Shute Shield 2013

[Bruce Ross]

While we're on the subject of absurdly innovative ideas, perhaps the Sydney Rugby Union might consider a basic ad in each of the Saturday newspapers detailing the weekend round of Shute Shield games plus the feature game on ABC TV plus the game/games being covered by ClubrugbyTV.

There may even be the odd dinosaur around Driver Avenue who can actually remember when these sort of ads were last done.
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[en_force_er]

While we're on the subject of absurdly innovative ideas, perhaps the Sydney Rugby Union might consider a basic ad in each of the Saturday newspapers detailing the weekend round of Shute Shield games plus the feature game on ABC TV plus the game/games being covered by ClubrugbyTV.

There may even be the odd dinosaur around Driver Avenue who can actually remember when these sort of ads were last done.
.

Or even a weekly press release, plenty of websites (obviously G&G and perhaps even big ones like RugbyGold and RugbyHeaven) would be happy to simply switch around a couple of sentences and post up an 'article' (read: press release) detailing the 3rd Tier happenings on the weekend.

It's standard press practise and all that it costs is the price of a copywriter who ideally knows a touch about rugby. Hell, there's probably 10 regulars on this site alone who have the experience, knowledge, and interest.

 

[Dave Beat]

While we're on the subject of absurdly innovative ideas, perhaps the Sydney Rugby Union might consider a basic ad in each of the Saturday newspapers detailing the weekend round of Shute Shield games plus the feature game on ABC TV plus the game/games being covered by ClubrugbyTV.

There may even be the odd dinosaur around Driver Avenue who can actually remember when these sort of ads were last done.
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Bruce - remember - they were great, one of the first reads on Sunday. Wish they continued.

 

[Dave Beat]

Those of you who are predicting the imminent demise of the Penrith club may be a little premature .
Handy numbers so far at training would suggest otherwise.
I for one hope they grow & flourish.

For the growth of rugby it would be great, not sure that many people want there demise.
But how much money, and is there going to be a return

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Placing ads in the the respective papers is all well and good but how will they actually draw people to the games? Providing write ups is another good step but how do you garner interest from those who aren't already invested in the game? When you consider innovative thinking, these aren't particularly innovative and certainly fail to adequately address the growing presence of the digital media.

We have the bloke behind ClubRugbyTV on the board. Excellent. What are your capabilities in providing content? I quite like the idea of providing streamed content. How many games can you shoot in a week over how many competitions? Have you thought to look at perhaps some schoolboy content as well? Innovative would be to assist someone like ClubRugbyTV by providing them the support and most importantly the resources to grow there capabilities and build their programming. By investing in a concept and making it available for as many Rugby fans as possible. Yes, it my need to be at a small monthly subscription fee, but if you could get professional content of say the three major competitions (initially) and schoolboy content at your discretion. Or, in the light of some of the innovative thinking, how about the clubs get out in there communities beyond any piecemeal efforts and attempt to build a relationship with the that they would be relying on to support them either by turning up at the gate or watching on TV.

Of course, I know nothing of the inner workings of club Rugby and am sure to be given a right spanking by certain contributors. I'm just a fool who wants to see the player pathways improved to assist in their development so that we can provide a consistent stream of ready made talent for Super Rugby and the Wallabies.

If club Rugby could be transformed into something that could do this, (which unless one of the competitions manages to find a way to professionalize itself and draws all the top and emerging talent into just one pool, which is seemingly unlikely) then great. I'll support that. If we need the clubs to be the driving force behind a push to ARS like representative structure then super, I'd support that. If someone comes in with an idea of something new, I'll certainly look t it and see if it comes to something. I really don't care about club allegiance or loyalty. As someone who loves the game I watch as much as I can as often as its available to me. I couldn't care less about the politics of club rugby, I only care about player development and the creation of opportunities. Anything that will strengthen the games ability to compete in a competitive marketplace.

 

[the coach]

We shouldn't overlook the fact that the growth of Super Rugby and the Tri Nations (now Rugby Championship) has had a major influence on the decline of the Shute Shield.
If memory serves me correct, the 2000 Shute Shield GF was played at Homebush before a capacity crowd and it was a great game between Randwick (36) and Sydney Uni (33) with both teams full of Wallabies and Super 12 players.
In 2000 it was still the S12 (only 3 Australian teams) and the Tri Nations only involved 4 games and there also weren't as many other inbound tests. As a result, the quality of players in the SS was higher.
From my perspective, as a 25+ years attender of Shute Shield games, I find the current almost total lack of involvement of rep players has significantly reduced the attraction and, as a result, I don't attend as many games. I'd also be interested to see how Shute Shield crowd figures are impacted when the Waratahs are playing at home as I doubt many people who attend both SS and S15 on the sames weekend.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

If memory serves me correct, the 2000 Shute Shield GF was played at Homebush before a capacity crowd and it was a great game between Randwick (36) and Sydney Uni (33) with both teams full of Wallabies and Super 12 players.

