Making rugby No 1

[Schadenfreude]

I read a little while ago that the americans were interested in 7s because advertising was easier in that format. If they see a dollar in it - it will certainly take off there.

 

[Karl]

Why is there no money in Rugby for better junior development? I hear this all the time. The players professional get well paid here and overseas, the Wallabies are a major force internationally, there are huge sponsors involved - it doesn't seem to make sense, but I don't understand the underlying financial position of it all.

And with Rugby 7's - its REALLY important not to have it cannabalise the 15 man game. Thats why I thought it would be good for a Summer 7's sort of comp - an off-season thing perhaps and for early Junior player appeal in a School Holiday format. Our version of AusKick.

My boy plays Cricket in summer because its that or something like Water Polo, which he likes, but there isn't really much for him to do other than train as a 10 year old. If he could be playing Junior Club 7's instead, he'd be all over it like white on rice.

 

[spectator]

According to inside "sources", The creation of a seperate Club Sevens competition is underway. What you may find is there's a great deal of inertia for the idea from club's

From a Sydney point of view (can't speak for other states) clubs are struggling to field their teams for the regular week in week out competitions during winter. A very select few have the resources to to field more teams for a seperate competition.

The coverage of just one Shute Shield match is equal to the annual budget of most Subbies Clubs, and some of these have more money than the Shute Shield clubs.

I agree that sevens is the window of opportunity for the expansion of rugby union. Unfortunately there is little will and even less money in rugby at the moment to get things started.

Club goes from April through September. Why not have a Sevens comp that runs from October to March? Why do the two have to be mutually exclusive? Admittedly the summer months can be oppresively hot, but a sevens game only goes for 7 minutes a half. Good way for club players to keep fit in the off season, and could even attract other footy code players who aren't into cricket.

 

[Schadenfreude]

It kind of depends on you point of view - if you have an abundance mentality you will think more 7s is more rugby, and more players, and will produce better results for both.

If you have the opposing view - what I like to call the chicken little syndrome - then all change is bad and anything that hasn't been around for a hundred years will be the death of us all.

 

[Jets]

Karl the reason that there is no money for better junior development is that the players receive such a large piece of the pie as part of the CBA. If you look at most super teams they struggle for money in every area apart from their performance department. It is ironic that rugby is seen as a white collar game but is the most unionised of all the sports in Australia.
I personally think that the players should receive a smaller percentage of rugby related revenue and more should be pushed into development of the game and more exposure. I don't understand why every player in the squad needs to make $100K+ per year. If you are on the bench and hardly ever play surely you are only worth $50K to the team. The whole pay structure is crazy.
Rant over.

 

[EVERYFWDTHINKTHEYREA6OR7]

Club goes from April through September. Why not have a Sevens comp that runs from October to March? Why do the two have to be mutually exclusive? Admittedly the summer months can be oppresively hot, but a sevens game only goes for 7 minutes a half. Good way for club players to keep fit in the off season, and could even attract other footy code players who aren't into cricket.

I think that this idea is Brilliant. The only problem i see is players not being allowed due to injury management and clubs not wanting the players that they have invested in injured.

It could bring players out who need the run. Imagine say someone like Drew Mitchell, who was injured early in the year was able to play to get bums on seats (Ideally im talking about a year that didn't have a World Cup)

Whilst i am not the biggest fan of Seven's i can only start to imagine the 20-20 like appeal it could have!

 

[Karl]

Rugby 7's is ideal for over the Summer. 7 minute halfs, less rucking and mauling, more "light weight" and open. It could be a fantastic spectacle and it doesn't need to be all of the Super Rugby players in it, although a lot would be well suited - there are plenty of great players looking for exposure, a crack at something, that won't impact the regular season. Rugby 7's is truly international and there's a lot of action in our part of the world too. It's also perfect for Juniors - a Summer Club 7's would work with seniors and Juniors. It would be good for non-traditional Rugby Schools as well - the Mungo-Ball kids can play Rugby 7's in the Summer. Great introduction to rucking and mauling for them without requiring the full on forward skills of the 15 man game.

You can run whole tournaments over a single weekend too.

Imagine getting Fourex Gold to sponsor a Barefoot Beach 7's comp Annual event at Surfers Paradise.

 

[PaarlBok]

7s in SA have their plans well in ahead for years to come. Just after the regular rugby season ends all the regions throughout SA have their 7s tournament per school qualifying for a national tournament in Rustenburg. We even have a 7s Craven Week for U13 & U18 age group from this year.
U18 tournament

U13 tournament

The school competition which was shown live on SA TV.

