Shute Shield 2017

[the coach]

Maybe it is all about who can win? We are a minor sport these days, it is about time all stakeholders everywhere tried to cooperate whenever possible, even if they cannot agree on everything.

Couldn't agree more, but it's always going to be difficult to achieve when the man at the top of the ARU seems to think the Premier Rugby comps are not as important as the clubs think they are.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Couldn't agree more, but it's always going to be difficult to achieve when the man at the top of the ARU seems to think the Premier Rugby comps are not as important as the clubs think they are.

Or could it be that the man at the top recognises the need to provide players more opportunity to develop by playing a higher standard of Rugby than the clubs can reasonably provide.

 

[the coach]

Or could it be that the man at the top recognises the need to provide players more opportunity to develop by playing a higher standard of Rugby than the clubs can reasonably provide.

I'd suggest he has (correctly) won that argument.

But surely we still need the baseline foundation of the clubs? I note that Uni picked up a couple of players for their first grade team last year from their joint NRC venture with Balmain the previous years so even subbies have a role in the grand scheme.

 

[Dave Beat]

So much finger pointing.
If the man at the top is only looking at test, soup, NRC, he is missing the most important component - that is the game itself.
We need to ensure the pathway is flourishing and pushing talent up by growing.
I'm not saying the man at the top is only looking at Test, Soup, NRC - i know he's not.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I'd suggest he has (correctly) won that argument.

But surely we still need the baseline foundation of the clubs? I note that Uni picked up a couple of players for their first grade team last year from their joint NRC venture with Balmain the previous years so even subbies have a role in the grand scheme.

I'd never dispute the role the clubs play in the identification and development of talent within the pathway. It provides a place for young guys to learn their craft and also allows late bloomers to emerge. It's plays an important role. But, there are those within the structure that need understand that we need a bridging competition between it and Super Rugby. That and the SS isn't the be all and end all of the club game.

I want the club game to be strong but I want the game to be stronger.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

So much finger pointing.
If the man at the top is only looking at test, soup, NRC, he is missing the most important component - that is the game itself.
We need to ensure the pathway is flourishing and pushing talent up by growing.
I'm not saying the man at the top is only looking at Test, Soup, NRC - i know he's not.

Participation is the biggest key to the overall health of all levels of the game. Something that according to the Australian Sports Commission the ARU under Pulver has begun to actually address.

 

[the coach]

Sounds like we're in agreement, just different ways of looking at it.

 

[Dave Beat]

Ditto.

Well we defininately took the long path

 

[Dave Beat]

Participation is the biggest key to the overall health of all levels of the game. Something that according to the Australian Sports Commission the ARU under Pulver has begun to actually address.

Yes Pulver is, and it's encoraging to see

I also know NSWRU is had a very key focus on this as well.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Sounds like we're in agreement, just different ways of looking at it.

My issue is that I don't see the need to have moved the start of the season back a fortnight nor introduce a bye round if they were just going to keep the current 18 round structure. Even if they wanted a bye round, fine, but why move the start back. It only creates conflict.

Also, why are they running a 7s comp in the summer. I'm actually a fan of establishing a designated club 7s season that would run during the NRC window. That way you would maintain that engagement. Run several divisions. Social (mixed teams based around Viva 7s), Opens, Heavyweights and Elite. Outside of the Elite bracket all other divisions would be welcome to all comers.

 

[the coach]

My issue is that I don't see the need to have moved the start of the season back a fortnight nor introduce a bye round if they were just going to keep the current 18 round structure. Even if they wanted a bye round, fine, but why move the start back. It only creates conflict.

Also, why are they running a 7s comp in the summer. I'm actually a fan of establishing a designated club 7s season that would run during the NRC window. That way you would maintain that engagement. Run several divisions. Social (mixed teams based around Viva 7s), Opens, Heavyweights and Elite. Outside of the Elite bracket all other divisions would be welcome to all comers.

