The Official Shield Thread.

[Scoey]

Also just because I thought it was cool, my folks also saw this puppy on display somewhere on their travels.

 

[RugbyReg]

they should have stolen it.

What is it?

 

[Scoey]

I only spoke to Mum briefly and she couldn't quite recall what it was for. She thought it was in Boulia maybe? But I'm pretty sure the trophy for the camel races is a cup so maybe not. Dad will probably remember though and I'll ask him next time I see him.

I don't know if the light timber is a burl as well but the dark timber definitely is.

The burl I have is a River Red Gum too by the way.

 

[kiap]

Great trophy. Looks like a gallops winning post. That dark burl will be very dense wood. Tough timber almost like iron, good stuff.

Any progress with the shield, Rugby Reg - what's the go behind the scenes?

 

[RugbyFuture]

Looks awesome. Should get the quote in by the end of the week guys so we'll have the trophy cost to get going on this thing.

 

[kiap]

Should get the quote in by the end of the week

So you're running with this, Rugby Future? (instead of Rugby Reg)

If you've lined up a maker with the skills to craft the trophy, then that's good.

Using quality material such as your suggested Australian blackwood fashioned into your oval shield shape should produce a good result.

I presume it's just one quote at this stage - and to include this bit?

If so, what process have you asked for to do the printing onto the metal?

 

[RugbyFuture]

I've asked for a casting, but think we're gonna end up with some acid etching for parts of it, will see before we confirm. Me and Reg are working on it together but since I work casually and off contracts right now I had more time to source materials.

Still waiting for the quote on the trophy including the metal but it will be a good chunk of money.

I've gone to some wood joiners too but they were way over the specialist trophy maker when you add the bronze and I was put in touch with him by a family friend.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Awesome efforts by @RugbyReg and Lord Logo.

Has there been bank account details set up for crowd funding (mug punter) donations?

I am keen to contribute up to $100.

 

[RugbyReg]

waiting to confirm the final cost before we start asking for the dosh.

Appreciate the support though.

 

[Sully]

Once price is settled and crowd funding set up is it worth contacting Nick McCardle and/or Marto for a bit of free publicity?

 

[RugbyReg]

I think we will be using all our resources to promote the opportunity. It's looking like we will need about $7,000 perhaps a bit more as contingency (freight costs etc).

 

[Lindommer]

Count me in for a coupla hundred. Can my business name go on the finished article.....?

 

[RugbyFuture]

It would be alot more resources to get names planted on the inside of the shield. But we'll see how much we raise and the final amount everything comes to. In any case it was designed so labels could go on the back of donators, its just a matter of logistical ability with our limited time and resources.

 

[RugbyFuture]

Hey Guys, is there anyone here who would like to help us with formalising the rules around this before we get started in the promotion of it? Mostly it should be based off the ranfurly rules but manipulated to accomodate some of the suggestions here and for the shorter season....

Any volounteers?

 

[Highlander35]

Having a quick look back through the previous posts here, as well as looking at the rules for the Ranfurly shield online, I've quickly whipped up a very rough draft of what I'd expect the rules to look like.

It is very rough, the wording and formatting needs some work, but I think it somewhat embodies what most of us have been talking about and expecting.

I'd prefer not to be overly involved when to comes to the final, official stuff, but if nobody else puts the hand up, i'd be willing to do so.

 

[Pfitzy]

Fuck, don't be getting too official about it. Its meant to be a symbol.

I can't read what our resident Scotsman has posted (I no longer docx), but as long as it covers:

1) Shield must be on the line for holder's home game, excluding finals
2) Holder can optionally put it up for away games (shyeah)
3) Holder can optionally put it up in finals games

That should cover it?

 

[Highlander35]

More or less. I'll copy and past the contents below, forgot about the docx stuff.

1 Definitions
1.1 Shield Holder
Shield Holder refers to the team currently in possession of the Shield.
1.2 Challenge
A Challenge refers to a match where the Shield Holder plays against a challenger, and the Shield could change hands.
1.3 Shield Defence
A Shield Defence refers to the current Shield holder winning, or drawing in a Challenge
1.4 Shield Win
A Shield Win refers to the opposing team defeating the current Shield holders in a Challenge

2 Rules
2.1 At the beginning of the season, the current Shield Holders must accept no less than 4 Challenges

2.2 All home games during regular season are automatically designated Challenges.

2.3 In the event of a Shield Win, and consequently a new Shield Holder, all remaining home fixtures for the new shield holder are automatically designated Challenges.

