An academy championship the way to go
Roar Guru
By Working Class Rugger, 16 Aug 2009 Working Class Rugger is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- rugby academies, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, western sydeny
Before anyone says anything, yes, this is another ‘what if’ regarding some sort of national Rugby competition. This time around, the focus has changed to using some of our existing development infrastructure to achieve this aim.
We currently have four Academy set ups with the likelihood of a fifth to be established in the not too distant future. This likely occurrence, along with the bids from Western Sydney, the Gold Coast and NSW country, can provide Rugby an opportunity to establish a third tier of a high standard as well as involving the three failed bids plus a couple of targeted regions.
An Academy based championship could alleviate several issues that currently hinder Rugby’s development in Australia. Issues such as depth, opportunity and the warehousing of talent have all presented challenges that Rugby has had a difficult time dealing with.
The model I envisage runs similar to that of the NPC. A one round championship with a five team finals series similar to the final series now runs in the Shute Shield, run directly after Super Rugby during the Tri- Nations. Again, similar to the NPC.
The teams are simple, though I’d suggest that a slight name change of the current academies. NSW could be Sydney, QLD to Brisbane, ACT to Canberra and Force to Perth.
In addition to the current set up, the Victoria academy would enter under the moniker of Melbourne. Western Sydney, Gold Coast and NSW country would also be included to this championship. Furthermore, QLD country would be a worthy entry, with an outsider in the form of Adelaide to round out the numbers.
Going down this path would eliminate the issues that brought an end to the ARC. The major issue being the club involvement that reared its ugly head in 2007.
Even though the IRB has made its ruling regarding the ELV’s, preferably, such a championship would be played under those ELV’s. Let’s face it, where competing for the entertainment factor and Rugby under the ELV’s can be very entertaining (The Shute Shield has been a wonderful to watch). Considering the teams will be manned by non-Wallaby professionals and the academy contracted player, as well as the very best from club Rugby, the standard would be of a considerable standard.
With any luck, such a championship would feed off the current supporter bases as well as break ground with new demographics. It could also be a viable TV product for someone like ONEHD to broadcast.
This set up would involve many more stakeholders, create more defined pathways for young players, help develop the necessary talent for any current and future teams to be and remain competitive. Plus it will make any transition for semi-pro to professional a lot easier for expansion into Super Rugby from an Australian perspective.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
The Crowd Says (11) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby Union articles
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (198)
- Will South African rugby force a Super 21 by 2018? (172)
- Brumbies 2012: New coach, new players, new attitude (128)
- Dan Parks and the unsolved questions of expat rugby (61)
- Pocock set to be named new Force skipper (56)
- Can the ‘Tahs win the battle after losing the Waugh? (51)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
- Wales show Southern Hemisphere how to play running rugby (27)
- What opening matches of Six Nations taught us (18)
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (201)
- Clinical Chiefs cost rusty Rebels in Corio (9)
- Six Nations shows rugby is a parochial game at heart (5)
- Goose’s Super Rugby up-and-comer XV for 2012 (29)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
- Explore:
- rugby academies, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, western sydeny
sheek said | August 16th 2009 @ 8:03am | Report comment
WCR,
The concept is certainly worth consideration, especially as it mightn’t have ‘interference’ from the major power brokers – Sydney & Brisbane premier rugby clubs. What age group are you looking at? This might also have an impact.
Worth noting the Academies are largely white elephants unless the players are getting decent game time. Also, we have the schoolboys at state & territory level. It’s development to the national cause is debatable. Perhaps someone could enlighten me on this?
simon said | August 16th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
The way I see it, there are two main reasons for some sort of national domestic comp along the lines suggested in the article:
1. While the standard of club rugby is currently on the rise in Sydney, it necessarily restricts development in other states after Super rugby. This is because most of the Super players are needed in the Sydney comp to maintain its standard. The national domestic comp along the lines suggested in the article, keeps rugby on the agenda in other states after Super rugby has finished.
2. It would be much more efficient at producing depth and developing new players as they have more opportunity to play alongside and against the Super players. This has always been the main drive behind any narrower national domestic comp.
The only other alternative would be to restrict non-Wallaby Super rugby contracted players, to the club comp in the area of their Super rugby team after Super rugby (e.g. Force players to the club comp in WA; Brumbies players to the club comp in the ACT). While this would reduce the depth in the Shute Shield, it would allow the Sydney clubs to remain as the third tier, and it would start to develop depth in other parts – even if it was just a 4 club/province comp in the other states (home and away – 6 rounds) with one Super team shared between them. The winner of each comp could then play in a simple knock-out finals system to determine the national club champion.
Gary said | August 16th 2009 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Here, here. There is considerable resentment outside Sydney of the best players pissing off to Sydney rather than playing in their home premier grade clubs. Whilst they get away with it for the moment, that will not always be the case, particualrly in the case those who did not come from the Sydney Club competition in the first place. The clubs outside NSW do not particualrly care about the strength of the Sydney comp, they are interested in improving the standard of their own competition.
