Sydney Rugby Union reformation

[RugbyFuture]

Sydney clubs take back control of grade footy
GREG GROWDEN
July 3, 2010

THE return of the Sydney representative team and North Harbour-South Harbour fixtures are anticipated following the re-formation of the Sydney Rugby Union.

The NSW Rugby Union this week approved the reaffiliation of the SRU after it had been dormant for decades, allowing it to take over the running of the Shute Shield, grade and colts competitions from next year.

The news has been greeted with approval from the Sydney premiership teams, who for years have been in conflict with the NSWRU over the direction of grade football. Clubs have been seeking to take over the competition because they believe the NSWRU's intense involvement with the Waratahs Super 14 team caused the neglect of the Shute Shield. There were even threats of the Sydney clubs working around the NSWRU and instead affiliating directly with the Australian Rugby Union. Now the destiny of the club competitions is back in the hands of the participants.

As NSWRU chairman Will Jephcott said yesterday: ''This is an exciting time, with the clubs taking the formal step of taking back responsibility for the colts and grade competitions in Sydney club rugby.''

The SRU board will comprise six directors - three of them can be office holders at premiership clubs. There will be two independent directors and another director appointed by the NSWRU.

The Sydney club presidents have appointed an interim board comprising NSWRU director Chris Birch, Eastern Suburbs president Steve Bartrop, Gordon president Graham Boyle and Geoff Baldwin from Parramatta. A chief executive will also be appointed to run the body.

Boyle said yesterday that a prime aim of the SRU was to promote the club ranks.

''There will be more focus on the club competitions. It gives us the chance to concentrate on developing the Shute Shield, giving it more exposure and a greater revenue stream through competition sponsorship,'' Boyle said. ''It was unanimously agreed upon by all the clubs and now NSW believe it is the way to go.''

Bartrop, meanwhile, said it would help the club competition ''really settle in as the third tier of Australian rugby, helping the growth of the game''.

Apart from bolstering the club ranks and improving the partnership with Brisbane premiership clubs, other SRU ideas include having an end-of-season Australian club knockout competition. There are also thoughts of reviving the Sydney team, which several decades ago played against touring international teams, including the All Blacks in 1984.

''Why wouldn't the Sydney Rugby Union, with players not involved in the franchises, play the lesser weights who come into town? And why wouldn't you have a return of the North Harbour-South Harbour competition?'' Bartrop said.

seems cool, being a youngen i dont know what this stuff was all about, anyone care to fill in for me? and whats your reactions?

 

[#1 Tah]

Also too young to remember what this is about, seems like a good idea though

 

[Nusadan]

I have fond memories of watching the Sydney rep team in the seventies in the old Sports Ground where the SFS is on now, also at the TG Milner Field...Sydney often got international scalps whereas NSW even with the best from Sydney didn't...

Also the North v South harbour games were entertaining and helped to publicize the clubs a lot more IMO...

 

[Nusadan]

bit of history here:

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...e-sydney-will-maraud-again-20100704-zvvx.html

 

[Hugh Jarse]

This has got to be a good step forward.
Hope they do not bugger it up.

If we are to grow rugby and develop the desired depth, then we need more cohesion within the Sydney Market, integrating Sydney Juniors, Schools, Colts, Subbies and Grade.

More focused development and pathways can be put in place with less reliance on the Private School System to develop and showcase Rugby Talent.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Now that Shute Shield 2011 is behind us, it it time to review Sydney Rugby Union operations.

Apart from the City Country game at Coogee Oval in June, has anything really changed?

What could be improved?

If an ounce of what Grumbles reports is true (and it seldom is), things are not all that well in Sydney Clubland.

 

[grievous]

Nope. Still the haves and have nots and if you beleive the Growden gossip the place is crawling with ambitous but clueless alikadoos. The haves are still calling for a two tier comp which of course means the north shore and eastern suburbs will make up the 1st tier. That will definately condemn Penrith, Parra and Souths to subbies.
Crowds are still very poor, I really dont know what can be done to engage the punter that goes to Wallaby games and nothing else...Tahs would probably like to know too
Has to be a better distrubrution of players, you just cant have Uni with a S15 team from 1-15 and Penrith 0.
More effort put into the west but thats a recurring improvement that the NSWRU keep ignoring
Sack the NSWRU board and get in pro administrators from another sport??We need fresh ideas/approach

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Now that Shute Shield 2011 is behind us, it it time to review Sydney Rugby Union operations.

Apart from the City Country game at Coogee Oval in June, has anything really changed?

What could be improved?

If an ounce of what Grumbles reports is true (and it seldom is), things are not all that well in Sydney Clubland.

Nothing much has changed from my perspective. Something has to change and soon. Was a fan of the ARC and still think that's the best way forward. Split the 12 clubs into the regions (seems pretty obvious which clubs go where), do the same for Brisbane but only into two, bring the ACT, Melbourne and Perth. A nice tidy 8 team comp with Super Rugby above it and Shute Shield/Hospitals Cup etc below it. The way it should be and the model that exists and works in NZ and SA. I know the whole financing thing will come up but answer me this. How do the US manage to be able to do this and we cannot?

Also, haven't seen Hugh on the board for a while. Good to see you back.

 

[DPK]

Maybe we're expecting too much, especially seeing as they've only had one year on the job?

Change occurs in excruciatingly slow increments for those who want it. (Pretty sure that's a West Wing quote...)

 

[#1?]

How much influence or control does NSW RU have over Sydney RU?

Does NSW RU still pay for ABC TV cover of Shute Shield games, or was this cost passed to SRU?

 

[Cardiffblue]

Would love to see this work.

 

[TOCC]

The key to any tier 3 competition is balancing sustainability with potential future growth..

A geographically divided region would have strong future growth potential, but short term sustainability is hindered. Example A is the ARC, right concept, but the financial model was unsustainable.

Teams like Sydney Uni are good for short term sustainability due to there financial backing, but in the longer run, they are targetting a niche part of the consumer market which may hinder overall competition potential.

It's obviously not an easy topic as it hasnt been addressed yet, but moves like this to estabish the SRU are a positive step forward as it encourages initiative and gives the clubs leverage to persue changes that may not have necessarily being conducive with NSWRU's own goal/mission statement.

The only concern is that it can lead to a duplication of efforts and stretches already limited resources in a financial and managerial sense. While other organizations like the NRL/ARL are consolidating, rugby union is segregating further.