Western Sydney Rams . NRC Official Team Thread

[GunnerDownUnder]

Story from Rugby News (not full version):

The newly named Western Sydney Rams have struggled in the opening two seasons of the National Rugby Championship but that could all be about to change according to new coach John Muggleton.
The former Wallabies assistant coach says he is close to finalising his roster for the 2016 season, which kicks off in late August.
“If everything comes together, I think we’ll be more than competitive. We’ve got some players still deciding if they want to play NRC or head overseas.” Muggleton said.
Muggleton has named former Brumbies Jeremy Paul and Joel Wilson on his coaching staff and is looking to pick his squad solely from the Rams feeder clubs – Penrith, Parramatta, West Harbour, Southern Districts and Eastwood.
“In general terms, all of our players will come from our feeder clubs and if they are not, we’ll want them to commit to one of those clubs for the following Shute Shield season.
“We’re not interested in bringing in different players year after year, that won’t help our organisation and it won’t help our feeder clubs either. We want guys that are willing to commit to Western Sydney and Southern Sydney.”
“We need our club teams to improve and then the Rams will improve and when the Rams improve, the club teams will improve. It’s a cycle that needs to be started this year because the main aim is to make Western Sydney strong again.”

 

[Dingasden]

Story from Rugby News (not full version):

The newly named Western Sydney Rams have struggled in the opening two seasons of the National Rugby Championship but that could all be about to change according to new coach John Muggleton.
The former Wallabies assistant coach says he is close to finalising his roster for the 2016 season, which kicks off in late August.
“If everything comes together, I think we’ll be more than competitive. We’ve got some players still deciding if they want to play NRC or head overseas.” Muggleton said.
Muggleton has named former Brumbies Jeremy Paul and Joel Wilson on his coaching staff and is looking to pick his squad solely from the Rams feeder clubs – Penrith, Parramatta, West Harbour, Southern Districts and Eastwood.
“In general terms, all of our players will come from our feeder clubs and if they are not, we’ll want them to commit to one of those clubs for the following Shute Shield season.
“We’re not interested in bringing in different players year after year, that won’t help our organisation and it won’t help our feeder clubs either. We want guys that are willing to commit to Western Sydney and Southern Sydney.”
“We need our club teams to improve and then the Rams will improve and when the Rams improve, the club teams will improve. It’s a cycle that needs to be started this year because the main aim is to make Western Sydney strong again.”

Why don't they just call them Sydney Rams? How can they expect to gain support from the southern suburbs of Sydney with a name like Western Sydney?
The same would be said if they called it Southern Sydney and expected support from Penrith & Parra areas. Who is in charge of marketing at the Rams? Very dumb.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I thought the Mandarins had determined that Southern Distructs were to be aligned with the Rays not the Rams.

 

[Dingasden]

I thought the Mandarins had determined that Southern Distructs were to be aligned with the Rays not the Rams.

That's what I thought. Someone better tell Muggleton.
Is that the "Northern Sydney Rays"?

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

That's what I thought. Someone better tell Muggleton.
Is that the "Northern Sydney Rays"?

Now officially the Sydney Rays. Though the furthest south they'll play their home games this season is North Sydney Oval.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

That's what I thought. Someone better tell Muggleton.
Is that the "Northern Sydney Rays"?

Well, if Southern have changed their allegiances then they four major feeder clubs are technically all in the western half of the city. So, Western Sydney seems appropriate.

 

[Dingasden]

Well, if Southern have changed their allegiances then they four major feeder clubs are technically all in the western half of the city. So, Western Sydney seems appropriate.

Agreed.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

http://www.rugbynews.net.au/2016-nrc-how-the-reshuffled-nsw-sides-might-look/

Thought so. Can't see too many of the Hobbits faithful crossing the Harbour to support their NRC Team.

There wasn't great crowds for the Sydney Fleet (Beasts, Wix, Hobbits and The Corporation all south of the Harbour) back in ARC days when they had home games at NSO. No reason to believe things have changed much since.

