VRU 2013

[en_force_er]

Away from the doom and gloom, this is great news.

Don't know if it's complete clubs per say:

There are currently League clubs in those two towns, they are part of a NSW league though.

That's great news! The country league could easily have twice the teams seeing as it's never a case of pinching another club's players.

I still think the Latrobe Valley area could use a club, plus maybe one in the Mornington Peninsula, and maybe Echuca? Senior clubs of course, as far as juniors go it's a difficult prospect.

The Mornington Peninsula & Latrobe Valley Clubs could be embraced as satellite clubs by Souths and EHills respectively.

 

[en_force_er]

Can't see the local council allowing them to keep the ground purely for training.

Will never happen.

Northern have a partnership with Uni at present also.

Like I said, since the 3rds of both clubs are semi-autonomous anyway (as well as BH's over 35s) and they could continue to function as a division 2b side thus keeping the club running. Plus, I suggested the juniors should continue to function autonomously for the sake of blooding the maximum number of juniors.

Surely the council would let you keep the park for that purpose. Not that Boroondara's ground are the envy of anybody. Can't see anyone moving in to contest.

Even if they can't keep their main ground 1 senior team and a 2-3 junior teams could easily be run out of Burke Road South Reserve.

 

[KevinO]

Like I said, since the 3rds of both clubs are semi-autonomous anyway (as well as BH's over 35s) and they could continue to function as a division 2b side thus keeping the club running. Plus, I suggested the juniors should continue to function autonomously for the sake of blooding the maximum number of juniors.

Surely the council would let you keep the park for that purpose. Not that Boroondara's ground are the envy of anybody. Can't see anyone moving in to contest.

Even if they can't keep their main ground 1 senior team and a 2-3 junior teams could easily be run out of Burke Road South Reserve.

Well the park is only used for Cricket otherwise, I actually like the ground for location and as a spectator it offers alot of good viewing space as you are above the ground. The surface could use alot of work as its very sandy and with the winter we just had it did not drain well. Nothing better than being at the bottom of a ruck in a muddy puddle.

Although with two big hockey clubs playing accross the road, it would be the perfect location for them to place another ground.

 

[stoff]

Well the park is only used for Cricket otherwise

Don't forget the Medieval Re-Enactors or whatever they are with their archery tournaments in funny costumes.

 

[kronic]

Don't forget the Medieval Re-Enactors or whatever they are with their archery tournaments in funny costumes.

 

[Train Without a Station]

The surface could use alot of work as its very sandy and with the winter we just had it did not drain well. Nothing better than being at the bottom of a ruck in a muddy puddle.

Having played there this year, the surface is not up to scratch for games to be played on. Uneven, full of deep puddles to the point where you cannot even run in half of the ground on a wet day, and probably grass covering only 50% of the field in total. In addition the warm up area, the far side of the cricket field is an abomination. The council needs a kick up the arse for their lack of maintainance on the field, it's borders on dangerous at times.

 

[pablo]

Having played there this year, the surface is not up to scratch for games to be played on. Uneven, full of deep puddles to the point where you cannot even run in half of the ground on a wet day, and probably grass covering only 50% of the field in total. In addition the warm up area, the far side of the cricket field is an abomination. The council needs a kick up the arse for their lack of maintainance on the field, it's borders on dangerous at times.

Agree!! One of the worst ground I have ever played on or seen.....the Box Hill sand pit used to be bad but they have fixed it up and is pretty good. Actually there aren't many good grounds out there, unfortunately we are 2nd rate in the order of maintaining grounds. Moorabbin's new one is pretty decent, same as Endeavour's, if Souths wasn't on a slope it'd be good, House struggles at the start due to the GP, Melbourne was unplayable at some stages this season, haven't seen Uni's main field playable in two seasons and Footscray's turns to dust pretty early on!

 

[pablo]

That's great news! The country league could easily have twice the teams seeing as it's never a case of pinching another club's players.

