For just a moment, can you imagine two-time Rugby World Cup winner Handre Pollard running around in a sky blue jersey for the Waratahs?

Looks pretty good, doesn't it.

Or try picturing young English firebrand Henry Pollock opting to stay Down Under after the upcoming Lions tour to play a season or two with the Brumbies, combining with Rob Valetini and perhaps taking the ACT side beyond their kryptonite, a Super Rugby Pacific semi-final.

French star Antoine Dupont would make one of Australia's Super Rugby teams an instant title contender.

What about the prospect of Antoine Dupont opting to spend a couple of seasons on the beaches in Perth to play for the Western Force? They'd become instant title contenders.

Could you just imagine? At the moment, that's all we in Super Rugby can do. Imagine.

But competitions in the northern hemisphere don't have to dream. Situations like that happen every year.

Watch all the action from the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match live and on demand

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It's an ambition Super Rugby should have.

Become a destination competition for the best players in the world.

After all, that's what other competitions have been to the best players in Super Rugby.

NEW PODCAST! Michael Hooper gives his verdict ahead of Joe Schmidt's first Wallabies squad announcement and runs the rule over the captaincy contenders

https://omny.fm/shows/rugby-world-cup-inside-line/captaincy-contenders-fly-half-flyers-2026-sabbaticals/embed?in_playlist=podcast&style=Cover

There have been some examples in past seasons. The likes of Englishman James Haskell, Welsh superstar Jamie Roberts and even Springbok Jacques Potgieter have spent short stints in Super Rugby. But it doesn't happen enough.

In 2026, another Super Rugby superstar is saying 'sayonara' to the competition and 'konnichiwa' to Japanese Rugby League One.

Ardie Savea, a revelation as player of the year in his first season as Moana Pasifika's captain, will head to the Kobe Steelers next year before returning to Moana in 2027.

Ardie Savea of Moana Pasifika speaks after receiving the 2025 player of the year award in Wellington.

Good on him. Fair play. Careers are short and players need to make hay while the sun shines.

Savea is not alone in this pursuit. Next year will also see Super Rugby void of Rieko Ioane (Leinster), Len Ikitau (Exeter), Angus Bell (Ulster), plus a multitude of other stars who are heading overseas on more permanent contracts.

As pointed out by former Wallaby Justin Harrison, on Stan Sport's Inside Line, this is not a disproportionate number of players departing compared to other years, but it does rob the competition of a certain level of star power.

New talent will inevitably shine through as they make the most of their opportunities, and, as pointed out by the Inside Line crew, allowing players to leave Australia or New Zealand on sabbaticals and then return is better than them leaving for good.

But the competition should absolutely be striving to attract the best players in the world.

The biggest sticking point is money. Granted. The UK, Europe and Japan can offer bigger bucks. That's the big attraction. No denying it. And it will take time to build to a point where we can somewhat compete on this level.

Former Wallabies star Bernard Foley in action for Japanese club Kubota Spears.

But it's not the only attraction.

Players also talk about the opportunity to experience another part of the world, a different lifestyle and a different style of rugby.

No one can deny that Australia or New Zealand can also offer that.

If the north are going to continue stealing a few of our stars, why can't Super Rugby aim to steal a few of theirs in return?

Speaking of the north, I can't express how exciting it is to have the British and Irish Lions' game against Argentina in Dublin live and exclusive on Stan Sport from 4.50am AEST on Saturday.

Then the famous touring side will touch down in Perth on Monday ahead of their June 28 game against the Western Force. They're coming.