 

[MACCA]

fantastic information about the Rams on the Rams Twitter feed - well done Rams people


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kiap]

fantastic information about the Rams on the Rams Twitter feed - well done Rams people

http://ramsrugby.com.au/news/questions-answers-2016/

What Players have you signed?

In truth we are in the midst of recruiting our top 33 Players. The following Waratahs will be RAMS though:

• Hugh Roach
• Senio Toleafoa

Roachy is inspirational and will be one of our leaders. Senio is as an emerging Waratah and us the opportunity to show at NRC level that he’s Super Rugby ready…..just like RAMS favourite son (‘kick it to’) Jed Holloway.

Ok, this is huge for Western Sydney:

• Big Will Skelton is COMING HOME and will be a RAM in 2016!!!!!!!

More on Will Skelton soon. Also, expect another big TAHS announcement in the next few weeks. And once Super Rugby has ended fans can reasonably expect to hear more, direct, from our Super Rugby signed players. Send in your questions!

• Ben Robinson (retired) will of course be invited to all RAMS training, events and games. What an outstanding career and ambassador for rugby.
• Rob Horne and Tatafu Polota Nau will have a RAMS jersey ironed in the sheds waiting Both great RAMS. Both expected to be in the Wallabies ongoing.
• Kurtley Beale is also welcome (for life) and we wish him well in the UK.
• Cliffy Palu- come home! (No we haven’t signed Cliffy. We live in hope.)

Naturally we will place our faith in a lot emerging talent during the 2016 Tournament. Our Coaches rate players like:

• Dave Lolohea
• Tyrone Viiga
• Dewet Roos
• Rohan Safaloi
• Waldo Wessels
• Mitch Walton
• Matt Gibbon
• Jarome McKenzie

As you would expect the Eagles (definitely) and Ray’s (possibly) will try to sign Western Sydney local players. So we won’t be sharing everyone we rate today!

Expect a few older players in our squad in 2016 also. Part of the NRC is about younger players learning…..

Fans should also expect a few surprises in 2016 and yes, for instance, we’ve signed (lightning fast) Kevin Locke, ex Auckland Warriors.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Seems as if they are ignoring the alignment of the Hobbits with the Rays.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Seems as if they are ignoring the alignment of the Hobbits with the Rays.

They actually mention that Southern Districts have elected to remain as part of the Rams franchise from what I read. Which frankly makes a grest deal more sense.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The Rams really need the depth that the Hobbits provide, more than the Rays.

Makes sense. Never really understood why they would want to go over the bridge.

 

[Wandering Brumby]

Hey Rams fans, there's been a lot of talk about the Waratahs and the NRC teams. With the season approaching, we'd written an article focusing on what could be done to improve the engagement of the Tahs with the NRC teams. Especially given the unique nature of the Rams, I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/waratahs-can-help-nrc/

 

[RugbyReg]

Rams are doing this slowly....

Western Sydney Rams coach John Muggleton has announced part of his playing squad for the 2016 National Rugby Championship, beginning with his halfbacks.

Queenslander Scott Gayle, Southern Districts’ Waldo Wessels and Randwick youngster Harrison Goddard will battle for the No.9 jersey.

misspelling their big signing aint a good start #gale

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Rams are doing this slowly..



misspelling their big signing aint a good start #gale

it is frustrating to say the least.

 

[GunnerDownUnder]

Slightly odd that Roos was named as a player the coaches rated earlier and now he is at the Ray's?

Can we add 1 + 1 to = 3 and say that Harrison is joining Ash and following in the footsteps of their premiership winning father???

 

[Strewthcobber]

Where are the Rams playing home games this year? Any matches at Parramatta?

 

[Lindommer]

I read somewhere all the Rams home games are at Concord. Happy to be corrected.

 

[RugbyReg]

yep, Concord