I still think the Latrobe Valley area could use a club, plus maybe one in the Mornington Peninsula, and maybe Echuca? Senior clubs of course, as far as juniors go it's a difficult prospect.

The Mornington Peninsula & Latrobe Valley Clubs could be embraced as satellite clubs by Souths and EHills respectively.

I like this sattelite idea - do they just fall into the country league and play in that comp?? Cracker of a trip from Gippsland to Mildura.............

 

[en_force_er]

I like this sattelite idea - do they just fall into the country league and play in that comp?? Cracker of a trip from Gippsland to Mildura.....

Hmm, that's an interesting question. 1 trip to Mildura a year might be doable if you empathise the fun of it, everyone likes a good rugby trip home.

Outside of that perhaps some kind farmer would provide a paddock half way between the two points?

 

[KevinO]

Hmm, that's an interesting question. 1 trip to Mildura a year might be doable if you empathise the fun of it, everyone likes a good rugby trip home.

Outside of that perhaps some kind farmer would provide a paddock half way between the two points?

Depending on numbers maybe split the country into a East and West Pools with top 2 in each pool playing each other in finals to limit the distance traveled?

West:
Ballarat
Benigo
Warrnambool
Echuca
Mildura

East:
Puckapunal
Border Army
Shepparton
LaTrobe Valley
Mornington Peninsula

 

[pablo]

Some coaching appointments for next season announced already. Melbourne and Quins have bought up big so it seems, and keep hearing rumour around Uni's coach being an ex-Melbourne premiership coach.

 

[en_force_er]

Some coaching appointments for next season announced already. Melbourne and Quins have bought up big so it seems, and keep hearing rumour around Uni's coach being an ex-Melbourne premiership coach.

What are their new coach's backstories? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[yourmatesam]

KevinO How would the Vic Country comp look without Deni or BARC? I notice you haven't included Deni in that split comp model, are they definitely out of the VRU 2013 in all shapes and forms?

 

[elementfreak]

What are their new coach's backstories? If you don't mind me asking.

Melbourne:

Melbourne Rugby Club (the Unicorns) are delighted to announce the appointment of former Wellington Hurricanes academy coach and Sri Lanka national team boss Ellis Meachen as Director of Rugby for the 2013 season.
Meachen takes over from Mitch Canning, who guided the Unicorns to Dewar Shield premierships in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and Cowper Shield Club Championships in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He stood down in October after five remarkable years at the helm.
Most recently Meachen was head coach at the Newcastle Wanderers. He has held a number of high-profile positions. He worked for the International Rugby Board in the Pacific islands before joining Sri Lanka in January 2011.
His other high-profile roles have included Romanian director of rugby, Tonga assistant coach, New Zealand under-21s technical advisor, Wellington assistant coach, Hurricanes academy head coach and director of rugby for the New Zealand Institute of Sport.
‘‘We’re very fortunate to be able to appoint a coach of this calibre to further the success started by Mitch Canning’’ Unicorns president Tyrone Landsman said.
‘‘It is a coup not only for us but for Victorian club rugby.'’
Meachen, who is an IRB accredited Level 4 coach, will arrive in Melbourne at the end of November. The Unicorns, whose only loss in 2012 was in the Premiership Grand Final to the Moorabbin Rams, are keen to win back the flag in 2013. ‘‘Ellis forms an important part of our strategic plan’’ Landsman said.
‘‘There is a real buzz around the club with the announcement of his appointment, and we look forward with great anticipation to him leading us to renewed success in 2013.

