Where to for Super Rugby?

[WorkingClassRugger]

2 separate domestic leagues, home and away, followed by a 1 round TT

We go for an 8 team domestic league. Set up under a specially established business entity specifically designed to operate the competition.

Sign the guys from the Drua/Lautui, Manuma Samoa and as many Argentines as possible. Use our current five and place a team in both Newcastle and North Queensland. With the 8th open to where ever they decide. I'm not fussed. Set up a player ballot. Invite Australian players located overseas to nominate and any domestic based players currently on contract or chasing a contract in a current Super Rugby squad. Or better yet. Put all domestic contracted and non contracted players in the ballot. Players are drawn and designated to a team.

 

[sendit]

Set up a player ballot. Invite Australian players located overseas to nominate and any domestic based players currently on contract or chasing a contract in a current Super Rugby squad. Or better yet. Put all domestic contracted and non contracted players in the ballot. Players are drawn and designated to a team.

Could imagine extreme pushback on a model that features this

 

[Derpus]

We go for an 8 team domestic league. Set up under a specially established business entity specifically designed to operate the competition.

Sign the guys from the Drua/Lautui, Manuma Samoa and as many Argentines as possible. Use our current five and place a team in both Newcastle and North Queensland. With the 8th open to where ever they decide. I'm not fussed. Set up a player ballot. Invite Australian players located overseas to nominate and any domestic based players currently on contract or chasing a contract in a current Super Rugby squad. Or better yet. Put all domestic contracted and non contracted players in the ballot. Players are drawn and designated to a team.

Western Sydney?

I dont think the ballot system would be very popular with the players.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Exactly what Twiggy said on Breakdown RN, all work together , then seemed to indicate Rebels could go. But you are right, decide what is in Aussie's interest in the long run and plan go for it, as a kiwi I would be pissed if NZR didn't do the same!

Yep I was dissappointed about twiggys rebel bashing...truth be known most of us did not want to see anyone cut. Lack of unity amongst oz stakeholder at the moment not going to help anyone...at some stage you have to put the past behind you and move forward.

 

[Dan54]

All part of the urban myth doing the rounds of NZ rugby at the moment.

Not quite, urban myth seems to be that all the kiwis here saying we couldn't have more teams!

 

[The Honey Badger]

3.2m people watched State of Origin game 1 last year but the average for an NRL game is only 459k.

We would clearly be in a much better position if a FTA broadcaster had any interest in our other games but they never have and the ratings are nowhere near high enough to indicate they would in the future.

This is the problem that's impossible to overcome. There's no avenue to being widely available on FTA because there isn't enough interest in regular rugby games.

A Vicious circle in action.

Rugby is unpopular with the general public therefore a FTA broadcaster will not broadcast it. Because it remains hidden behind a paywall and the general public do not have free access to it, it remains unpopular.

NB: All the popular codes have FTA of KEY matches

We may never know if FTA would help the code, simply its never been tried for this tier of Rugby in prime time with LIVE matches. Perhaps we could find ourselves in a Virtuous Circle of ever increasing popularity if we had an FTA Live Key game partner. Would love it if a generous benefactor (Twiggy) bought some prime time FTA for the code to see what might be possible.

The one thing that I fully supported of Raelene Castle, was her trying to fix the audience decline to get an FTA Live match for Super. And I hope the new management are still trying to achieve this.

 

[Brumby Runner]

There's multiple first hand accounts from players involved as to the physical toll of NZ derbies. NZR seemingly being eager to overlook those accounts doesn't invalidate them.

I don't question the ferocity of NZ derbies. Just think that there is not necessarily a big drop down in other derbies.

 

[Brumby Runner]

A 5-team SRAo is too small to be viable so if RA decide to pass on a TT comp & try a variation on ARC/ NRC then NZR's Plan B is likely a variation on the 8 - 10 team comp recommend by Aratipu, just without any Aus involvement. Hopefully it doesn't come to that but "fuck you, we'll do our own thing, then" cuts both ways.

That's true WOB, but RA doing its own thing is an improvement on the TT as currently proposed while for NZ it would be a poorer option.

 

[dru]

That's true WOB, but RA doing its own thing is an improvement on the TT as currently proposed while for NZ it would be a poorer option.

Comparatively I think it's a much superior option for NZ in the immediate. Sustainable, quality, sufficient to keep driving the ABs. It's impressive.

But I am still quite content running our own domestic if push comes to shove, and make no doubt the Kiwis have pushed.

 

[Dan54]

That's true WOB, but RA doing its own thing is an improvement on the TT as currently proposed while for NZ it would be a poorer option.

