Tuesday’s Rugby News has thoughts on the rugby origin idea, rugby taking over league, a new Boks boss and new-old Tahs signing.
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State O’ Origin
In case it passed you by, rugby big wigs in Queensland and NSW are talking up a possible State of Origin match to be run during the June international series. Bill Pulver has given the idea his backing.
“Conceptually it’s a great idea and we need open minds towards pulling it off if it’s viable,” Pulver told the Courier Mail. “Richard and Andrew should keep developing the idea because the broad discussion about more content that drives revenue is a good one.”
On that last point, Wallabies captain Stephen Moore concurs.
“In Australia the rugby public likes the local derbies, how we can maximise that across Australia but also I know there’s big implications around the TV broadcast and the [five] countries involved,” Squeak told rugby.com.au. “That’s probably just in discussion at the moment but that may be something we could really look at.”
While the idea has merit, and is one that could drive engagement, there are a few drawbacks. The first is, as Pulver said, Wallabies wouldn’t be available (which as it stands would mean NSW would have to field a B team). A second one, what about the other states and territories that are providing Wallabies? This has some movers and shakers particularly unimpressed.
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League Dead?
In other rugby league related news, former Kangaroos coach Chris Anderson said last week that that game’s in danger of being overtaken by rugby union.
“Our biggest danger is rugby union,” he said.
“Not as in it taking it over, but a Murdoch or a Packer coming in and saying rugby union in Australia needs grassroots competition. The ARU haven’t got enough money to make it happen.
“[Rugby league has] the best grassroots competition in Australia so if Murdoch came in and said to every player ‘we’re going to double your wages and you’re going to play rugby union next year’.
“It’s a big world sport. It’s taken over Europe. Rugby league’s died in Europe. All good players now go to union; in England, in France.
“It’s growing in America. That’s our danger. If we don’t get our house in order, our danger is we’ll be playing rugby union in 10 years,” Anderson said, referring to the latest rugby league commission shenanigans.
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Brand New Bok Boss?
Rumours are floating out from the Republic (of South Africa) that the Springboks are sniffing around Chiefs supremo Dave Rennie to replace the underfire Alistair Coetzee as Spirngboks coach.
The NZ Herald, via Rapport, reports that Rennie is already subject to SARU officials’ interest. These officials have been “working behind the scenes” to try to secure the New Zealander’s signature.
And those officials must be working bloody hard, as not only is Rennie contracted to the Chiefs until the end of next season, but he’s also earlier this year signed a two-year deal to take over Glasgow Warriors after the 2017 Super season.
Rennie, who took the Chiefs and their cowbells to titles in 2012 and 2013, is also joined by other candidates in the form of Jake White and Munster’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus.
Meanwhile, poor old Coetzee will undergo a SARU review and will know whether he’ll keep his job by 13 December. Even if the SARU secretly decide he has to go, they still might keep him as the union might not be able to afford his 13 million rand ($1.25m) termination fee, as they’re currently in R19 million debt ($1.85m).
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Maybe Mitchell
Drew Mitchell, who is coming off contract at the end of this Top 14 season, has been contacted by “Australian rugby powerbrokers” with a view to a move back to the Waratahs next year, reports the Sunday Telegraph.
A move for Mitchell may mean that Toulon has a spot open for Semi Radradra.
If Mitchell joined the Waratahs, he’d have to fend for his place with Rob Horne, Andrew Kellaway, Taqele Naiyaravoro and Reece Robinson there or thereabouts in the squad.
Even if he doesn’t get game time, he could fulfil the Gandalf/Yoda role with the young ‘uns that he and fellow golden oldie Matt Giteau so enjoyed filling during their time with the Wallabies earlier in the year.
We’re here as much for the off-field stuff as the on-field,” Mitchell said at the time. “We want to help the younger guys and Cheika has wanted that.
“We’re not going to be handed jerseys for free. If we don’t get a jersey, we will still around to hand out knowledge and support. If we can give the boys clarity or ease nerves, that’s a big part of the reason we’re back.”
The report also adds that there’s speculation Giteau could move from Toulon to Japanese rugby next year.
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