Super Rugby Pacific draw announced:
I thought the Super Round was funded by NZ teams?Funny how they try and claim they shelved Super Round when in reality there were no other bidders than Melbourne for it and that was off the table when the Rebels got cut.
Nup the Vic governmentI thought the Super Round was funded by NZ teams?
There's talk of it being combined with an ANZAC bledisloe in the future, which would draw plenty of interest from state governments on it's own, particularly for Perth or Brisbane who don't currently have big ANZAC Day clashes. Not sure if adding super round to the package would bring that much more in, but it's probably worth exploring to try and maximize the return. Not sure what that does to the competition having all the Wallabies/All Blacks out though.Super Round was the bundling up of home games by NZ Super Rugby Teams and selling them. Basically, Vic Govt paid NZ Teams to offset the loss of their home game.
I'm guessing the Vic Govt had hoped they'd get an influx of kiwis over for the weekend, which didn't eventuate. I'd be surprised if it returns; whilst it would do better, I doubt even QLD would struggle to get consistently high crowds to the matches. At least not enough for the QLD Govt to throw money at it..
Sources familiar with negotiations, who requested anonymity due to confidential nature of discussions, said the Anzac Day clash is now at an advanced stage of negotiation, with the WA government prepared to pay a lucrative sum to host the game at Optus Stadium.
There was discussion about the first game being in 2025, but it is more likely to be in 2026, and the plans – and deal with the WA government – will also involve Super Round (the Magic Round of Super Rugby) being staged around it in the same week, meaning all players are in Perth at the same time.
There's talk of it being combined with an ANZAC bledisloe in the future, which would draw plenty of interest from state governments on it's own, particularly for Perth or Brisbane who don't currently have big ANZAC Day clashes. Not sure if adding super round to the package would bring that much more in, but it's probably worth exploring to try and maximize the return. Not sure what that does to the competition having all the Wallabies/All Blacks out though.
I think it's the full week program you get as a result - assuming the temptation for visitors to hang around for super round as well as the Bledisloe lands the economic benefit you get out of the influx is really boosted in terms of hotel rooms and general tourist spending with a few free days to fill. Additionally, the teams probably won't just be FIFO as they were for Melbourne and can run programs in Perth during the week which is always a good look.It might have more merit.. People would travel to watch a Bledisloe although it has lost its lustre also.
The question ultimately is whether adding a bunch of Super Rugby games into the package really generates more of a return and how much more a state govt would pay to host it above what they would normally host to pay a Bledisloe.
How the he'll did we end up not having a home game in an entire month?Super Rugby Pacific draw announced:
Actually pretty pumped for next year's Super season. With the death of the Rebels the quality and depth of the Aussie teams looks, on paper, to be the best we've seen in years. It has long been suggested that reducing the number of super side (and thereby increasing the quality and depth of the remaining sides) would improve our performance at the international level. I definitely subscribe to that theory so I'm excited for what 2025 will bring.
BDA, the Brumbies have had a net loss in numbers of players and in quality in the current 2025 roster. Six players departed and only two from outside currently recruited - the quality of Swain, Tua and Brown has not been replaced.Actually pretty pumped for next year's Super season. With the death of the Rebels the quality and depth of the Aussie teams looks, on paper, to be the best we've seen in years. It has long been suggested that reducing the number of super side (and thereby increasing the quality and depth of the remaining sides) would improve our performance at the international level. I definitely subscribe to that theory so I'm excited for what 2025 will bring.
Not to be a negative nelly but... this consolidation of talent produced fuck all improvement for the Rebels when the Force were cut. I remain skeptical.Actually pretty pumped for next year's Super season. With the death of the Rebels the quality and depth of the Aussie teams looks, on paper, to be the best we've seen in years. It has long been suggested that reducing the number of super side (and thereby increasing the quality and depth of the remaining sides) would improve our performance at the international level. I definitely subscribe to that theory so I'm excited for what 2025 will bring.