Northern Hemisphere Rugby

[Dctarget]

Might have judged a book by its cover but I did not expect to enjoy Chris Ashton commentating so much. Smart guy with a great Mancunian accent.

 

[Italophile]

He's amazingly durable. We should hire O'Gara as a specialised Skelton Consultant just to work out how to get the best of him.

Simple. Plonk him into the strongest pack in world club rugby that is the foundation of their game and exploits his strengths. It started at Sarries and LaR have added the extras.

 

[Italophile]

Might have judged a book by its cover but I did not expect to enjoy Chris Ashton commentating so much. Smart guy with a great Mancunian accent.

Yes, he makes the rest sound ordinary. Which, to be fair, they are.

 

[Dctarget]

Lol, we lose Nawaqanitawase to league but at least we haven’t lost Louis Rees-Zammit to NFL.

Edit: his move is immediate aha, he moves to Florida next week. Gatland found out about it the hour before the squad announcement.

 

[Dctarget]

Also Alec Hepburn, the Australian prop who played for England has now been named in the Scottish squad, good use of rules.

 

[Dctarget]

Lol, we lose Nawaqanitawase to league but at least we haven’t lost Louis Rees-Zammit to NFL.

Edit: his move is immediate aha, he moves to Florida next week. Gatland found out about it the hour before the squad announcement.

Also lost their most promising wing talent in years, Feyi-Waboso, to England. Proper actual welsh kid. Wales must be in a dire place right now.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

In what position? Kick return?

If he’s not back in 2 years I’ll be stunned. They can get them on the international player programs and it’s an extra spot on rosters that isn’t against the normal 52. Christian Wade did 4 years as part of the practice squad without getting in an NFL game.

Still made 900k over 4 for playing pre season and staying fit.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

In what position? Kick return?

If he’s not back in 2 years I’ll be stunned. They can get them on the international player programs and it’s an extra spot on rosters that isn’t against the normal 52. Christian Wade did 4 years as part of the practice squad without getting in an NFL game.

Still made 900k over 4 for playing pre season and staying fit.

Too late to the game to have the technique to play defensive back. Too tall and light to play running back. I doubt he has the route tree understanding or hands to play receiver.

Best case scenario like you said is being an athletic body teams put out as a kick returner or punt returner.

First two years he'll make $309k AUD minimum per year if he stays on a practice squad for a full season. If he returns for a third he's considered an NFL veteran and his minimum pay will increase to $415k AUD if he sticks around. If he gets picked from the practice squad for more than 4 games in a season, he's considered a member of the active roster and will make a minimum salary of around $1 million AUD per year.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I know he's fast but I don't know how fast and the Corner Backs are elite instant speed and completely different skill set. I'd love to see a guy like that get given the ball at Wide Receiver but these guys practice at catching more like a cricketer than a Rugby player.

Specialist kick returners are becoming increasingly rare as well with a RB or WR (World Rugby) being used a lot of the time. Hayne was seen like this because he had the build for a RB.

He's only 22 so he's given himself the best possible chance. There is a Sydney Boy playing for Utah in College as a TE who was a Winger at Scots and NSW Schools. He looks to be bigger than LRZ but an interesting use of the skill set and the fact a Rugby player no matter the position is use to contact.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

I know he's fast but I don't know how fast and the Corner Backs are elite instant speed and completely different skill set. I'd love to see a guy like that get given the ball at Wide Receiver but these guys practice at catching more like a cricketer than a Rugby player.

Specialist kick returners are becoming increasingly rare as well with a RB or WR (World Rugby) (World Rugby) being used a lot of the time. Hayne was seen like this because he had the build for a RB.

He's only 22 so he's given himself the best possible chance. There is a Sydney Boy playing for Utah in College as a TE who was a Winger at Scots and NSW Schools. He looks to be bigger than LRZ but an interesting use of the skill set and the fact a Rugby player no matter the position is use to contact.

It's just too difficult in my mind to become a member of an active roster with his background since he's being thrown into the deep end of the NFL against guys that have been the best player on the team at every place they've been until they reached the NFL. For similar reasons I wouldn't back an NFL player to jump straight into any Tier 1 test rugby side.

College football would probably be a friendlier place for him to develop his skills and actually see the field instead of being a scout team body for NFL starters. AFL players that convert to punter frequently make college rosters but that's a perfect 1-to-1 skill set transfer and punters aren't expected to do anything but exclusively punt.

