Broadcast options for Australian Rugby

[Pieman]

Huge loss. I was very lucky to have had a bit to do with Smithy particularly recently. He was as passionate as they come. Had great respect from the game.

It was a real thrill of mine to share a media box with him when I was pretending to be a journo with GAGR.

Totally agree, Reg.
Smithy knew Rugby and his craft inside out.
He and his work will be greatly missed

 

[Members Section]

Yeah, I just saw this one from Laurie Fisher, came here to see if there was anymore detail

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1666180600649355264

This is bloody horrible news, down far south he was the only way you could get some decent rugby opinions in the Australian. Vale

 

[Wallaby Man]

One of the best. Always balanced and always with the correct sources

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Vale Wayne. One of the best rugby journos going around for mine. He will be missed.

 

[Crashy]

Yeah thats a big loss. the old school proper rugby journos are slowly disappearing. Anyone know what happened? Seemed way too young..

 

[RugbyReg]

Yeah thats a big loss. the old school proper rugby journos are slowly disappearing. Anyone know what happened? Seemed way too young..

heart attack. Was due to turn 70 later this year.

 

[Crashy]

I live near the legend that is Jim Webster- still loves his club rugby when we chat. those blokes who were around the rugby scene in the 70s and 80s have some good stories. Life seemed a lot simpler back then.

 

[The Marketing Pigeon]

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/new-zealand-open-to-nfl-style-draft-system-in-super-rugby-pacific
Draft System picking up steam but more importantly, the eligibility where New Zealand players would still be eligible for the All Blacks playing for any team in Super Rugby. This is hands down the easiest way to spread talent and make teams across the board more competitive. Along with the draft as a product that you can sell in future TV Rights deals and a boost in viewership due to less dead rubber games - this is something the NRL has done well with the spread of talent across the board.

 

[Adam84]

I’m more then happy for Wallabies to play in NZ and All Blacks to play in Australia, it would actually give me a reason to watch kiwi games if there were a couple of Wallabies in the teams, currently i couldn’t really could not care less about a game like the the Hurricanes vs Highlander

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I like this idea a lot. Would bring quite a bit of media attention as well in player signings.

Imagine if this was the case a few years ago and the Reds signed Aaron Smith. Suddenly there is interest in the Highlanders v Reds game there wasn’t before.

I’m less sold on the Draft idea at this stage.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

this is something the NRL has done well with the spread of talent across the board.

All but one NRL Club is based on the east coast of Australia. Super Rugby has one in WA, four EC Aus, six NZ & one Fiji. Unless it's from/ to Blues to/ from Moana (or Chiefs at a stretch) changing Super Rugby team means at least moving to a different city. Easy enough for a young & single guy but not so much if you have a partner & less so again if there's children involved.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Also unless it's 100% voluntary it wouldn't be legal in NZ, the teams can't even ring-fence 25 players from their catchment as used to happen in the early days of Super Rugby. Similarly they can't trade players without the player's permission.

 

[LeCheese]

All but one NRL Club is based on the east coast of Australia. Super Rugby has one in WA, four EC Aus, six NZ & one Fiji. Unless it's from/ to Blues to/ from Moana (or Chiefs at a stretch) changing Super Rugby team means at least moving to a different city. Easy enough for a young & single guy but not so much if you have a partner & less so again if there's children involved.

Pours water on the idea of ‘Super players turning out for their clubs’ to improve grassroots as well - and just stuffs club alignment for players in general.

I imagine teams would also have to cover relocation costs for players, and probably up the remittance of the wider squad members to keep them from heading overseas to a club or their choice…

 

[qwerty51]

Draft will never work we’ve explained why a million times. Free movement absolutely should be a thing and even encouraged.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Perhaps SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) could take some inspiration from College sports in the US. And I'm not referring to a draft as in you go where your drafted without much input. More the recent trend since the introduction of NIL payments. The transfer portal. This allows athletes to enter into a pool of athletes looking for opportunities at other Universities.

This would work with players opting to go into the 'draft' pool. Meaning they are open and willing to go to market for their value and accept that it may involve moving to Perth or Dunedin etc. But I do believe there needs to be a hard limit in terms of squad composition. Something like 75% of the game day squad has to be eligible for the nation that team is based. So out of the game day 23 that means 15-16 need to be Aus eligible for each of the Aus Super Rugby squads. Same for the NZ squads.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Draft will never work we’ve explained why a million times. Free movement absolutely should be a thing and even encouraged.

Which is why I have suggested a transfer portal more than a draft.

 

[liquor box]

I’m more then happy for Wallabies to play in NZ and All Blacks to play in Australia, it would actually give me a reason to watch kiwi games if there were a couple of Wallabies in the teams, currently i couldn’t really care less about a game like the the Hurricanes vs Highlander

Would you watch it when your favourite Australian team has only a few Australians playing in their team?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Which is why I have suggested a transfer portal more than a draft.

That might actually work.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

If we have open borders do the National Unions still get to mandate workloads for PONI? I can see problems either way. Let's say the incumbent AB 10 signs with the Rebels & he plays the first six games of the season, no. 7 is v the table-topping Blues (OK, Chiefs ) & NZR lean on Rebels to sit him out. All hell would break loose. Conversely let's say Clan sign the incumbent Wobs 9, play him every week & he turns up at camp Wob physically & mentally drained. Again, all hell would break loose.

I no longer follow loig but when I did there was a strong perception/ suspicion that Kiwis-eligible players would suddenly require rest or surgery (or get suspended, but that's a whole other can of worms) immediately prior to a Kiwis team being named.

I'm open to the transfer portal mooted by @WorkingClassRugger above, but can see a fair few devils in the detail.

 

[qwerty51]

Well that's part of the issue, that's why the nationals need less power over the franchises, each franchise should be completely private and independent if we're serious about a proper commercial comp.