Waratahs Distribution

The 33 available Waratahs players (at present count) are divided between four Sydney NRC teams. Almost all players are aligned with their existing local clubs.

North Harbour Rays: 4

West Sydney Rams: 9

Sydney Uni, Balmain: 10

Team X: Randwick and/or the rest: 9

Note: Nominal selections only to show how the squads might appear.

Sydney NRC Teams

After allocating most of the Waratahs players to their existing clubs, some of the Sydney teams are still under-strength. Players returning from the Rebels and the Force can fill the breach, and a few players are also assigned to teams without prior club links. Each team in Sydney has 10-12 players from Super Rugby, with the remainder of each squad to be recruited from the Waratahs wider training group and local club players.

North Harbour Rays: 10 + 3 Wallabies.

Rebels, Force, PR = Prop, HK = Hooker, LK = Lock, LF = Loose Forward,
HB = Halfback, FH = Fly-half, CE = Centre, WG = Wing, FB = Fullback.

West Sydney Rams: 10 + 4 Wallabies.

Rebels, Force, PR = Prop, HK = Hooker, LK = Lock, LF = Loose Forward,
HB = Halfback, FH = Fly-half, CE = Centre, WG = Wing, FB = Fullback.

Sydney Uni, Balmain: 12 + 3 Wallabies.

Rebels, Force, PR = Prop, HK = Hooker, LK = Lock, LF = Loose Forward,
HB = Halfback, FH = Fly-half, CE = Centre, WG = Wing, FB = Fullback.

Team X: (Randwick): 10 (9 + 1 exempt) + 1 Wallaby.

Rebels, Force, PR = Prop, HK = Hooker, LK = Lock, LF = Loose Forward,
HB = Halfback, FH = Fly-half, CE = Centre, WG = Wing, FB = Fullback.

Note: Nominal selections only to show how the squads might appear.

Summary

Evaluating this allocation against the NRCMAP:

1. National precedence – a squad of 31 Wallabies is excluded from the allocation cap.
2. Residential stability – out of an approximate total of 175 Super players, 22 are relocated.
3. Continuity of association – only 10 or so (mostly Brumbies→Country) with new  links.
4. Maximum participation – just two sides with more than a starting XV of Super players.
5. Allowance for regions – an extra 7 Super players each assigned to Perth and Melbourne.
6. Proportional distribution – eight teams have 10–15 Super players, two teams have 22.

Each criterion is addressed at least to some extent and there is an attempt to balance the priorities.

Putting the NSW Country training base near Canberra-Queanbeyan allows the team’s roster to be strengthened with players and coaches from the Brumbies. Some of those players won’t have prior Country connections, but the advantage is that no relocations are needed and the Brumbies can maintain contact with the players in their program.

Under the 15-cap limit, Perth and Melbourne have 22 Super players each (via foreign player exemptions from the cap), the Sydney teams have 10–12 each, and the rest get 12–15.

There are 11 players each from Perth and Melbourne relocated to NSW teams, but virtually all return to their current/recent clubs and maintain continuity of association. That number would drop from 11 players to 8, if using an 18-cap limit (at the expense of Sydney teams).