But to put things into perspective, the Utah tight end you mentioned is a redshirt senior (1 season training with the team but not playing games, 4 seasons playing) with 22 total receptions over his career. He's got the size for his position but his lack of production means he won't sniff the draft and would be unlikely to be signed as an UDFA.

 

[Dctarget]

Too late to the game to have the technique to play defensive back. Too tall and light to play running back. I doubt he has the route tree understanding or hands to play receiver.

Best case scenario like you said is being an athletic body teams put out as a kick returner or punt returner.

First two years he'll make $309k AUD minimum per year if he stays on a practice squad for a full season. If he returns for a third he's considered an NFL veteran and his minimum pay will increase to $415k AUD if he sticks around. If he gets picked from the practice squad for more than 4 games in a season, he's considered a member of the active roster and will make a minimum salary of around $1 million AUD per year.

Holy buckets they get paid a lot. That’s impressive, what’s the squad size and rough budget of each team?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

They start pre season with 90 and progressively cut it down to the 53 man roster for the season with 16 on the practice squad. The International Player Program can give them an extra spot which would be what LRZ is after.

Salary cap is about 230m I think, but it is pretty irrelevant with how many ways they have to manipulate it and owners can just pay a tax if they go over it. Players contracts are also loaded with incentives. Someone could on paper have a 50m deal but only 10m in guaranteed money. Signing bonuses are where rookies make their money if you're a high draft pick.

 

[Dctarget]

They start pre season with 90 and progressively cut it down to the 53 man roster for the season with 16 on the practice squad. The International Player Program can give them an extra spot which would be what LRZ is after.

Salary cap is about 230m I think, but it is pretty irrelevant with how many ways they have to manipulate it and owners can just pay a tax if they go over it. Players contracts are also loaded with incentives. Someone could on paper have a 50m deal but only 10m in guaranteed money. Signing bonuses are where rookies make their money if you're a high draft pick.

sometimes I wanna get into this sport but the effort and time commitment make it so unappealing.

 

[zer0]

Yeah the NFL be bonkers.

Even in college football, there are colleges that have stadiums the size of the MCG. Admittedly, those colleges are typically less a college with a football team, and more a football team with a college, but still.

 

[KevinO]

Might have judged a book by its cover but I did not expect to enjoy Chris Ashton commentating so much. Smart guy with a great Mancunian accent.

A Muppet on the field, but always knew from interviews he would be a good commentator.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Yeah the NFL be bonkers.

Even in college football, there are colleges that have stadiums the size of the MCG. Admittedly, those colleges are typically less a college with a football team, and more a football team with a college, but still.

There's 7 College stadiums bigger than the MCG and they sell them all for every game of the season quite often.

It makes the Universities A LOT of money for everywhere else. They just broke down the impact Nick Saban had on Alabama University during his tenure as head coach. Since his arrival there has been a 60% increase in enrolments and 57% of the students are now from interstate which the yearly fees are 32k as opposed to 11k for in state students. Saban was paid 120m since 2007 but the program has revenue was 214m in 22-23FY with an 18m profit. The numbers they do are insane and now even some college players are making over 1m in NIL money.

 

[Dctarget]

There's 7 College stadiums bigger than the MCG and they sell them all for every game of the season quite often.

It makes the Universities A LOT of money for everywhere else. They just broke down the impact Nick Saban had on Alabama University during his tenure as head coach. Since his arrival there has been a 60% increase in enrolments and 57% of the students are now from interstate which the yearly fees are 32k as opposed to 11k for in state students. Saban was paid 120m since 2007 but the program has revenue was 214m in 22-23FY with an 18m profit. The numbers they do are insane and now even some college players are making over 1m in NIL money.

Does the average fan follow college and NFL? Or do you pick a comp?

 

[Derpus]

Also Alec Hepburn, the Australian prop who played for England has now been named in the Scottish squad, good use of rules.

International rugby is pretty farcical.

Can't see him making it but I also don't understand why more outside backs don't have a crack at NFL. Someone like Kolbe, if he went young enough, could make it IMO. Theres also so little risk - they get paid a shitload to just train and if they fail to make a roster they just walk back into rugby.

 

[Dctarget]

If you're into watching the English get pummeled, watch this rather Aussie Bordeaux annilihate their darling Saracens.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Does the average fan follow college and NFL? Or do you pick a comp?

I'd say the NFL get more of the casual fan. They may watch their former school and the big games but not multiple every week like the NFL. College is arguably bigger in the southern/interior states because they didn't have NFL sides for a long time.