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I was replying to the suggestion that NRC becoming the second tier rather than the third would have the same interest as a TT. NRC doesn't have relevance as the teams aren't established. If a domestic comp centred on the 5 established and 3/5 new teams it would still struggle and the 3/5 new...

The biggest problem is the teams have no rusted on supporter base. You cant just generate 6 new teams and expect them to have relevance to fans or broadcasters. The NRC doesn't appeal to many because there is no affiliation. The NRL and AFL are built off that tribalism, however the AFL's recent...

The problem with a 6 team domestic comp is two fold. You cant just create a new team and expect fans to take to it. Expansion takes time to develop supporter bases. There will be minimal eyeballs watching on TV or fans through the gate which puts additional pressure on funding the venture. The...

Given it is non-contested scrums i'm guessing you drop a forward, also both games run with 7 backs you probably retain that. Just a guess though

There is obviously an appetite for anything at the moment sport wise which may reflect the increased eyeballs on rugby in NZ and NRL/AFL domestically. I guess the long term vision on whether there will be viewer fatigue with a 5 team rugby comp playing the same teams over and over would...

As I said it will suit league and its non-positional athletes. The full article is: Former New Zealand rugby coach Steve Hansen has been consulted on constructing a set of rules to ensure a Kangaroos-All Blacks hybrid game would be a trans-Tasman sporting success. The Courier-Mail has...

Hansen, the ex-All Blacks coach, has recommended a 14-a-side game - the perfect compromise between rugby league’s 13 players and the 15 which take part in rugby union. Lineouts would be scrapped, while scrums would be non-contestable, league-style pack-downs to avoid the risk of injury for...

With the amount of players signed from traditionally rugby schools they could field a team of near Kangaroos strength with rugby backgrounds, just off the top of my head there is Cam Murray (13), Crichton (12), Frizell (11), Croft (7), Keary (6), Ponga (1), Gagai (5). With de-powered scrums and...

This ignores the fact that a 8/10 team domestic comp that I assume includes WA/Perth (further than NZ) and potentially others Fiji/PI team/s (further than NZ) would require more air travel and be more costly than for 3/4 teams in a TT comp. Negating the original argument.

The NRC as a third tier semi - pro at best comp, flies teams to Fiji and WA (as well as melb - bris etc.), Im assuming any domestic comp would also require this. This is more costly (and longer) for a 8/10 team domestic comp than 3/4 teams to NZ for a TT comp

I assume you are referring to Oliver Cummins, came from St Augustines. Is a 10. Was an Australian Schoolboy last year as a 15 year old in League

Agree. Hopefully Penney lets Tepai have a sustained go. He showed in a number of the "A" games he was very successful as a power runner in midfield.

What makes you think there will be 40-50% less for player wages if the RA get a similar deal to FFA? While broadcast money is no doubt the most significant part of RA revenue there are additional revenue streams which may not be cut. Also the sizeable reduction of the significant travel costs...

How does a competition with full time and part time athletes work? What will the quality of this competition look like? This would be an almighty backward step. As I said this reduces the quality of the whole spectacle. It is an entertainment business. Reducing quality is not a good way to...

So who funds these 3/4 new teams? Assuming Force could be twiggy funded. RA cant afford to fund its current 4 with a renew and significantly less tv deal. WR (World Rugby) wont underwrite all of them. You are still talking about the second tier of overseas players. The top tier will filter into the top...

I would take a pro contract too. But I doubt an old overweight bloke would appeal to broadcasters, the public or help create the type of competition that would be competitive with what was originally proposed and that was a playoff with the NZ Champion teams. Nor would it help the wallabies...

Although the suggestion was for the winners to play NZ and Japan ultimately in a champion play off, with a severely weakened product we would be destroyed by NZ teams. This would further reduce the spectacle and also the value to prospective PE and Broadcasters. There are a number of layered...

How would Oz find the players to support 8 competitive teams? We don’t have enough for 4 teams. This would weaken the whole competition if they would further spread and compromise the overall product. Making it even less appealing to PE and/or broadcasters.

I wouldn't mind seeing an NFL type approach. They play the teams in their own division twice and then two other divisions once. They still crown divisional champions and still head to play offs. In terms of a TT competition the OZ teams play all other OZ teams twice as do the NZ teams in their...

I am a fan of both codes. Grew up playing both every weekend. They both have their pluses and minuses. League has lost most of the contested elements, which has meant the players are literally all the same shape these days. Rugby by its nature of keeping contests, which for the purists are a...