Where to for Super Rugby?

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Its accurate.

I have never made any secret of the fact that with no base it is my belief that the NRC is doomed. That view has not changed by anything I have seen in terms of the games themselves or the numbers supporting the competition.

All it is doing is burning capital in terms of actual money, but also in terms of opportunity to actually build something that could be a growth base from now and into the medium term. The NRC at its very best is a long term prospect, a long term that I and others have argued since long before this crisis brought so much into the open, that Australian Rugby just did not have.

NRC is self-funded (from an ARU standpoint). Foxsport pay for the whole thing. Could it be better yes but is it better than having nothing yes.

 

[Forceright]

Plus what about the strong inference in Clyne's statement today that the Rebels and Force had sort of pre-agreed with the ARU that they would accept a fast cull - days after it was announced in principle on April 10 - but reneged after that assurance 'when they decided to take legal action'.

So in essence it's not the ARU that has caused this debacle but those pesky, capricious franchises changing their minds at the last minute!

A new narrative altogether!

Here (my emphasis) below and from rugby.com.au tonight entitled 'ARU Keeps Door Open for Five Teams':

With the initial timeline just days long, Clyne said the legal battles that ensued from that April 10 announcement, while potentially foreseeable, were a sudden change of heart by the clubs in question.​

​

“Could we have anticipated they would've commenced legal action? Well, perhaps yes,”​

“We have talked for many years at the ARU about the challenge of the financial game,” he said.​

​

.....​

​

“My suspicion is that they felt that we've talked that but we would never actually go down that path.​

​

“Obviously there was indication before our announcement on the 10th of April that, ‘Yes, look (if) we do make that decision, (we will) go quickly.​

​

“I think when it became a reality, then obviously their view changed.​

​

“They're entitled to change that view but obviously that puts a lot of delay in the process.”​

​

I find the above literally and figuratively incredible.

The ARU has no shame - what I have long said here - the core culture of the whole institutional framework of Australian rugby is one where:

- no one (or body) is ever responsible for anything that has occurred, no one (or body) is ever accountable for anything that has occurred.

I would love the Force to get Clyne into court just for the satisfaction of lawyers tearing strips off him for the BS that comes out of his gob! FFS Clyne, spill the beans on the bloody $28 mill you keep spouting- don't you think people read the financial statements?

 

[half]

You miss the point.
He penny pinches over that money.
He penny pinches by putting a levy on kids participation.
All at the same time truckloads of money is being destroyed by weak management and zero forward planning.
Oh and no penny pinching there!

+++++ 999999

ALSO

ARU decisions have been in the main insular, in that they have excluded other voices from having a say. Especially voices in club land and park land.

The results we are bleeding players to other codes, and giving soccer and AFL a free kick at our expense by not be inclusive in decision making.

At current rates of change soccer will be the main code in GPS schools within 5 years.

Only hard core rusted on are staying.

 

[Micheal]

I am sick of hearing that quote. It is a lazy attack. You and I both know that many of the clubs were paying players in amateur competitions (SS and Prem Rugby). How does that support the growth of the game?

Still are.

I've got mates on $5k + p.a. playing 2nd grade and 3rd grade.

In that regard the clubs are well and truly pissing it up against the wall.

They're not professional clubs, they don't need to pay for premierships. In fact, paying for premierships and having Uni win dozens of titles over the last 20 years only damages the game for everyone who didn't play Australian schoolboys.

If anything, the comps become a lot more even / contested over the last few years and its been more interesting.

Norths had an unheralded squad with some ripping coaching and it won them a Prem. Thats much more interesting for the casual spectator with no allegiance (me) than seeing Randwick toffs or Uni schoolboy heroes run over competition week in week out.

You miss the point.
He penny pinches over that money.
He penny pinches by putting a levy on kids participation.
All at the same time truckloads of money is being destroyed by weak management and zero forward planning.
Oh and no penny pinching there!

To be fair if the Super Rugby clubs go under its the death of the professional game in Australia. Like it or not participation is very highly correlated with the success of that game.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

+++++ 999999

ALSO

ARU decisions have been in the main insular, in that they have excluded other voices from having a say. Especially voices in club land and park land.

The results we are bleeding players to other codes, and giving soccer and AFL a free kick at our expense by not be inclusive in decision making.

At current rates of change soccer will be the main code in GPS schools within 5 years.

Only hard core rusted on are staying.

I agree with both of you but pointing out someone else failings to cover your own isn't the right approach.

ARU funding should be unevenly split between the states based an participation numbers. NSWRU should fund the SS and grassroots not ARU.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

NSWRU should fund the SS and grassroots not ARU.

There's an unpopular opinions thread you know

 

[dru]

You miss the point.
He penny pinches over that money.
He penny pinches by putting a levy on kids participation.
All at the same time truckloads of money is being destroyed by weak management and zero forward planning.
Oh and no penny pinching there!

ILTW, I liked that post, so talking for myself.

Your point is not missed. At all.

In the mean time you diss the mis-spend at Soup. I agree.
Then, from my perspective, suggest that we should mis-spend, a comparatively small amount, on SS.

