With the demise of the Melbourne Rebels this article in The Guardian is a timely reminder that the economics of rugby are not easy and fiscal restraint must be shown. It’s easy to forget that while we’ve lost the Rebels the English have lost three clubs, Wasps, Londons Irish and the Worcestor Warriors.
I would point out the Rebels were always going to find it difficult. There are nine AFL teams located in Melbourne as well as the Storm (which lost money for a very long period of time). Also soccer, basketball and netball all competing for 6.6 million total population of Victoria.
England’s second-tier clubs say they face being pushed into bankruptcy unless they receive a fairer deal in negotiations with the Rugby Football Union and the Premiership. The Championship clubs also insist the terms of the proposed Professional Game Partnership risk dividing the game “to the detriment of the sport in England”.
The RFU and the Premiership clubs are preparing to unveil an eight‑year deal that will cover all aspects of English professional rugby but, as yet, there’s no firm agreement over the future shape of promotion and relegation to and from the Championship, nor the confirmed level of central funding for clubs outside the elite.
After nearly two years of wrangling, Championship officials say that unless a more equitable financial deal is done it will be “too late” to preserve a viable second-tier league, with serious implications for the development of up-and-coming players, coaches, referees and, ultimately, the whole English game. They are also appealing for intervention by the RFU council that is due to meet on 14 June to approve the new PGP accord.
“The Championship clubs have recently been issued with a deadline by the RFU to accept certain terms or effectively be removed from the current professional game structure,” a statement read. “We have been presented with a proposition which we cannot accept.”
Crusaders hire external firm to review season.
From Rugbypass
Unlike what we reckon the Waratahs will do (QLD before that). Be honest, we expect the Waratahs will conduct a review followed by a world-wide search of Coogee Oval to hire either Nathan Gray or Stephen Hoiles to replace Darren Coleman. The Crusaders, on the other hand, have engaged Ben Darwin’s firm, Gain Line Analytics. I expect they’ll find that with a huge turnover in both staff and player injury this season the best course of action will be to stay the course. We’ll see.
“We do a review. We do one every year, sometimes we get external help, and this year we will,” CEO Colin Mansbridge told media during a 20 minute interview session. The Crusaders boss steered away from speculating on the future of Penney who is still under contract for another season.
“We will do the review,” Mansbridge said when asked on Penney’s future. “We’ve got to make sure we focus on doing a really quality review, it’s going to be performance focussed, it will be focussed on what we can do better. We won’t be scapegoating anyone and we won’t be making any knee-jerk reactions.”
Super Rugby Quarter Finals Teams and Fearless Predictions.
Friday 5:05 PM AEST – Chiefs v Queensland Reds at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton,
CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Dyer, Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai Seturo, Rameka Poihipi, Anton Lienert-Brown, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
RESERVES: Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit, Reuben O’Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona
REDS (1-15): Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, John Bryant, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lynagh, Mac Grealy, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Tim Ryan, Jock Campbell
RESERVES: Josh Nasser, Sef Fa’agase, Zane Nonggorr, Connor Vest, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Lawson Creighton, Taj Annan
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
I’ll be picking the Reds for three reasons: one I’m a Reds supporter, two, styles make fights and they seem to match up well against the Chiefs, and the third is the Reds play well against good opposition.
Saturday 2:35 PM AEST – Hurricanes v Melbourne Rebels at SKY Stadium, Wellington,
HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, Justin Sangster, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett (c), Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love
RESERVES: James O’Reilly, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tevita Mafileo, Brad Shields, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Richard Judd, Bailyn Sullivan, Kini Naholo
REBELS (1-15): Isaac Kailea, Jordan Uelese, Taniela Tupou, Angelo Smith, Josh Canham, Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin, Rob Leota (c), Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Darby Lancaster, David Feiluai, Filipo Daugunu, Lachie Anderson, Andrew Kellaway
RESERVES: Alex Mafi, Matt Gibbon, Sam Talakai, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Maciu Nabolakasi, Vaiolini Ekuasi, James Tuttle, Nick Jooste
Referee: James Doleman Assistant Referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon
Sorry, Rebels fans, I thought you had a punchers chance until I saw that you got the Doleman effect. IMHO he is a poor referee and not up to standard.
Canes by plenty
Saturday 8 June 5:05 PM AEST – Blues v Fijian Drua at Eden Park, Auckland,
BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Josh Beehre, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Stephen Perofeta
RESERVES: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu’a, Angus Ta’avao, Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Taufa Funaki, Corey Evans, Cole Forbes
DRUA (1-15): Livai Natave, Tevita Ikanivere, Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Leone Rotuisolia, Etonia Waqa, Kitione Salawa, Meli Derenalagi (c), Frank Lomani, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Waqa Nalaga, Kemu Valetini, Iosefo Masi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Ilaisa Droasese
RESERVES: Zuriel Togiatama, Emosi Tuqiri, Samu Tawake, Isoa Nasilasila, Motikiai Murray, Elia Canakaivata, Peni Matawalu, Caleb Muntz
Referee: Nic Berry Assistant Referees: Jordan Way, Reuben Keane
I can only see one outcome in this game and it will be a Blues victory. The Drua have been 30 points worse on the road this yea. Hopefully they put up a fight.
Saturday 7:35 PM AEST – ACT Brumbies v Highlanders at GIO Stadium, Canberra,
BRUMBIES (1-15): Harry Vella, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Jahrome Brown, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
RESERVES: Liam Bowron, Rhys van Nek, Sosefo Kautai, Nick Frost, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Ollie Sapsford
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot (co-c), Henry Bell, Jermaine Ainsley, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Oliver Haig, Sean Withy, Billy Harmon (co-c), Folau Fakatava, Cameron Millar, Jona Nareki, Sam Gilbert, Tanielu Tele’a, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
RESERVES: Jack Taylor, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Max Hicks, Nikora Broughton, James Arscott, Jake Te Hiwi, Finn Hurley
Referee: Angus Gardner Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Matt Kellahan
My only concern for the Brumbies in this game is that they seem a bit light at loosehead. They beat the Highlanders in Dunedin earlier in the season and I expect them to have too much class in this one.
Community Game
Congrats to the GPS Gallopers this week for acknowledging they had an issue with crowd behaviour in a Colts game last week and quickly getting on the front foot to address the issue. Banter from the sideline is terrific but there has to be a line and addressing the issue in a timely manner shows professionalism and leadership. Play on.