Sorry to be pedantic but I don't think a GF has ever been played at Homebush and I am certain that it was not in the year of the Olympics. I suspect it was the SFS.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

We shouldn't overlook the fact that the growth of Super Rugby and the Tri Nations (now Rugby Championship) has had a major influence on the decline of the Shute Shield.
If memory serves me correct, the 2000 Shute Shield GF was played at Homebush before a capacity crowd and it was a great game between Randwick (36) and Sydney Uni (33) with both teams full of Wallabies and Super 12 players.
In 2000 it was still the S12 (only 3 Australian teams) and the Tri Nations only involved 4 games and there also weren't as many other inbound tests. As a result, the quality of players in the SS was higher.
From my perspective, as a 25+ years attender of Shute Shield games, I find the current almost total lack of involvement of rep players has significantly reduced the attraction and, as a result, I don't attend as many games. I'd also be interested to see how Shute Shield crowd figures are impacted when the Waratahs are playing at home as I doubt many people who attend both SS and S15 on the sames weekend.

And there's the rub. We no longer live in a pre-1996 environment or when Super Rugby was really only still in its infancy. Club Rugby is no longer the next step to Wallabies jersey. Super Rugby and the introduction of professionalism has relegated it to a developmental pathway. The problem is that now what is needed is more condensed somewhat professionalized setup to provide greater development opportunities for player in between the respective club and Super Rugby levels. This is the model that works within our two SANZAR partners and its something we really should be looking at. It's about what's best for the player and the game.

 

[the coach]

Sorry to be pedantic but I don't think a GF has ever been played at Homebush and I am certain that it was not in the year of the Olympics. I suspect it was the SFS.

Whoops, sorry I meant Concord!

 

[Aussie D]

It was Concord as I went along that day. I am in a minority as I prefer to watch rugby at Concord to the SFS (except when it is raining). As I live on the Central Coast and have a young family I don't get to go to Shute Shield games any more but when I lived down in Sydney I would watch 2 or 3 games a season as well as some semi-finals and always watched the grand final. Why only 2 or 3 games a season you ask? because I was playing subbies and wanted to support my local club. I am a firm believer that the SRU should investigate moving the Shute Shield to Sunday as it will enable Subbies players and supporters the opportunity to attend the games each week. I believe in Subbies competition you have a significant number of rugby lovers unable to attend Shute Shield on Saturdays and may do so on Sundays.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Hmm ... Sunday Shute Shield games. Possibly worth a trial, but there may be all sorts of logistics hurdles. What about a few first grade only Friday Night games, with 2nds - 4ths on Saturday?

The time poor volunteers have to set up/pack up the ovals twice.

Some Council ovals (coogee oval) are used by Mungo on Sundays, and unlike the wicks, Souths Juniors can afford to pay ground rental.

You could get a fair roll up of the GPS/CAS/ISA kids (and parents) as well as Subbies and Saturday playing colts players if marketed well.

 

[Pete King]

Hmm . Sunday Shute Shield games. Possibly worth a trial, but there may be all sorts of logistics hurdles. What about a few first grade only Friday Night games, with 2nds - 4ths on Saturday?

The time poor volunteers have to set up/pack up the ovals twice.

Some Council ovals (coogee oval) are used by Mungo on Sundays, and unlike the wicks, Souths Juniors can afford to pay ground rental.

You could get a fair roll up of the GPS/CAS/ISA kids (and parents) as well as Subbies and Saturday playing colts players if marketed well.

lets not forget alot of the players like to have a few ales saturday night after games also

 

[Dave Beat]

We shouldn't overlook the fact that the growth of Super Rugby and the Tri Nations (now Rugby Championship) has had a major influence on the decline of the Shute Shield.
If memory serves me correct, the 2000 Shute Shield GF was played at Homebush before a capacity crowd and it was a great game between Randwick (36) and Sydney Uni (33) with both teams full of Wallabies and Super 12 players.
In 2000 it was still the S12 (only 3 Australian teams) and the Tri Nations only involved 4 games and there also weren't as many other inbound tests. As a result, the quality of players in the SS was higher.
From my perspective, as a 25+ years attender of Shute Shield games, I find the current almost total lack of involvement of rep players has significantly reduced the attraction and, as a result, I don't attend as many games. I'd also be interested to see how Shute Shield crowd figures are impacted when the Waratahs are playing at home as I doubt many people who attend both SS and S15 on the sames weekend.

