Melbourne pitches for new place in Super Rugby

The Australian Rugby Union has officially lodged an application from Melbourne to become the 15th Super Rugby team when the Sanzar competition expands in 2011.

Melbourne will compete with a proposed sixth South African side – the Southern Kings from the Eastern Cape – in a bid to join the competition, with the successful applicant announced on 21 October.

Even if the Kings are successful, they will play in a five-team conference based in Australia, while the other 10 teams will be contained in conferences based in New Zealand and South Africa. Within the conference, teams will play home and away matches against each team, as well as a round against the bulk of teams from the other two conferences.

The confirmation of Melbourne's bid came almost a month after a decision was expected from the ARU. On 1 September the governing body said it would be delaying a decision on the matter for four weeks in order to settle reported differences between three groups wanting to submit a bid.

"The application to have Melbourne admitted as the 15th Super Rugby team in 2011 is now in the hands of Sanzar, and it is a compelling case," said the ARU's chief executive, John O'Neill.

"I also want to be clear that there has been a lot of unsubstantiated and ill-informed comment of late about the Melbourne application. ARU does not want to own the Melbourne team and there is absolutely no basis to speculation that a CEO and coach will be supplied or imposed by the ARU.

"What people need to realise is that we want the team in Melbourne, we want it to be a stunning success, and we want all rugby lovers to work towards the big picture ideal."