Blues’ James Parsons, Tom Coventry back trans-Tasman plans: ‘We can help the Aussies’ – Stuff.co.nz

Senior Blues figures have thrown their weight behind what’s looking increasingly like a trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition for 2021, with perhaps some Pacific Islands flavour thrown in.
As New Zealand Rugby wrestles with its high-end options for next year amid the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the likelihood of a revamped Super Rugby competition is firming. It was revealed on Thursday that New Zealand Rugbys Aratipu review favours an eight team competition as the optimal format, comprising New Zealands five franchises and Waratahs, Reds and Brumbies, though the Australian contingent is far from confirmed.
There has also been strong support for Pacific Islands representation in any new competition that arises out of the ashes of the Covid shutdown, so there is still plenty on the table before final decisions are made.
Blues hooker James Parsons: ‘Out of Covid comes an opportunity and its an opportunity to refresh the competition.’
Speculation out of South Africa confirms the line of thinking, with Super Rugby sides the Sharks, Lions, Bulls and Stormers being linked to an expanded Pro-14 competition in the north.
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Experienced Blues hooker James Parsons and assistant coach Tom Coventry on Thursday added their vote of approval to a likely trans-Tasman Super alliance for 2021.
Out of Covid comes an opportunity and its an opportunity to refresh the competition, said the long-serving Parsons ahead of Saturdays top-of-the-table Super Rugby Aotearoa visit to the Crusaders. Whatever it looks like, it will be an exciting venture. Just like Super Rugby Aotearoa has shown, new, fresh brings people back and hopefully it will get that rivalry going between New Zealand and Aussie and then some Pacific sides as well.
That’s not going away from how wed like to play the South African sides and Argentina. That’s a different style of footy and it prepares you well in terms of All Blacks rugby, and stuff like that. So, if it goes back to that well be happy as well.
The biggest thing is weve got back to a focus on product, and providing a product thats entertaining and getting people back to the grounds.
With some talk that Australian representation could be culled to as few as two or three teams, Parsons felt it was important to recognise what was going on in rugby across the Tasman.
Watching Australia’s round one at the weekend, its pretty exciting footy. They went at it. I think

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