South Africa and Australia have exacted utu on New Zealand Rugby

New Zealand has effectively forced South Africa's hand in voting to move their Super Rugby sides - the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, and Lions - into the PRO16 competition in Europe.

That will end the professional era as we've known it since 1996.

SARU boss Jurie Roux says they wouldn't have been taking this decision but for NZR's push for a domestic, trans-Tasman or Pacific competition in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Roux says that decision made it impossible to deliver the current deal agreed by the partners and for which five-year broadcasting agreements had been signed.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has told Sky Sport's Breakdown show that initial push irked them, too.



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