Interestingly enough, the national inter-state 50 overs cricket competition is being staged in its entirety, every match, at Bankstown Oval in Sydney.
Between three ovals I think. North Sydney, Bankstown and Hurstville.
I must have misread the report, I take very little interest in the local cricket these days.
I think quite a few teams would be able to find the money to pay $250K for entry into this comp. there must be something to it as the Premier Rugby comp will finish in July next year.
User pays is the way ahead for the ARU. It's what they have done with the junior gold program and it will probably work in this case too. Reduce the risk on the governing body to prop up teams that can't run things properly off the field.
If they get a sponsor and a TV deal, then they could have prize money for the comp winners too.
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What would the ARU use the licence fee for? I'm guessing ground hire, admin and promoting the event?
On top of the licence fee, I presume the clubs must also pay for: playing kit, match payments, travel and accommodation.
Honestly what is wrong with having a knockout RWC style comp. for the semi finalists from the major club comps, including Canberra, Perth and Melbourne.
I am against further devaluing the Club scene. For the whole history of successful Australian Rugby the club scene produced and supported not only players but fans. National Club champions has a nice sound and it builds on the traditional base of the game, not trying to create something from scratch. It has the advantages of re-inforcing the clubs and the traditions. It has the disadvantages of having to deal with the same old power cliques.
Gnostic,
Only the supporters of the lucky few clubs would be interested, surely?
Is a rugby fan in, say, Perth, really interested to watch Eastwood play Brothers, for example?
They will watch their Club semi/finalists do battle with the semi/finalists from the other comps for the National Championship. I was never a Uni fan, but I still watched the Shute for the last few years and when they played the Bris. champions as well. In fact I watched those games on the ABC instead of the Super games on at the same time.
There are plenty of arguments, and valid ones, against using the existing clubs, but I just do not see any of the other plans being able to be self supporting, or providing pathways to develop players properly as is the ultimate goal for the whole debate.
They will watch their Club semi/finalists do battle with the semi/finalists from the other comps for the National Championship. I was never a Uni fan, but I still watched the Shute for the last few years and when they played the Bris. champions as well. In fact I watched those games on the ABC instead of the Super games on at the same time.
As I said Wamberal I don;t think in the current climate of declining support make-up sides would be able to develop enough support to carry them through. If the ARC had continued those teams could have developed over the last few years, but that didn't happen and I doubt it could now get traction without the Super Rug by Stars which aren't available at any time during the season with the increased Super and RC seasons. Being from the bush I formed no attachment and supported no ARC side though I did watch the few games that were televised.
There are plenty of arguments, and valid ones, against using the existing clubs, but I just do not see any of the other plans being able to be self supporting, or providing pathways to develop players properly as is the ultimate goal for the whole debate.
As much as I want a 3rd Tier I don't want it just so we can say we have a competition that is the equal of the the ITM Cup by having 10 teams etc.
What we desperately need is a competition that isn't as good as one or the other but better. While having ten teams would be nice, if they are to be independent then we need to consider a number more around 6 and anymore from there would just be an unexpected luxury.
.The issue with having the top club teams in a post season comp is that not all the best players will be part of it. I think you'll find all the talent will be attracted to clubs that are a chance of making the finals and the other clubs will just be making up the numbers.
Agreed. It's the way it needs to be. I'm not sure many clubs could muster say $250,000 it could cost on their own, well not too many in Sydney at least. But I think it would be doable for some and for any looking to join forces.
If the ARU can secure a TV/Sponsorship deal any money could be used to help offset some of the costs for teams.
Keep things simple.
When Uni Crueled Manly after the bell in the semi's Tim Davidson said this is our Third Tier. I recall he said that game was up there with the best and toughest he'd played in. A lot of posters on here thought the same.
Instead if spilling cash on creating something new, why don't we promote and build on what we have?
Or is that 2 Simple?
Shute is unchanged, so build on that by.
After Shute top 5 NSW, Top 4 QLD (or regional zones, but that costs and requires new infrastructure), Force Academy, Rebels, Academy, Brumbies Academy play in a comp.
Super players return to their Shute, Premier Clubs, and the Force, Reb's, Brumbies use their Foreign players and the best of their club.