Sydney Subbies 2022

[Pfitzy]

Given the amount of rumours flying around on the old thread, I thought I'd start a new one

And, let's face it, a lot of clubs are probably going to start planning early in order to get the players back for what might be yet another disrupted season

So here's my first dig at Divisional structure:

First Division - Hunters come up, Knox go down
Blue Mountains, Colleagues, Drummoyne, Forest, Hunters Hill, Mosman, Petersham, Waverley

Second Division - Barker goneski, leaving 7 clubs and the terrible prospect of a bye unless Iggies or Beecroft can fill the hole.
Epping, Hills, Knox, Lindfield, Newport, St Pats, UNSW

Third Division - this might end up only being 6 clubs I reckon as Barker fall right past and Blacktown + HAC drop as well. This means Iggies/Croft probably stay to stabilise things rather than go up.
Beecroft, Briars, Iggies, Hawkesbury Valley, Sydney Harlequins, Western Raptors

Fourth Division - potentially could fill out a bit as a couple of clubs drop in and a couple drop out. The talking point will be whether ladder leaders Sydney Harbour can get a 2nd team together in the face of multiple clubs having 2-3 teams.
Barker, Canterbury, Mac Uni, Manly Savers, Northern Saints, Oatley, Redfield, Renegades

Fifth Division - should be the strongest of the single-grade clubs IMHO, but travel will affect several:
Brothers, Burraneer, Menai, Merrylands, North Cronulla, Sydney Harbour, Sydney Irish, Wakehurst
*If Irish or Harbour can get 2 Grades, they would likely displace Oatley in Fourth Div.

Sixth Division - the rest
Alexandria Dukes, Chatswood, Kings Old Boys, Lane Cove, Maccabi, Sydney Combined Forces

So that's me throwing lawn darts. Let's see how they land!

 

[Teh Other Dave]

Think of all the midyear holidays and winter weddings next year. It's going to be carnage

 

[DaSchmooze]

Given the amount of rumours flying around on the old thread, I thought I'd start a new one

As far as rumours go, you have to say - they're pretty good! I'd dare say fanciful - but good tall yarns nonetheless.

 

[Pfitzy]

As far as rumours go, you have to say - they're pretty good! I'd dare say fanciful - but good tall yarns nonetheless.

Helped entertain everyone in lockdown

 

[WoodyWoodsman]

As far as rumours go, you have to say - they're pretty good! I'd dare say fanciful - but good tall yarns nonetheless.

As the great Snoop Dogg as HuggyBear in Starsky & Hutch says, “I just lay it out, for y’all to play it out”.
Scrap Knox in Div 2, they will land lower.

My sources are telling me that a Division 2 club that has merged with a university club has been offering scholarships and Uni jobs. The club has been very quiet on social media, but is quietly confident it will be ready to mix it in Division 1 and will be aiming for the Kentwell Cup.

 

[Teh Other Dave]

As the great Snoop Dogg as HuggyBear in Starsky & Hutch says, “I just lay it out, for y’all to play it out”.
Scrap Knox in Div 2, they will land lower.

My sources are telling me that a Division 2 club that has merged with a university club has been offering scholarships and Uni jobs. The club has been very quiet on social media, but is quietly confident it will be ready to mix it in Division 1 and will be aiming for the Kentwell Cup.

Oh UNSW merging with Macquarie. Interesting.

Hey wait, there are still uni jobs?/

 

[WoodyWoodsman]

Oh UNSW merging with Macquarie. Interesting.

Hey wait, there are still uni jobs?/

Close but not UNSW.
Jobs on the Uni site. The university see the club as an Avenue to potentially rival Sydney Uni. Have heard the end goal is to establish a top tier rugby club.

 

[DaSchmooze]

Close but not UNSW.
Jobs on the Uni site. The university see the club as an Avenue to potentially rival Sydney Uni. Have heard the end goal is to establish a top tier rugby club.

Macquarie/Epping?

 

[Pfitzy]

AGM was last night - one of the prominent points is that Subbies are backing the introduction of women into the long-term plans, and every club is encouraged to get started on the planning.

 

[DaSchmooze]

AGM was last night - one of the prominent points is that Subbies are backing the introduction of women into the long-term plans, and every club is encouraged to get started on the planning.

I think thats a good thing. As long as they don't mandate participation of the club is contingent on having a women's team though.

 

[Pfitzy]

With the growth in junior girls rugby the last few years, it is a good time to get it moving. Capitalise on the Aussie 7s as well.

Might not be a question of mandate, but whether you can stop at only 1 team!

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

With the growth in junior girls rugby the last few years, it is a good time to get it moving. Capitalise on the Aussie 7s as well.

