Super Rugby, the sprawling Southern Hemisphere empire we once knew feels further away than ever.
Three years ago, a prominent English rugby writer proclaimed on social media that the United Rugby Championship would be “dead” in three years.
Three years have gone by, and the Sunday Times writer would have been far closer to the mark had he had another competition in mind — Super Rugby, which currently reminds one of a lame horse waiting to be put out of its misery.
The final shot may yet ring out, according to legendary All Black Sir John Kirwan, who recently said on The Rivals podcast: “I think it’s over.” Kirwan has come to this conclusion based on the inescapable reality of half-empty stadiums, dwindling television audiences, and teams on the brink of insolvency.
It is deeply tragic that this has come to pass on the 30th anniversary of Super Rugby. When it kicked off in 1996 — the year after the 1995 World Cup signalled the dawn of the professional era — the Super 12 was red hot.
