NRC 2018

[WorkingClassRugger]

Same as saying "Bandar - you are abosolutely right!"

No?

I'll say it then. Bandar - astute observation.

If I were RA I'd be reaching out to Major League Rugby and talking to them about how they've gone about building their model. How they drew in investment etc. Would likely help out the NRC.

 

[Rebel man]

I know it would be down to the Rising selling games but it’s pathetic that there is not one game in Melbourne

 

[chibimatty]

I'd like to see some actual promotion in Perth for the NRC and maybe a move to one of the well-appointed soccer grounds around town. It'd be fantastic if we could capitalise on the WSR interest and get some good crowds in.

 

[Scooter]

If anyone is interested last week's matches are now up on Fox Sports website.

 

[kiap]

National Rugby Championship appointments for Round 6

Queensland Country vs Sydney at Bond University
Ref: Nicholas Berry
AR1: Andrew Twist
AR2: Nicholas Leask
TMO: Nathan Welsh

Fijian Drua vs Canberra Vikings at Churchill ParkAR2: Latouka
Ref: Graham Cooper
AR1: Tevita Rokovereni
AR2: Aisake Drekeni

NSW Country Eagles vs Brisbane City at Camden Rugby Ground
Ref: Aaron Pook
AR1: James Quinn
AR2: Andrew Cox

Melbourne Rising vs Western Force at GMHBA Stadium
Ref: Jordan Way
AR1: Oliver Kellett
AR2: Shannon McLachlan
TMO: Rachel Horton

 

[MACCA]

Does anyone know if the 2 NSW teams were culled because of a lack of player depth? If that was the case, that really was a great decision (not).

 

[Slim 293]

The way that NSW have managed their NRC teams, they might want to think about culling it down to one....... maybe hand over the Country team to the ACT?

 

[dru]

We all know what happens with shrinking to greatness.

 

[spud]

I know it isn't over but what would the team of tournament look like?

 

[RugbyReg]

I'll do an article with mine perhaps next week.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

The best place I can think of to put this.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...iji-clinch-Australian-rugby-minor-premiership

WR (World Rugby) Rugby reportedly looking to fund another PI team in the NRC. Which I fully support. The Drua have added so much to the competition.

 

[Slim 293]

I'm perfectly happy to bring in another couple of PI teams, and maybe NSW can piss off and play with themselves in the Shute Shield........... let's see how that turns out.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I'm perfectly happy to bring in another couple of PI teams, and maybe NSW can piss off and play with themselves in the Shute Shield..... let's see how that turns out.

The way NSW has approached this competition is incredibly short sighted. But I'd prefer to see them remain engaged in some way. If they do bring in two PI squads then I'd be happy for just the sole NSW if necessary. Though, both NSW team did improve (albeit marginally) in the latter stages of the competition.

 

[Rebels3]

I am still adamant that the competition should be the following

Brumbies
Reds
Waratahs
Rebels
Force
Drua
Samoa
Tonga

Then two more teams
1 x NSW and 1 x QLD which is a representative team made up of the best players from QLD Prems and Shute Shield respectively. They can both play in Brisbane and Sydney to keep the club fans happy, while the Reds and Waratahs can take their 'brand' to areas away from Sydney and Brisbane.

Use the brands to build the competition and greater engagement with the community and appease the clubs with having their 'own' team rewarding the best of the best in these competitions, so the players are going against pros to show them what they can do at that level. Also allows for greater combinations to be built with the existing teams into their respective competitions

 

[kiap]

^ That's not the worst idea in the world.

Bigger 'brands' to the forefront. Rugby is not a big enough sport in this country to scatter its marketing to the winds.

I wouldn't make it mandatory for all Reds/Tahs games to be non-metro. Any team still needs their main home ground IMO to build their regular supporters following for the comp.

One (or two max) games played regionally by each team would be sufficient in an expanded comp with 7+3 teams - but I would include this for all oz teams.

Even the Shute/QPR teams (as well as the other states) can do their one out of town game. That'd be in the range of 7-9 aussie regional matches in a single round-robin.

… Package up ticket deals from main organisation, and by alternating H/A games you can have an NRC match in Syd/Bris just about every week of the comp.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I am still adamant that the competition should be the following

Brumbies
Reds
Waratahs
Rebels
Force
Drua
Samoa
Tonga

Then two more teams
1 x NSW and 1 x QLD which is a representative team made up of the best players from QLD Prems and Shute Shield respectively. They can both play in Brisbane and Sydney to keep the club fans happy, while the Reds and Waratahs can take their 'brand' to areas away from Sydney and Brisbane.

Use the brands to build the competition and greater engagement with the community and appease the clubs with having their 'own' team rewarding the best of the best in these competitions, so the players are going against pros to show them what they can do at that level. Also allows for greater combinations to be built with the existing teams into their respective competitions

I'd keep the two country's if we went this way. Which I'm not against at all. Could still do as you suggest as well in terms of teams composition. Looking at this you could almost suggest you're thinking of a structure that could essentially form a reasonable break away structure from Super Rugby.

 

[wamberal]

Would World Rugby continue to subsidise Fiji's involvement (and Tonga and Samoa as well, if they are included?)

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Would World Rugby continue to subsidise Fiji's involvement (and Tonga and Samoa as well, if they are included?)

Well, they are looking to partner with a number of Sth American Unions in the proposed Sth America Professional League which is set to be a commercial structure as much as it will be used for development. So there's a reasonable chance the answer may be. yes.

 

[kiap]

Would World Rugby continue to subsidise Fiji's involvement (and Tonga and Samoa as well, if they are included?)

For a while … say 4 years ahead at a time … they might.

In perpetuity? Well, possibly not.

I'd say what they might do is re-purpose the funding that Samoa and Tonga get for the Americas Pacific Championship - instead of playing in Uruguay, they play here.

.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

For a while … say 4 years ahead at a time … they might.

In perpetuity? Well, possibly not.

I'd say what they might do is re-purpose the funding that Samoa and Tonga get for the Americas Pacific Championship - instead of playing in Uruguay, they play here.

.

That's quite possible.

I imagine that if the NRC were to ever become something worth something commercially then I could see WR (World Rugby) backing off their funding a bit but that's a big if that would require a complete overhaul of the thinking surrounding the competition.