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Every year the same discussion comes up: how do we get a national rugby competition started up that will be viable, attractive to the masses, and exist as a vital development pathway for players to reach the next level?
In simple terms, it just won’t work.
Why? Am I being negative about the future of the game here? No. I’m realistic about what the rugby community will and won’t accept.
One of the great things about club rugby, at least in the major cities, is the tribalism and the stories behind the games make the games what they are.
Anyone who saw Manly vs Warringah play to a packed house at Rat Park last weekend will tell you that the atmosphere as the two teams fought for the Bayfield Cup was electric.
The problem with a national club comp is that you can’t create teams and expect there to be atmosphere, and you can’t create rivalries within two years of a competition starting.
The beauty about club rugby is that supporters can feel like they are on the field with the players, such is the passion that they have for their team.
And you can have all this for a maximum of about $10 on a Saturday afternoon.
Why would any rugby fan pay their good money to watch a team which they don’t feel really represents them, especially when they don’t know any of the players.
The administrators need to find other ways to bridge the gap between club and Super 14 football because supporters will only support what they have an affinity with, whether it be their local club, the state or their country.
Love this article? Nominate it for The Roar’s Armchair Sports Writer Award. Or vote now for this week’s nominated articles.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.