Super Rugby Pacific 2025

[PhilClinton]

Not sure if this has been posted somewhere on the forum already. I think the logistics for this would be more like a 2-3 year plan. With the current stadium infrastructure in Fiji, they likely couldn't accommodate any fans who actually wanted to travel.

Also I am not sure where the funding would come from - the Fijian government won't be chipping up for it all.

Super Rugby exploring 'Bula Round' opportunity

Super Round may have bitten the dust after Melbourne Rebels' axing, but there is a very real chance the event could be revived in Super Rugby Pacific -- and taken to Fiji to boot.

www.espn.com.au

 

[Derpus]

Not sure if this has been posted somewhere on the forum already. I think the logistics for this would be more like a 2-3 year plan. With the current stadium infrastructure in Fiji, they likely couldn't accommodate any fans who actually wanted to travel.

Also I am not sure where the funding would come from - the Fijian government won't be chipping up for it all.

Super Rugby exploring 'Bula Round' opportunity

Super Round may have bitten the dust after Melbourne Rebels' axing, but there is a very real chance the event could be revived in Super Rugby Pacific -- and taken to Fiji to boot.

www.espn.com.au

Would be lots of fun.

 

[Wilson]

Not sure if this has been posted somewhere on the forum already. I think the logistics for this would be more like a 2-3 year plan. With the current stadium infrastructure in Fiji, they likely couldn't accommodate any fans who actually wanted to travel.

Also I am not sure where the funding would come from - the Fijian government won't be chipping up for it all.

Super Rugby exploring 'Bula Round' opportunity

Super Round may have bitten the dust after Melbourne Rebels' axing, but there is a very real chance the event could be revived in Super Rugby Pacific -- and taken to Fiji to boot.

www.espn.com.au

I'd expect they'd be looking at the PacificAus Aid program for a decent bit of support. It's a very good fit for the program given the high profile nature of the event, how well supported the Drua are, and the fact that it really leans into closer ties between Australia/NZ and Fiji.

From there, it'd almost certainly be Fiji Airways as the big ticket sponsor. Possibly one of the larger hotel groups getting involved too, a lot of the obvious initial opportunities are for tourism providers and related businesses in Fiji.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Not sure if this has been posted somewhere on the forum already. I think the logistics for this would be more like a 2-3 year plan. With the current stadium infrastructure in Fiji, they likely couldn't accommodate any fans who actually wanted to travel.

Also I am not sure where the funding would come from - the Fijian government won't be chipping up for it all.

Super Rugby exploring 'Bula Round' opportunity

Super Round may have bitten the dust after Melbourne Rebels' axing, but there is a very real chance the event could be revived in Super Rugby Pacific -- and taken to Fiji to boot.

www.espn.com.au

Mesley isn't going to rule it out (as it makes him look like the bad guy right now) but with the investment of infrastructure (field, lighting, spectators enhancements, digital requirements for quality broadcasting etc) required plus the actual cost of half the teams giving up a home game. The likelihood is very minimal

 

[master]

anyone doing super rugby fantasy and has a league code?


cheers

 

[HogansHeros]

anyone doing super rugby fantasy and has a league code?


cheers

GAGR league: O90EUXNP

 

[BDA]

i made a comment on this thread back before the season started to the effect that i was particularly excited for the upcoming season in light of the fact that the consolidation of the australian teams down from 5 to 4 meant theorethically better depth and a more competitive comp. The only responses were fairly dismissive of the idea that getting rid of the rebels would make the comp better (which is fair enough particularly from melbourne fans). But after 6 rounds of what has been, so far, clearly the most competitive and entertaining season in years, its probably fair for us to start reflecting on the reasons for that. Definitely a few factors -the upcoming lions tour would be one, perhaps rebuild cycles for certain teams another factor. But id certainly argue that this is some proof of the concept that concentrating the player pool, rather than diluting it, has been a major positive.

 

[dru]

i made a comment on this thread back before the season started to the effect that i was particularly excited for the upcoming season in light of the fact that the consolidation of the australian teams down from 5 to 4 meant theorethically better depth and a more competitive comp. The only responses were fairly dismissive of the idea that getting rid of the rebels would make the comp better (which is fair enough particularly from melbourne fans). But after 6 rounds of what has been, so far, clearly the most competitive and entertaining season in years, its probably fair for us to start reflecting on the reasons for that. Definitely a few factors -the upcoming lions tour would be one, perhaps rebuild cycles for certain teams another factor. But id certainly argue that this is some proof of the concept that concentrating the player pool, rather than diluting it, has been a major positive.

