WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Teams playing in a week to week competition are 'clubs', whether you call them 'franchises' or not.
Whatever competition emerges will be funded the same way - central contracts and funding from RA. At the moment RA finances 4 x Super Rugby clubs/franchises and 7 NRC clubs/franchises.
I agree. Any structure will be funded I much the same way as now. That's why I've suggested what I have. Reducing the overall salary cap in order to facilitate two more NSW and Qld teams. This would then allow for two more teams to be entered without having to set up new organisations.
And it wouldn't see a net declaring be in player spend. If there is a group interested in entering a bid then they would have to do so having to provide their own funding deriving revenue from sponsorship, merchandising and attendance etc.
This would achieve similar to what you've suggested. Eliminating tiers. We'd have elite amateur, domestic professional and Wallabies.
I think something that will have to change as well is the do away with Wallabies top up contracts and move to a strict game payment set up.