Quins:

Harlequin Rugby Club are very excited to announce that Craig McGrath will be joining the club in 2013 as 1st Grade Coach with current 1st Grade coach Ruhan van Zyl. Craig is presently coaching in Ireland, and will join the club in April once his commitments in Ireland come to an end.
The man known as “Ice” was considered one of the biggest halfbacks in the first class game and is well known for his tough and uncompromising attitude to not only the sport but his own personal fitness levels. Craig displayed this determination and thoroughness when he visited Quins earlier in the year for a match off his own back whilst in NZ in the Irish off season.
Chair of Rugby Brock Parker advised that the club had been talking to Craig for 8 months about taking on the role, and it is a great leap forward for the club to have someone with Craig's experience, professionalism and success be part of the club. The knowledge he has developed from NPC, Super Rugby and with NZ Maori will enable Craig's tutelage and direction to the young Quins backline to be invaluable. Craig is presently Director of Rugby at his club in Ireland, who in the last 2 seasons he has managed the club from “mid table” contenders in Leinster Division 1 to division winners last season gaining promotion into the All Ireland League Div 2B.
Craig McGrath
- NZ Maori (97, 98, 99, 04 & 05)
- Waikato Chiefs 1998
- Auckland Blues 2003, 04 & 05
- NPC: Northland (98), Auckland (96, 97, 02, 03, 04), North Harbour (05)
- Captained Waitemata to the Gallaher Shield in 2003, Player/Coach in 2004
- Viadana, Italy (2 seasons)

Cliff Viliamu has joined the 2013 Quins coaching team as the club Scrum Coach and will assist primarily with the set pieces across the club. Chair of Rugby Brock Parker has advised that with Cliff's appointment, the club will increase its focus further on developing the set piece further with dedicated Front Rowers training through the season.
Cliff Viliamu
- Over 100 1st Grade games for Box Hill
- Three VRU 1st Grade Premierships as a player (99, 00, 01)
- 1st Grade coach at Box Hill, including 2009 Grand Final
- 1st Grade coach at Boroondara
- Victorian Schoolboys (U18) coach 2011 & 2012
- Member of the Rebels 2013 Advanced Coaches Group

 

[en_force_er]

Thanks elementfreak. Sounds like a big deal, hopefully the other clubs can rise to their level and I think anybody that has a problem with the bar being raised (as many facebook commenters seem to) need to ask themselves exactly why it's an issue. Hopefully we'll see Quin's structure, which is no doubt the best in Victoria, translate into some 1st XV results.

KevinO, what's the go with Boroondara? Still merging with BH? I only ask because the above says their head coach is leaving to take on a scrummaging coaching role at Quins.

 

[elementfreak]

Thanks elementfreak. Sounds like a big deal, hopefully the other clubs can rise to their level and I think anybody that has a problem with the bar being raised (as many facebook commenters seem to) need to ask themselves exactly why it's an issue. Hopefully we'll see Quin's structure, which is no doubt the best in Victoria, translate into some 1st XV results.

KevinO, what's the go with Boroondara? Still merging with BH? I only ask because the above says their head coach is leaving to take on a scrummaging coaching role at Quins.

Apparently there is a players meeting at BH next Tuesday to discuss it.

 

[kronic]

Bloody hell, Melbourne and Quins going all out there.

 

[en_force_er]

Apparently there is a players meeting at BH next Tuesday to discuss it.

Interesting, facebook sentiment suggests Boroondara is keen and Box Hill is not (but is happy to welcome Boroondara players). It's a bit of a watch this space scenario I suppose.

Is this what you guys are getting? You certainly know a lot about the happenings of Vic Rugby elementfreak.

 

[KevinO]

KevinO How would the Vic Country comp look without Deni or BARC? I notice you haven't included Deni in that split comp model, are they definitely out of the VRU 2013 in all shapes and forms?

Didn't mean to leave any one out, was just doing a rough split.

 

[KevinO]

Thanks elementfreak. Sounds like a big deal, hopefully the other clubs can rise to their level and I think anybody that has a problem with the bar being raised (as many facebook commenters seem to) need to ask themselves exactly why it's an issue. Hopefully we'll see Quin's structure, which is no doubt the best in Victoria, translate into some 1st XV results.

KevinO, what's the go with Boroondara? Still merging with BH? I only ask because the above says their head coach is leaving to take on a scrummaging coaching role at Quins.

Nothing since last week, strange how quite the Boroondara players are with their opinions on things.