QLD Premier Rugby 2025

[noknowledgeatall]

RA announced the intention to bring back a third tier for 2025 comp last week

What's that look like then??

My gut feel is it will be all the wider Super Squads ie players 19 to 35 from each roster.

Lets see if they unearth any new talent.

 

[JRugby2]

What's that look like then??

My gut feel is it will be all the wider Super Squads ie players 19 to 35 from each roster.

Lets see if they unearth any new talent.

I don't know mate - I just read the article.

But even if it is that, you probably will unearth new talent - as the reds have in the past 2 seasons during their off-season fixtures.

 

[The Whisperer]

They’ve floated the idea of Super Rugby AU
So Reds, Brumbies, Waratahs and Force players not included in Wallabies squads.
My only issue is this doesn’t allow for a lot of club players with squads such big sizes. Would love to see the above teams with an Australian Club Barbarians side

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

They’ve floated the idea of Super Rugby AU
So Reds, Brumbies, Waratahs and Force players not included in Wallabies squads.
My only issue is this doesn’t allow for a lot of club players with squads such big sizes. Would love to see the above teams with an Australian Club Barbarians side

Lets be honest though there is only 5-10 players in Club Rugby who are genuine chances at making a career out of Rugby. Aus would need the comp to be as strong as possible to create depth and test player. You make it basically Club players in different gear then its just a waste of money.

A Super Rugby AU with no Test players would give the next 10 guys a chance to show there worth to all the sides in Australia. 30-40 around the country.

Chances we find a Wallaby in Club land are very slim but the chances of a strong comp giving those non Wallaby but Fulltime Super Players a chance to keep growing and eventually become Wallabies is what we need.

 

[Wilson]

It was stated earlier that the Reds are promoting that they are profitable the last few years. I think circa 2 million a year.

But it is not about the Reds doing it all, I suggest the Hospital Cup stand alone in a business sense. Have its own board etc as a model that Reds can have an equal say / seat at the table if they want.

The reds have been profitable recently, but not at $2 million per year, and even if it was $2 million it wouldn't be enough money to fund the sort of comp you're talking about. I'm not sure what you mean by the Hospital cup doing it themselves, the comp is run by the QRU and isn't a managed by separate union like it is in Sydney. For intents and purposes Hospital's Cup/QPR is the QRU/Reds.

 

[Mismatch]

A national club comp starting with hospital cup teams and Shute shield teams after their respective seasons would be a good start to a third tier and then add further state teams if it ever got bigger.

Unsure if you would chose clubs to be promoted to third tier comp or just award say the top 4 of each competiton to play it out each year. Appreciate that’s kind of going away form a third tier more a promotion type club championship. However I am sure fans would get behind the tribalism of their club teams making it so far in the national comp etc.

 

[Cole]

I have a friend whose son is in the Reds Academy, he had his annual review meeting a couple of weeks ago and was told there would be a Super AU competition run in line with super 16s and 19s at the end of the year for wider squad members. Also was told there would be an U20s game preseason between Reds and Tahs, no mention of playing Brums or Force but maybe they will play eachother at same time??

 

[Pfitzy]

Horizon 1: SuperAU between the four franchises, Drua, and a barbarians side based in Western Sydney.

Horizon 2: National club comp between Sydney, Brisvegas, and Canboring. Scheduling TBC but ideally runs from late March to September.

Opt in model, with clubs having a minimum criteria eg. financial status, facilities etc. In return find a TV deal that will help offset costs.

Please don't tell me it needs to be on FTA. That ship has sailed, and we're on the dock.

Ideally 10 clubs to start (Vikings, 5 x Sydney, 4 x Brisbane). The clubs who opt in nominate 25 of their players to play in the comp, with transfer rules back to their "home" club.

The rest of their club stays as-is in Hospital Cup, John I Dent, or Shute Shield. Helps level the playing field at club level in the respective cities, while at the same time giving more players a run at a higher brand of footy.

Not going to turn profits, much like the NPC. At least would maintain the tribalism that the NRC lacked when inventing teams. And provides a steady stream of players sitting on that semi/pro border who can step up due to injuries in Super squads.

Horizon 3: expansion into other cities as required, with promotion/relegation along the lines of the UK model.

The days of club rugby providing Wallabies in the current system is dead. It needs something different, and financial investment from everyone.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Horizon 1: SuperAU between the four franchises, Drua, and a barbarians side based in Western Sydney.

Horizon 2: National club comp between Sydney, Brisvegas, and Canboring. Scheduling TBC but ideally runs from late March to September.

Opt in model, with clubs having a minimum criteria eg. financial status, facilities etc. In return find a TV deal that will help offset costs.

Please don't tell me it needs to be on FTA. That ship has sailed, and we're on the dock.

Ideally 10 clubs to start (Vikings, 5 x Sydney, 4 x Brisbane). The clubs who opt in nominate 25 of their players to play in the comp, with transfer rules back to their "home" club.

The rest of their club stays as-is in Hospital Cup, John I Dent, or Shute Shield. Helps level the playing field at club level in the respective cities, while at the same time giving more players a run at a higher brand of footy.

Not going to turn profits, much like the NPC. At least would maintain the tribalism that the NRC lacked when inventing teams. And provides a steady stream of players sitting on that semi/pro border who can step up due to injuries in Super squads.

Horizon 3: expansion into other cities as required, with promotion/relegation along the lines of the UK model.

The days of club rugby providing Wallabies in the current system is dead. It needs something different, and financial investment from everyone.

Brisbane: Brothers, Uni, Easts, Wests

Sydney: Uni, Easts, Randwick, Norths, Manly, Warringah

Does that sound about right for clubs? Just trying to think about which clubs have the financial backing, the players, and the motivation to take on the next tier.

