WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
I'll stand up and be counted and state "I don't give a stuff about whether we have a 3rd tier or not" and, as I've said on previous posts, I believe we are deluding ourselves if we think we can emulate the 3rd tier comps which exist in NZ and RSA.
I care about the ongoing existence and traditions of club rugby and the players who want to play at that level. I'm not sure why the Shute Shield 2013 thread has become obsessed with this 3rd tier discussion, maybe someone should start a new thread.
Over the years we've seen teams dropped in both Colts and Grade to try to match the cost of running teams with the income of the clubs and I assume this will continue.
I'm not convinced that drawing parallels with the NRL is valid as it is a national competition and the reduction in the number of teams has been as much about travel costs as having to pay all the players.
The SS should be managed by the SRU and NSWRU and the ARU should butt out. They've done nothing to assist the SS in recent years and really should just worry about the Wallabies. If the ARU believes another tier is required to feed the Wallabies then it has to work WITH the clubs not dictate what they should or should not do or create other mickey mouse competitions that nobody is interested in.
I think you vastly underestimate the interest in a third tier competition that exists in the general Rugby public that don't have ties with a Sydney or Brisbane club. I'd say that would be the majority of fans. There is a sentiment among many of them that the ARC a step in the right direction, but, a poorly executed one. I understand you love club Rugby and your club in particular but just because traditionally they formed the elite level of Rugby in amateurism doesn't mean that it can continue forever.
Other nations have recognised this, we need to as well. We need to look to create a more elite level be it through the use of clubs, universities or some sort of provincial set ups. The SS doesn't represent the majority of fans and what they want. I know many who have never even watched a SS game and others who have and echo my earlier remark that it was good without reaching quite the level we need.