PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
QLDer here that’s played at a few Prem clubs. People most certainly care more for the Reds than any club team.
Not sure I agree with that.
QLDer here that’s played at a few Prem clubs. People most certainly care more for the Reds than any club team.
Mate look how long the French season is, they are also far better than the wallabiesYep but AFL's international season is somewhat shorter. I don't think making a comp longer is the answer.
Agreed mate, but also I think you will find they have employ and awful lot of quality players from oversea to be able to have a worthwhile comp.Mate look how long the French season is, they are also far better than the wallabies
Whole of Europe plays close to double the number of games the Aus Super Rugby Teams play - there are 35 players in each AU Super Rugby Team? I looked at a couple of the English teams - and they have around 40 squad numbers, but that also includes their Elite Academy players - and those players who are not regulars play in the English 2nd Tier for experience.Agreed mate, but also I think you will find they have employ and awful lot of quality players from oversea to be able to have a worthwhile comp.
They are filling 28 professional sidesAgreed mate, but also I think you will find they have employ and awful lot of quality players from oversea to be able to have a worthwhile comp.
Agreed, I not saying anyone's wrong, just saying if you want a decent long comp, you probably need similar down this way? And would it be in anyway affordable?They are filling 28 professional sides
Then maybe the game needs to look at the Test Window schedule, because not have players available from July essentially prevents you from producing an attractive domestic competition.Our issue is all about timing.
You effectively don't have test players available from July onwards so your competition needs to finish before then.
The advantage the Northern Hemisphere comps have is that with a season running from approximately August to May with the two test windows being in October/November (End of year tour) and February/March (6 Nations) means there are no issues with player availability for the finals.
It's only AUS that don't manage it - NZ manage it and then go into their NPC, SA play domestic rugby successfully in Europe (best decision they made), and Argentinian players already play in Europe.Then maybe the game needs to look at the Test Window schedule, because not have players available from July essentially prevents you from producing an attractive domestic competition.
This prevents the game from growing a better domestic support base, that is fine if Test matches can support the code, which it clearly cannot do.
Yes, but Rugby Union is far more entrenched than in Australia, where we are at best 4-5th most popular sport.It's only AUS that don't manage it - NZ manage it and then go into their NPC, SA play domestic rugby successfully in Europe (best decision they made), and Argentinian players already play in Europe.
We could play a double round robinAgreed, I not saying anyone's wrong, just saying if you want a decent long comp, you probably need similar down this way? And would it be in anyway affordable?
Yep and would enjoy that too mate. I know there are timing problems with test season, but would be good. Perhaps less teams and a full double round robin is doable?We could play a double round robin
We need more games cutting the amount of teams doesn’t help thatYep and would enjoy that too mate. I know there are timing problems with test season, but would be good. Perhaps less teams and a full double round robin is doable?
Which NZ teams are you suggesting get cut?Yep and would enjoy that too mate. I know there are timing problems with test season, but would be good. Perhaps less teams and a full double round robin is doable?
Which NZ teams are you suggesting get cut?
I think that is a fair assessment - and the Aus Rugby Union Players will need to take that on-board; they are paid too much in Australia for a sport [in Australia] that can't afford them.The one thing that makes Australia almost unsustainable is the fact that we another dominant RUGBY code drawing our fan base. If you are a Rugby fan anywhere other than Australia then you are watching Rugby Union. Speaking from experience here as I grew up in London where obviously football is king. My whole family and all my friends growing up loved football, was the number one sport with most, but we also followed Rugby and in 90% of England that means Rugby Union. A lot of people will follow more than one sport but the anomaly we face is that Rugby Union has a far more successful cousin on doorstep. This does not happen anywhere else in the world, everywhere else the dominant sport is either RU (NZ and SA) or football, a significantly different game. In Australia if you want to follow Rugby or have an interest in it the dominant Rugby game is League. This means that from a young age the blanket coverage in the media of a Rugby game is league. You cannot win the hearts and minds of the kids coming through if they don't see the game constantly playing out in the media. So straight away RU is on the back foot in Australia. In WA Rugby Union is probably the number two sport. However, it is hard to argue that it is better than number three anywhere else including Qld and NSW, AFL still gets far larger crowds in Sydney and Brisbane than RU.
The key issue here is finances. The majority of people can only afford to financially follow one sport meaning the dominate sport in each region gets the majority of the money. As you reach the higher economic earners you may see a financial following in more than one sport but that is a low number that can afford it and the number of people gets less at each level of popularity. This is becoming even more pronounced as the cost of living is going up. There is only so much money available for people to spend on their entertainment and as the third string sport the amount available to RU is very small.
We cannot compete with other countries and we cannot compete with the other sports in Australia, we have to stop pretending we can or we will see the end of the professional game in this country. Melbourne Rebels are just the tip of the iceberg, the Tahs got bailed out by RA they are losing money hand over fist. The Brumbies are successful on the field but can't make a profit. It seems like the Reds maybe just breaking even and the Force are propped up by a Billionaire's generosity, it would only take a downturn in the global economy or a change to Australia's tax laws for that to disappear. The game cannot continue to spend the way it currently does and survive.
Perhaps Highlanders and MP (Moana Pasifika)?? Strengthen up the rest to make the comp more competitive?? Give a bit more money for other teams too!Which NZ teams are you suggesting get cut?