3rd tier is back in 2014 [Discontinued]

[WorkingClassRugger]

With regards giteau and Mitchell, I doubt they'd leave the south of France to play for (at a guess) a quarter if the money. I could be wrong. I personally can't see it being a worthwhile enterprise unless club rugby shadows super rugby and 3T shadows test rugby. If not it will just reshuffle the same players until super rugby players come through and change the whole comp. sounds like club rugby right now. We need players in an elite competition at test time so if injury/form slump occurs there is someone playing at that moment. Dave Dennis being called up to the wobs a month after playing for uni and winning by cricket scores doesn't really help him or the wobs.

The articles in relation to this state that in theproposal the club rung will move forward into line with Super Rugby and the NRC will run through roughly the same window as test rugby much like the ITM Cup.

 

[en_force_er]

Where is a south brisbane team going to play in south brisbane?

If we go a second Qld team it will be on the coast I reckon. And if I was at the coast at the start of summer, I'd probably rather spend time at the beach.

I'm firmly in the less is more camp when it comes to this third tier. We want legit teams, with high standards of players, supporter base and facilities.

We should have 5 teams. One in Sydney, one in Brisbane, one in the ACT, one in Melbourne, and one in Perth.

If the competition finds a good base maybe we could see if NZ want to enter a few teams. Or maybe even South Africa?

This could be big, we're onto something.

EDIT: Winky emoticon added to suggest sarcasm.

 

[Jets]

We should have 5 teams. One in Sydney, one in Brisbane, one in the ACT, one in Melbourne, and one in Perth.

If the competition finds a good base maybe we could see if NZ want to enter a few teams. Or maybe even South Africa?

This could be big, we're onto something.

So the Super B comp?

 

[RugbyReg]

Two Briso teams, nth and sth. Both to be played out of Ballymore would be my option.

We are taking ten teams right? So we'd have the same as the arc:
Bris nth
Bris sth
Syd nth
Syd west
Syd sth
Canberra
Melbourne
Perth

So just two more teams. They talked about a country team. Not sure about the 10th team. I wouldn't mind seeing:

- an irb funded Fiji warriors or the like. Fiji residents (or Oz based players). Would need irb funding.
- Oz under 20 team. Throw them to the wolves I say.

 

[Jets]

Where is a south brisbane team going to play in south brisbane?

If we go a second Qld team it will be on the coast I reckon. And if I was at the coast at the start of summer, I'd probably rather spend time at the beach.

I'm firmly in the less is more camp when it comes to this third tier. We want legit teams, with high standards of players, supporter base and facilities.

That was the issue with the Aces, they were based on the GC where people are at the beach and don't want to be watching rugby at the start of summer. The Gold Coast struggles to support sporting teams. It needs to be in Brisbane where the people are.
My vote would be Langlands Park In Coorparoo. Home of the Easts Tigers Q Cup league team.

 

[en_force_er]

So the Super B comp?

I was trying to make a funny. Apparently it missed it's mark.

For this comp to be worth something development wise it needs to be at least 8 teams.

Super B is a different beast because it gives a 2nd tier of guys a crack while Australia's best 115 players are otherwise occupied playing Super Rugby. This comp will have plenty of Super players in it so you need more spots, thus more teams.

 

[TOCC]

That was the issue with the Aces, they were based on the GC where people are at the beach and don't want to be watching rugby at the start of summer. The Gold Coast struggles to support sporting teams. It needs to be in Brisbane where the people are.
My vote would be Langlands Park In Coorparoo. Home of the Easts Tigers Q Cup league team.

Games need to be held at rugby union grounds, paying rental fees to other codes would be a waste of money. If they are concerned that the crowds would be too big for one of the south side rugby grounds then the games can be played at Ballymore.

Sunnybank and Easts can still fit a few thousand in, I'm sure they would relish the opportunity to host such a game and sell as many hotdogs and beers as they can.

 

[BellyTwoBlues]

I know I'll get my arse kicked for some of the comments below but so be it.

I've got some good friends at the ARU and my below comment is in no way a reflection on them (we all know you're reading this) but fair dinkum, who is the genius that has come up with the idea of having this PNRC (Pulver National Rugby Championship) running with teams from Melbourne and Perth in it?

It is a well known fact, that $3.9 million of the $5 million loss incurred by the ARC was directly as a result of having the Perth Spirit and Melbourne side in the competition.

It is also a well known fact that the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby franchises are running at a $5 million annual loss and both are being bailed out by the ARU.

So can someone please explain the logic behind the likely decision that both Perth and Melbourne will have teams in the PNRC?

Surely the fiscally responsible thing to do to start off this PNRC would be to exclude teams from those 2 cities until such time as their Super Rugby clubs can also be fiscally responsible.

It wouldn't really matter if they don't have teams in the PNRC anyway, all bar one of their Australian eligible Super Rugby Players come from either the Sydney or Brisbane Competitions anyway.

Start off with teams from Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra and grow it over time when public, media and corporate support is on the increase. Then bring in teams from NSW Country, Qld Country until Force and Rebels aren't costing the game $10 million a year in this country.

So my PNRC (or should that be BNRC?) clubs would be:

Year One
Sydney Uni
Sunnybank
Western Sydney (Parra, Eastwood, West Harbour, Penriff)
North Harbour (Manly, Warringah, Norths, Gordon)
Sydney City (Easts, Randwick, Southern Districts)
Canberra Vikings

Year Two

Sydney Uni
Qld Uni
Western Sydney
North Harbour
Sydney City
Canberra Vikings
Qld Uni
NSW Country (Play at Newcastle Number 1)

Year Three

Sydney Uni
Qld Uni
Western Sydney
North Shore
Sydney City
Canberra Vikings
Qld Uni
NSW Country (Play at Newcastle Number 1)
Qld Country
Melbourne (if they can sustain it themselves)

And so on.

