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A Home grounds a failure. Singapore. Yeah, I agree with you there but they've had much better crowds than well any of our lot in Tokyo. Singapore was more to suit the Saffers. But if the conferences were to be re-aligned as they should be then that's a non-issue. Certainly better crowds...

I'm fine with the Greater Sydney Rams as the name as that was the original name for the franchise in season one. It's not a bad idea when it comes to broadening the net so to speak re: support base. I wasn't too impressed about the suggestion of it being re-named the NW Rams after Eastwood had...

I've previously suggested altering the season to move the NRC into the current Super Rugby window leading to it featuring all the best available talent. Run it over two rounds plus finals. From there. We shift Super Rugby into what would have been the TRC/NRC window but run it in pools for 8-10 weeks plus...

Which is why it will probably be easier to just expand the NRC using the teams we have now. Scotland have just announced their new semi-pro 'Super 6' competition that will feature above the club game but below the Pro 14. The schedule will involve a 20 week season. I know there are significant...

I tend to agree that an opportunity is on the horizon to further evolve the NRC with a level of club involvement. I actually quite like your concept but think it could be run over a longer window if it were to occur. I'd take the same composition and pool structure but run it from July...

To a point. Then there comes the issue of having some kind of connection. That's the SS biggest hurdle outside of Sydney and to an extent NSW. What connection does someone from WA really have with any of the Sydney teams. Same for fans in Melbourne, Brisbane or even Canberra. None. If the...

I agree. It would be ideal if each of the Islands could host their own teams but outside of Fiji that's really not an option. I was just suggesting it as a means of finding a way to be as inclusive as possible. Do you think that if Fiji prove successful in the NRC that something like I...

If we lose one and go to four I'd be happy for your structure DP but with a combined PI squad as well. Based somewhere in SE Qld (Qld has the largest PI population in the country apparently). If anything like Reg's comp materialised and the NZRFU were caught out I'm sure we'd be generous...

Pity no one within Aus Rugby has the nous to pull that off.

Cutting a team could prove an even bigger stuff up if some of the language used in the Pro14 statement regarding the inclusion of the SA franchises. Apparently it only represents the 1st phase of the expansion as the Pro14 evolves into a truly global competition. I reckon we'll see the other 4...

I've been pretty consistent about which clubs have contributed to which NRC teams financially. Simple facts are of the 12 5 have done so and they have done so of their own accord. As for the further definition. Well, capital doesn't always come in the form of monetary value.

You are aware you can invest in ventures in more ways than just financially, right?

No. Norths, Manly, Gordon and Warringah invested financially into the Rays. Uni invested financially into the Stars. The Wicks and East aligned themselves with Country as need the 'western' clubs with the Rams. All as non-financial minority shareholders. Eastwood elected not to do either but...

Only five commited to them financially. Being the Rays group and Uni.

Is this initiative only for in state residents? As if not I'd be very interested in acquiring more of the Force than I already have.

The ARU didn't get the 4th tier to fund the NRC. They gave the clubs the option to fund a franchise in it. They chose to invest. No one held a gun to their heads. The funding for the actual competition comes from the broadcast deal with Foxtel. It's no secret. It's all on public record.

I'm happy for the Rams gaining added strength. Just I'm not overly pleased about all their games being annexed in the NW of the city. Particularly as I live in Camden.

Maybe the Eastwood buy in is Papworth and Co. acknowledgement that the NRC is the best way forward toward a domestic competition not the old club line. Which is true.

The supposed Manly alignment is just an odd one for a NRC franchise that is supposed to represent the 'Western' half of the city. But then again. So is having the team based in an area many from the city's west wouldn't consider as part of the broader region.

Ross Xenos pressing his case for a Asia-Pacific competition in NZ. https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/95241129/Forget-South-Africa-only-an-Australasian-competition-will-make-rugby-super-again?cid=app-iPhone