elementfreak
Trevor Allan (34)
Because of a 7s tournament? I don't think they will take into consideration the 7s, it will be interesting to see how they do at the proper stuff.
VRU 2013
- Thread starter elementfreak
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en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
Not because of it obviously, but it is an ominous sign.
FiveStarStu
Bill McLean (32)
Harlequin 'Dev' squad was put together three days before the fact, so was pretty much whoever wanted a run.
FiveStarStu
Bill McLean (32)
Box Hill are probably too resource rich to risk relegation at the moment.
Wow, alliteration.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
How do you figure?
It's no secret BH are a club who have plenty of blokes playing both 2nds and 3rds by the end of the year and aren't particularly close to fielding a colts side.
Compare that to the bigger clubs who are now fielding 4 teams with a fresh bench in 1sts and 4ths at the beginning of the year.
They battle and aren't the club they once were who set the standards in junior rugby either. Of course I wish them good luck and Footscray proves you're always only 1 or 2 seasons away from being a trendsetter.
FiveStarStu
Bill McLean (32)
I mean in terms of finances and sponsorship. Financially stable club, as opposed, apparently, to Boroondara.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
I don't know mate, there's a reason BH were next cap off the relegation rank. I don't think they're as financially well off as you think.
Now they aren't in dire straights but I think you'll find their operating budget would be less than other Prems clubs.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
So, VRU 10s next week. The mostly bloody useless event on the calendar in my opinion.
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
went to the uni official season launch tonight. hopefully have got the on field act together this year
recent results from the Laffan Cup in sydney over the weekend
"MURFC raised more than a few eyebrows pushing eventual tournament winners SUFC in two matches and demolishing Notre Dame with enterprising, entertaining rugby in all games in what was very difficult playing conditions. Suffice to say we were robbed by the ref in the SUFC(2) game - who should have awarded us a penalty at the last break down of the match where he blew full time….the ensuing penalty right in front would have given us the win!"
uni finished 5th behind sydney uni, qld, newcastle and canberra
ps interesting comments about "3rd tier" from greg harris (rupa), steve boland (rebels ceo) and university sporting heavies.
recent results from the Laffan Cup in sydney over the weekend
"MURFC raised more than a few eyebrows pushing eventual tournament winners SUFC in two matches and demolishing Notre Dame with enterprising, entertaining rugby in all games in what was very difficult playing conditions. Suffice to say we were robbed by the ref in the SUFC(2) game - who should have awarded us a penalty at the last break down of the match where he blew full time….the ensuing penalty right in front would have given us the win!"
uni finished 5th behind sydney uni, qld, newcastle and canberra
ps interesting comments about "3rd tier" from greg harris (rupa), steve boland (rebels ceo) and university sporting heavies.
elementfreak
Trevor Allan (34)
I enjoy it, it's a decent day out for players and refs. Means I will be able to test the legs in a match condition and make sure the pictures I am seeing at all aspects are correct.
elementfreak
Trevor Allan (34)
Sorry but things like "we were robbed by the referee" is a poor excuse IMO, just screams of shudda, wudda, cudda.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Care to elaborate on those "interesting comments"?
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
nothing sinister or new or concrete
meeting this week between ARU and CEO's of super franchises and the state rugby organisations, RUPA weren't invited.
the ARU and the super franchises are meeting again next week to thrash out some detail. enlarged squads (?50 players), local "acadamies", a probable tie in with the universities, more like SA than USA, especially to tap in to their alumni, both financially and as supporters.
possibly a "modified" game (whatever) to attract spectators and TV, but players have to be super football ready at the end. ? fewer players, 13 or 14 a side; shorter halves; modified rules, who knows?
the ARU are not flush with money and so must be revenue neutral
nothing we didn't already know, except that bill pulver seems determined to have it in place by 2014
meeting this week between ARU and CEO's of super franchises and the state rugby organisations, RUPA weren't invited.
the ARU and the super franchises are meeting again next week to thrash out some detail. enlarged squads (?50 players), local "acadamies", a probable tie in with the universities, more like SA than USA, especially to tap in to their alumni, both financially and as supporters.
