Super Round

Although originating in England's Super League competition,{{cite news |last1=Proszenko |first1=Adrian |title=NSW keen to poach Magic Round from Queensland |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nsw-keen-to-poach-magic-round-from-queensland-20190509-p51ls5.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment |date=9 May 2019 }} the concept was "owned" by New Zealand Rugby (NZR).{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Georgina |date=25 April 2022 |title=Hits and misses but Super Round worth a second shot |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/hits-and-misses-but-super-round-worth-a-second-shot-20220424-p5afp7.html|url-status=live |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427023143/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/hits-and-misses-but-super-round-worth-a-second-shot-20220424-p5afp7.html |archive-date=27 April 2022 }} New Zealand Rugby licensed out the concept to Australian events company TEG Sport (owned by Ticketek),{{cite web |date=11 August 2023 |title=Super Round Melbourne Bound Again |url=https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/super-round-melbourne-bound-again/ |url-status=live |website=super.rugby |publisher=SANZAAR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817222458/https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/super-round-melbourne-bound-again/ |archive-date=17 August 2023 }} whom in turn negotiated a two-year deal with Victoria's state government-owned tourism and events company, Visit Victoria,{{cite web |date= |title=About Visit Victoria |url=https://corporate.visitvictoria.com/about |url-status=live |website=corporate.visitvictoria.com |publisher=Victoria State Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319120004/https://corporate.visitvictoria.com/about |archive-date=19 March 2018 }} to bring the event to Melbourne. The event was also made possible from the state government's "Major Events Fund" initiative.{{cite web |date=15 November 2021 |title=Super Round Melbourne – Victoria Scores Rugby Blockbuster |url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/super-round-melbourne-victoria-scores-rugby-blockbuster |url-status=live |website=premier.vic.gov.au |publisher=Department of Premier and Cabinet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211160250/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/super-round-melbourne-victoria-scores-rugby-blockbuster |archive-date=11 December 2023 }} All New Zealand teams who had to surrender home games were reportedly given a flat fee of about A$300,000 in compensation for lost gate revenue.{{cite news |last1=Napier |first1=Liam |date=27 April 2022 |title=The Sauce with Liam Napier: The real cost of Super Rugby's ill-conceived 'super round' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/the-sauce-with-liam-napier-the-real-cost-of-super-rugbys-ill-conceived-super-round/P2CR27PI7APX6LZ5KLZ5JKOGAY/ |url-status=live |work=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430130533/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/the-sauce-with-liam-napier-the-real-cost-of-super-rugbys-ill-conceived-super-round/P2CR27PI7APX6LZ5KLZ5JKOGAY/ |archive-date=30 April 2022 |url-access=subscription }}

The Super Round was heavily criticised by The New Zealand Herald upon its first year for its location (Melbourne, 2022–2024) and its low attendances.{{cite news |date=29 April 2022 |title=Tight Five with Elliott Smith: The surprise halfback who could be an All Blacks bolter |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/tight-five-with-elliott-smith-the-surprise-halfback-who-could-be-an-all-blacks-bolter/OOKXIUPGSTTS7SV7ZTLT7DZ5XM/ |url-status=live |work=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508100405/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/tight-five-with-elliott-smith-the-surprise-halfback-who-could-be-an-all-blacks-bolter/OOKXIUPGSTTS7SV7ZTLT7DZ5XM/ |archive-date=8 May 2022 |url-access=subscription }} Calling the event a "flop" and "ill-conceived", the publication pointed out the conflict between hosting the event in a city dominated by sport,{{cite news |date=21 April 2016 |title=Melbourne named world's sporting capital |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/melbourne-named-worlds-sporting-capital-20160421-gobebk.html |url-status=live |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318141846/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/melbourne-named-worlds-sporting-capital-20160421-gobebk.html |archive-date=18 March 2018 }} particularly the local sport of Australian rules football,{{cite news |last1=Napier |first1=Liam |date=27 February 2024 |title= Former Super Rugby Pacific contender emerges as potential Rebels replacement next year |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/former-super-rugby-pacific-contender-emerges-as-potential-rebels-replacement-next-year/FAGQRT5FZFESJE4V5ADMGCACPU/ |url-status=live |work=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420103911/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/former-super-rugby-pacific-contender-emerges-as-potential-rebels-replacement-next-year/FAGQRT5FZFESJE4V5ADMGCACPU/ |archive-date=20 April 2024 |quote=The Super Round concept has failed to gain a foothold in Melbourne’s AFL heartland, with poor crowds undermining the first two events. With the Rebels unlikely to feature next year, Brisbane, Perth or Auckland could be asked to step in as hosts if the Super Round is retained beyond this year. }} which hosts ten of the Australian Football League's (AFL) eighteen professional teams. Speaking on the Breakfast with Baz & Izzy radio show, former New Zealand fullback Israel Dagg praised the Super Round idea and also criticised the event for its poor attendances and location. Dagg also mentioned Perth, Western Australia as a more attractive location to host the event.{{cite AV media |people=Dagg, Israel (co-host) |date=25 April 2022 |title='The audience was poor'. Izzy believes the location of the Super Round was its biggest problem |type=Radio broadcast |url=https://www.facebook.com/senzradionz/videos/the-audience-was-poor-izzy-believes-the-location-of-the-super-round-was-its-bigg/527806255754544/ |publisher=SENZ }} In 2023, Australian sports website, The Roar, called the concept a "winner" but had "far more potential than what has been delivered so far."{{cite news |last1=Parkes |first1=Geoff |date=5 March 2023 |title=The Wrap: Another Super Rugby Round of hits and frustrating misses |url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/03/06/the-wrap-another-super-rugby-round-of-hits-and-frustrating-misses/ |url-status=live |work=The Roar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312202406/https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/03/06/the-wrap-another-super-rugby-round-of-hits-and-frustrating-misses/ |archive-date=12 March 2023 }}

• Magic Weekend – English Super League's equivalent. Original model.
• Magic Round – National Rugby League's equivalent; first introduced in 2019.
• Gather Round – Australian Football League's equivalent; first introduced in 2023.
• Unite Round – A-League's equivalent; first introduced in 2023–24.

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{{Super Rugby}}

Category:Super Rugby

Category:Rugby union matches

Category:Rugby union in Victoria (state)

Category:Sport in Melbourne