Soup should have been WAY more important. As it turns out that is incorrect.

And in the mean time SS pundits may well have strength to offer for our way forward. God I hope so. But I will not be happy if the result is SS silver spoon being polished.

But that's just me.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I reckon:

From the Rebels:

+ Timani
+ McMahon
+ Fainga'a
+ Hodge
+ Koroibete
+ Naivalu
+ Lomax
+ Maddocks
+ Tuipolotu

From the Force:

+ Coleman
+ DHP
+ RHP
+ McCalman
+ Naisarani
+ Phillip
+ Hardwick
+ Meakes
+ Peni
+ Rona
+ Lance
+ Louwrens
+ Ruru

as certainties

Tahs could take Lomax as their penalty magnet when Mumm retires

 

[I like to watch]

ILTW, I liked that post, so talking for myself.

Your point is not missed. At all.

In the mean time you diss the mis-spend at Soup. I agree.
Then, from my perspective, suggest that we should mis-spend, a comparatively small amount, on SS.

Soup should have been WAY more important. As it turns out that is incorrect.

And in the mean time SS pundits may well have strength to offer for our way forward. God I hope so. But I will not be happy if the result is SS silver spoon being polished.

But that's just me.

Not suggesting that the $300k should be re instated at all.

Only pointing out how he's penny wise and pound foolish, about how he was pro active for a relatively small amount, and impotent about a sum many times the net worth of entire business.

In an indirect fashion he's made the SS clubs stronger, withdrawing the grant has made the clubs self sufficient, and it appears to me,looking at websites & ground signs that they have more than replaced the ARU grants.

 

[TOCC]

NRC is self-funded (from an ARU standpoint). Foxsport pay for the whole thing. Could it be better yes but is it better than having nothing yes.

A critical points which continues to be ignored by many...

Most of the frustration towards the NRC seems to resonate from Sydney, and i'd suspect the main reason is a large segment of the Sydney rugby population feel that the Shute Shield fulfils the development pathway which the NRC is attempting to replicate. However, in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and even Brisbane it provides a level of competition well above the domestic club scene which in turn benefits the development of the players.

Interestingly NRC overall broadcast figures grew 65% last season, or 23% more per-game, coming from a low base but still an improving KPI in a year when other areas of OZ Rugby seem to be imploding.

 

[I like to watch]

^^^^Undoubtedly the best thing Billy has done in his tenure.

 

[half]

Well I keep banging on about this but if its there.

These are two National Premier League sides and has close to 10K Face Book views. The players are paid how do they do it.

LIVE on Facebook

Bulleen Lions v Oakleigh Cannons
LINK: https://www.facebook.com/FlipTVAustralia/videos/463731680629193/?permPage=1

 

[TOCC]

Yep we get it, they stream on Facebook.
QRU broadcasts 2 QPR games a round on Facebook as well, Easts vs South drew 7k last weekend, there should be more of it

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

^^^^Undoubtedly the best thing Billy has done in his tenure.

No doubt. Credit where it's due on that one.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Most of the frustration towards the NRC seems to resonate from Sydney, and i'd suspect the main reason is a large segment of the Sydney rugby population feel that the Shute Shield fulfils the development pathway which the NRC is attempting to replicate. However, in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and even Brisbane it provides a level of competition well above the domestic club scene which in turn benefits the development of the players.

Seems that way to me too. Talk to people outside of Sydney and there seems to be a lot of support for the concept.

 

[Quick Hands]

In today's edition of 'Jesus tap-dancing Christ are you serious', Clyne didn't anticipate teams would take legal action.
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/05/29/06/29/clyne-sanzaar-update

Wow, these guys have overspent by $28 million on super rugby in the past 4 years (i.e. @ $7mill per year).

 

[Quick Hands]

ARU funding should be unevenly split between the states based an participation numbers. NSWRU should fund the SS and grassroots not ARU.

ARU don't fund SS.

 

[BLR]

Wow, these guys have overspent by $28 million on super rugby in the past 4 years (i.e. @ $7mill per year).

Guess where a lions share went.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

ARU don't fund SS.

Mate the comment was in relation to the earlier discussion around SS and prem rugby funding not current situation.

 

[Scooter]

Any astronomy fans out there who were disappointed when Pluto was declared a dwarf planet reducing the number of planets to eight, never fear. We now have a ninth planet again it is called Planet ARU. They have been hiding in their bunker with views from another planet.

Every time the ARU open their mouths (which hasn't been too often since Easter) their words continue to be more astounding. When VRU and RUPA requested EGM because of lack of communication, the ARU came out and said they thought they were communicating well. Now they are surprised the two teams (and in particular the Force) wouldn't just pack up their tent

They weren't expecting legal action which could cost the ARU millions that they don't have. I know they had to do something with regards to player contracts, but now the Force and Rebels (and other teams) can go their hardest, and the ARU have guaranteed the contracts. So if a team folds that could cost the ARU millions as well.

As every day passes the status quo looks more and more like the cheaper option. (Notwithstanding something has to change with revenue streams and cost cutting).