Might not be a question of mandate, but whether you can stop at only 1 team!

Why would you want to?

 

[DaSchmooze]

With the growth in junior girls rugby the last few years, it is a good time to get it moving. Capitalise on the Aussie 7s as well.

Might not be a question of mandate, but whether you can stop at only 1 team!

I'd imagine that finding suitable body types to create front rowers could be a challenge. The second challenge is telling your missus that she has a suitable body type for the front row But you're right though - now's the time to get cracking on an initiative like this though.

 

[Pfitzy]

I'd imagine that finding suitable body types to create front rowers could be a challenge. The second challenge is telling your missus that she has a suitable body type for the front row But you're right though - now's the time to get cracking on an initiative like this though.

In contrast, a few clubs are losing players who aren't suited to 7s - particularly those who played overseas or in other competitions where scrums were life.

 

[Pfitzy]

Why would you want to?

Having multiple 7s teams is doable in the current environment of womens 7s gala days.

However, longer term where womens rugby is part of the Saturday match day, 7-a-side isn't likely to cut it. Probably Tens is the best bet, given its success in places like Riverina and Central Coast.

If you played womens Tens as 20 minute halves it works from the player commitment and club travel point of view, rather than just going across town to play one game of 7s. Sevens is a difficult sell in that context - our most distant opponent is 1-1.5 hours the other side of Sydney. For 14 minutes of game time? Nah.

I'm thinking of a possible future - say in 5 years - where the top 2-3 divisions are running a womens Tens comp - have it contribute to Club Championship, full season, finals etc.

Having multiple Ten-a-side teams will be more difficult to squeeze into a game day, as well as a club competition, in that format.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Having multiple 7s teams is doable in the current environment of womens 7s gala days.

However, longer term where womens rugby is part of the Saturday match day, 7-a-side isn't likely to cut it. Probably Tens is the best bet, given its success in places like Riverina and Central Coast.

If you played womens Tens as 20 minute halves it works from the player commitment and club travel point of view, rather than just going across town to play one game of 7s. Sevens is a difficult sell in that context - our most distant opponent is 1-1.5 hours the other side of Sydney. For 14 minutes of game time? Nah.

I'm thinking of a possible future - say in 5 years - where the top 2-3 divisions are running a womens Tens comp - have it contribute to Club Championship, full season, finals etc.

Having multiple Ten-a-side teams will be more difficult to squeeze into a game day, as well as a club competition, in that format.

I was more playing off your comment than anything else but thanks for your breakdown.

 

[DaSchmooze]

As the great Snoop Dogg as HuggyBear in Starsky & Hutch says, “I just lay it out, for y’all to play it out”.
Scrap Knox in Div 2, they will land lower.

My sources are telling me that a Division 2 club that has merged with a university club has been offering scholarships and Uni jobs. The club has been very quiet on social media, but is quietly confident it will be ready to mix it in Division 1 and will be aiming for the Kentwell Cup.

Ok WoodyWoodsman - time for some more hear say and speculation. What you got?

 

[Ref_Ted]

A tangent topic thought. There was talk last year in Shute Shield regarding the roster size in certain Sydney premiership clubs. Humble opinion would suggest a roster cap for premiership clubs would benefit both the Sydney Premiership and Subbies.
4x Grade teams (scrap 5th) & 3x Colts teams each with 23 registered players is a max of 161 on the Roster for a season. Season injuries could be replaced by Subbies players.
Would this not trickle down to the benefit of Subbies?

 

[BJT]

A tangent topic thought. There was talk last year in Shute Shield regarding the roster size in certain Sydney premiership clubs. Humble opinion would suggest a roster cap for premiership clubs would benefit both the Sydney Premiership and Subbies.
4x Grade teams (scrap 5th) & 3x Colts teams each with 23 registered players is a max of 161 on the Roster for a season. Season injuries could be replaced by Subbies players.
Would this not trickle down to the benefit of Subbies?

So what your saying is that a subbies player in 1st grade playing at 3:15pm, might get pulled from their game to sit on the bench for 4th grade in premier at 9am. No thanks.

Premier rugby has a purpose, subbies has a different purpose.

 

[Pfitzy]

I think the idea of aligning Subbies and Premier Clubs would ultimately be of benefit, but needs that alignment to happen at strategic level long before a game day scenario could be considered.

Premier rugby has a purpose, subbies has a different purpose.

Agree with this BUT the issue is overlap.

Premier Rugby Clubs have a top squad of players who are trying to win Shute Shield, then the rest are basically Subbies quality players paying some of the club's bills. Premier Rugby is trying to be multiple things when it really can't be.