Where to for Super Rugby?

[WorkingClassRugger]

West Sydney - Cant see that one working. Lets play were the suppers live.

We have the country franchises ready to go. Plenty of good grounds to play at in the country.

Panthers come to Bathurst every year and pull around 13K to the ground. Its a once a year game and works a treat.

Cant see why Newcastle/Coffs/ Tamworth/ Arimidale/ Dubbo/Orange/Bathurst /Mudgee/Wollongong couldnt host matches on a 1 match annual basis.

We need to give this time to develop

Could use the likes of Newcastle or even Wollongong as their base and take games to the regions. Being properly professional and promoted playing against other professional squads would be more of a draw than the NRC at present. And even then.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

They have a controlling interest in all five. The 26 Provincial Unions each have a (in some cases nominal) share in the franchise who's catchment they're in & there's some private ownership of four: NZR bought out the Blues' private part-owner last year.

That's right. Forgot that NZR bought out the Blues.

 

[Quick Hands]

Wow, I go away for a few days and most of the people who were passionate TT supporters are now on the domestic bandwagon.

It's a funny old world.

 

[Quick Hands]

Some would say that RA has done its best to self destruct.

Yes indeed.

And while I have you, I hope that your little part of Wamberal isn't in danger of being washed into the sea.

 

[Up the Guts]

Wow, I go away for a few days and most of the people who were passionate TT supporters are now on the domestic bandwagon.

It's a funny old world.

I think people are really getting into the rivalries in Super AU even if the games have been a bit scratchy. I’ve certainly enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Wow, I go away for a few days and most of the people who were passionate TT supporters are now on the domestic bandwagon.

It's a funny old world.

You have the NZRU to thank for that.

 

[The Honey Badger]

Adding a 2nd team in NSW gives you a game a week in that market and allows you to begin growing a rivalry, same as QLD the issue being, starting a domestic comp do we begin with 5-6-8 teams.

Just under the current situation money is the issue.

For the comp to be a comp, it needs to be a certain size. Too small it will be repetitive and people lose interest, too big will more costly and likely end up unbalanced with a few sides becoming permanently strong and some per-annual weaklings.

Needs to be at least 8 Teams. Thats your starting point. The amount of money is what ever it is. Maybe the salary cap is as low as $1M (excluding the PONI & wobs who get top ups) - then fill the teams. Yes lots of currently club players will fill the gaps on very small retainers - they will be semi pro and have to work as well.

If crowds come and eyeballs hit the TV then the value of the comp will increase and revenue will increase. Salary caps can increase in time.

We are at rock bottom and this is a big reset. Its starting at scratch and we need to live within our means.

 

[Dan54]

You just liked my post about the NZRU being the majority shareholders in each franchise. And yet you're still arguing that they would for some weird reason beyond comprehension not include one of the 5 franchise they have direct interests in. Think about this.

If they thought one would cost them too much to have...............

 

[Derpus]

Wow, I go away for a few days and most of the people who were passionate TT supporters are now on the domestic bandwagon.

It's a funny old world.

I failed to account for the Kiwis being massive fluffybunnys

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I think people are really getting into the rivalries in Super AU even if the games have been a bit scratchy. I’ve certainly enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I think the rivalries have always been there but with Super Rugby Au it's now a week to week thing that's allows for those rivalries to build momentum and interest. As opposed to being broken up by games many have little connection to or interest in against for many are largely faceless SA/Arg squads outside of Rugby nerds like. Well us.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

If they thought one would cost them too much to have.....

It's all about the AB's for the NZRU. This competition as with Super Rugby will be less about commercial sustainability and growth and more about providing a testing ground for the AB squad to develop. They've actually said this in recent articles. They own the Blues outright and have majority stakes in the other four. They're not going to exclude any of them.

 

[spikhaza]

Wow, I go away for a few days and most of the people who were passionate TT supporters are now on the domestic bandwagon.



It's a funny old world.

I strongly support the TT competition, but it needs to be negotiated from an even footing and have the appropriate amount of Aussie teams. There hasn't been a single post on here advocating for Australia having two teams. Your argument is a straw man

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Wow, I go away for a few days and most of the people who were passionate TT supporters are now on the domestic bandwagon.

It's a funny old world.

Actually some of us (like me) were saying while trans Tasman competition sounds good in theory could not see it ever
working due to master servant relationship and nz self interest. The press release just now officially confirmed this views was accurate.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Anyone else spot the detail that:
“ NZR said it hoped to complete the expression of interest process by the end of July.”

From Beth Newman article on Rugby AU site (almost last line of article)

NZ franchise licences expire at the end of SRAo & it's being reported that the private part-owners are reluctant to start renegotiating their licence agreements without knowing what the licence is for, esp as they're apparently going to be asked to inject some new capital.

 

[Rebels3]

That rates as one of the silliest posts I have ever read, anyone suggesting self destruction is the way to go for RA crazy!

2nd silliest, this would be the most silly

Geez what everyone is completely ignoring is no NZ teams are in it as yet, they are invited to put in expressions of interest too!!! I read it as making sure any team coming in is going to survive, both if finances aren't in order, or do you want to see another Force Fiasco. I bet RA can just say we guarantee our teams will be able to survive is the first step, and wouldn't mind betting it's also been talked about with RA, and they have got an excuse to cut a team, and blame NZ?? I said after hearing Twiggy the other night on TV I wouldn't bank on Rebels surviving, and Twiggy wants the Force players back!

I posted that because we are been asked to compromise on our own fan base for the sake of another fan base. I genuinely don’t want it to get to this stage but sometimes you have to play hardball. Why should we be the ones making the only sacrifice? A massive one at that. If quality was an issue it would be less sacrifice to open the market between the two countries to raise it, but that would require sacrifice on their end, something that hasn’t been even remotely contemplated by the look of it.

 

[drewprint]

Yep, if they thought it would make it work I bet they would try! But they won't as they probably need/want all 5 in there. NZRU said at start of Covid shutdown they knew big changes had to be made and they and most of WR (World Rugby) would be pushing reset buttons, I imagine NOW maybe RA will give us their version and all will go from there!!

You earlier highlighted a post that you thought was one of the silliest you’ve ever seen. I’d humbly suggest that believing NZ would create this NZ-centric comp and potentially cut some of the current NZ franchises is also a contender for this title!

 

[redstragic]

I wouldn't be reading too much into any press release. They are not revealing to us how the sausage is being made, and I don't really care so long as I get to watch the Reds play in a real comp next year.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

NZ franchise licences expire at the end of SRAo & it's being reported that the private part-owners are reluctant to start renegotiating their licence agreements without knowing what the licence is for, esp as they're apparently going to be asked to inject some new capital.

Yeah so we are really squabbling over nothing. It's 3 NZ teams and 5 Aus teams

 

[The Honey Badger]

Some would say that RA has done its best to self destruct.

Hey Wam, talking about destruction, I hope that wasn't your house I saw on TV, about to fall in the ocean. Did not look good.

 

[Quick Hands]

You have the NZRU to thank for that.

They were always going to play hardball. Super Rugby to them isn't an end in itself (i.e. to win the competition), it's a means to produce the strongest possible All Blacks team. Always has been. They concentrate their best players into 5 teams (which is what they deem to be the optimal number) and get them playing at the highest possible level against the best teams. It's why they have never sought to increase the number of teams. Playing SA teams under SA conditions is part of this strategy - it prepares better All Blacks. Winning the Super Rugby competition is just a by-product of the strategy.