Wallabies great Will Genia says the current coronavirus challenges could be a chance to "reinvigorate" Super Rugby.
Super Rugby has been heavily criticised in recent seasons with crowds dropping across the board and low audiences, particularly for games featuring South African opponents being played overnight in Australia.
The current season has been suspended for just over a month and SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos is still publicly holding out hope that some form of the competition could be revived as late ast October this year.
Suspension of Super Rugby had led to SANZAAR and its member unions looking at a host of different structures to fill the void, including holding domestic competitions should international travel bans remain.
Though Genia's Super Rugby days are over the veteran halfback watches the tournament closely and has seen the competition at times where Suncorp Stadium was selling out regularly and when clubs have struggled to attract five-figure crowds each week.
Genia said the lack of rugby being played, and the ongoing challenges being faced amid the coronavirus pandemic, could be an opportunity to review the best structure.
"You've just got to look at crowd attendances, how they’ve dropped consistently, TV ratings as well," he said.
"So maybe as a positive to come out this, you can reinvigorate the competition whether that's by keeping it to Australia and NZ and in the Asian market or even just domestically.
"Something that's time-zone friendly. Spectators just aren't staying up until 1am to watch those overseas games, there's not much interest in those anymore."
Genia admitted that the lack of trophies and finals appearances in recent seasons had impacted the interest in the competition in Australia as well.
"I remember around that 2011 time we averaged crowds of around 35,000 or something," he said.
"Obviously that comes with winning as well and when there's no success on a consistent level, it means that crowds die off a bit."
Genia, who is currently in Brisbane in breaks between Japanese seasons, said Australia needed to find a way to harness the underlying passion at a grassroots level.
"The other thing, though, is at a grassroots club level, there is just so passion for the game, so much buy-in," he said.
"Rugby in Australia, I think a lot of people don’t really identify with some of the teams so maybe there’s an avenue to try and link somewhere so that people are more involved and more passionate at all levels.
"I don’t have the answers but if you can find an avenue where you can get hose people and intereste levels game
Genia said the key was trying to align a host of different views and opinions, something that a number of high-profile rugby figures have called for amid some public criticism of the national body.
"We need to come together an look for an answer," he said.
"Sometimes it seems people are coming out and wanting to create more problems.
There is no better time to try and look at some answers, we’re all not doing anything. No one’s playing any rugby, it's a perfect time to look at it.
"It's easier said than done, obviously I've got no knowledge of the business side but I'm just speaking as someone who has been around the game for a long time."
Outside of the competition's format, Genia said he was excited by the young talent being produced by Australia's Super Rugby teams.
The halfback has been working with Reds youngster Tate McDermott during his time in Brisbane and said watching the Reds this year has him excited for the future.
"I love it," he said.
"It’s honestly been the best seeing guys Harry Wilson, Lukhan (Salakaia-Loto) has been dominating a bit more and even guys like James O'Connor coming back - I'm really such a fan now and I just want them to do well."
