Reg, a really good article, and whilst I agree with a lot of your points, and there are many I would like to see happen, I think it paints too much of a bearish scenario with regards to professionalism.
Having read through and thought over all the different models and proposals myself, I believe we will see a top down approach emerge over the next few years as we emerge from this pandemic. The first point, as noted above, is that the main revenue driver for Aussie rugby is the Wallabies, this then filters down to the Super Rugby teams via broadcast revenue, and then to the semi pro and amateur levels below this. Secondly, you mention that 95% of our 120 professional players will end up signing offshore. That equates to 114 of them. This won't happen, there just won't be the demand for that many additional of our players from overseas competitions. Add to this that these competitions will be taking a financial hit as well out of all this and they won't have the same amount of money to throw around. In short I think there will be a downward correction of player salaries globally.
Here is what I think will happen:
2020 - we will just have to make do with what we can and both us and NZ will want to head towards a Bledisloe series later in the year to generate some revenue. In the meantime we will have a short domestic competition involving the 4 existing Super franchises and the Force. Players who have returned and are uncontracted such as Jono Lance and TPN will temporarily sign with the Force to bolster their side. Depending on the timing there might be a Championship match between our winner and NZ's.
2021 - there will still be huge restrictions on overseas travel. I think the shortened comp of 2020 will be repeated for the whole season and with the inclusion of the Drua. There will be some reshuffling of the player rosters as players start to relocate to their preferred locations on lower salaries and look for supplementary income. The 6 teams will play 3 competition rounds = 15 weeks, plus a 4 team finals series. Again there could be a TT match, and there will be an international season with NZ, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga..
2022 onwards - movements will be eased and there will be some defection of the top players to overseas competitions, and a relaxation of the eligibility clauses (I hate calling it the Giteau clause, I reckon it was actually the Kepu clause). The Waratahs and Reds will split into two NSW and two Qld sides, forming an 8 team domestic competition. Over time Samoa and Tonga could be involved and some of the Asian nations, expanding the competition even further.
Broadcast revenue is the big variable in all of this. It's imperative that we use 2020 and 2021 to showcase our home grown talent and get a media deal locked in. The more we can earn from that the more top level players we will be able to retain. I also think that 3rd party payments/sponsorship might become the norm for mid level players. E.g. Coca-Cola Amatil may employ a player as a salesman, offering a career post rugby and have the logo emblazoned on the sleeve, or shorts etc.