Roar Rookie
Joined January 2013
9.1k
Views
6
Published
19
Comments
Published
Comments
The All Blacks will play their first match in the US for 34 years when they take to Soldier Field in Chicago against the…
After going through the latest round of ITM Cup results over the weekend, and in two countries, a thought occurred to me regarding overseas…
ITM Cup is upon us again with Fox Sports in Australia once again bringing us all the action, starting tomorrow night. For those non-Kiwis…
Since when did line blockers become part of rugby? I'm talking here about players who are running 'virtual' interference for the ball carrier. In…
I'm one who believes that New Zealand can, and should, help Australian rugby get back to its feet. They've done so twice before, I…
What would happen if New Zealand rugby was able to fund a fully professional domestic competition? What would the implications be for Australian rugby…
Welcome to the brutal world of professionalism, deanp.
If you ignore the dollar factor in running a professional sport, you’re going to run into trouble very quickly. Just ask Bill Pulver and company!
The ABs won’t make any money from playing the Island unions in the Islands (and speaking as a half-Fijian, I would prefer they stay away from Fiji until the politics there sorts itself out) and have been quite candid about it. The loss of upcoming talent like Bundee Aki and Blayendaal (not to mention the NRL) is a reminder of the need for NZRU to look after itself. Not that the NZRU ignores the island unions; they help out in non-cash terms through player development (ie allowing their players to compete in NZ competitions).
It's official: All Blacks to play US in Chicago
lachie,– maybe or maybe not.
Fact is, at the end of the day, NZ rugby can still surprise the wold because NZ rugby draws upon its domestic strengths in a country things after the likes of Beauden Barrett or TJ Perenara but better you should be surprised!
Overseas players can be good for the ITM Cup
atlas, apparently, they relied on an overdraft to get these players! From my own experience, not such a smart thing!
Overseas players can be good for the ITM Cup
Lachie, worth noting that Irish pro rugby is in massive financial problems at the moment. They’re going bankrupt.
Overseas players can be good for the ITM Cup
the argument about keeping the ITM Cup for Kiwis is all good and valid but I think there must be some leeway given.
Consider what will happen if the ABs win the next RWC: the rugby spotlight will focus on NZ even more. Other rugby nations will take a closer look at the NZ model which would mean the ITM Cup. For economic powerhouses like the US, Canada, Japan, Italy and so on, it may mean sending players here to learn the best way they can … on the field. NZ can not afford to remain in its shell as the world is watching; the more the ABs success in the international level, the greater the scrutiny on NZ rugby (and even from rival codes like the NRL, AFL and, heaven forbid, the NFL).
It’s also worth noting that the rural teams playing each other in the ITM get better crowds then their games against the Big Six (Otago, Wellington, Canterbury, Auckland, Waikato and … eerr, make that the Big Five!) Canterbury has won the ITM Cup six years in a row; that can’t be healthy. That kind of dominance can kill off interest!!
A much stronger domestic competition could spell greater revenue for the game in NZ and help retain the younger players in the country. Consider that the NZRU is considering unbundling broadcast rights( For those unaware, Sky TV in NZ lost the live EPL rights to an online broadcaster who are expressing interest in rugby rights as well), this could be a way to monetise the ITM.
Read here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10893050
I can’t help feel that there is some sort of moral obligation to help the Aussies out as well (Warriors, Breakers, netball anyone?) but NZ as a much smaller country is limited in its ability to help Australia at no cost to its own game. A selective approach to overseas recruitment could be the way; perhaps through the NZRU. The intent here is to farm such players out to the smaller provinces, not the bigger ones. There should be a great deal of control about it.
Not sure about whether Heartland should be included but that is an option.
Make no mistake: playing in the ITM Cup is not about making money. That’s what France is for. The ITM Cup is all about the rugby. Overseas players waning to play in NZ will be under no illusion about that. And some still want to come.
Overseas players can be good for the ITM Cup
Andy S; just to clarify. It’s Beau Robinson, the Reds flanker, and not Benn Robinson who’s playing for BOP.
Which ITM Cup team should an outsider support?
atlas, anyone who paints the ITM Cup as a “soft” option has no idea. Planet Rugby had it right when they called it (world) rugby’s most under-rated competition. The ABs are living testimony to the quality of rugby that the ITM produces!
Which ITM Cup team should an outsider support?
Atlas, Beau Robinson shed some light when he said the ARU is very particular about releasing players to the ITM Cup. (See link)
http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/news/rugby-league-of-nations-keen-on-kiwi-experience/1983402/
Basically, Beau says the ARU is wary of pitting their young players in a competition featuring stronger rivals, which baffles me. How does the ARU expect its players to develop if they can’t pit themselves against some of the best?
Which ITM Cup team should an outsider support?
NOS, he has been named in the squad. Should get a chance during the tournament.
Which ITM Cup team should an outsider support?
Atlas, I used my definition of “foreign” as opposed to the NZRU (made it easier that way).
