ARU - Taskforce designed to reform Brisbane and Sydney Premier Rugby

This is from the QRU website(The Chairmans Letter), Rod McCall wrote this in the May uptate..

I know its not July but do we know anymore on this or what some of the recommendations may be?
Also I'm aware their is a club rugby section, but the implications of this are far greater then just club rugby.

Good update TOCC, as you say on a critical matter.

IMO, GAGR should form a small group to make its own (urgent, given deadlines) recommendations into this review. Why not?

I'm not a Premier Grade 'expert' in any sense, or I'd put my hand up. Mr Timms or Juan Cote might be willing to assemble some core GAGR inputs?

It's a bit disappointing as well that this key review has had (as I understand it) very limited publicity so as to ensure the maximum number of local inputs. Or were external inputs sought at all?

Anyone else think it's a bit poor not to include ACT, VIC & WA in this review also? Especially for long term purposes.

How many Sydney and Brisbane clubs are meant to be in financial trouble?

Token post about bringing back the Australian Rugby Championship.

Unfortunately it would be easier to count the clubs that aren't in financial trouble...it's really tough out there.

Agree totally, the smart thing financially is to builda comp on the east coast then slowly expand it if there trying to form another ARC. It sucks for the other states but it's still pointing the game in the right direction.

Don't think that's a suitable reason for non-inclusion, unless resources don't permit for it. Adam Freier stated it beautifully on the ABC's 'The Clubhouse' recently, if we keep relying on these 2 comps (Shute Shield specifically), how are we suppose to produce a sustainable talent pool?

Keep this in mind: The VRU premier division will undergo major changes next year, 2 teams look to drop out (at this stage).

Except all the Brumbies players...

Sure, but kronic still a valid point...

Rebels, Reds, Waratahs, National Academy and a large number of Force players all play in the two Premier Grade comps.. It's the natural choice

I use to think this, but do you really think the clubs can support further professionalism. The clubs move to professional structures has been shambolic. Most of them run on the smell of an oily rag. Players jump around clubs each season looking for the best deal and clubs go broke buying a team to try and keep up with the powerhouses.

I think replacing all the academies with trans-tasman U21/U22 competition based on the super rugby franchises, with the Australian teams funded jointly by the ARU and super rugby franchises, is far more viable and will build a better pool of talent.

This should be the goal of the ARU and NZRU once they can both afford to fund it.

It would also allow the 5 main club comps to continue their long standing traditions and remove the weight of professionalism off them. Would also allow for the introduction of new clubs from non-rugby area's as the big clubs would lose a lot of their talent to the U21 team meaning that the smaller clubs could now compete. Perfect example of this is a team like logan in brisbane, who field a team in reserve grade. The introduction of a higher tier would be the perfect time for them to make the move up to premier grade.

I'm sure there are similar example in NSW, Illawarra maybe?

I like the idea of a trans-Tasman under 20/21 comp like the Toyota cup. The club system appears to be dead in the water financially.

We certainly need something, anything, to replace this outdated system we have now.

Obviously it's difficult to start up a new national comp now, especially with the extended Super Rugby season.

Something like the junior comp should certainly be looked into.

Agreed on needing something to be done, but the Tuggeranong Vikings should have been included in a review process - they have all the ingredients and financial clout to ably participate in the "next level" of club rugby. A good reference point.

In any case, I won't hold my breath for anything groundbreaking regarding anything to do with the ARU and club rugby.

Yes!

yes but far from surprising. Nothing will become of it anyway the clubscene is too political