A midweek floodlit knockout competition for Sydney’s Premier Rugby clubs should be launched and backed by NSW and the Australian Rugby Union – with the caveat that the side must include five colts players.
“It’s a way of opening up opportunities for our young players coming through, it would create more excitement for Rugby followers and draw in new sponsors,” according to former Elite Player Development Manager of Britain’s Leicester Tigers, Mike Penistone.
Penistone is currently the Coaching Director for Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs club.
“I’ve seen a completely different competition here since the Super 14 players have come back in to sides. The level of the game is much higher, the skills across the park have lifted and it’s entertaining, exciting Rugby,” Penistone, a former Notts County half back in England.
“Within three years the Super 15 competition in Australia will open up and allow some of the best players from all over the world to play. Australia plays an exciting brand of Rugby. The investment and ownership of Super 15 sides are going to be opened up to overseas millionaires and billionaires. Six years ago, no one could have predicted this with football sides in England. Now you’ve got Russian billionaires owning clubs.
“Rugby is a global game. With private investment, which I believe is inevitable, top players, marquee names, will be bought to play here. That means we need to create other opportunities for our young players coming through. At the moment, in NSW, you can only aspire to one team, the Waratahs, unless you get a contract somewhere else.
“Creating an elite, midweek knockout Cup, giving both the players and the fans something more exciting, and giving the Colts players coming through, a stepping stone, something more to aspire to.”
Asked if he thought an influx of overseas players would shut young Australian players out of positions, Penistone said: “Australia has a long record of producing outstanding Rugby players. It almost goes back to the arrival of Captain Cook. We will continue to produce great young players because of our approach to the game and our competitiveness.
“But it is absolutely vital that we keep the club level vibrant. It’s a vital stepping stone to Super 14, 15 and the Wallabies. The Australian Rugby Union and NSW should be investing funds in the Club competition.
“And a midweek, knockout cup, would be an excellent way to do it.”
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