possibly a "modified" game (whatever) to attract spectators and TV, but players have to be super football ready at the end. ? fewer players, 13 or 14 a side; shorter halves; modified rules, who knows?
the ARU are not flush with money and so must be revenue neutral
nothing we didn't already know, except that bill pulver seems determined to have it in place by 2014
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
Oh good, Melb Uni wants to enter a development competition. That won't kill our fledgling Colts competition or anything.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
I'm not fussed if it resemble the Varsity Cup at all. Evidence so far suggests that it has been a very successful competition for SA.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
It's successful because it was added onto a wealth of non-academically based development competitions. A better than average SS player would get a run in the nation wide Vodacom Cup (and that's not even the only non-academic development comp).
The issue is if we're going to use this kind of a competition as THE development competition than we're walking a very slippery slope.
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
i think one of the drivers from the ARU's perspective is the already available infrasrtucture at the universities. fields, gyms, pools, rehab etc. the brumbies use anu, sydney unis facilities are apparently better than the waratahs, rugby in victoria needs a "home", etc. also the idea of alumni supporting Uni WA vs Melb Uni eg, has built in advantages, witness the strength in only 2 - 3 years of the sydney v melbourne boat race. the SA varsity comp is clearly one model being investigated. the academic requirements need careful planning.
the short answer is we need something. the ARC was great but just prohibitively expensive. we shall see what evolves
the short answer is we need something. the ARC was great but just prohibitively expensive. we shall see what evolves
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
I don't want to offend anybody, particularly you who are obviously passionate about Melb Uni rugby, but the club is probably one of the top 4 or 5 resourced in the league and yet does not consistently make finals.
Do we want to invest the youth of Victorian Rugby is a decent but inconsistent club's hands? Also, what about all the blokes who don't get 90 in VCE which logic dictates is 90% of students in the state.
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
not offended and although there will no doubt be a spin off to melb uni rugby (i hope 
). , this is an initiative of the university not the rugby club. all the universities in australia are much more aggressively marketing themselves and see significant advantages in a very public association with australian rugby per se.
any "3rd tier" competition will be run through the ARU, local state bodies and super franchises, not individual clubs and certainly in victoria not by MURFC.
the "academic" ability of players was specifically discussed last night and this is one of the significant points to be sorted and may ultimately see this model fail to eventuate. the unis and rupa want players, if at uni, to be doing proper study, not advanced flower arranging or post grad basket weaving, and have to maintain an appropriate academic grade to be eligble to play. how non academic players fit into this will have to be sorted and perhaps along the lines of the rebels, be involved in business or technical education. access to "education" in its broadest sense, is a strong incentive to stay and play in australia rather than go elsewhere. also possibly an incentive to come and live and play here.
the need for a further level of development is seen by all and especially RUPA as crucial for the professional game to survive and thrive in australia.
this is definitely not a ploy by uni to garner all the good up and coming players. the rebels are determined to keep the homegrown talent here but need a comp that will develop them ready to step up to S15 level. local rugby here cant do that (yet) and the gap from SS, John I Dent and Premier rugby is too great.
). , this is an initiative of the university not the rugby club. all the universities in australia are much more aggressively marketing themselves and see significant advantages in a very public association with australian rugby per se.any "3rd tier" competition will be run through the ARU, local state bodies and super franchises, not individual clubs and certainly in victoria not by MURFC.
the "academic" ability of players was specifically discussed last night and this is one of the significant points to be sorted and may ultimately see this model fail to eventuate. the unis and rupa want players, if at uni, to be doing proper study, not advanced flower arranging or post grad basket weaving, and have to maintain an appropriate academic grade to be eligble to play. how non academic players fit into this will have to be sorted and perhaps along the lines of the rebels, be involved in business or technical education. access to "education" in its broadest sense, is a strong incentive to stay and play in australia rather than go elsewhere. also possibly an incentive to come and live and play here.
the need for a further level of development is seen by all and especially RUPA as crucial for the professional game to survive and thrive in australia.
this is definitely not a ploy by uni to garner all the good up and coming players. the rebels are determined to keep the homegrown talent here but need a comp that will develop them ready to step up to S15 level. local rugby here cant do that (yet) and the gap from SS, John I Dent and Premier rugby is too great.
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