How new media could reconnect club rugby with Sydney fans

gentlemen, promoting club rugby as a TV property is the key. Just as oneHD has done for Netball. There are plenty of tries, plenty of fun and congrats to Woodies. I believe that Manly do the same. very humorous commentary too.

Last week Sydney Uni put the cleaners through the Two Blues although infirst grade the Two Blues at least made Uni put in an effort losing 65 to 12 / 98 to nil in second grade / and 76 to nil in third grade ( the less said the better)Fourth Grade has forfeited each game since round 7 . There is no first grade Colts side. The second and third grade grade Colts sides were competitive losing 57 to 12 and 45 to 5 respectively. Over at penrith first grade made manly play losing 36 to 5 but second grade was a 90 to nil shellacking. Penrith thirds lost respectfully 50 to 19 and the fouths ( penrith have maintained their team in this grade) only lost 29 to 12. Penrith like parramatta have no first grade Colts side and their second grade Colts side lost 78 to 7 whilst their third grade Colts side lost 80 to 5. Herein lies the rub. Both regions do not need expressions of sympathy in terms of production of grade rugby players. They both produce a sizeable number of grade rugby players . The problem is that these players play for other clubs. Both clubs can still produce teams with some semblance of competition in first grade . However it is the underlying grades that are problematic and this is the true substance of any club. The problem is most apparent at the Colts level. Young players at this level seek quality coaching an attribute in short supply out west. Any existing coaching talent is nabbed up by first grade. The quality local young players then vote with their feet and go elsewhere. If ever there was a rationale for a combined Western sydney first grade Colts side coached by a very moderately paid but experienced NSWRU appointee then it is here. Players in such a team would be obliged to play for either penrith or parramatta according to their club origins in their first year in grade. The NSWRU does not I know have unlimited funds and cannot be expected to save parramatta or subsidise all of penrith but they could assist both by directing scarce assistance to their Colts development and retention.

AndyS, To try and answer your question, ' ...is the improvement to Sydney club rugby worth the cancellation of the Aus A program and the continued lack of an ARC to bridge the gap...' I would argue that more games the better for any fringe (wallaby, S14) player and why are people fixated on creating 'another level' to try and give these guys a game seems ludicrous. The platform is already there. The sheer cost of running these sorts of competitions, 'ARC' for example, are too much and unsustainable. My argument is, the majority of these players we speak of filled the ARC teams (non-wallaby contracted) and came from Sydney clubs, so why not allow them all to play in the competition that is already established and maybe just maybe with time and a consistent expectation these players will play, we might see some more people turning out. The bottom line is, these gap filling programs cost lots of money, money that isn't there. Further it is great that an article like this has brought about much discussion on club rugby, but i think we can all get a bit carried away and sensitive about the games we enjoy watching or taking part in. To put it simply the article is about getting the games out there and if some clubs take that into their own hands well, good for them. They will hopefully be the ones to reap the benefits.

AndyS The demise of the Australia A program isn't worth the increased standard of the Sydney Club Competiton. But for the naysayers the demise of the ARC was. However the improving standard of the Sydney Club Comp could act as the first step to a re-birth of a ARC like Tournament. If done correctly and over a set time similar to the NSW Cup teams from Perth Melbourne and Adelaide could enter the competition. The only obstacle is which if any of the Sydney Clubs will have to be relegated back to the subbies level for it to happen.

Agreed on the need for folk to turn it into attendances. But the question would probably still need to be asked, is the improvement to Sydney club rugby worth the cancellation of the Aus A program and the continued lack of an ARC to bridge the gap you discuss?

