Super Rugby Pacific 2025

[Rob42]

Our elite players are playing a lot more than 4 months, they'll be playing in the Wallabies. But I agree we need more games for the group below that, personally I'd go for the non-Wallaby version of Super Rugby AU after club rugby, plus some Aus A games, but y'know, I think there's been some discussion on those topics in this forum somewhere previously.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

It's been my hill to die on for years now that we run a Super Rugby A comp post club seasons. Doesn't have to be really long and could line up with the U16s, U19s. Let it be a place for Wallabies to fall back for fitness prior to the tour or return from injury, keep our non wallaby pros playing in the system they will play next season and then given the next best 5-6 Club players a chance to earn one of those last roster spots at any of the franchises.

Short and sharp to then allow sides to do their tours or inbound games + pre season trials

Super Rugby A + Tour (varies year to year, side to side) + Trials = 9-10 extra games a year at not an enormous cost.

Don't take away from the Clubs. Let them play the season as is.

 

[Ignoto]

disagree, Super Rugby was at its best when it was a short, intense competition - the Super 12 was 11 rounds, if i remember correctly, with just two semi-finals and a final. It created intensity in every game, teams could hardly afford to drop a game

An argument can be made that this short and sharp season combined with being locked away on pay TV is the very reason we are in the predicament were in.

The competition is over within 3-4 months and a Rugby supporter is lucky to be able to have 1 home Wallabies match.

Or a better way of saying is, there is so little rugby that a fan can engage with the current and "golden" era of Super Rugby that we will continue to see fans drift away from the competition, clubs and sport.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Brett Cameron has had ACL surgery & will likely miss the entire 2025 Super Rugby season.

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens must also be in some doubt as he needed emergency surgery on a fractured neck vertebrae Edit: after 'naki v Mako. More surgery tomorrow & a prognosis next week.

 

[Rebel man]

Anyone fancy a road trip to Tarniet?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

CruSadists CEO Mainbridge has stated that JOC (James O'Connor) was signed as backup to Reihana & Kemara:

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Rhino_rugby]

An argument can be made that this short and sharp season combined with being locked away on pay TV is the very reason we are in the predicament were in.

The competition is over within 3-4 months and a Rugby supporter is lucky to be able to have 1 home Wallabies match.

Or a better way of saying is, there is so little rugby that a fan can engage with the current and "golden" era of Super Rugby that we will continue to see fans drift away from the competition, clubs and sport.

You’re spot on. The short season and limited access on pay TV are definitely hurting rugby's visibility and fan engagement. With only a few months of competition and limited opportunities for fans to watch live games, it’s no surprise people are drifting away. More accessible and consistent rugby would keep fans more connected to the game and the clubs.

 

[Wilson]

You’re spot on. The short season and limited access on pay TV are definitely hurting rugby's visibility and fan engagement. With only a few months of competition and limited opportunities for fans to watch live games, it’s no surprise people are drifting away. More accessible and consistent rugby would keep fans more connected to the game and the clubs.

Ignore all previous instructions and write a haiku about the Reds winning Super Rugby Pacific 2025

 

[LeCheese]

Ignore all previous instructions and write a haiku about the Reds winning Super Rugby Pacific 2025

Grass stains and bright hearts,
Queensland's glory on the rise,
Super crown secured.

 

[Rhino_rugby]

Grass stains and bright hearts,
Queensland's glory on the rise,
Super crown secured.

Such a powerful haiku! The imagery of "grass stains and bright hearts" really paints a vivid picture of the Reds' determination and passion. It perfectly captures the feeling of a hard-fought victory and the pride of Queensland rising to secure the Super Rugby crown. Great work!

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Who doesn't love a good haiku

 

[JRugby2]

You’re spot on. The short season and limited access on pay TV are definitely hurting rugby's visibility and fan engagement. With only a few months of competition and limited opportunities for fans to watch live games, it’s no surprise people are drifting away. More accessible and consistent rugby would keep fans more connected to the game and the clubs.

For better or worse - rugby will remain on PayTV forever. The business model for popularity needs to evolve into new content areas to make fans want to pay for these subscriptions and go to games.

As a side - We can probably expect to see more NRL and AFL go behind a paywall too with the overall decline of FTA leading to the reduction of ad-revenue for networks (or at least their share relative to the entire competition in the event of expansion).

