Some suggestions for the Subbies board from the Woodsman:
1. Consider how many grades you expect in each division. Given that numbers in rugby are down across the board, reduce these.
2. Reward clubs who do the right thing. Reward clubs who move the proverbial needle. Don’t reward clubs who don’t deserve it.
3. Fight to reduce the costs to clubs. The levies, the insurance make it difficult for clubs.
4. hand over the pies from the four’n’twenty sponsorship. It might not be a lot but it’s a gift fund raiser for some clubs.
All sensible suggestions. Let me comment on what I've observed and participated in at Board and CCR level:
1. Numbers of Grades - this has been done wherever possible. Not sure how many more times I have to repeat "The Board is attemping to make a competition that is even in both numbers and strength, in order to provide an appropriate level of competition for everyone, and ensure the longevity of clubs in Suburban Rugby".
It is difficult to make judgements with 100% accuracy in January when registration doesn't open until later in the year, but we've put in a lot of work early to try and get this right.
Mostly you're going with a club's word and evidence from previous seasons (or discussions like the CCR had from October through to the end of the year). And then sometimes pride gets in the way no matter what the Board does.
Colts is the main sticking point and as you'd know from discussions here and from guys like
@Prodigy , that is difficult to get and maintain unless you've got a fairly robust feeder system. Graduating juniors into seniors is definitely something I've raised on numerous occasions; it needs broader focus you're then talking to schools associations as well as SJRU and SRU about what is appropriate for everyone.
The expected value of Colts is to then feed your Seniors but it doesn't always work like that. There have been instances where promising Colts in higher divisions are actively recruited by other clubs.
We tried Colts again this year, and failed. I need to put in a lot of work at local rugby schools and junior clubs, as well as picking off league boys who aren't going to make an U20 side in the NRL or its feeder comps. Help from the NSWRU DOs would be appreciated as I've mentioned above.
2. Rewarding clubs is a broad street - what is the reward for fulfilling an obligation? Staying in the Division you want? Where do we set the bar? Definitely we're past the days of punishing clubs, because that would just result in more people walking away from the game.
Do we reward Mosman for having so many players every year? I don't think they really need it
3. Club Costs - the Board does its best to keep a lid on prices in consultation with NSWRU and RA. Registration for Grade and Colts hasn't changed significantly in a long time. That is the
only cost that Subbies directly controls outside of annual club affiliation.
Insurance is determined at levels above Subbies, and alternatives have been investigated with no benefit
at this point. That may change in future - perhaps not the cost, but the service received and accessibility.
It is worth noting that we and SRU are the only Unions that got a per-Grade cost plan organised with the insurers; everyone else is per-player and requires them to pay at the point of registration to be covered - can you imagine that for Subbies? Nobody takes the field unless they're paid up. You'd kill the comp in a week.
Under our system, if you register 30 players per grade, insurance is a bargain. If you only get 15, it is a ripoff. IF the players pay... And I think it is about $88 per player for insurance under the player-pays system, but I might be thinking about womens rugby XVs there.
The levies are a whole other matter and questions are being asked at Board level as to what we are getting for our money from the higher ups.
4. Pies - agreed. No further notes from this front rower.
