National Rugby Championship 2014

[Hugh Jarse]

Sensible for the Beasts and Wicks to be "associated" with NSW Country.

There are plenty of large 4WD vehicles thundering around the streets of the East, not to mention the high RM Williams boots coefficient.

Having been "left out" in the first draft, it will be interesting to see if the rusted on supporters from the East get behind the NSW Country team.

Having set the third tier architecture for Australian rugby, will there be a movement to get the "rest" to realign their structures and pathways in the style of the NRC (JGC U15's and U17's, U18 development programmes, Schools competitions, U20's, Womens footy, Rugby Sevens, Junior RU State Champs etc).

Interesting times lay ahead.

Slick work to get the G&GR Blog article up so fast as well. Well done by the G&GR unpaid interns.

 

[RugbyFuture]

Western Sydney rep district are realigning their brand with the Greater Sydney Rams. Would be great to expand the brands across all the other rep teams.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

NSW Country are in! I'm stoked! Ideally I'd like them to be based in a NSW Country area but maybe that's something for down the track. Just getting set up & running is good enough right now. Taking 1 home game to Newcastle, Central Coast, or Illawarra is something they should consider later. Being aligned with the Shute teams should give some stability.

Cheika himself has said the NSW Country area player pool has been underutilised. Hopefully this will increase scouting of players from NSW Country comp's. I don't want Country players like Nic White or Luke Burgess coming into rep Rugby once every blue moon - I want to see a constant stream of players. More players means more competition for spots - its a good thing.

We need Colts & even a level under that ideally. We need a whole separate pathway (not replace but separate) from Schoolboys IMO because our current pathway is a dogs breakfast compared to other codes.

I also have to agree with MACCA especially regarding the CRL. I can speak at least from the Newcastle experience from people I know involved in both RL & RU here that the Loig is not as strong as it once was.

Placing the NSW Country team at Moore park is not a bad choice, only 5min cab ride from Central or 30min walk. This will be handy for when I & others come to watch the home games. I don't have R.M. Williams boots HJ but I do have a Drizabone coat so that will have to do. Akubra hat might be pushing it too far but if I have a few brews before boarding the train I'd say anything is possible.

Our main rivalries I'd imagine would be all Sydney teams & QLD Country. NSW Country v QLD Country have had some great games & TBH Country week really should the the week these teams play.

Well done Pulver & the ARU.

 

[Tip]

Bugger the talk about NSW Country. QLD get 2 teams and NSW get 4!?
Tahs struggle to get 18k to their games... what makes the ARU think that any of these clubs besides the "Stars" are going to be anywhere near viable.
QLD is the most financially stable state, with the biggest supporter base. The Reds have nearly if not more members than the Tahs, Rebels and Brumbies combined!?
QLD born players represent nearly if not more than 40% of the Australian Super Rugby competition, and normally that same percentage if not more of the Wallabies.

Surely Brisbane North, Brisbane South and QLD Country would have been the better option. Pulver give yourself an uppercut

 

[matty_k]

From what I understand only two Qld teams were put forward. I'm not sure how the NRC organisers are supposed to pick any more than that when they don't exist (yet).

 

[Train Without a Station]

Whilst I disagree with 4 Sydney teams I don't think more than 2 QLD teams is really viable.

Why does this come back to a pissing contest of us vs them? The NSW amount of teams is irrelevant when working out the QLD amount. If the NSWRU, the clubs, etc. want to send themselves broke trying that's their issue. No point us going down with them. I'd imagine that's why it was originally said 2 QLD teams, 2 bids were submitted and 2 teams have been announced.

 

[Tip]

I think because that's all the backing they could get. None of the clubs wanted to shell out the money so the QRU is effectively backing both teams and couldn't take on anymore.

I thought Sunnybank put a bid together? God knows they need a "worthwhile" cause to put their hard earned pokies dollars to good use

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

I wonder how many country players will move to Randwick or Easts next year ???

I don't think many. Those Country players already at other SS clubs will stay where they are. The only problem I see is that Randwick and Easts decide that the NSW Country part is irrelevant and let their relationship harm and hamper the team by trying to dominate the franchise. A little like the bears and Manly deal on the Central Coast in Loig many years ago - use em up and spit em out and let self interest harm the development of the game.

Country have plenty of financial backing what finances do Randwick and Easts bringbring

 

[MACCA]

NSW Country are in! I'm stoked! Ideally I'd like them to be based in a NSW Country area but maybe that's something for down the track. Just getting set up & running is good enough right now. Taking 1 home game to Newcastle, Central Coast, or Illawarra is something they should consider later. Being aligned with the Shute teams should give some stability.

Cheika himself has said the NSW Country area player pool has been underutilised. Hopefully this will increase scouting of players from NSW Country comp's. I don't want Country players like Nic White or Luke Burgess coming into rep Rugby once every blue moon - I want to see a constant stream of players. More players means more competition for spots - its a good thing.

