QLD Premier Rugby 2025

[SouthernX]

What's driving all of the player movement? Have the clubs found a few extra $$$ to attract some talent?

It's either $$$ driven, or potentially a few of them see this as a good opportunity to be making a push in Australian rugby and into a SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) (Super Rugby Pacific) team.

I can’t speak for other clubs but Wests has been a good stepping stone for players coming from Fiji/NZ to greener grass in pro rugby landscape.

I wonder how QPR as a stepping stone compares to Shute shield though?

Qpr 9 teams - squads are more stacked

Shute shield - 13 teams, more player dilution and a salary cap system to spread around the pro players

 

[Major Tom]

doing gods work @Jimmy_Crouch legend!

Also, just announced Norths have picked up former wallaby and waratah Taqele Naiyaravoro!

Huge Signing.

Lessgooo Norths!

Literally huge

 

[noknowledgeatall]

What's driving all of the player movement? Have the clubs found a few extra $$$ to attract some talent?

NZ economy is stuffed so plenty of blokes looking for any opportunity to get off the land of the long white cloud.

 

[rapt]

NZ economy is stuffed so plenty of blokes looking for any opportunity to get off the land of the long white cloud.

Also rumours the club rugby scene in NZ has died off a fair bit

 

[Pfitzy]

Shute shield - 13 teams, more player dilution and a salary cap system to spread around the pro players

12 clubs, and most of the talent collected at a few. More money overall but not like every club spends up to the same amount.

I can't remember if there is an actual cap or whether the player points system is the limiter

 

[Elwee's Loo]

There has been some fascinating recruiting.

Easts certainly have done some great work, but will Simon Craig have the man-management skills to make this a cohesive group in one season? If he can, he has a team on his hands there.

Dan Ritchie and Michael Bell have also signed some real talent and will likely come out of that 8th or 9th position on the ladder.

GPS might be a little light on.

Both Wests and UQ have lost some talent but Wests have brought not only some more coaches, they have brought in some real threats. Be interesting to see how that melting pot works.

As for the students they could do with a bit of size but everyone recruited brings something. My mail is that back-rower Dougal Perrers, who was a UQ colt several years ago has been playing for University in Wellington for a few seasons and his experience gained there has brought a new dimension to his game and will be one to watch.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I can’t speak for other clubs but Wests has been a good stepping stone for players coming from Fiji/NZ to greener grass in pro rugby landscape.

I wonder how QPR as a stepping stone compares to Shute shield though?

Qpr 9 teams - squads are more stacked

Shute shield - 13 teams, more player dilution and a salary cap system to spread around the pro players

Might have 12 sides but there's a difference between the top half and even within that the top 2-3 every year. Cap and points system is good overall but doesn't stop pros going where they want as they don't play all that much. If Easts in in SS could get their 1st XV all on the park it'd be a Super Rugby side. Same goes for Uni. Randwick and Norths always seem to land fringe pros from the UK.

Club Rugby is a fickle business though. You only need an old boy with some cash to burn to decide he wants the club to succeed and it can turn in a year.

 

[Pfitzy]

I was told by someone at a Premier Club in Sydney that the number was about $750k - if you can't bring that to the table in terms of player salaries, you're probably not in the running.