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Yep, and the Americas comp has improved out of sight in the last year or two and offered great opportunities for teams like Brazil. The US victory over the Argie XV this year was as good an indication as any of the increasing depth and competiveness of the Eagles. I think there may be something...

Seems a cooperation agreement from both US and Canadian bodies with MLR is a logical step. Obviously they all want to see how it plays out, but it would be sad to see the domestic league swimming in a different direction to the national bodies. The US international schedule appears to be...

Haven't seen Hong Kong play this year but they've had great results. It's curious that Canada is struggling. Hopefully getting a few sides in MLR will reinforce the game's infrustructure up there. Reckon US would give Japan a shake--will be interesting to see how Georgia copes with the Japanese...

I think it's fair to predict that they'd now be genuinely competitive against most international teams. They've got a Georgia-Italy (on a good day) feel to them with a bit of Pacific Island flair. Reckon the biggest difference to the last few years is they now boast a solid set piece. They make...

The Australian commentators for the Major League Rugby game between Houston and Seattle are making the thing unwatchable. They refer to each other by name in every sentence. It’s kind of comical. They are trying to be positive, but “Dan” and “Luke” are doing the game an enormous disservice. It’s...

That was a mightily shite game of rugby. Ball was slippery from sweat, but that doesn't explain the relentless waves of attacking stupidity from both teams. Sharks should give themselves an uppercut for losing. NSW deserve credit for keeping it close and drawing when they deserved to lose by a...

Seems so. I'll speak slowly. The "litany of weaknesses in the game" -- on-field performance, administrative ineptitude, a corporate culture that seems to have an entitlement fixation, and spectator disinterest/disconnect--all have their roots in the game's inability and blatant lack of desire to...

Biggest on-going mistake: failing to develop the game at grassroots outside the private school base. Ignoring bush, club and district footy and continuing to inadvertently or otherwise promote the sport's elitist profile rather than working to be more inclusive.

Who is piling on? They played, they lost. Honestly, that doesn't matter. It's about the bigger picture, which U-20 footy should be about, They didn't just "have a crack" in a meaningless game. They played that game like every other game in the tourny. Did you watch them against Samoa? Did you...

Congrats to the team. They played some fine footy and clearly many are great prospects. Though, I think it needs to be said in no uncertain terms, that the overall performance was underwhelming. This group is not alone, they are possibly the best of the last several years of under age squads but...

You can see he's good. Attacks the line, great pass, can kick. But he was probably trying too hard -- four costly mistakes int he first twenty minutes ruined their chances to build the kind of lead they needed at half time turning to run into the wind. Their defensive effort in the second forty...

I don't want your hanky. I can guess what goes into it. Am happy they got away with it. But if they play with no nouse against the Poms they'll get a belting. I'd like to see them play to their obvious potential which means going forward before going wide and doing basic things like using a gale...

Oz 10 is having a mare. So much that's good and bad in current Australian rugby on display. Great talent, good intent but too many mistakes and a less than stellar rugby IQ. They do lots of dumb stuff. This looks like the last several Australian efforts at U-20 championships that all ended in tears.

I agree with you. A schools based model in Australian rugby at the expense of building a presence through other pathways has been destructive. As for my "strawman" argument .. whaa?? You were being defensive about “tradition”. I made the point that I wasn’t challenging that model, just seeking...

"Tearing tradition down" is not an aim. Building on tradition to help a sport with a great history survive is the vision. Also, the idea of the well-heeled interacting with the masses is not an attack on "tradition." I'll be sure to look up the hugely influential Inter Academic League next...

Why is any variation on the 'trial' system an attack on the structure of "association competitions"? It's not. The comps remain the same (until numbers dwindle again and weak teams have to be cut or forced to play their lead team in a 3rds comp). This is about the best use you can make of the...

I’m not proposing a Waratah Shield-like competition, though I certainly lament that competition’s demise, accelerated by elite school disinterest and waning numbers of competitive government high school teams. Nor am I suggesting GPS or CAS should stop focusing on their “own” competitions...

Suggest there is limited upside in a 'combined' comp that simply reinforces the strength of traditionally strong schools while others wither on the vine. For the sake of rugby continuing to exist as a major sport in Australia, there has to be an effort to broaden the base and incentivise junior...

There was certainly a much stronger club system for union juniors across the board for several decades, (and bus club footy was healthy) although the game's nexus has always been the rah-rah schools. League was predominately a district process but midweek (MCC and MCC comps) and state...

I share your pessimism and agree anything too ambitious won't get off the ground, but the point stands, they have to start being inclusive -- provide opportunities for the game to grow outside the walls of the fine institutions that have, and hopefully will always have a great rugby tradition. I...