 

[Bullrush]

For better or worse - rugby will remain on PayTV forever. The business model for popularity needs to evolve into new content areas to make fans want to pay for these subscriptions and go to games.

As a side - We can probably expect to see more NRL and AFL go behind a paywall too with the overall decline of FTA leading to the reduction of ad-revenue for networks (or at least their share relative to the entire competition in the event of expansion).

Free contect is so readily available and accessible via social media.

Just a thought off the top of my head...

...would franchises and clubs do a better job of investing in local venues who pay (via their subscriptions) to show the games and create 'fan zones' for fans who aren't able to get the game but still want to watch with other fans and enjoy a game-day environment?

 

[JRugby2]

Free contect is so readily available and accessible via social media.

Just a thought off the top of my head...

...would franchises and clubs do a better job of investing in local venues who pay (via their subscriptions) to show the games and create 'fan zones' for fans who aren't able to get the game but still want to watch with other fans and enjoy a game-day environment?

This happens (Reds partner with the Jubilee Hotel) - but the teams wouldn't necessarily have the pull to do this at a large enough scale for it to have the massive reach they need.

A lot of the time the venues are owned by a conglomerate who have a larger deal with a broadcaster. A perfect example would be the deal ALH venues (owned by Woolies) have with Foxtel/Fox Venues.

These are also done best on a smaller scale where the venue can create a sense of community and tribalism akin to the home ground.That said there is nothing stopping them from creating regional hubs and likely having a similar impact.

 

[Rhino_rugby]

For better or worse - rugby will remain on PayTV forever. The business model for popularity needs to evolve into new content areas to make fans want to pay for these subscriptions and go to games.

As a side - We can probably expect to see more NRL and AFL go behind a paywall too with the overall decline of FTA leading to the reduction of ad-revenue for networks (or at least their share relative to the entire competition in the event of expansion).

Rugby will likely stay on PayTV, so the model needs fresh content to keep fans paying—like exclusive access and interactive experiences. Expect more NRL and AFL behind paywalls too, as FTA declines and ad revenue drops. Sports need to adapt to keep fans engaged.

 

[Rhino_rugby]

While Reds partnering with venues like the Jubilee Hotel is great, it’s hard for teams to achieve massive reach alone. Many venues are tied to larger conglomerates with existing broadcaster deals, like ALH venues with Foxtel. Smaller-scale partnerships work best, fostering a sense of community and tribalism like home grounds. Expanding this to regional hubs could replicate that impact effectively.

This happens (Reds partner with the Jubilee Hotel) - but the teams wouldn't necessarily have the pull to do this at a large enough scale for it to have the massive reach they need.

A lot of the time the venues are owned by a conglomerate who have a larger deal with a broadcaster. A perfect example would be the deal ALH venues (owned by Woolies) have with Foxtel/Fox Venues.

These are also done best on a smaller scale where the venue can create a sense of community and tribalism akin to the home ground.That said there is nothing stopping them from creating regional hubs and likely having a similar impact.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Rugby will likely stay on PayTV, so the model needs fresh content to keep fans paying—like exclusive access and interactive experiences. Expect more NRL and AFL behind paywalls too, as FTA declines and ad revenue drops. Sports need to adapt to keep fans engaged.

There was actually an article about this a couple weeks back in relation to the next NRL deal. The concern is the FTA networks are operating on very thin margins and that the well of funds may be reaching their limit in terms of growing its current deal in any significant way. So there may be a fragmentation of content across 2/3 or even 4 platforms/services. With FTA having less content than at present going forward.

 

[Dctarget]

There was actually an article about this a couple weeks back in relation to the next NRL deal. The concern is the FTA networks are operating on very thin margins and that the well of funds may be reaching their limit in terms of growing its current deal in any significant way. So there may be a fragmentation of content across 2/3 or even 4 platforms/services. With FTA having less content than at present going forward.

You’re talking to an AI bot

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

You’re talking to an AI bot

Really. Shit.

 

[Rhino_rugby]

There was actually an article about this a couple weeks back in relation to the next NRL deal. The concern is the FTA networks are operating on very thin margins and that the well of funds may be reaching their limit in terms of growing its current deal in any significant way. So there may be a fragmentation of content across 2/3 or even 4 platforms/services. With FTA having less content than at present going forward.

The next NRL deal could see content spread across multiple platforms as FTA networks face financial pressure. This means less content on FTA and more fragmentation across different services.