I believe the format of Brasil's national league would improve by being changed.
The dog's dinner image above shows what we have at present - no its not the Super XV, its the Super 8, and no its not the ABR, it is now the CBRu, oh do pay attention 007.
This year's Super League had eight teams, playing each other once (seven matches). There were five teams from Sao Paulo state, and one each from Rio de Janeiro, Parana, and Santa Catarina states.
The CBRu (Brasil Rugby Confederation) plans to add two teams next year, one from Rio Grande do Sul state, and one more from Sao Paulo state. (i.e. nine matches for each team.)
There is also a playoff for this year's last placed team, and they could be replaced by a team from Minas Gerais state.
This will increase every team's travel expenses substantially, which is a BAD THING.
Currently there is very little money in Brasilian rugby, the game is mostly amateur and without major sponsors. So...
I believe the sport's elite teams would be better served if the national championship had an initial regional format, leading into fully national knockout semifinals and final.
Based on the current top teams, this would give us the following divisions:
Region 1, South (three states) - four teams playing home and away: Desterro, Curitiba, Farrapos, Charrua.
Region 2, Sao Paulo state - four or five teams playing home and away: Bandeirantes, SPAC, Pasteur, Rio Branco, Sao Jose dos Campos.
Region 3, South-East (three states) - four teams playing home and away: Niteroi, Rio Rugby, Belo Horizonte, plus 1 other.
This structure gives 6 or 8 quality games for each team, with reduced travel costs. The three group winners plus best runner-up go to semifinals (with these travel costs paid by the Confederation).
The regions can expand to have more teams in them, and other regions can be formed, as and when required.
But it all needs a new name, as frankly my deahs "SuperLeague" is just soo passé. How about the...
AWESOME LEAGUE TM
24/7 ATTACK ! TM
THAT will pull in the sponsors!
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