World Rugby emerges as kingmaker in trans-Tasman rugby standoff | Bret Harris

It may be money and not the organisation’s authority, power or prestige, that proves decisiveWith Australia and New Zealand at loggerheads over the composition of a future trans-Tasman competition, World Rugby may yet play a key role in determining the size and shape of any Anzac tournament.It went almost unnoticed in Australia, but World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont has publicly supported New Zealand’s plan to create an eight to 10 team competition including the five Kiwi Super Rugby franchises and a “leaner” Australian contingent, something administrators on this side of the Tasman vigor…