Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark is already planning for a second Super Rugby Aotearoa competition in 2021 because of travel and border restrictions. A new Super Rugby competition with five teams from Australia is still a possibility, with New Zealand Rugby open-minded on how any teams take part. It is broadly accepted that Super Rugby Aotearoa is a level up from Super Rugby AU, but Australia's argument that it has a group of talented youngsters coming through its system has not landed on deaf ears at NZ Rugby. Instead, a re-run of Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU is increasingly likely, especially with ratings for the former competition booming. It's understood that the bids will be discussed at a NZ Rugby board meeting at the end of the month.

Source: Stuff August 21, 2020 17:00 UTC