Christian was asked not directed, the same as academy players there are encouraged to play in the ACT and not Sydney, but it is their choice not the Brumbies. Many Brumbie players play in Sydney and a number choose to stay in the ACT. Andy Friend is committed to developing the ACT competition and making it stronger and by having a combined team in the Shute Shield, which would not necessarily be all Brumbies - it would strengthen ACT rugby.
Lastly, the comment on why would any team allow it - that is a great example of why rugby is being stiffled in Australia where clubs are calling the tune on who plays where instead of the ARU having the balls to start determining the playing structures of the various competitions.
The Sydney clubs were a great reason the ARC failed (other than financial) and they still continue to thwart any real effort of expansion and improvement just so they can maintain their status in their own sheltered environment.
The sooner control of the Shute Shield, Welsby Cup and all major competitions are wrestled from the clubs and given to the ARU the better.
I presume from your comments that you have no personal experience in the running of a club in the Shute Shield.
You ignore the fact that club rugby , is basically an amateur sport.
Each club , with the possible exception of Sydney University , is kept alive by people working their respective arses off , for no financial reward, i.e. simply for the love they have for their club.
Most clubs are hanging on by their financial fingernails as it is, & receive inadequate financial support from the NSWRU & ARU .
Expecting players & officials who are based in Sydney , for example , to be jetting all over the country for no adequate reward , is naive .
Comparing Union players to their counterparts in rugby league , is odious.
League players are full time professionals . Even those playing in the under 20 league competition , are payed more than the average first grader in Union.
And it is hardly surprising that the Sydney clubs have a significant say in the running of the game , because Sydney clubs , historically , provide a large proportion of the players.
I don't agree that Sydney clubs caused the ARC to fail .
It failed principally because of the expense involved in maintaining the competition , & lack of public support.
We all want Rugby to flourish & expand , but not at the expense of the premier club competition.That is where many of the players , ultimately , come from & develop in the first place.
It is also a place where Rugby is played for the joy of playing.
And the suggestion that the less successful clubs should be relegated , i.e.Penrith & Parramatta , is an idea that is totally detrimental to Rugby in this state , as they come from areas where Rugby is weakest & needs to be developed & encouraged, not relegated to a lower level of importance & interest than it already is.
If you want the ARU to have the balls to determine the competition structures , then let the ARU back it up with financial incentive & support to assist the clubs in all the areas where they are currently struggling.