Wynne Gray: Virgin on the ridiculous - Super 15 may as well give Branson a go

Richard Branson. Photo / Doug Sherring

A late expression of interest in the Super 15 has been filed from the Caribbean which will gazump any ideas about expansion to Singapore or Japan. The deal is a no-brainer. In this make-believe world, entrepreneur Richard Branson will underwrite costs of the Necker Island Consportium and build an elite waterfront stadium to cater for his rugby-loving guests.

Teams will stay at the nearby Antigua or St Thomas island resorts and travel by yacht or water taxi for kickoffs to dovetail with optimum television times in New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and South Africa.

Workmen have started the ambitious purpose-built Branson Bowl which will nestle into the eastern end of Necker Island, where guests can rock up just before kickoff to sit in air-cooled comfort.

Branson, who played loose and forward for amateur sides in Britain and the States, hit on the scheme as he worked on ideas to chase his broadcasting interests and expand his Virgin Airlines.

A cluster of resorts in his business portfolio fit into the South African/Argentine concept and he reckons each will have a rugby-specific stadium set to go for the 2016 series.

"I've been kicking the pig's bladder around since Brian Moore began barking," Branson said. "Footy's always been in my blood and while I can't get through to the IRB about some law changes, I thought it would be a great gig if I got into the expansion of Super Rugby.

"Greg [Peters] came over to tea the other night and brought a bottle of Chateau Sanzar from his cellar. I was able to tell him I would fund the entire Branson Boys from my slush fund.

"I think that rang a bell. His eyes were a little wider than I'd seen before. There's a bit of a quid pro quo about the airline stuff but that will all get sorted."

Branson will use other stadiums he's building at his Mahali Mzuri resort west of Nairobi, near his Ulusaba private game reserve in South Africa and beside the Morocco Kasbah Tamadot.

Resort guests will be the only spectators but as Branson explained there will be the most comprehensive multi-language television coverage from every match at his resorts.

"It's all about getting the TV numbers up and spreading the rugby gospel as far as we can."

Branson has also begun a stadium on his Makepeace Island retreat near Noosa so he can host playoff matches in Oz and is negotiating for a similar deal with a floating foldaway stadium in the Hauraki Gulf.

"Wind and tide will be guaranteed the same throughout any match so the biggest decision will be whether to play with or against the elements. If you want to be successful in business you need to pick up ideas and run hard with them."