UPDATE 1-Rugby-Bigger Super 14 playoffs first step in expansion

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By Ken Borland

PERTH, July 18 (Reuters) - SANZAR officials on Friday described a proposal to expand the Super 14 playoffs to six teams from next season as the first step towards growing the competition and making it the best in world rugby.

The Super 14 at present follows a league format with the top four reaching the semi-finals. Under Friday's proposal from the South African, New Zealand and Australian rugby boards (SANZAR) the top six would be involved in the playoffs over three weeks.

SANZAR, an amalgamation of the three national boards, runs both the Super 14 and Tri-nations competitions.

"We recognise that our product needs a giant leap forward and the expansion of the playoff series is the first concrete step in that evolution," Jonathan Stones, managing director of SA Rugby, told a media conference in Perth.

"The expansion will happen in 2009 and thereafter we are aiming for much bigger leaps forward. We want to invigorate that leg of the competition and keep the interest going for as long as possible," Stones said.

Steve Tew, chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said SANZAR was trying to ensure the southern hemisphere's best players remained in the Super 14 and Tri-nations competitions.

"We want the most commercially attractive competitions, so our ultimate goal is to retain the best talent.