We need Colts & even a level under that ideally. We need a whole separate pathway (not replace but separate) from Schoolboys IMO because our current pathway is a dogs breakfast compared to other codes.

I also have to agree with MACCA especially regarding the CRL. I can speak at least from the Newcastle experience from people I know involved in both RL & RU here that the Loig is not as strong as it once was.

Placing the NSW Country team at Moore park is not a bad choice, only 5min cab ride from Central or 30min walk. This will be handy for when I & others come to watch the home games. I don't have R.M. Williams boots HJ but I do have a Drizabone coat so that will have to do. Akubra hat might be pushing it too far but if I have a few brews before boarding the train I'd say anything is possible.

Our main rivalries I'd imagine would be all Sydney teams & QLD Country. NSW Country v QLD Country have had some great games & TBH Country week really should the the week these teams play.

Well done Pulver & the ARU.

The beauty of a Country bid IMO is that you will be able to take games to regional areas thus lifting the code in such areas. You wont be stuck with one region only - I hope games are played in Wagga/Riverina , Orange/Central West & Newcastle thus widening the catchment. I also hope the Country team play a game or 2 in Sydney!

 

[Braveheart81]

Country have plenty of financial backing what finances do Randwick and Easts bringbring

If the team is based at Moore Park, maybe they are providing the management and coaching?

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

If the team is based at Moore Park, maybe they are providing the management and coaching?

That would be a good outcome. I still say this arrangement is in danger unless all parties put self interest aside - do not cut your nose off to spite your face

 

[AngrySeahorse]

The beauty of a Country bid IMO is that you will be able to take games to regional areas thus lifting the code in such areas. You wont be stuck with one region only - I hope games are played in Wagga/Riverina , Orange/Central West & Newcastle thus widening the catchment. I also hope the Country team play a game or 2 in Sydney!

Indeed, there are some wonderful smaller boutique style grounds out in the country that should be able to cover the number of supporters that would go to these games. Loig tries to do this with the City-Country concept that doesnt seem to mean a whole lot to them any more. This would be a good way for Rugby to get in on that scene. Great idea for sure.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Loving the fact that we're getting a national third tier comp up and going again. It's not perfect and won't please everyone, but that won't stop me from supporting it, just like I did when the ARC came on the scene in 2007.

Get on board rugby fans!

 

[Pfitzy]

NSW are putting up four teams because the clubs involved have the money - Uni could stand on their own but Balmain have a stack of cash they're not supposed to be paying their Subbies side this year, so instead they'll look to dominate a competition elsewhere. Plus it makes Uni look good to incorporate a Subbies side in their thinking.

For the Country fans - four home games only, so don't look for more than one country-based game depending on the financial modelling. At least country people will travel to games, unlike Tahs fans who live just up the road old chap.

 

[Pfitzy]

And also, while we're on the topic:

GO THE FUCKEN RAMS!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

NSW Country operating out of Moore Park -

"Sounds like there'll be more bush in a Brazilian" - Mitch Hardy on Twitter.

 

[the coach]

Indeed, there are some wonderful smaller boutique style grounds out in the country that should be able to cover the number of supporters that would go to these games. Loig tries to do this with the City-Country concept that doesnt seem to mean a whole lot to them any more. This would be a good way for Rugby to get in on that scene. Great idea for sure.

I agree there's some great grounds in country areas like Mudgee etc but it could be a problem getting Fox Sports there. I suspect that's one of the reasons the country team will be based at Moore Park, at least for the first year.

 

[Braveheart81]

For the Country fans - four home games only, so don't look for more than one country-based game depending on the financial modelling. At least country people will travel to games, unlike Tahs fans who live just up the road old chap.

Two of the country venues will be Concord Oval, JS White Oval at The Kings School.

They're still trying to find southern and northern venues that aren't too remote.

 

[the coach]

I don't think many. Those Country players already at other SS clubs will stay where they are. The only problem I see is that Randwick and Easts decide that the NSW Country part is irrelevant and let their relationship harm and hamper the team by trying to dominate the franchise. A little like the bears and Manly deal on the Central Coast in Loig many years ago - use em up and spit em out and let self interest harm the development of the game.

Country have plenty of financial backing what finances do Randwick and Easts bringbring

My question was a bit tongue-in-cheek regarding them coming to Wicks or Easts.

However, you would have to assume that if the NRC uncovers potential S15 players who are currently based in the country the Sydney clubs will try to entice them to the SS, and the players themselves may decide to move to better their chances of a S15 contract.

I have no idea what financial backing Wicks or Easts can provide, it will be interesting to find out.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

There will be one game in the central west region and one in Newcastle for the Country team