I reckon a combined PI team of some sort in Western Sydney would smash it. It would gain instant cultural traction. And it would fit well, geographically speaking, along side the NSW Waratahs.
Now because they are based out of Sydney do the become eligible for Australia after 3 years or do we say too the Islanders that this team is for you too play in live here but play for your native country..According to a study by Western Sydney University there were a little under 280,000 people of PI heritage or descent in Australia as of 2013. Around 40-43% of them being classified as Maori. So, I think there is enough of a potential base there to build a team from. You could set it up in either Sydney or Brisbane as the populations are fairly comparable in this regard. But assuming it's in Sydney they could look to use a facility like Campbelltown Stadium which seats 20,000 and is most empty for the vast majority of the year and will remain so unless the very unlikely event of the Macarthur A-League bid is accepted.
I actually think that a combined PI squad (outside of Fiji who may be able to go it alone) would work at this level well beyond the past international effort which screamed more of gimmick than anything. The key would be to ensure that their are defined links to not only the local PI communities but those back on the Islands to ensure a robust base and talent pool. Should be achievable.
Now because they are based out of Sydney do the become eligible for Australia after 3 years or do we say too the Islanders that this team is for you too play in live here but play for your native country..
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Surely, the competitiveness wouldn't be too much of a step down from Super Rugby currently. And surely, the exodus of players below the top 40 players wouldn't be as great as we might think, no?
I think rather than having a Pacific Island team based in Western Sydney it'd be better to have a Western Sydney team that has some close affiliation with the Pacific Islands (or just Samoa and Tonga, as Fiji could have their own team). Western Sydney has 2 million people and any team there should embrace the whole population as potential fans and (for the youth) future players. Maybe such a team could commit to having some % of the squad made up of PI eligible players, and the name and branding could still be Polynesian influenced, but I feel having a 100% ethnic team in such a diverse area would be a mistake.
Yeah, that would be fair enough as well. It would require a re-brand of the Tahs to Sydney instead of NSW but if we are being totally honest. They've essentially been a Sydney team for a long time now.
If the new comp was with this structure I definitely think a blockbuster state of origin style series between NSW and Qld and not use the Waratahs and Reds as part of the normal comp would be the best way to give NSWRU and QRU a revenue generator to help fund grassroots.
Would it be a revenue generator?If the new comp was with this structure I definitely think a blockbuster state of origin style series between NSW and Qld and not use the Waratahs and Reds as part of the normal comp would be the best way to give NSWRU and QRU a revenue generator to help fund grassroots.
Would prefer this than having the NSW Tahs competing in such a structure.
Half the problem with pro rugby in Queensland is that the QRU haven't grasped that fact.The NSW Waratahs and Qld Reds are "heartland" teams but they stopped being representative sides a long time ago. Many argue that they never were.
Secondly, Queensland Rugby is also responsible for the representative rugby pathways which culminate in the professional Super Rugby team, the St. George Queensland Reds.
Tread carefully before stripping those down from 7 home games a year to 1 because of a needless requirement for name orthodoxy.
NSW / RA can not even keep shute shield sides going in this area what the hell makes you think this is going to work . im from the being thrown under the bus side of the country - they have done nothing to embrace potential fans weather from western Sydney or western Australia that is why the code is going to shitI think rather than having a Pacific Island team based in Western Sydney it'd be better to have a Western Sydney team that has some close affiliation with the Pacific Islands (or just Samoa and Tonga, as Fiji could have their own team). Western Sydney has 2 million people and any team there should embrace the whole population as potential fans and (for the youth) future players. Maybe such a team could commit to having some % of the squad made up of PI eligible players, and the name and branding could still be Polynesian influenced, but I feel having a 100% ethnic team in such a diverse area would be a mistake.