In my ideal world, I'd like to see Super Rugby ditched altogether and replaced with an expanded fully professional domestic competition. NZ could do the same. A short sharp Champions' League could be played between the top two teams in the respective domestic competitions. Everyone would get a chance.
My template is the original ARC with 8 teams, but better aligned with their respective regions in Sydney and perhaps Brisbane. IMO, the competition was sabotaged by the way in which the Sydney teams were set up, except for Western Sydney. A North Harbour team, the Central Coast Rays with feeder Shute Shield clubs Norths, Gordon, Manly and Warringah, was based in Gosford and a South Harbour team, the Sydney Fleet with feeder clubs Easts, Randwick, Sydney University and Souths, was based at North Sydney. It was ludicrous and was set up to fail. They got the Western Sydney Rams right with feeder clubs West Harbour, Eastwood, Parramatta and Penrith, based at the old Parramatta Stadium.
Despite that anomaly, it still attracted some decent crowds. I attended a match between the Sydney Fleet and Western Sydney Rams at a packed-out North Sydney Oval, which was a home game for the Fleet. It demonstrated the potential for the competition if it had been properly organised. There was plenty of tribal following and I don't see why that couldn't be replicated in a fully professional version supported by the respective feeder clubs. After all, we once had annual North Harbour v South Harbour representative matches which were hugely supported and the addition of a Western Sydney team would add to that regional rivalry. The Premier Rugby competitions would remain as the third tier, although they would lose some players because of the expanded number of teams. That then opens up opportunities for more aspiring talented players to play 1st Grade instead of heading overseas.
The teams wouldn't be that different from the ARC but based in their proper regions. They would nominally be North Brisbane, South Brisbane, Sydney North Harbour, Sydney South Harbour, Western Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Perth. Further regional teams like Newcastle and Townsville could be included further down the track as the competition matures and finances allow it. It could be played home and away over two rounds with the top 4 teams qualifying for the finals, before the July Test window. There would be plenty of content there. All Wallabies would play for their respective regional teams, as they do now in Super Rugby, which would attract more interest.
Unfortunately, RA wouldn't currently have the resources to support such a concept, but with the windfall profits expected from the Men's and Women's Rugby World Cups, it might be able to give it a kick-start.
