NRC onwards and upwards

[Braveheart81]

^ Yup, show me da money. The Mitre 10 is objectively better and does run (somewhat) longer.

You've got to build up that kind of tournament. NZ have worked at it for decades.

It's still only 9 games plus 2 weeks of finals. That's barely longer than the NRC.

I think it may be time for us to try something different but I also think it's pointless suggesting that there is an amazingly better option when the parameters have to be largely the same.

 

[kiap]

It's still only 9 games plus 2 weeks of finals. That's barely longer than the NRC.

To a limited extent … is what somewhat means.

 

[Joe King]

Would it work for the SS organisers to concentrate on picking one team: Sydney - the best of the SS in the traditional mould that use to be done on occasion. The other team from NSW (Country, or something else) could be organised by, and made up of the Waratahs (minus their test players, and any un-picked extras from the SS).

Not sure whether the standard would be high enough for the SS/Sydney team, but it would give them the chance to showcase the best of the SS and prove themselves against the rest. It's not perfect, but it might act as a bit of a motivator for the SS players and the organisation.

 

[dru]

Would it work for the SS organisers to concentrate on picking one team: Sydney - the best of the SS in the traditional mould that use to be done on occasion. The other team from NSW (Country, or something else) could be organised by, and made up of the Waratahs (minus their test players, and any un-picked extras from the SS).

Not sure whether the standard would be high enough for the SS/Sydney team, but it would give them the chance to showcase the best of the SS and prove themselves against the rest. It's not perfect, but it might act as a bit of a motivator for the SS players and the organisation.

I genuinely like the thinking.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Would it work for the SS organisers to concentrate on picking one team: Sydney - the best of the SS in the traditional mould that use to be done on occasion. The other team from NSW (Country, or something else) could be organised by, and made up of the Waratahs (minus their test players, and any un-picked extras from the SS).

Not sure whether the standard would be high enough for the SS/Sydney team, but it would give them the chance to showcase the best of the SS and prove themselves against the rest. It's not perfect, but it might act as a bit of a motivator for the SS players and the organisation.

Could work. Would give SS a vessel to prove a point. As for competitiveness. The Tahs backed side. Yes. The SS who know's. Though I suspect it will be a tough first season or two.

 

[Quick Hands]

^ Yup, show me da money. The Mitre 10 is objectively better and does run (somewhat) longer.

You've got to build up that kind of tournament. NZ have worked at it for decades.

More importantly, all of the teams in it are tied to a geographic area, all of the teams are longstanding provinces and all of the teams are integrated with the levels below (i.e. their provinical clubs) and the level above (i.e. geographically linked to a super team). It's a fairly universal system of running sport across the globe. For reasons best known to others, it's not a system favoured by RA.

 

[Quick Hands]

Yeah. I'm not against some of those ideas (which have been around a long time; I suspect you're not claiming the patent) and believe other rugby fans might also be interested.

A comp does need to be in that tier, however. It needs more than glorified park rugby.

Although, in it's current iteration the NRC is a lot closer to glorified park rugby than it should be. I sat through the NSW v Qld game on Saturday night, and to be honest if this is what 5 years of NRC can produce I'm not sure that it's achieving much at all.

(Noting that two of the best performing players in all Aust super rugby teams spent 2018 playing "glorified park rugby" in Brisbane and it doesn't seem to have affected them in a negative sense at all).

And know, I'm certainly not claiming patent on what should be fairly uncontroversial ideas. Many others here and elsewhere have said similar. The fact that they seem to be somewhat controversial says something about the game.

 

[dru]

More importantly, all of the teams in it are tied to a geographic area, all of the teams are longstanding provinces and all of the teams are integrated with the levels below (i.e. their provinical clubs) and the level above (i.e. geographically linked to a super team). It's a fairly universal system of running sport across the globe. For reasons best known to others, it's not a system favoured by RA.

I understand that it was far from harmonious. And not unlike the problems trying to integrate clubs behind the NRC teams in NSW

 

[Quick Hands]

I understand that it was far from harmonious. And not unlike the problems trying to integrate clubs behind the NRC teams in NSW

Perhaps, but NZRU made it work for what it deemed the greater and didn't let the recalcitrants win.

 

[dru]

Perhaps, but NZRU made it work for what it deemed the greater and didn't let the recalcitrants win.

Yep. The comparison between how NZRU handled things and how NSWRU has not - it is concerning.

But for all RA's completely legitimate incompetancies, I really don't think this is one.

To be fair, the NRC is not the rallying cry that Super Rugby was.

 

[sunnyboys]

Another article today suggesting the NRC is gone.

Becoming a familiar tune.

As always RA is weeks behind the news cycle...

 

[kiap]

As always RA is weeks behind the news cycle.

Hiding from it, more like.

They can be the news maker, not the news breaker, in this instance.

Rare for them, I know. They'll be back to full 'taker' status on the World League announcement soon, though. Status quo.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Another article today suggesting the NRC is gone.

Becoming a familiar tune.

As always RA is weeks behind the news cycle.

Any suggestion as to what will replace it? If anything.

 

[wamberal]

Any suggestion as to what will replace it? If anything.

There were hints about building on the existing club competitions. If Buildcorp and Twiggy, say, managed to put their heads together, something good could happen I reckon.

 

[Slim 293]

Any suggestion as to what will replace it? If anything.

Short answer - no, although someone will suggest building on the existing club competitions.........

 

[kiap]

Short answer - no, although someone will suggest building on the existing club competitions...

Is white knight funding also allowed?

 

[Getwithme]

If the NRC is cancelled, it's a huge mistake and about 4 backwards steps for Australian Rugby.

 

[kiap]

Any suggestion as to what will replace it? If anything.

Usual geerob mouthpiece:

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...tion-mark-hangs-over-nrc-20190403-p51ae3.html

I reckon she knows something, though, and the NRC as we know it will indeed be gooooooorne-ski. This will allow some kinda club comp promotion to now proceed.

Not for the likes of me, though … Club rugby will be how it's always been.

I'd be more interested in what moves the pro rugby teams now need to make to survive. I think they are screwed if the 6 or 7 home games aren't increased. And therefore adding something on - playing within the current NRC window - is needed.

 

[Bandar]

If the NRC is cancelled, it's a huge mistake and about 4 backwards steps for Australian Rugby.

It depends what follows it.

I would be happy to run a reverse of the super rugby teams (so Tahs play the Rebels in Melbourne) and also have the Force & Fijian Drua from GRR included playing the Super teams home & away.

That would be about another 7 rounds + finals.

This would allow the super and GRR tams to include more matches for their members and give more opportunity for the Mick Mason's to get game time against decent opposition.

It also gives allows casual fans a team they have actually heard of to follow as opposed to the Melbourne Rising or Sydney Rays.

 

[kiap]

It depends what follows it.

I would be happy to run a reverse of the super rugby teams (so Tahs play the Rebels in Melbourne) and also have the Force & Fijian Drua from GRR included playing the Super teams home & away.

Yeah. It would at least keep that higher level rugby going.

If the void is only filled by Dave Begg's cozy suburban clubs + grammar school games then Getwithme will be on the money.