KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Ted Thorn (20)
As someone which is assuredly younger than you, I can tell you, you're wrong.
Australian Rugby / RA
- Thread starter Dave Beat
- Start date
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
I for one am shocked that someone with a name like @KentwellCup>ShuteShield believes club rugby is the messiah that will lead us to the promised lands
KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Ted Thorn (20)
I dont think club rugby is the messiah to take us to the promised land. I just think it has more legs as a competition, to drive fan engagment than a Super Rugby "A" competition.
The biggest problem I see with the Club based system is you will create the Haves/Have nots. All the Rep/fringe rep players will end up at the strongest clubs who are most likely to play this comp each year, and the clubs lower down will find it almost impossible to attract talent and you will cruel the competition (SS/Hospital Cup). I think the Super Au style comp is a much better option run inline with current 16/19s
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
I'm not much older than yourself but agree with Derp. Outside of some pretty specific circles relating to the neighbourhood you live, school you went to, or family you grew up in, there is pretty limited broader public interest in club rugby.
No chance imo. Too many teams in too small an area to capture a wide enough fanbase to be able to a) grow substantially, and b) be somewhat representative at a national scale
KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Ted Thorn (20)
I agree, that why I said earlier in terms of players development, logistics and finance a Super Rugby A comp works better.
KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Ted Thorn (20)
Fair enough.
EDIT: but lets be honest, if you didn't go to a "rugby school" and you're already interested in Rugby, you defintely have a connection or live in area represented by a premier club.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Those numbers aren't great, and they don't justify spending more to try and turn this into more of a "product" then the development focus.
If the Reds A didn't already draw a few thousand to Ballymore to play the Force A I'd consider it a failure, based on trial attendances this year. I'd expect games vs the tahs and Brumbies to both then be higher than that as a baseline.
The point of a comp like this is development first and foremost, any product is bonus. If you start spending to make product (and compromising the development outcomes) you need much better returns, probably crowds in the neighbourhood of 10k, better than half the super teams already draw. Don't forget super Rugby doesn't pull in enough revenue to be self sustaining, it's reliant on the Wallabies broadcast money to work (if it even does).
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Age has little to do with it. I actually played for a Shute club and the crowds are not there.
KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Ted Thorn (20)
He said schoolkids have little interest, as someone most likely closer to school age to him, I know he is wrong. I'm not the one who bought it up.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
Again, I think that's a reasonably narrow view, but it's understandable and is no doubt reflective of your experience. In contrast, I've always had an interest in rugby, went to a rugby school, and have always lived within 20 minutes of various prem teams' home grounds - but I have zero allegiances to any club, nor do I follow prem rugby in any way (apart from sometimes chucking it on Stan on a quiet a Saturday arvo).
I'd suggest at least 80% of mates and family who are serious union fans are the same. In my experience, only those who played for a club at some point along the way follow the game at club level in any sort of capacity - and I don't think any permutation of a national club comp will change that.
KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Ted Thorn (20)
So you're saying, If we had national third tier of clubs, which had pros playing in it. You would not take any interest in it whatsoever?
What do we work with instead then? We've tried the NRC, which was a fail. So what avenues are left?
What do we work with instead then? We've tried the NRC, which was a fail. So what avenues are left?
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Derpus is one of our younger members going around, he still doesn't get a seniors discount like the rest of the folk here
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
Honestly, probably not - but even if I did, it's unlikely to capture a wider or more engaged audience (particularly of 'casual' fans - i.e., not someone posting on here) than any of the other options.
I disagree that the NRC was a failure, at least of its own doing, but that's been discussed ad nauseam so we won't go into that. The proposed 'A' comp is the most contextually suitable idea that's been floated imo.
KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Ted Thorn (20)
Even by the virtue of supporting the team from your local area?
Dismal Pillock
Michael Lynagh (62)
Would people please stop posting this word, my ankle monitor has started setting off the buildings smoke detectors.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
My local area growing up had two QPR clubs that were a 5 minute drive from one another, and most of the QPR teams are within a 20km radius - the tribalism really isn't there unless you played for one of them. To be frank, I don't even think most casual rugby fans would know who the QPR teams are let alone where their home grounds are.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
And they certainly wouldn't know anything about opposition teams from different comps
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
Aussie rugby fans don't even know anything about the All Blacks anymore. The whole disconnect with the fans and the 'brand' of rugby is growing.