I'd also make a rule that if any of the rich, well to do clubs wish to stand alone in the 3rd tier, then they forfeit their right to compete in the SS or Hospital Cup or JID.

That way, we wouldn't get the coalition of the unwilling like we did with the ARC.

And I might add, NONE of it starts off without a hotel sponsor, airline sponsor and coach sponsor being locked in. All games to be played at night so the teams can arrive morning of game, stay 1 night and leave next day keeping costs down.

For the Sydney based sides (other than Sydney Uni) all games played in Sydney to be at a central venue negating the clubs having a whinge that it's not at their field. So training venues can be wherever they like, but for the combined sides for example if a weekend is Western Sydney v Sydney Uni, North Shore v Sunnybank, Sydney City v Canberra all 3 games could be played as a triple header at Parra Stadium (example only). But ideally, in year one they look to play at 10,000 seat venues so when only 4,000 show up, it's still looks ok on the telly.

Unfortunately though, I think the PNRC won't take the softly softly approach a great deal.

My two bob's anyway.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I know I'll get my arse kicked for some of the comments below but so be it.

<snip> .

And your head patted as well.

 

[BellyTwoBlues]

And your head patted as well.

Probably with a mallet!

 

[Bowside]

Games need to be held at rugby union grounds, paying rental fees to other codes would be a waste of money. If they are concerned that the crowds would be too big for one of the south side rugby grounds then the games can be played at Ballymore.

Sunnybank and Easts can still fit a few thousand in, I'm sure they would relish the opportunity to host such a game and sell as many hotdogs and beers as they can.

I don't know if they plan on charging for tickets but that's pretty much not possible at club ground.

I can see a south brisbane team working for a couple of years but if this comp ever picks up they will be without a ground anywhere close to being in South Brisbane.

Like I said before 10 teams sounds like way too many. 8 Max surely.

 

[RugbyReg]

If fox are broadcasting then venues are going to need to be broadcast ready. If they are night games then lux levels will need to be considered.

In my mind Ballymore is the only option. Can be home for both teams. Either double headers or a guaranteed game every week.

 

[Schnarper]

Given Sanzar are now looking at an 18 team Super Rugby comp I think we need to ditch a b comp concept. It dilutes brands and identity. Rather focus on a full length Super Rugby season which competes with AFL and NRL

Make the Australian 6th team a western Sydney based joint venture team with the Pacific Islands (Fiji, Samoa & Tonga) ensuring players from these countries retain eligibility for their home country.

Then focus on creating a strong brand, following and membership for each of these. Rugby won't succeed until it gets a group or core 'clubs' with a strong broad following like a Collingwood or Souths Rabbitohs.

As an aside additionally even go February to July then go into internationals made up of visiting NH tours, Rugby Championship with a 5 nations alternating series (ie only 1 test between the teams - not home & away) and have series like Bledisloe and Mandela cups only every 2 years (we have seriously over cooked these iconic series).

 

[wamberal]

Two Briso teams, nth and sth. Both to be played out of Ballymore would be my option.

We are taking ten teams right? So we'd have the same as the arc:
Bris nth
Bris sth
Syd nth
Syd west
Syd sth
Canberra
Melbourne
Perth

So just two more teams. They talked about a country team. Not sure about the 10th team. I wouldn't mind seeing:

- an irb funded Fiji warriors or the like. Fiji residents (or Oz based players). Would need irb funding.
- Oz under 20 team. Throw them to the wolves I say.

Sydney North should be in Sydney, not the Central Coast, and I agree that there should not be a team on the Goldie.

 

[TOCC]

I don't know if they plan on charging for tickets but that's pretty much not possible at club ground.

I can see a south brisbane team working for a couple of years but if this comp ever picks up they will be without a ground anywhere close to being in South Brisbane.

Well the hypothetical there is surely "if this comp ever picks up", if it were a case that the Brisbane South team were to become too popular for a suburban ground then it would carry its mass appeal across the river and people would travel to Ballymore for a game..

 

[wamberal]

I like some of your ideas.

However, I assume that the rationale of putting teams in Perth and Melbourne from the outset is to accelerate the pace of growth (in interest, support, and sponsorship) - it would be a gamble, no doubt about it.

However, the competition has to appear attractive to the broadcaster and potential sponsors so a gamble is worth taking. Incidentally, the VFL (as it was then) was motivated primarily by the interest shown by advertisers if the game went national - the game did go national, and the results are obvious. I am not saying that we can achieve anything like they have, but the principle applies. National brands want a national product to sponsor and to carry advertising.


The teams chosen have to have some sort of potential connection with supporters and viewers (at the ground, and on the box). That rules out some of the names you have proposed.

 

[The Red Baron]

Well the hypothetical there is surely "if this comp ever picks up", if it were a case that the Brisbane South team were to become to popular for a suburban ground then it would carry its mass appeal across the river and people would travel to Ballymore for a game..

Ugh, I don't want people south of the river polluting the northside..

 

[Lee Grant]

I heard a whisper that some Foxsports staffers are interested in doing the games, or at least one game, on Thursday night because they are short on product then.

Just a whisper.
.

 

[TheBigDog]

I heard a whisper that some Foxsports staffers are interested in doing the games, or at least one game, on Thursday night because they are short on product then.

Just a whisper.
.

From a spectator point of view I think its a great idea. I loved watching some mid-week NPC games. From a players point of view it could be logistically challenging if they work fulltime. I guess that brings us back to the point of how the ARU want to approach these teams in terms of semi-professional paid players or a bit more laid back.

 

[lily]

Most clubs have been blindsided by the latest pie in the sky announcement. Participants?