WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
That's sort of my thinking. With the relative clear air we got in the first 4-5 rounds our ratings were quite good. We should be looking at making that a more prolonged and consistent thing.
NRC onwards and upwards
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
That's sort of my thinking. With the relative clear air we got in the first 4-5 rounds our ratings were quite good. We should be looking at making that a more prolonged and consistent thing.
Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
Either that or they will search short deals in Europe/Japan to bridge the gap. Places like Italy or the French Pro D2 could see an influx of players on 2/3 month deals. Guys looking for experiences while also earning a few extra dollars
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
You’re right, that’d be under the proviso the NRC is no more and no professional domestic alternative was offered.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
A new season is upon us.
Was good to see Alivereti Veitokani win the Fiji Sportsman of the Year award a few months back, based largely on his expliots in the toast rack-winning Fijian Drua team.
The would-be Reds poach won't be playing NRC this time around, though.
I haven't seen any squad names for the Drua at this stage, but my gut feel is they won't be quite as dominant in 2019 as they were last year.
Should be an interesting comp!
Was good to see Alivereti Veitokani win the Fiji Sportsman of the Year award a few months back, based largely on his expliots in the toast rack-winning Fijian Drua team.
The would-be Reds poach won't be playing NRC this time around, though.
I haven't seen any squad names for the Drua at this stage, but my gut feel is they won't be quite as dominant in 2019 as they were last year.
Should be an interesting comp!
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
The Shield got a mention or two during the NRC season. The problem to me is that there are too few teams and games where the Shield is up for contest for it to be taken too seriously. IMO, given the short duration of NRC, it should be contested every week regardless of the game being a home or away fixture for the holder.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
NSW Country
Nah. If you want something to be prized seriously it has to be made harder to win.
It should be a proper Challenge Trophy, and this should mean having to beat the holders at the holders' ground to take it - almost invariably.
New Zealanders with their Ranfurly Shield understand this. Ben Whitaker of the benighted ARU didn't.
What a surprise, eh.
The Shield was contested by 63% of teams (5) in 57% of the regular season rounds (4). That's more teams and games than in the finals series competing for the Toast Rack itself.
You don't need more Shield challenge games. The need is for Shield games to be a harder challenge each time.
No more challengers getting to play for it at their own ground. Win it away. That's the challenge.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
If the ARU and Fox haven't reached the finish line yet, they'll just keep on going until they do.
How good!
https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/...t/news-story/161060620aaa3b678ad79072bfc7b6ae
A 25-team comp with inter-state rugby trips. Just imagine how much the standard of rugby could grow!
How good!
A new coach won’t save Australian rugby. Here’s an idea that might
November 4, 2019
Christy Doran
… <snip> …
Rather than focusing solely on who the next Wallabies coach is going to be (like that is going to save all of the game’s problems), what about … a National Club Championship, which embraces the excellent support and quality that exists throughout the grassroots level of the game.
… there is one fix that can build a bridge between the two widening gaps of the game – the professional and amateur levels – and that is to scrap the National Rugby Championship and introduce a new national club competition.
The NRC is a dead horse and never rising again … There is simply no attachment to the NRC and the men playing for the NRC sides have no attachment nor loyalty and love to the made up clubs either. That’s why unlike the NRC, where grounds are virtually empty, thousands turn up on the weekend to watch their first grade side run round.
… <snip> …
… the first thing Rugby Australia could do is draw up a competition which mirrors Europe’s highly successful Heineken Cup and is played throughout the respective club competitions.
The same format could apply throughout Australia, with the National Club Championships being played concurrently alongside the respective club competitions on a Saturday and naturally the season would, therefore, be extended and allow players of national interest to continue playing even after the Super Rugby season finishes.
Understandably, the vexed point, particularly in Sydney and Brisbane – where the bulk of Australia’s professional players come from – will be, well who gains qualification?
To begin with, all of Sydney’s Shute Shield clubs and Brisbane’s Premier clubs. That alone will see 20 clubs qualify.
Plus, two representative sides from Canberra, Perth and a single side from Melbourne. Five pools of five followed by knockout stages.
It’s time for a National Club Championship to be introduced. That’s the golden thread that can unite Australia.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/...t/news-story/161060620aaa3b678ad79072bfc7b6ae
A 25-team comp with inter-state rugby trips. Just imagine how much the standard of rugby could grow!
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Would a 25 team structure be a little too much to begin with. Wouldn't something a little more slimmed down be a more palatable solution. Say, the Top 6 from Sydney and top 5 from Brisbane. Two from Canberra and a rep side from both Melbourne and Perth. In the case of Perth. Potentially two. Play it in the same window as the NRC currently does. Two pools of 8 with 7 games. Top 4 from each to the finals.
What does it achieve though?
We need to be clear on what we want out this new competition (or the NRC for that matter) before deciding what would and wouldn't be worthwhile.
Personally, I don't know what we get out of a national club comp other than more content (of a pretty low level)
We need to be clear on what we want out this new competition (or the NRC for that matter) before deciding what would and wouldn't be worthwhile.
Personally, I don't know what we get out of a national club comp other than more content (of a pretty low level)
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
When the NRC was launched, these were it's objectives:
it's probably fair to say that the first one hasn't entirely hit the mark, but I put this down to RA just not promoting.
I think it has been largely successful in the 2nd aspect, but could do a lot better (pay the players more).
The 3rd is probably a yes as well, in terms of content, although it does not match the ITM or Currie Cup.
To be honest the reason it hasn't met these marks is because RA haven't got behind and invested in it.
Any new comp needs resources behind it. Big Bash the biggest example.
it's probably fair to say that the first one hasn't entirely hit the mark, but I put this down to RA just not promoting.
I think it has been largely successful in the 2nd aspect, but could do a lot better (pay the players more).
The 3rd is probably a yes as well, in terms of content, although it does not match the ITM or Currie Cup.
To be honest the reason it hasn't met these marks is because RA haven't got behind and invested in it.
Any new comp needs resources behind it. Big Bash the biggest example.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
But as always you have to wonder whether it was willfully ignoring the need for investment or just plain old lack of funds.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
They could try spinning out more low level rugby to reap that latent broadcast bonanza. Let's call this the Gold option.
Or, they might try for a higher standard of game in that space - the Black option as Lord Laurie is suggesting; moving from no-pro/low-pro towards more pro. There are five professional rugby organisations in the country, add in Fiji and start from there.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
This is what I think the NRC should evolve into. We have Super Rugby likely going back to a single round robin and GRR developing into itself. Would be an opportunity to have a proper professional national championship.
S
Show-n-go
Guest
Agreed, we as the rugby public nor the ARU have given it the love and attention it needs to see if it is worth persisting with
Although I wouldn’t be against going back to
Rams (Penrith, west Harbour, two blues and Eastwood)
Fleet (uni, wicks, southern and easts)
Rays (manly, norths, warringah and Gordon)
We need to get some sort of tribalism back involved, it’s not great for country who obviously lose out a bit but force rays to take games to northern nsw, rams to western nsw and fleet to southern nsw