Cmon BR, let's not play the it will hurt you more than it will hurt us. It will have same affect on both countries, maybe a better comp for some rugby fans ( probably some in NZ too) but bottom line not best for either union in end, for all the dick waving it as important to the Wallabies as it is to the ABs, and probably more money for both unions in TV rights, and anyone tells any of us that the money isn't bloody important, well I tell you the NH clubs and NRL would be well keen on less money to pay players down here!

 

[Dan54]

Comparatively I think it's a much superior option for NZ in the immediate. Sustainable, quality, sufficient to keep driving the ABs. It's impressive.

But I am still quite content running our own domestic if push comes to shove, and make no doubt the Kiwis have pushed.

A bit of a furphy, the ABs help pay for super teams rather than other way around, same as Aus, Wallabies are main drivers of income and weaker they are less the income eventually!

 

[Derpus]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...d-rugby-s-appalling-ploy-20200721-p55e4q.html

Does this mean that NZRU has directly approached the franchises? if so - i can't think of a more underhanded approach. Or is he just referring to the press release?

 

[dru]

A bit of a furphy, the ABs help pay for super teams rather than other way around, same as Aus, Wallabies are main drivers of income and weaker they are less the income eventually!

The level of your straw man building is impressive. I made no comment on the above.

 

[dru]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...d-rugby-s-appalling-ploy-20200721-p55e4q.html

Does this mean that NZRU has directly approached the franchises? if so - i can't think of a more underhanded approach. Or is he just referring to the press release?

Though something I predicted as expected many weeks ago. What I did not expect was Aus Rugby cohesion in response. Which is fantastic.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I think NZRU bypassing RA and approaching super rugby clubs directly if true is lowest of the low for the game.

It is almost like NZRU is hell bent on destroying Australian Rugby which sure done a good job by itself to self destruct, but in credit RA under Hamish with the much maligned Rob Clarke been making all the right noises recently on trying to move forward. Irony is kiwi arrogance and disdain for oz rugby probably backfired and actually helped to unite us and drawn more support for RA to go it alone.

I don’t know if their actions has endeared NZRU to the rest of the regional or world rugby community as well. I think unfortunately this may be looked back in time as NZRU having another 2003 stadium fail where there utter sheer arrogance blindsighted them to a poor decision and negative ramifications.

 

[Braveheart81]

We may never know if FTA would help the code, simply its never been tried for this tier of Rugby in prime time with LIVE matches. Perhaps we could find ourselves in a Virtuous Circle of ever increasing popularity if we had an FTA Live Key game partner. Would love it if a generous benefactor (Twiggy) bought some prime time FTA for the code to see what might be possible.

If there was a market for it there would have been offers over the years. The FTA broadcasters already know that half the tests they pay for don't rate well enough for them but they buy it as a package on the basis that the key test matches are good content to show.

Every bit of evidence available suggests the ratings aren't good enough. It's a sad reality but it's the reality.

 

[sendit]

my preference is for a trans tasman comp but god damn NZ are making me want to say fuck em and go it alone

 

[drewprint]

I think NZRU bypassing RA and approaching super rugby clubs directly if true is lowest of the low for the game.

It is almost like NZRU is hell bent on destroying Australian Rugby which sure done a good job by itself to self destruct is but in credit RA under Hamish with the much maligned Rob Clarke been making all the right noises recently on trying to move forward. Irony is kiwi arrogance and disdain for oz rugby probably backfired and actually helped to unite us and drawn more support for RA to go it alone.

I don’t know if their actions has endeared NZRU to the rest of the regional or world rugby community as well. I think unfortunately this may be looked back in time as NZRU having another 2003 stadium fail where there utter sheer arrogance blindsighted them to a poor decision and negative ramifications.

I think NZ are starting to lose the PR war here. English writers are beginning to weigh in on the topic and they’re not too impressed either.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/smug...y-english-writer-over-rugby-australia-stance/

And this came before the news of NZ going behind RA back and approaching the franchises directly too.

 

[Derpus]

I think NZ are starting to lose the PR war here. English writers are beginning to weigh in on the topic and they’re not too impressed either.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/smug...y-english-writer-over-rugby-australia-stance/

And this came before the news of NZ going behind RA back and approaching the franchises directly too.

Bit pot kettle that

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Wow just Roger Davis article and hence confirmed the truth that NZRU approached super rugby directly behind RA’s back.

Congratulations NZRU you have done something that has me stumped for words and behaved like a gutless unethical arrogant thug that makes you a grubby looking organisation that has severely tainted a supposed great rugby country that may be champions on the field but off the field has a rather foul and growing stench about it.

Can you imagine the outroar from NZ if RA did something like this?

NZRU needs to be held to account for this and world rugby should not be dong NZ any favours based on this’ despicable behaviour.