SANZAR's chief executive Greg Peters has defended the length of the Super Rugby competition and the decision to play the Tri-Nations in a World Cup year, saying they were vital for the economic success of the three southern hemisphere unions.
The Super Rugby competition was increased this year 15 teams playing over 21 weeks, but the Tri-Nations championship was shortened from nine games to six because of the World Cup.
Peters says while player welfare is hugely important, without money from the Tri-Nations this year, because there are no June in-bound Tests in a World Cup year, the SANZAR unions would have suffered significant losses.
Peters, who's on a tour of the three partner countries, says SANZAR has sold the current format to the broadcasters for five years, so there won't be any fundamental changes and neither should there be after just one year of a new competition.
