Gold Coast, the only legitimate challengers to Melbourne's hopes of entering an expanded Super 15, have called upon the Australian Rugby Union to prevent a bidding war by making an immediate choice based on "rugby reasons".
Coast powerbroker Terry Jackman, a good friend of ARU head John O'Neill, says the tourist strip deserves to be the home for a fifth Australian franchise because of itss superior rugby identity.
Melbourne, a far bigger sporting market, is the overwhelming favourite for the 15th licence due to its attractiveness to broadcasters, who will start negotiations with SANZAR for a new five-year deal on June 30.
But Jackman says the Coast, which has one powerful Queensland Premier Rugby side plus its own club competition, deserves to get the nod because it is a rugby heartland.
