Bye points could be a thing of the past

TEAMS MIGHT not receive four points during their bye week in Super Rugby next year.

SANZAR is set to review the new-look competition and is concerned the awarding of points during the bye week in confusing fans.

“In terms of the four points for a bye, we will be looking at it again as there seems to be some confusion among fans. We will investigate and decide whether it is worthwhile to be continuing with it,” SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters told SuperSport.com

“It is a new innovation and we've accepted it, but we can look at it again. One of the problems we are finding with it is that in Australia and New Zealand in particular, we are not seeing the full competition table being reported.

“It is important from a fan perspective to understand the new format that the full competition table also be reported so that they can see who the conference winners will be and who the wildcard playoff qualifiers are.”

Peters said the controlling body was also looking at better ways to utilise the byes, as some teams had complained that they were unable to generate momentum due to having the week off early in the season.

“It is also something we are looking at; we think that it may be a fairer system to share things around between the three countries. It is difficult because with 15 teams you have to have one team having a bye in round one of the competition.

“Next year we also have the complication of the competition taking a break for three weeks in June and trying to accommodate the byes that fall around that period. That in itself isn't easy. We are looking at the option of sharing that first round bye between the conferences.”

Peters plans trips to New Zealand and South Africa in the coming weeks to get a better feel for reaction to the tournament.