating the Central Cheetahs and Western Force teams for the expanded Super 14 competition.
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