Coach true, but i think it depends on what market is tapped into and focused on;
What would it cost to take a wife and 3 kids to a Super game?
What does it cost to take a wife and 3 kids to a Shute Shield game?
Can young kids run around the park at half time / full time at a Super game?
Plus they are afternoon games, unfortunately Super rugby is night.
So why not arrange juniors play the curtain raisers, and also half time games - these kids ussually have parents that follow rugby.
In addition to that, why not have Super players walk around at half time kicking the footy, signing photos, and maybe giving away some family passes to the Super Rugby.
The village green down at Manly on a fine day is a picture of kids having fun.

 

[nomis]

I agree 100 % - why re invent Clubs that have no history or following. There is no sport played in this country in October. My view is that you play the best 2 Clubs from Sydney, Brisbane & Canberra in a round robin in October. I don't know if the Clubs would go for it and it would cost $100 000 to put it on before prize money, however, that is the simple answer (except the 100 grand of course!)

I can see the attraction to this idea. But I think the bigger problem is player development. Even if some struggling clubs are left out of the Shute Shield, there are still too many players spread across too many clubs (not to mention Qld and even Canberra) to develop players very well at all at the level below Super Rugby.

To really develop players, I think the best players need to be condensed in no more than 8-10 clubs. And I can't see how the Shute Shield (+ Qld) can get to that without excluding most club rugby fans, when their team gets the cut.

I don't want to get off topic, but if we are going to be talking about ways to develop club rugby and make the Shute Shield more attractive, I don't think we should be thinking it will solve the bigger problem of better developing players. Perhaps we should treat them as separate issues.

Getting rid of a few clubs from the Shute Shield, or having divisions, or having a champions round with the best clubs from around AUS, may create a little more interest in club rugby (or a few clubs) - which would be good, but won't really scratch where the itch is in AUS rugby.

 

[rugbyisfun]

RIP premiership club rugby in Sydney. Australian Rugby simply does not have the resources to prop up a competition that has been allowed to decline to its current standing in the National landscape. The quicker they just get on with cramming the 3rd tier in there the better. Combine Subbies and the Premiership Clubs into a Sydney wide region divisionalised competition and just get on with the fact that club rugby is participation footy and that's that.

 

[juniors spectator]

3pm seems to be the magic time for Rugby...on a Saturday in winter all decent games begin at this time. The Rugby public is split between GPS, CAS,ISA, Subbies, Shute Shield etc ! We need to be a little more innovative...Friday evening games, Sunday or even Monday evenings? Sadly some school games have more spectators than Shute Shield!

 

[Dave Beat]

RIP premiership club rugby in Sydney. Australian Rugby simply does not have the resources to prop up a competition that has been allowed to decline to its current standing in the National landscape.

Premership rugby is, us, the fans, the clubs, the grass roots, getting off topic but is Australian Rugby doing a good job? I read on various threads alot of constructive critisism, they either have no idea G&G exists or dont choose to partake in any discussions from their lofty head quaters. I havent even seen then cherrypick any ideas

 

[Ole Two Blue]

Those of you who are predicting the imminent demise of the Penrith club may be a little premature .
Handy numbers so far at training would suggest otherwise.
I for one hope they grow & flourish.

here's hoping

 

[Eyes and Ears]

While we're on the subject of absurdly innovative ideas, perhaps the Sydney Rugby Union might consider a basic ad in each of the Saturday newspapers detailing the weekend round of Shute Shield games plus the feature game on ABC TV plus the game/games being covered by ClubrugbyTV.
.

I get your point Bruce but I wonder if today it would be cheaper and more effective to do this via Facebook, Twitter, weekly email to subscribers and/or via Green and Gold. I also think it might be too late by Saturday morning to provide options for the day ahead.

 

[Done that]

I get your point Bruce but I wonder if today it would be cheaper and more effective to do this via Facebook, Twitter, weekly email to subscribers and/or via Green and Gold. I also think it might be too late by Saturday morning to provide options for the day ahead.

Why not advertise the fixtures on Friday & Saturday?
Letting the public know that games are actually on , together with the time & place , I should have thought ,was the very least that the SRU could do to support the competition for which that body primarily exists.
There must be many people who , on seeing the fixtures whilst browsing through the sport pages , would be jogged into having a look at a game , perhaps out of curiosity , or even because they happen
to be at a loose end on the day , & have pretty much forgotten about club Rugby since they or their son have stopped playing.
Not advertising the sport at club level & which the SRU claims to support ,is criminal.