You have to be able to fund it.
You have to have sufficient breadth to ensure opportunity for the next generation, hopefully minimising losses overseas.
You have to have a broad broadcast revenue, which doesn't happen without our largest state and most sports mad state.

There was always going to be a sugar hit and yes we are seeing benefits in 2025. Maybe even in 2026, possibly still lingering in 2027. But tailing. Lions and RWC may even stretch with a new form of sugar hit.

Then we are back to the same revenue base per franchise but with fewer franchises. It is unlikely to be sustainable.

 

[BDA]

I get all of that and in the perfect world we'd be adding more teams not the other way round. But there is also the reality of where the sports is in 2025 in australia. I think its much better for RA and its more conducive to building the fan base to have less teams if it means they a more competitive. One of the features that has really killed super rugby for casual fans in the last decade, imo, is that the aussie teams have largely not been competitive with the kiwi sides.

 

[dru]

I get all of that and in the perfect world we'd be adding more teams not the other way round. But there is also the reality of where the sports is in 2025 in australia. I think its much better for RA and its more conducive to building the fan base to have less teams if it means they a more competitive. One of the features that has really killed super rugby for casual fans in the last decade, imo, is that the aussie teams have largely not been competitive with the kiwi sides.

WE are circling into the thread that....

It seems to me that survival and sustainability are something of a polemic. Either RA/Super is sustainable with 4 Aus franchises, or it isn't. At this point, I'm enjoying the flash in the pan that is 2025. You are too. I'll take what I can get.

 

[PhilClinton]

I get all of that and in the perfect world we'd be adding more teams not the other way round. But there is also the reality of where the sports is in 2025 in australia. I think its much better for RA and its more conducive to building the fan base to have less teams if it means they a more competitive. One of the features that has really killed super rugby for casual fans in the last decade, imo, is that the aussie teams have largely not been competitive with the kiwi sides.

It’s much deeper than a lack of competitiveness with NZ teams.

The NRL and AFL have been able to establish much better visibility over the past decade in Oz than rugby because the product is constantly on FTA and marketed better.

I watch Super Rugby every year, follow the Reds closely and the other Oz team’s in my peripheral. I know something about every member of the Reds team including the wider squad and probably know 80% of the players running out for the other franchises.

For the kiwi teams I reckon I know about 10% of their players and in fact this season I know more of their players who are running around in Japan.

I consider myself a genuine rugby fan. So you can imagine the difficulty that other viewers have when 50% of the competition is made up of players who you have no idea who they are. I’m not sure if the same is inverted for Kiwi fans.

By contrast, speak to most junior NRL fans and they’ll be able to name probably close to a whole team worth of star players who aren’t in the team they support. It’s a whole different level of viability on their product. Same with AFL. That is where we will continue to struggle to get viewership back.

 

[JRugby2]

You have to be able to fund it.
You have to have sufficient breadth to ensure opportunity for the next generation, hopefully minimising losses overseas.
You have to have a broad broadcast revenue, which doesn't happen without our largest state and most sports mad state.

There was always going to be a sugar hit and yes we are seeing benefits in 2025. Maybe even in 2026, possibly still lingering in 2027. But tailing. Lions and RWC may even stretch with a new form of sugar hit.

Then we are back to the same revenue base per franchise but with fewer franchises. It is unlikely to be sustainable.

Yeah we've never really had a depth problem for 5 teams - it's always been a funding problem. Having more opportunity to play professional rugby is clearly a good thing, we just haven't ever been able to financially support 5 teams.

We've got full teams worth of super rugby quality players playing overseas. Once the Lions and World Cup have come and gone, I'm guessing we're going to be losing a lot more.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

WE are circling into the thread that....

 

[Derpus]

WE are circling into the thread that....

It seems to me that survival and sustainability are something of a polemic. Either RA/Super is sustainable with 4 Aus franchises, or it isn't. At this point, I'm enjoying the flash in the pan that is 2025. You are too. I'll take what I can get.

 

[Adam84]

I posted this in match thread but will respond to the comments here also. Voting from recent round, this is my gripe with the player voting system; Tom Hooper was not the best player on the ground this match; that brain-dead yellow card alone confirms that, but because he stands out above the other Brumbies players, he receives the most votes from this match.

NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies
5 - Tom Hooper (BRU)
4 - Teddy Wilson (WAR)
3 - Triston Reilly (WAR), Joey Walton (WAR), Nick Frost (BRU), Allan Ala'alatoa (BRU)
1 - Lawson Creighton (WAR), Andrew Kellaway (WAR), Len Ikitau (BRU)

SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Round Six Player of the Year Voting

Round Six of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific saw several players notch up big hauls as the stars stepped up.

www.rugby.com.au

Same could be said for the Force game... 2x Drua players should not earn more points than a Force player in a 52-15 thrashing

Western Force v Fijian Drua
5 - Elia Canakaivata (DRU), Etonia Waqa (DRU)
4 - Carlo Tizzano (FOR)
3 - Mac Grealy (FOR), Nic Dolly (FOR)
2 - Ben Donaldson (FOR)
1 - Iliasa Droasese (DRU), Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (DRU)

 

[Dctarget]

I posted this in match thread but will respond to the comments here also. Voting from recent round, this is my gripe with the player voting system; Tom Hooper was not the best player on the ground this match; that brain-dead yellow card alone confirms that, but because he stands out above the other Brumbies players, he receives the most votes from this match.

NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies
5 - Tom Hooper (BRU)
4 - Teddy Wilson (WAR)
3 - Triston Reilly (WAR), Joey Walton (WAR), Nick Frost (BRU), Allan Ala'alatoa (BRU)
1 - Lawson Creighton (WAR), Andrew Kellaway (WAR), Len Ikitau (BRU)

SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Round Six Player of the Year Voting

Round Six of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific saw several players notch up big hauls as the stars stepped up.

www.rugby.com.au

Same could be said for the Force game... 2x Drua players should not earn more points than a Force player in a 52-15 thrashing

Western Force v Fijian Drua
5 - Elia Canakaivata (DRU), Etonia Waqa (DRU)
4 - Carlo Tizzano (FOR)
3 - Mac Grealy (FOR), Nic Dolly (FOR)
2 - Ben Donaldson (FOR)
1 - Iliasa Droasese (DRU), Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (DRU)

All good points Adam. Like I said earlier I think there needs to be points that the ref/neutral observer can award to either team.

 

[Wilson]

I posted this in match thread but will respond to the comments here also. Voting from recent round, this is my gripe with the player voting system; Tom Hooper was not the best player on the ground this match; that brain-dead yellow card alone confirms that, but because he stands out above the other Brumbies players, he receives the most votes from this match.

NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies
5 - Tom Hooper (BRU)
4 - Teddy Wilson (WAR)
3 - Triston Reilly (WAR), Joey Walton (WAR), Nick Frost (BRU), Allan Ala'alatoa (BRU)
1 - Lawson Creighton (WAR), Andrew Kellaway (WAR), Len Ikitau (BRU)

SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Round Six Player of the Year Voting

Round Six of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific saw several players notch up big hauls as the stars stepped up.

www.rugby.com.au

Same could be said for the Force game... 2x Drua players should not earn more points than a Force player in a 52-15 thrashing

Western Force v Fijian Drua
5 - Elia Canakaivata (DRU), Etonia Waqa (DRU)
4 - Carlo Tizzano (FOR)
3 - Mac Grealy (FOR), Nic Dolly (FOR)
2 - Ben Donaldson (FOR)
1 - Iliasa Droasese (DRU), Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (DRU)

It's not perfect, but I'm happy enough with it for a first iteration and suspect a lot will come out in the wash. I would prefer an AFL style best and fairest voted by the referees in future years with just a 3-2-1 awarded per game, not team. The other alternative is the Dally M system where it's voted by the commentators, but I think Au/NZ relations are much to polarised for that to be taken seriously, whether or not the voting itself was impartial.

I'm guessing part of the reason they went with coach/captain voting to start, the comms/broadcast/journos couldn't be trusted and there's a risk that putting it on the refs would heap more pressure on them then is already there when people inevitably disagreed with their decisions.

 

[Wilson]

Oh, and the other thing I'd like to see added whatever they do with the voting method is subtractions for bans - Dally M does 3 votes per week banned, AFL just rules them ineligible.

Possibly there's a version of this where you also lose points for a yellow card, but if this weekend is anything to go by that wouldn't really be applied fairly, unless they get serious about "off field yellows" for things not picked up in match.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think you could keep the same voters (captain and coach of each team) and just get them to vote 3-2-1 for the player of the match. There's no way the votes wouldn't favour the winning team (particularly in the case of a flogging like Force vs Drua). You could keep the small bit of anonymity that you publish the votes by each team (so you can't tell which votes were by the coach vs captain etc.) and in my view that would be enough to ensure teams don't favour their own players when they shouldn't.

The risk of public ridicule if you voted up your own team's players after a loss would be enough to ensure a reasonable degree of objectiveness.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

WE are circling into the thread that....​