Manie wants to play Super Rugby

All Blacks great Mils Muliaina says an American team competing in Super Rugby could help attract South African players back to the southern hemisphere competition.

Amid reports that World Rugby is exploring a US-based team to boost interest ahead of the 2031 World Cup in America, Muliaina believes adding such a franchise to Super Rugby Pacific would entice the likes of Manie Libbok to play in it again.

“A bit of talk this week that World Rugby are exploring the possibility and are having talks in America, considering the 2031 Rugby World Cup, of having a Super Rugby team there; I think it’s a goodie,” Muliaina said on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown.

“It’s a great initiative to start talking, we have got time, I’m not saying do this tomorrow, take two or three years to sort of get it in place, we’ve had lessons from the Jaguares, the Japanese side and now is the time to actually evolve Super Rugby.”

The 100-Test All Black envisions strategically recruiting established SA talent alongside developing American players.

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“Entice the South Africans to come back; imagine a Manie Libbok coming back and playing Super Rugby in that USA team but also implementing some of those [USA] players to try and really boost it up before the Rugby World Cup in 2031,” Muliaina added.

“This is a great opportunity, I understand they’re in talks, and I think we should stop giving it lip service. Let’s get it going in the next three or so years.”

Jeff Wilson expressed concerns about balancing international star power with local player development, while fellow former New Zealand international Justin Marshall emphasised the importance of patience, citing the Jaguares’ trajectory from early struggles to 2019 finalists and Moana Pasifika’s gradual improvement.

Muliaina, though, reiterated his belief that South Africans are eager to return to Super Rugby.

“Now is the time to get a little bit innovative and go well ‘Hey let’s have some South Africans’, entice them to come back. I know the South Africans want to come back to Super Rugby, don’t get me wrong, entice them to come back and then build.”

Stephen Donald, meanwhile, suggested prioritising Argentinian recruits given their World Cup pedigree and lack of domestic professional opportunities.

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