Basically, my definition of “foreigner” was someone with an overseas address/birthplace, played for an overseas team in the current season or international allegiance. That’s why Toby Smith wasn’t counted; apprently NZ born with Aussie father who’s going to Rebels to try out for wallabies but hasn’t done it yet!
Also, that B Robinson playing for BOP is actually Beau Robinson, of the Reds.
Which ITM Cup team should an outsider support?
I tried not to take a potshot at any particular side (I highlighted one example) because they ALL do it, to some degree or other. When one side tries it and gets away with it then the other teams will follow!
As it stands, I do believe it’s all in the timing and that the players walk a fine line with the decoy running. Get it wrong, off by even a second or so, and it’s a penalty to the opposition.
The NFL-isation of rugby
And you say my model was poorly constructed, Rob?
Eight professional teams from Australia will encounter the same stiffnecked opposition from Brisbane and Sydney club officials that the late, lamented ARC ran into not to mention the lack of top class depth.
My model leaves out Perth simply because of the travel/cost factor although perhaps they can be added in the Aust domestic `conference”. In any case, my model was based on simply tampering a little with the current ITM Cup format (which seems to work) instead of major modifications. You know the old saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
I proposed my model partly on the basis of the sheer number of Kiwis migrating here. That could potentially widen the market appeal here in Australia which would in turn enhance its appeal to potentialsponsors and possibly even a FTA station (currently unlikely given their financial woes).
The style of play in the ITM Cup in the last two seasons is the model Aust Super rugby franchises work towards. Anecdotal evidence here in Aust suggest it was making an impact with some RL followers (I’ve also witnessed that impact first hand).
As for propping up both countries, the risk here for Aust is that NZ is taking steps to ensure its own professional survival/growth. The ARU risks being left behind and the sooner its governance reforms kick in, the better (I think the NZRU is also looking at its own system of governance as well)
The netball model is good but iit involves both fairly equally strong domestic competitions. This rugby model is not so level..
In any case, a TPC could not happen with SAF teams also involved and I don’t see SAF being excluded – pulling out, yes. But exclude, no.
Could a trans-Tasman competition replace Super Rugby?
The addition of the US, Canada and Japan markets into Super rugby has the potential to fundamentally change this equation (I will look into this in more detail later).
But I have always felt that if the ARU was that serious about setting up another APC, you could do no worse than look at the NZRU model (gotta love these acronyms!).
The NZRU model is run partly on cost containment which may offer some lessons to the ARU ie should an Aussie ARC be set up on a conference system allowing NSW and Qld to keep the current club structure and only meeting ina finals?
Future's not All Black for New Zealand rugby
sheek, attendances have picked up in the last 2 seasons as well as the TV ratings due in part to day games. Can anyone recall the last time a NZ Super game was played in daylight? (Twilight doesn’t count).
The turnaround is fairly recent but it is noticeable, especially in rural areas.
The other thing to remember is that the Ranfurly Shield still retains its appeal.
Future's not All Black for New Zealand rugby
abnutta, i read that same article.
1. I understand that it is the All Black name that’s valued at $108m.
2. NZ probably could go it alone as well but having Aust input would sweeten the pot in terms of broadcast revenue. The NZRU has to be commended for thinking outside the square (and their own geographical boundaries) by looking for global partners.
3. I’ve heard it explained once that SAF stays in SANZAR because of the Test matches, specifically the games against New Zealand.
Future's not All Black for New Zealand rugby
Nick, that may be a slight exaggeration but I’m not talking high profile players. More at the development level where is where future ABs are made — blokes like Konrad Hurrell, Omar Salamankiel (?) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had no RL experience until they were signed up by NRL clubs.
From the sounds of it, the Warriors’s (quoting comments made by Dean Bell last year) have opted for signing up promising rugby players instead of developing their own junior competiton as it would be much cheaper for them.
Interesting to note the comments made by the Sydney Roosters CEO Brian Canavan about how they want to keep SBW at the club for longer than one season. It sounds like they are considering giving SBW a sabbatical to play NZ rugby for 2014 and 2015 if he returns to the club!
Future's not All Black for New Zealand rugby
Well guys, I did say it was a plan B option in case the ARU can’t get a seniors third tier competition off the ground.
Secondly, there are 26 provinces in the competition (including the rural-based Heartland championship) so there are teams out there or you can create new ones. NZ rugby is haemoraghing talent to the NRL (and now the AFL wants a bite?)
In any case, the most likely scenario would involve Aust teams playing in the ITM Cup, a scenario I look at in my next article.
Future's not All Black for New Zealand rugby
I wonder … there is a classic photo of AAC in one of the Aussie regional papers taken at training earlier this week. The photo has the ball heading directly at AAC’s face yet you can plainly see AAC’s eye are looking elsewhere!! If he wants a title, perhaps he should start by training a little bit better!!
Ashley-Cooper desperate to cash in