New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) chief executive Rob Nichol has expressed deep scepticism at the push to move the Rugby Championship to February-March, and warned Australia that if they back the proposal there is no guarantee that New Zealand will continue to prioritise Super Rugby over the NPC. South Africa are pushing hard to move the Rugby Championship to line up with the Six Nations in the so-called global calendar, and NZ Rugby is sending director Greg Barclay and All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan to represent their interests at key World Rugby talks this week. If South Africa succeed - and the Australians appear to be leaning towards them - the All Blacks would play summer tests and Super Rugby would start in April, creating a likely conflict with the NPC. But Nichol, one of the most influential figures in New Zealand rugby, says Australia needs to be careful what they wish for. “I can see what they're thinking,” Nichol told The Post on Tuesday. “They're thinking, ‘OK, it creates a big window [April-September] for us to put Super Rugby up against the NRL and AFL in the domestic market’. “That would be great from their perspective because you wouldn't have the Rugby Championship after July, so you'd have a clear window. “But for us, we've got this incredible competition called the NPC, so that doesn't work for us. “What we have works for us and the question is, if we're going to move away from that, would we actually go for a Super Rugby comp or would we actually go the other way around and just make a longer NPC? “We would want to do what's best for rugby in New Zealand and if you create that kind of a window [April-September] it's not just a fait accompli you put Super Rugby into it and bypass NPC.” Nichol’s warning reflects one school of thought within New Zealand rugby that the country needs to be more selfish in terms of decision making, and that a revival of player and coaching pathways might be easier if it is done internally. Nichol also said that South Africa had not produced any good reason for the calendar shift or tangible benefits for anyone but themselves." https://www.thepost.co.nz/sport/360955449/players-boss-rob-nichol-warns-australia-super-isnt-fait-accompli-if-they-back-rugby-championship   submitted by   /u/newdawn2k22 [link]   [comments]