The club 7s is running at Moore Park on the same weekend as the Sydney (International) 7s tournament (3-5/2) with the final played on the Football Stadium I assume, as per last year.

Many of the other 7s tournaments (eg Kiama 25/2) run at this time of year also starting with Darwin (21/1) through to Dubbo (11/3). Several of the SS clubs enter teams in these.

If this ran during the NRC wouldn't most of the Elite players be involved in the NRC?

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

The club 7s is running at Moore Park on the same weekend as the Sydney (International) 7s tournament (3-5/2) with the final played on the Football Stadium I assume, as per last year.

Many of the other 7s tournaments (eg Kiama 25/2) run at this time of year also starting with Darwin (21/1) through to Dubbo (11/3). Several of the SS clubs enter teams in these.

If this ran during the NRC wouldn't most of the Elite players be involved in the NRC?

I've found there tends to be little actual overlap of 7s and 15s players in general.

 

[Dave Beat]

The club 7s is running at Moore Park on the same weekend as the Sydney (International) 7s tournament (3-5/2) with the final played on the Football Stadium I assume, as per last year.

Many of the other 7s tournaments (eg Kiama 25/2) run at this time of year also starting with Darwin (21/1) through to Dubbo (11/3). Several of the SS clubs enter teams in these.

If this ran during the NRC wouldn't most of the Elite players be involved in the NRC?

Nope club 7s has unfotunately been removed from the Sydney 7s, last i heard or was being played at Rat Park end of Feb.

There is Lake Mac
Crescent head
Hunter
Kiama
That get good interest and expands / grows rugby.

Clubs are generallying having 3 trials.

 

[the coach]

Nope club 7s has unfotunately been removed from the Sydney 7s, last i heard or was being played at Rat Park end of Feb.

There is Lake Mac
Crescent head
Hunter
Kiama
That get good interest and expands / grows rugby.

Clubs are generallying having 3 trials.

I hadn't heard that, last I heard it was on 4/2 at Kippax.
Good if it has been separated as I think it deserves to stand alone.
Last year Fox didn't even show the final --- they had talking heads while it was being played.
Kiama 7s is 25/2 so I hope it doesn't clash with that.

 

[the coach]

I've found there tends to be little actual overlap of 7s and 15s players in general.

True at the international level, but many of the clubs enter teams into the various 7s tournaments around Oz and of course the Sydney Club 7s is all 15s players.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

True at the international level, but many of the clubs enter teams into the various 7s tournaments around Oz and of course the Sydney Club 7s is all 15s players.

Another option is remove the Elite bracket and let clubs enter teams in the Opens category. Again, the point is participation. Keeping players engaged.

 

[Dave Beat]

I hadn't heard that, last I heard it was on 4/2 at Kippax.
Good if it has been separated as I think it deserves to stand alone.
Last year Fox didn't even show the final --- they had talking heads while it was being played.
Kiama 7s is 25/2 so I hope it doesn't clash with that.

Yeah, i understand with the womens now being more involved it has shifted the club.
No it didn't clash with Kiama, it may have just been spoken about and not locked in.

 

[paul martin]

Will no one mention the elephant in the room re 7s? Looks like it's up to me. The vast majority of boys don't really like 7s. They put up with it pre season that's about it. That's the ones that are talked into playing it. Lots of players aren't at all suitable obviously.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Will no one mention the elephant in the room re 7s? Looks like it's up to me. The vast majority of boys don't really like 7s. They put up with it pre season that's about it. That's the ones that are talked into playing it. Lots of players aren't at all suitable obviously.

and increasingly the paths diverge - players have to make a choice pretty early in their careers post school.
On a purely statistical basis you'd have to go 15s, I guess.

 

[dru]

I haven't seen the press release -- do you have a copy or link?

Link here. http://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugb...ths-wallabies-2017/18jhxczm6ezk01dyrdiwf4qzi3