Look, it's all too easy to bash club rugby and I guess in some way that's exactly what I did in the second portion of my post. But Westy's spot on - favourable comparisons to league (and for that matter S14) are laughable. I feel exactly the same way when posters here assert that Joe Bloggs in First Grade at (insert club here) would easily outplay (insert S14 player name here) if only there wasn't some conspiracy by the evil types at head office to continually overlook them. I've been a regular attendee at club, academy and S14 games in Sydney over the past six or seven years and I've lost count of how many club stars have gone missing in an academy or NSW A game. It's way easier to shine when your opposite number is a semi-pro (or lower) player like yourself, than it is when the levels of performance go up. For all the mud slung at academies and the like, the fact remains that those players included in them are getting a more consistent, some would say consistently higher level of strength & conditioning, skill and tactical training than their clubs have any hope of providing. That's not to denigrate the clubs, only to emphasise the difference between a pro and a semi-pro or amatuer/semi-pro set up. Much like the difference currently in crowds and viewers that Westy provides above.. For what it's worth, the good will promotion of club rugby through the return of non-Test players to their clubs is doing the competition a world of good in the credibility stakes. Slowly it's demanding more and more column inches and that can only be a good thing. I've also got to give a wrap to the NSWRU (stay with me here), their efforts to promote the presence of representative players (like here http://www.waratahs.com.au/MediaExtranet/News/2009/July/2009TooheysNewShuteShieldRound14Preview.aspx) would certainly get noticed in the media. It may not be reported at this stage, but you can't have the house if you first don't build the foundations. The NSWRU doesn't often get wraps.. but in this case they deserve one. Now all that's required is for this alleged leigion of club rugby fans to vote with ttheir feet by turning up and putting something back into their clubs. Build the foundations..

It must be just me but the ABC was so impressed when we got 60000 to view the grand final last year. All those tribal rugby fans were there watching their teles in force. no they were at the game all 5000 of them although it was recorded as 6000. I am sorry to be cynical but rugby league friday night gets around 750000 in brisbane and Sydneyand it starts to become embarrassing to ignore this reality. the match of the day on the ABC has been buliding good audiences from 51000 to as high as 75000 now, this is good. the move by Eastwood is excellent as is their hosting of the golden oldies rugby world cup which will definitely raise funds especially from grog sales. This is genuinely good news for the club and its management however to dress up a good article with smug snide at rugby league games invites their rebuttal as to why it took Eastwood so long. A number of NRL clubs run their own " TV " station for years for their paying members an idea they borrowed from originally I think Collingwood AFL. As always in Australian club rugby better late than never. Parramatta fourth grade forfeited last week . no First grade Colts sides at Parra or penrith and all is well in the coop. I think the Woodies main sponsor is North ryde RSL a body renowned for its poker machines and the last time I was at the woodies club I paid the admission fee few had a few beers bought a meal and put $10 in pokies and watched the woodies because that is what you do to support a club. I can be up myself but at least i recognise it . I would love for 5000 of the " hundreds of thousands of rugby supporters" each fortnight to just turn up to TG Milner to support the Woodies and you can shove the rest wherever you want.

It is a great idea! It is better to be able to choose to watch some quality rugby. My question to anyone thinking otherwise... WHY NOT? It is a better club initiative then some rugby league clubs who promote their members blowing their hard earned through their betting programs (i.e the Knights).

Great initiative from the Woodies!!!! Manly's been putting video hlts up for a long time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A79ZZqT1aUc

Sorry, that reads harsher than was intended. It is a good initiative for the involved, and the lads are to be congratulated on coming up with and going on with it. It would be interesting to hear how it gets on and what level of supporter involvement it achieves.

I was thinking the same, but was loath to rain on the parade. Lots is made of Sydney club tribalism and how it would be a good basis for a pseudo-national comp. But tribalism is by definition exclusionary...I can't see too many people not already club supporters tuning in. I would imagine it will be as effective at spreading the message as the WAFL is at interesting people in NSW in Aussie Rules. No-one outside Sydney cares about what is essentially a NSW surburban comp.

Good on the Woodies for getting into this. I sincerely hope it's worth the time and effort that these guys are putting in and, most importantly, it develops into a sustainable revenue stream for the club. My maths is far from perfect but assuming that the 150 have each paid their $120 then they have $18k in the bank to show for it - fair play. But - and there always seems to be a but where club rugby's concerned - i'd be careful about gilding the lily too much. Saying things like "hundreds of thousands of Rugby fans could have a chance to check out the games online" Is highly unlikely, even for free content of this type on youtube. Likewise asserting that "Sydney’s Premier Club Rugby, often more entertaining than rugby league games and some Super 14 matches" is fine when dressed up as opinion but in a piece of reporting as seen here? Sorry to nitpick but it just debases all argument that follows.

Matt Dunning - a legand?!?! Pah ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree, somehow the message re club rugby needs to get out and if the traditional media keep ignoring it then this is the way to go.

Great idea I'd say. Another example of the democratising power of technology. Consider this club rugby fan on board!

Interesting article John and the Woodies streaming live on line well I be buggered ... great idea