TOKYO, 18 FEBRUARY 2021 (STUFF NZ) – Another piece has fallen into place for rugby’s much-discussed world club championship concept.
Japan’s Top League chairman Osamu Ota has thrown his support behind the idea as the Japanese competition seeks to make its mark on world rugby and increase its own appeal to broadcasters.
Ota has also confirmed that the Top League will continue to target top-level All Blacks such as Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick – as well as coaches such as Wayne Smith – as it shifts to a more professional footing in 2022.
“If the club world championship can be held that is a very good thing for us,” Ota told Stuff through an interpreter.
“If some of the Japanese clubs can make it that is a positive for us, so I’m expecting the club world championship will be held in the near future.
“But of course many discussions have to be conducted to find the best format for everyone.
“We need to think about the player welfare as well as the international calendar, which is very difficult.
“So, everyone needs to capture the big picture of what is going on on a global basis to sort out the right place and the right timing.”
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Support for the world club championship has been building in recent years, and is seen as a factor in the surge of private equity interest in rugby worldwide.
The competition could take place after Super Rugby on a biennial basis and Super Rugby CEOs spoken to by Stuff are drawn to the idea, viewing it as a way to enthuse fans, players, coaches and sponsors.
Moreover, Stuff has spoken to Sean Fitzpatrick (Harlequins and Scarlets board member), Robbie Deans (Panasonic Wild Knights coach) and Todd Blackadder (Toshiba Brave Lupus coach) over the past fortnight, and each have expressed a mix of excitement about the world club concept and frustration at how slowly change can occur within the sport.
The backing of Ota, who enjoyed a spell playing for famous Auckland club Ponsonby at the start of the 1990s, is therefore significant as the Top League plans for its own new competition in 2022.
About 50 per cent of Top League players are currently amateur in status, employed by corporations, but that ratio is likely to change next year.
Ota also said that at present the Top League is shown in Japan via a mix of pay TV (J Sports), public broadcaster (for selected big games) and OTT platform DAZN.
Taking part in an international competition, he said, could increase the overall value of the broadcasting package.
“If I speak about the new [Top] League of course we’d like to make the matches in the new league attractive to everyone, not only in Japan but also the world,” Ota said.
“So the level of coaching, as well as having top quality players from all over the world is one of the key things.
“I also believe the balance between local players and non-Japanese players is important to make the league more attractive.
“And in addition to that, we’d like to increase the value of the broadcasting if our clubs can participate in some form of international competition.
“That would also make the value of the new league higher.
“I personally think that is the key to being successful in broadcasting for the new league.”
New Zealand Rugby keeps a close eye on the Japanese competition, which is effectively turning into a rival for playing and coaching talent.
When the Top League signs a player such as Barrett, Super Rugby is weakened, but Ota signalled that there would be no end to the competition’s hunger for All Blacks or Kiwi coaching nous.
The new competition will have a salary cap but there is still likely to be significant money on offer for the right talent.
“We think that having this number of top quality players is one of the things that makes the Top League attractive to the public,” Ota said.
“So that’s why we think the new league will continue this sort of environment, so that the new league can be the best league in the world.
“We also think the quality of the coaching is very important, and in addition to that the ability to commercialise the league is another key point.
“At the moment, the Top League is operated under the JRFU as well as out Top League team.
“However, we’d like to make each participating club more capable of commercialising their own home matches, as well as the league itself.
“By doing that we believe we can really be the top quality competition in the world.
“Super Rugby, the Top 14 [in France] and the English Premiership are our benchmarks to aim for and by doing that we can keep contributing to the development of the Japanese national team as well.”
This year’s Top League starts next week, with Barrett’s Suntory side set to face the Mitsubishi-backed DynaBoars, who have Kiwis such as Colin Slade and Jackson Hemopo on their books.
