Future of international rugby.

[Tomthumb]

I thought the Lions tour showed how popular tours are. I think we even miss out when we have say England/Wales etc coming down and we don.t use chance to give Super teams etc games against touring teams. Also great for when tour to another country to give players experience etc.
I agree this year has been good, but isn't this probably an exception rather than the rule?
I think if I bothered ,and went back I would find quite a number of posts saying tours were great and RC wasn't great over last few years.
But you right the unpredictability would be great in super, so we need to get it without cutting teams perhaps?

No the Lions tour showed how popular the Lions are

NZR screwed us by getting back into bed with South Africa after forcing them out of Super Rugby

 

[Tomthumb]

Just everyone says that ABs should play in Aus, I have never read a post where anyone has suggested the opposite is all.

Becasue NZ has the better players

 

[Dan54]

Becasue NZ has the better players

I believe there are a few Aus players would be welcome and strengthen some of our teams. But I happy we can't have them though.

 

[Dan54]

On the idea of tours etc, I think if we need maybe reminding why things need a shake up, well here in NZ anyway. We have just had test against Wallabies Saturday night, at golf yesterday (Sunday) more conversations seemed to be about the NPC games from day before than the test match.
And even on tv I think I have seen more about Eroni Clarke singing the Anthem than the game itself. I know that was feel good story, but it feels strange for over here.

 

[kiap]

... Other interesting question is how the Kiwis ultimately exit the Silver Lake deal given current cash flows.
Could they say sell one of the games to Melbourne or Sydney with some state govt money plus additional gate receipts.

They might have to look at something like that.

Robinson inking that deal three years ago will leave a long mark that's hard to shift.

 

[Red Runner]

It's baaaaaack

https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/rebel-rugby-union-competition-r360-given-green-light-10-nrl-players-believed-to-be-committed-to-competition/news-story/31368bb39d4c528d582f44139c8bcfc1

The NRL’s grand final week is in danger of being hijacked by R360 following revelations that the rebel rugby union competition had been given the green light to go ahead next season.
This masthead understands that R360 organisers informed player agents on Tuesday night that the competition would begin on October 2 next year after securing the funding and player numbers to begin.

Long form contracts have been sent to agents as R360 locks in players for its inaugural season.

As many as 10 NRL players are believed to have committed to the competition including Melbourne star Ryan Papenhuyzen, Parramatta winger Zac Lomax and South Sydney fullback Jye Gray.

News of R360’s plans to begin next year come on the day that the NRL celebrates one of its nights of nights – the Dally M medal.

...

A player draft for their teams is planned to be held in the middle of next year. The inaugural season would begin with six men’s teams and start on October 2 before finishing pre-Christmas.

The second season in 2027 would run from April to September and involve 12 rounds. The email also made it clear that R360 wanted to finalise long-form deals with players within weeks.

 

[Strewthcobber]

RIP TRC

 

[GTPIH]

Not sure what thread to put this in, but SMH and DT reporting R360 has funding and will start October next year

 

[Sully]

/Remindme september 2026