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But that I feel is the very crux of his point as of the end of this season there are no Rebels players to support. You don't change your support for a club when a player moves to another team so why would you expect someone to support the players. They support the jumper the player is wearing...

I will be supporting St Kilda in the AFL. It is just depressing on so many levels (I think I may have a masochistic streak).

There are no shortage of high value sporting events that they could utilize the same funding for. Hosting big rugby events is designed around two things bringing in tourist revenue and raising the profile of Rugby in Melbourne. By cutting the Rebels RA has effectively nullified one of those...

Is there an official announcement?

I completely agree with this. It is a vicious circle. Team reduction will lead to revenue reduction and revenue reduction will eventually lead to further team reduction, rinse and repeat. In my opinion the only way out of this cycle is through cost reduction, and that means player salaries...

On the weekend I watched a replay of the Bordeaux Vs Harlequins game from last week. That is why it is called the game they play in heaven. What an amazing game by both sides and came right down to the wire. If we had games like that here the game would be looking a lot healthier.

I would imagine the principal reason for RAs delay would be due to legal advice. From reading what both parties have stated, things may not be as clear cut as RA would like us to believe. There has been a statement that the Rebels had to field a team because of the RA contract, that matched...

My issue with scrapping the Giteau law will be the salary push that it will create for domestic players. We know Japan and France are willing to pay big for players to go there this means that without the Wallaby draw the domestic teams will need to match the money that Japan can pay to keep...

The issue is the power dynamic here. Rugby needs STAN far more than STAN needs Rugby. No broadcast deal and Rugby is dead in Australia. Nine knows this fact and will be more than willing to use it.

I am sorry but the idea that cutting a team will not reduce the value of the broadcast rights is simply fanciful thinking. The broadcaster is in this to make money not as a donation to RA. They will argue that by cutting a team you are cutting a potential viewing market and given Australia's...

Marley Pearce got 4 weeks for what was effectively an accidental head clash, although very clumsy. The judiciary have basically stated that Lomani's actions are just a little worse, not much, a little. It is actually an obscene decision and completely undermines player safety.

I don't know if $2m is achievable but I know it more achievable than the current $5.5m of which you have to spend 95%. Super Rugby is being bank rolled by RA which has to continue as the teams are not self-sustaining. RA cannot afford to bank roll the $5.5m for each team but maybe it can $2m.

This is really disappointing. I don't care about the headbutt it was stupid but not particularly dangerous, 2 to 3 weeks for that seems fine. Lomani on the other hand intentionally delivered the point of an elbow to the back of someone's head who was not in a position to defend himself. How you...

NRC was a second string competition, it already had a higher-level competition in Super Rugby sitting above it. That is the key consideration here, a weakened Super Rugby will still be the best Rugby competition in Australia and as such will retain the majority of the support it currently has...

I am not sure that the quality of the product is as big an issue as people think. The Rugby watching public in Australia is the diehards only anyway. Having your Valetini's and Topou's playing in Australia is not bringing more people through the gates or watching on the telly. Apart from the...

The issue is the amount people need to be paid cannot supersede what the game can afford to pay. If that means that 10 of the 35 are amateurs then so be it. The game will not survive if we continue over spending to the degree we are.

The Tarneit thing is not a complete solution but it could be part of a solution to the problem. The only issue is that the rest of the solution requires RA to see beyond the Sydney Eastern suburbs which will never happen. The game is not sustainable in Australia at the current revenue levels. It...

An elbow to the back of the head is just about the worst thing you could do. The France example above is nowhere near as dangerous as the Lomani hit. That was an elbow standing to the face/cheek swinging backwards. Lomani delivered the point of the elbow straight down to the back of the head of...

If the gentlemen (I use the term loosely) is found to have racially abused Lomani then he should be banned from attending Rugby matches for life. There is no excuse for it. However, this in no way excuses Lomani's actions and he should receive at least 10 weeks for the elbow. It is probably the...

If I was Schmidt I would be considering Canham for a bench spot though maybe a little early. I would love to be picking Flook at 13 for his attacking capabilities but some of his defensive reads have me a little worried so Ititkau may be the better choice. CG would still be my starting 10 his...