 

[Pfitzy]

Brisbane: Brothers, Uni, Easts, Wests

Sydney: Uni, Easts, Randwick, Norths, Manly, Warringah

Does that sound about right for clubs? Just trying to think about which clubs have the financial backing, the players, and the motivation to take on the next tier.

I have no visibility of the strength of Hospital Cup. Remember to include Canberra aka Vikings which means only 5 Sydney clubs. Out of the clubs you've nominated, it would be interesting to see which of Norths, Warringah, and Manly would like a seat at the table.

Uni, Easts, and Randwick are probably lock ins

 

[The Whisperer]

Brisbane: Brothers, Uni, Easts, Wests

Sydney: Uni, Easts, Randwick, Norths, Manly, Warringah

Does that sound about right for clubs? Just trying to think about which clubs have the financial backing, the players, and the motivation to take on the next tier.

Definitely not Easts in Brisbane. Probably would look to like a Bond or GPS instead

 

[JRugby2]

What happens to the rest of the clubs? Do they become glorified subbies teams when our NCC clubs farm the best players?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

What happens to the rest of the clubs? Do they become glorified subbies teams when our NCC clubs farm the best players?

This is the part I don't like.

If the comp eventually withers which we can't deny is a good chance looking at history we have then crippled half the Prem Clubs in the country.

I have no visibility of the strength of Hospital Cup. Remember to include Canberra aka Vikings which means only 5 Sydney clubs. Out of the clubs you've nominated, it would be interesting to see which of Norths, Warringah, and Manly would like a seat at the table.

Uni, Easts, and Randwick are probably lock ins

I think it would be wise to look at catchments as part of it if you want long term plans. Those SS Clubs do make sense from a strength of 1st grade over recent years but you would want a Gordon who have had a resurgence in Grade but have arguably the best junior rep sides year on year in the country and your Uni and Easts are littered with their kids. You would then want Western Sydney represented. Two Blues or West Harbour out of Concord provide good facilities and not further pigeon holing Rugby to the Coast lines.

Probs for the If no NRC thread now. It's that time of the year with no footy and everyone on sensor light mode at work...

 

[JRugby2]

This is the part I don't like.

If the comp eventually withers which we can't deny is a good chance looking at history we have then crippled half the Prem Clubs in the country.

I'm not fundamentally against this by the way - ultimately if this is the right decision to make, then we should make it.

I strongly believe it isn't though - and would only financially cripple clubs on both sides of the fence even further. My bug bear with this debate is that people selectively promote the grand vision sans proper critical thinking.

I get that this is an internet forum full of nuffies (I include myself in this) and if this isn't the medium for vibes to thrive than where is? But I still wish people would explore the unintended consequences or risks.

Probs for the If no NRC thread now. It's that time of the year with no footy and everyone on sensor light mode at work...

One of the admins can probably move these messages.

 

[Pfitzy]

we have then crippled half the Prem Clubs in the country.

Half the Prem clubs in the current landscape are already going south.

 

[Bulldog]

With respect this is the QPR forum and we couldn’t give two hoots about the Shute Shield clubs or the Vikings. With the decline of rugby over recent times at Wallaby and Super levels a lot of us have turned exclusively to our local clubs to get our rugby fix.
I don’t want to see the demise of any QPR club all who have won a Hospital Cup in the last 20 years with the exception of Norths who are looking primed for their best season in 20 years.
I don’t want to see QPR or SS clubs slip off the face of the earth for another national comp (like ARC or NRC) which is destined to fail due to lack of tribalism, history and club loyalty. Why would you destroy clubland which is the best part of rugby in Australia at present. Which has continued to thrive as Super Rugby has fallen of a cliff in terms of interest, standards & financial viability.
if you want to wedge another layer in between super and club rugby then by all means do so but don’t do so at the cost of QPR or SS clubs. Who by the way are running the game at junior and grass roots level.

 

[PhilClinton]

What happens to the rest of the clubs? Do they become glorified subbies teams when our NCC clubs farm the best players?

This was the issue when NRC was being floated originally.

Clubs started talking about joint ventures and what would happen.

A club like GPS would need to have some type of involvement because it would cripple their otherwise strong juniors for example.

 

[noknowledgeatall]

With respect this is the QPR forum and we couldn’t give two hoots about the Shute Shield clubs or the Vikings. With the decline of rugby over recent times at Wallaby and Super levels a lot of us have turned exclusively to our local clubs to get our rugby fix.
I don’t want to see the demise of any QPR club all who have won a Hospital Cup in the last 20 years with the exception of Norths who are looking primed for their best season in 20 years.
I don’t want to see QPR or SS clubs slip off the face of the earth for another national comp (like ARC or NRC) which is destined to fail due to lack of tribalism, history and club loyalty. Why would you destroy clubland which is the best part of rugby in Australia at present. Which has continued to thrive as Super Rugby has fallen of a cliff in terms of interest, standards & financial viability.
if you want to wedge another layer in between super and club rugby then by all means do so but don’t do so at the cost of QPR or SS clubs. Who by the way are running the game at junior and grass roots level.

Great Rip.

Clubland is the heart and soul of our great game. People contributing to a common goal.

It is the so called "professionals" that have dug us into a hole. Egotistic self centred mercenaries.

 

[Bulldog]

I know that GPS have historically had big junior numbers but of more recent times Brothers & Easts may have had greater numbers.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Another worry with implementing this would be the financial aspect.

Speaking speculatively, I'm unsure how much higher rego can go without killing player numbers.