The time is right for Sanzar to broaden its horizons – take a leap of faith – and spread rugby to fans afar. The Aussie NBL has added new teams from within Australia, NZ if you count the Breakers and even Singapore; the NRL has the red-hot Titans and the A-League too is looking to add a couple of teams in the not too distant future. Sports and leagues are expanding on this side of the world and if rugby wants to keep up it too needs to spread the gospel. Here’s why: Fans deserve a bit more pizzazz for their buck – even with the move to 14 teams the comp has a ‘same old same old’ feel about it. Fans are tiring and viewers are dropping. Excite them! Entertain them! Make this comp hot and appointment viewing. League has done it and so can we. An extended comp should also mean an extended finals- a top six (or eight) playoff in a 16-team league is appealing indeed. The new regions are ready – imagine a team in Tokyo; a Pacific Islands team that spreads it’s games between Tonga, Fiji and Samoa; Argentina’s first truly professional club. Stop looking inwards Sanzar and branch out. Financially Japan would be a boon and the crowds the Islands serve up for internationals show they have a fan base to support the move. It could even help the brain drain – a Japanese franchise would perhaps have a half/half imports/local squad split, meaning All Black stars looking for a cultural experience could get it in Asia during Super Rugby, while earning a much fatter salary, and still play for the Abs when it comes time for internationals - even their provinces if time permits or they miss the national side. They would still have NZRU contracts outside of Super. Either way the time is right and the opportunities are endless.