Whist I have the milk crate out, I just don't get what RA are trying to achieve? There is a pretty clear narrative around sport both here and abroad ATM that if you can find a bubble, it comes with additional costs. So there is balance of how many team your carry, how many games you play, and are the games yielding a return or just dead rubbers to let the non performing teams play. So a 8 to 10 team Domestic comp may be a really good balance both in product size, game yield and cost. RA has this option available to them.
Both the NRL and AFL are looking on how to cut costs and is abundantly clear is there is little revenue around; the sponsor dollars are tough to find and TV has no money to splash about.
Yet, there is a bloke, who is not short of a few dollars, has his own team (that we currently need) and potential competition, is personally investing in to rugby to support it and has a business that could through a few dollars in sponsorship Rugby's way but RA have very limited ties with him.
IMHO, I don't see any better funding source out there for Rugby (and I bet the ARL and NRL fantasise about having the opportunity to knock on Twiggy's door!). If twiggy want his own way so be it; if it means the sport survives and its future is semi-secure I say we should asking what he wants to do (oh how sad would it be to see the current regime ended!
).
He also has the ears of the Kiwis so it might strengthen the position of Aussie rugby in any future TT conversation.