LeftArmSpinner said | August 16th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
boys, it is already under your noses. Its called grade rugby. I dont know what is going on in QLD, but I happily look forward to and enjoy the rugby provided by ABC both the game and the highlights of the other games. plenty of tries., plenty of star players. a close comp, that UNi proves can prvide excellence. If Perth or Melbourne want a piece, they will need to pay for it. So, promotion and relegation between Shute Shield and qld equivilent. Dont call it a tier, of any sort. just market it with examples of the play and play it when others are not being played. Saturday arvo is good as is Sunday arvo. make it family friendly. a carnival atmosphere on and off the field.
the academy idea is okay but it means more expense, and removes the characters of the game. there are so many in grade rugby. slaggy props, the Bus from Woodies, local heroes and the local derbies. it also limits the players on show.
84% said | August 16th 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment
Although I agree that the Academy players need some sort of competition game to hone their skills, such a comp would only further erode the standard of players left at club level. The clubs nuture the players and are usually the ones that give them their love of the game yet the clubs lose out big time whenever they have one of their players taken into the franchise squads. This would be even worse if an Academy tier was set up. In my experience too many Academy players come back to the clubs with attidude … “I’m an elete player and we don’t do this or that at the Academy”. There must be some sort of compsentation paid to the clubs for the loss of these players ie $100 per training session missed and $300 per game missed due to Franchise duties. This money could be used to assist country players that move to the cities to locate, say rent or food allowence etc. In this way the loss of their players could be used to retain some depth in the club. Whatever is done must not further bleed the player base that is fast eroding in club rugby.
Working Class Rugger said | August 16th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
I like Club Rugby, currently its the most entertaining level in of the game here in Australia. I’m a ex-Randwick Colt, so I understand what it is all about. But come 2011 its importance as the level beneath is going to be downgraded significantly due to the expanded and re-schedule Super15 season. The stars that are currently there will be no longer available.
We will need another avenue for talented Rugby Player’s to show their wares. An Academy Championship would do that. If you’re not in an Academy but are every bit as good as they are their are 4 to 5 other teams you can trial for. Such a Comp would allow Robbie Deans and Co to see the what he has both now and into the future.
Come 2011, Club Rugby must change its thinking. It must become the most important layer in the pyramid. And that’s not the next level down of Super Rugby. Club Rugby must turn its focus on talent identification and development from U13′s to Grade through establishing entirely representative seasons independent of Suburban Rugby, allowing the best to play the best more regularly.. Talent that will feed not only the Academy Championship but Super Rugby and the Wallabies.
Working Class Rugger said | August 16th 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment
Sheek
There isn’t one age group that this is aimed toward. As the Championship will be manned by returning non-Wallaby S15 players, the best from Clubland and of course the Academy boys which would include many schoolboys who are ever increasingly playing Pro Rugby before they even choose a Club. And that approach can be hazardous.
Working Class Rugger said | August 16th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Simon
You’re two points in your first post pretty much some up my thinking. This Championship would allow our best 300 under the Wallaby squad a chance to develop to a much higher level, making the step up much easier when/if it occurs. And it widens Rugby’s footprint Nationally. The more Rugby people Rugby can reach the better. We can’t afford to become insular. And its not like its that much of a stretch. The only speculator would be Adelaide.
Club Rugby served Australian Rugby well for so long. And will continue to do so if it focuses of developing talent. Alot of the Championship player’s will likely play Club Rugby prior to participating. Afterall it will be played after Super Rugby in 2011. It just somewhere where the top of the tree can face off.
Ideally, we could say to many of Super Rugby player’s ‘go play in the local scene’ but currently apart from Sydney and Brisbane they are just not up scratch. WA’s is rising in standard but isn’t there yet. Though it may be capable of producing a very competitive locally developed team.
Providing more elite pathways will in itself strengthen the Rugby in each region participating with young kids having something to aim for.
Rickety Knees said | August 16th 2009 @ 2:02pm | Report comment
Great post WCR – it makes a whole lot of sense, however therein lies the problem ….. this is beyond the grasp of the fumblers and fools focussed on their myopic agenda’s that only serve them and not the game.
sheek said | August 16th 2009 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
WCR,
The reason for enquiring about the age group is that once you get to Colts, you impact on club rugby.
And we know who THEY are………. !
P.S., I’m an ex-Easts colt. If THEY could hear us talking like this, we would be hung for treason!
Clarky said | August 17th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Part of the challenge, is there is a lot of ‘depth’ to the player pool in Sydney and Brisbane as opposed to elsewhere. Melbourne are getting a Super team, and apparently have 100 clubs.
Current the NSW Suburban Rugby competition in Sydney has Six Divisions. There is a helluva lot of players running round in Subbies. The Premier Clubs (Grade rugby) are getting squeezed. They still can’t find their niche. Originally, they were the regular season 2nd tier, as I don’t count the odd Sydney rep game or NSW rep game as a tier in this argument. Super rugby brought that to an end, and we know have professional, semi-professional and amateur players.
There are some clubs in Subbies who pay players, so you could argue the semi-professional ranks down to the Subbies layer.
Where does this leave the Premier clubs? In a quandary… Ideally there should be pathways between Subbies and Grade (utopian vision perhaps?) or a consolidation of the two layers into one. Make the top divisions the ‘premier’ levels, and ensure there is the potential for promotion and relegation.
There are too many vested interests in rugby from schoolboy/juniors all the way through to the Wallabies and JON.
I like the concept of the Academy program, but question if Academies will survive when they cut the Super teams to 28 player squads. We need to consolidate the layers, build some good pathways so that players who play for fun and players who play to earn a living (and those in between) all have options to play the game.