HS Tygerberg, Champion of Champions Winner for 2011
Thursday, 10 November 2011 12:43
The 2011 @lantic 7´s came to an impressive end at the Champion of Champions tournament held at Konka Sports Academy on the 4th and 5th of November.

This tournament was the culmination of hard work by players and coaches during the 2011 @lantic 7´s series and we had unbelievable talent and skill on display.

With the inaugural @lantic 7´s Provincials that took place in October, schools 7´s have now been firmly established as a permanent fixture on the SA rugby calendar.
The tournament was broadcast live on Supersport and MNET.

The show not only showcased the best young talent the country has to offer, but also afforded our young stars an opportunity to be noticed by provincial and national coaches.

Our Champion of Champions for 2011 was Hoërskool Tygerberg making it two in a row and the first back to back winners. They defeated a very impressive Hoërskool Oudshoorn in the closely contested Cup final 33 – 17.

Other results for the Finals were:

Plate Final – HS Monument 24 vs. 21 HS Ben Vorster
Bowl Final – HS Brandwag Uitenhage 27 vs. 12 Dale College
Shield Final – Paarl Gim 36 vs. 17 Maritzburg College

Thank you to all the players, coaches, referees, medics, organizers, parents and supporters for your support and effort to make this year´s @lantic 7´s series the best one yet. This was an unbelievable year, and we hope to see you all next year in the 2012 series, which promise to be even bigger and better.

Enjoy a well deserved break this festive season, drive safe and we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Kind Regards
@lantic

http://www.sasevens.co.za/

@tlantic doing some great work here in sponsorring the events.

Boland is the provincial champs in 7s in SA now for three years in a row. The game is perfect for the coloured players in the region .

 

[Melbourne Terrace]

Karl the reason that there is no money for better junior development is that the players receive such a large piece of the pie as part of the CBA. If you look at most super teams they struggle for money in every area apart from their performance department. It is ironic that rugby is seen as a white collar game but is the most unionised of all the sports in Australia.
I personally think that the players should receive a smaller percentage of rugby related revenue and more should be pushed into development of the game and more exposure. I don't understand why every player in the squad needs to make $100K+ per year. If you are on the bench and hardly ever play surely you are only worth $50K to the team. The whole pay structure is crazy.
Rant over.

If don't pay them enough they will just move to europe regardless of natonal team exile. Players here are already underpaid when you look at the global market. Alternative revenue needs to be found now as costs really can't be decreased too much.


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[Dan54]

I admit to not having thought about 7s all that much, but the more I think about it, the more a summer 7 series sounds good, especially at school level, where kids will perhaps see a pathway to the Olympics for some, and if they play mungoball at present ARU has said they will have to be registered Union players to represent Australia, so could mean more elite kids to game, but hopefully below that level a lot more kids will get involved in game in general, if the slower fatties etc realise there still a place for them in 15s, anything that encourages kids to think rugby helps I believe.
Can I also add how much I have enjoyed reading replies to the thread, the reason I have enjoyed coming into this forum is the ability of the majority of posters to really care for the game and think a little what we can do to make it better.

 

[PaarlBok]

Another very popular summer series in SA is our own touchie series along the Southern Cape beaches.

2011 FOUR COUSINS HOT SUMMER OF TOUCH


There Are 7 Opportunities To Own The Beach This Year In The 2011 FOUR COUSINS Hot Summer Of Touch.


Does Your Team Have What It Takes To Dominate The Beach And Be Crowned the Open Tournament Champions For The Day. The Tournament Dates Are Below:

10 December - Muizenberg
16 December - Strand
18 December - Hermanus (Onrus Strand)
23 December - Struisbaai
26 December - Stilbaai
28 December - Mossel Bay (Diaz Strand)
30 December - Hartenbos

Myself never miss the Struisbaai event

Some photos of the 2010 series
http://beachtour.touchrugby.co.za/show_sub.asp?id=1731

Pretty sure it will work a treat in Australia.

 

[Scarfman]

Can I ask another question - WHY would we want rugby to be the number 1 sport in Australia? I reckon we want quality, not quantity.

How many people here are old enough to miss the good old days? Were they good because the players were fitter, stronger, faster? Was it because the Wallabies won more games? No, it's because the values of rugby were stronger.

I'm not talking about keeping rugby locked into GPS schools. I went to a CHS schooland love it when our boys occasionally knock over those posh ****s. I'm just saying that I VERY much doubt that my enjoyment of the game will be improved by doings the things you have to do to make the sport more popular.

