And that is exactly what I am saying.
Finance killed the ARC bit certainly with the help o the clubs - premier rugby is suburban rugby.
The ARU and the rugby public must seek a way for expansion without financially burdening the existing clubs which are already in trouble. Unless expansion happens, the rugby in Australia will continue to have a yawning gap between S15 and the next level - Premier.
By allmeans kep premier rugby but it cannot stay as the no 1 national competition - what's the point - again clubs trying to hang onto something which is ultimately killing the game through strangulation.
We need to keep the core of the Shute Shield teams - and bring in teams from outside Sydney.
The NRL clubs fought tooth and nail when it first happened there and look at it now - as did the AFL clubs. For rugby to survive suburban rugby as we have it now cannot be the premier national competition but it can only be done gradually. Any sudden rush to bring in an ARC type comp boots and all will fail financialloy. You must keep the top Sydney clubs in the new regime plus others and drop off those that are struggling. There were sacrifices in the NRL - Norths, Newtown, amalgamation of other clubs but it is now a well run semi national competition with the bulk of teams coming from the main urban centre - Sydney.
Again - what's more important - club survival in a localised suburban Shield competition or strengthening the competition to eventually encompass the nation and the eventual strengthening of rugby nationwide. You can then have a reasonably good suburban competition feeding the existing teams in the revised competition. All play their part in the feeder pipeline.
I really get annoyed when I see how well run and popular the NPC is in NZ and we still cant even put something similar together. Their suburban clubs dont complain - they accept it as a better way to have a more visible national competition.
I actuall see more objection from the QRU who will want their premier teams involved but frankly they aren't good enough except maybe the top two or three with the bulk of the Sydney teams.
For this there needs to be core Sydney teams plus combined regional teams - thereby maintaining the interest and support of the bulk of the Sydney rugby fraternity and bringing in the support of regional areas - Gold Coast, ACT, Melbourne, Bris Nth, Bris Sth, that way maximising the strength of the competing teams.
We need to put aside petty club rivalry for the sake of the game. Right now, clubs are too short sighted to see the bigger picture, oh and yes, to answer your question, I have been very heavily involved in running clubs both in Sydney and in Brisbane so I speak with very clear experience and that is whi i see doom and gloom unless the ARU take control..
What I was pondering was whether you had personal ongoing experience in a Shute Shield club ,& the yearly battle to avoid extinction.You mention your experience with "Sydney" clubs , which of course is not neccessarily the same .
Nevertheless ....
I don't understand your criticism of the S/S clubs & their desire to remain alive & relevant.This is a battle even in the absence of the ARC etc. competition.
IMO , the S/S clubs & their counterparts in Qld. & the ACT. form the lifeblood of Australian Rugby.
In saying that , no one who supports Australian Rugby would deny the need to form a link between the S/S & the Super franchises.That's not an issue surely.
But the previous attempt to do so with the formation of the ARC was ill conceived & constructed.The consequences for the S/S clubs & the competition , were undoubtedly detrimental.Dividing the usual competition into 2 parts would have been laughable , if it had not created such a depressing spectacle & atmosphere.
I agree with you that the ARU needs to support the S/S clubs.
Currently the competition is lacking public interest & involvement.There is little if any public promotion e.g.in the media , & only the few diehard fans have any knowledge & awareness of what is happening in the competition , while the governing bodies leave the clubs to struggle on & fend for themselves.
A new tier competition should be complimentary & enhancing to the S/S , not be part of it's demise .Without a strong S/S there will be no ARC or similar.
Also getting rid of the less successful clubs is hardly consistent with spreading the gospel , particularly as they are located in that part of Sydney which is under greatest competition from other codes.
The analogy to Reg & Elle is fine ,providing that Reg ,even if he is the last option available , can still rise to the occasion, & the same applies to the Shute Shield & it's relationship with the next tier.