2.4 Shield Holders may choose to accept Challenges in play-offs, Pre-season, friendly or away fixtures, but are not obligated to do so.

3 Inaugural Season (2015)

3.1 Having been Undefeated in the 2014 Round Robin fixtures of the National Rugby Championship, the Melbourne Rising are designated Inaugural holders of the Shield and are awarded 1 shield win.

3.2 The Rising will accept 4 Challenges for their 4 home games, in rounds 2, 5, 8 & 9.

3.3 The inaugural Challenge match will take place in Round 2, when the Melbourne Rising host 2015 Champions Brisbane City at the Harlequin Rugby Club.

4 Future Seasons

4.1 The minimum number of Challenges a Shield holder must accept can be increased or decreased. However, this number should never be less than half of the regular season games each team plays.

4.2 In the event of the Shield Holder going defunct at the end of the season, the Shield reverts to the last non-defunct Shield Holder.

4.3 In the event of a Shield Holder merging, or changing identity, the new entity shall remain the Shield Holder at the start of the next season.

Loosely based on the Ranfurly rules. Please talk changes to style, content etc.

 

[Scoey]

That pretty much covers it for mine.

 

[Pfitzy]

So deliciously bullet-pointed

Works for me

 

[Never Was]

Hi, I am a newbie, but have read the site for a while now. I think the Shield is a great idea. I have a legal background (no one is perfect) so I thought I'd quickly go over Highlander35's very good draft. I have pasted my amended version below. The changes are pretty minor. (Sorry, for the lack of tracked changes and if the formatting is bad - this posting gig is new to me.)
One issue that stood out to me is who is to have on-going ownership of the Shield and its rules, in the sense of who gets to make rule changes (and how will the changes be decided upon)? Will it be the ARU, or by vote of teams in the NRC, or will GAGR keep control?
I deleted rules 3.2 and 3.3 because I thought they are not really rules, but simply spelt out the consequences of rule 2 for the upcoming season.

1 Definitions

1. 1. Shield Holder
      Shield Holder refers to the team currently in possession of the Shield.
   2. Challenge
      A Challenge refers to a match the winner of which remains (if the Challenge results in a Shield Defence) or becomes (if the Challenge results in a Shield Win) the Shield Holder.
   3. Shield Defence
      A Shield Defence occurs when the result of a Challenge is either a draw or a win for the team which was the Shield Holder immediately before the Challenge.
   4. Shield Win
      A Shield Win occurs when the result of a Challenge is a loss for the team which was the Shield Holder immediately before the Challenge. In the event of a Shield Win, the winning team becomes the new Shield Holder.

2 Challenges

2.1 After the conclusion of a season, the current Shield Holder must accept at least 4 Challenges for the next season.

2.2 All home games during the regular season are automatically designated Challenges.

2.3 In the event of a Shield Win, and consequently a new Shield Holder, all remaining home fixtures for the new Shield Holder during that regular season are automatically designated Challenges.

2.4 Shield Holders may choose to accept Challenges in play-off, pre-season, friendly or away fixtures, but (subject to these rules) are not obligated to do so.

3 Inaugural Season (2015)

3.1 Having been undefeated in the regular season of the 2014 National Rugby Championship, the Melbourne Rising are designated Inaugural Shield Holders and are awarded 1 Shield Win.

4 Future Seasons
4.1 The minimum number of Challenges per season that a Shield Holder must accept can be increased or decreased. [by whom? The ARU? A majority vote of the teams in the NRC? GAGR?] However, this number should never be less than half of the regular season games each team plays.

4.2 In the event of the Shield Holder becoming defunct, the Shield reverts to the last non-defunct Shield Holder. The transfer of the Shield in this manner does not constitute a Shield Win.

4.3 In the event of a Shield Holder merging, or otherwise changing identity while continuing to exist, the new entity shall remain the Shield Holder at the start of the next season.