 

[PaarlBok]

Can I ask another question - WHY would we want rugby to be the number 1 sport in Australia? I reckon we want quality, not quantity.

How many people here are old enough to miss the good old days? Were they good because the players were fitter, stronger, faster? Was it because the Wallabies won more games? No, it's because the values of rugby were stronger.

I'm not talking about keeping rugby locked into GPS schools. I went to a CHS schooland love it when our boys occasionally knock over those posh ****s. I'm just saying that I VERY much doubt that my enjoyment of the game will be improved by doings the things you have to do to make the sport more popular.

Doc you should never lost some good old rugby values when growing the game, need to grow the values with the game.

 

[Dan54]

Scarfie mate, I would guess if you have found rugby (as most of us old buggers have) has values changed, I think it more to do with society than the game getting bigger. Most of us who have been around awhile remember when if club needed something done you almost had to turn away volunteers, unfortunately these days have gone. I remember being a kid in NZ during 60s and for Saturday morning rugby thay would of had probably 2-3 people actually wanting to coach most kids rugby teams, and Senior teams was real battle to get job, I sure that doesn't happen now. Also the old play hard,(and quite often a bit dirty) and then all having a beer after game to laugh about it have gone for a number of reasons, society's approch to drinking one of them. As PB says, we can grow values as you grow game.

 

[Jets]

If don't pay them enough they will just move to europe regardless of natonal team exile. Players here are already underpaid when you look at the global market. Alternative revenue needs to be found now as costs really can't be decreased too much.


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If a player wants to go overseas then good on them. I'm talking about guys in the squad who have played none or just a handful of games. After they have played 10 super games or picked for the Wallabies then up their pay.

As for being underpaid it is relative to what they want out of their career. I think someone who knocks up 50 caps will be better off in the long run than a player who chases the money their whole career.

Why shouldn't the top end of the game pay for the future development?

 

[Karl]

I want to start a PaarlBok appreciation society. Love your work mate. On a few levels.

Now, how fast can we clone/adapt some of the SA ideas Mr PaarlBok has shared with us?

Ps how do I like Jets avatar?

 

[PaarlBok]

I want to start a PaarlBok appreciation society. Love your work mate. On a few levels.

Now, how fast can we clone/adapt some of the SA ideas Mr PaarlBok has shared with us?

Ps how do I like Jets avatar?

My pleasure Boet, I am fortunate enough to live in a rugby mad enviroment. Regarding Jets avator, that can be a very good reason to start playing touchies on the beach? :nta:

 

[Melbourne Terrace]

If a player wants to go overseas then good on them. I'm talking about guys in the squad who have played none or just a handful of games. After they have played 10 super games or picked for the Wallabies then up their pay.

As for being underpaid it is relative to what they want out of their career. I think someone who knocks up 50 caps will be better off in the long run than a player who chases the money their whole career.

Why shouldn't the top end of the game pay for the future development?

appreciate the sentiment and to be honest i'd agree with that but regardless of this even cutting pay to extended squad members would likely only serve to entice these players to consider overseas competitions of similar standard to their level but with better financial gains and thus decrease local player depth. Magners League, Top League, lower table top 14 and premiership teams or possibly decent championship and super 10 (local italy) teams would suddenly become much more appealing and realistic options to them if they feel they aren't being payed appropriately for their quality relative to global valuation of players. In this world market, cutting wages just isn't an option anymore unless you wish to risk exodus.

 

[Bardon]

Paarl's earlier post reminded me of something else that the 7s format offers for younger kids. The whole Cup, Plate, Bowl, Shield etc. format means that if there's a few 7s competitions held over weekends during the summer most of the kids are going to appear in some kind of final. Getting a medal can be a real motivator to a young kid to keep at it.

 

[PaarlBok]

Paarl's earlier post reminded me of something else that the 7s format offers for younger kids. The whole Cup, Plate, Bowl, Shield etc. format means that if there's a few 7s competitions held over weekends during the summer most of the kids are going to appear in some kind of final. Getting a medal can be a real motivator to a young kid to keep at it.

I still cant believe Ireland dont use 7s? Now that it change to an Olympics sport it has added value. Watching the young William Small-Smith from SA playing at the level you sure are going to hear a lot of this kid in future. He has been great on schoolboy level in SA and took it last year one step futher in CC U19 level. 7s right now is going to give him advantage when the season starts in 2011. Juan de Jongh has been a star 7 player earlier and the perfect place to develope midfielders.