Super Rugby Pacific CEO not interested in bringing South African teams back

Mesley was appointed to the CEO position in 2024 after the likes of the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers had already left the tournament and joined what is now the United Rugby Championship.

Traditionalists have rued South Africa's absence in the competition, which they helped form back in 1996 when the game officially went professional.

Last year the Melbourne Rebels entered administration and eventually collapsed leaving a void in the tournament's club line-up.

That void won't be filled, according to Mesley, despite the Cheetahs airing their desire to return to the competition and suggestions that the Jaguares could do the same.

Instead, the CEO wants the status quo for the 2025 to remain intact going forward despite the odd number of teams.

"No. None," Mesley bluntly stated when asked on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin whether there were plans to replace the Melbourne Rebels.

"Our focus right now is largely because of the point you just made, Super Rugby has had so many guises, so many changes.

"We need fans of rugby in this region to understand our comp. Who are our teams? Who are our players? There are no secrets; clubs, financially, are not necessarily in the strongest position.

"We've got a job to solidify and really contain and fortify what we have now. So that is where our energy is focused on strengthening our existing clubs, ensuring that the fans understand what Super Rugby Pacific is today, the teams that are involved and the wonderful talent that we have.

"So I still think there's a lot of headroom for growth within that current structure, and no secrets, we don't have resources coming out of our ears. So I want, you know, I want every 60 minutes of an hour spent strengthening our competition today versus 30 spent looking for pots of gold in faraway lands that maybe don't even exist."

Mesley stood firm, stating that the tournament is in a better space ratings-wise than it was when South African teams were involved.

"No," was his frankly reply when asked would he have the South African teams back in the tournament.

Pressed as to why that was the case, he replied: "Well, if you go back and look at the data, those games did not rate well.

"They did not attend well. They did not rate like we're rating now. They did not attend like we are attending now.

"So, I think there is a romance associated with the South African days."

Devlin added: "It always is about the girlfriend who leaves, mate. You know that."

With Mesley finishing the discussion, adding to the joke, "Even a South African one."