The ARU has welcomed the new broadcasting deal which sees 35 per cent increase in funding and an increase of local derbies in Australia from 6 to 20 per season.
The five Australian Super Rugby franchises all have academies where they are investing in youth. These players are excluded from the club scene and spend most of their time training with only the occasional game.
Much can be learned on the training paddock, but the real lessons only come in the heat of the battle. Only a small percentage of academy players make it to Super Rugby with franchises preferring to buy established talent.
This seems to be a waste of time, resources and emerging talent.
In 2011 there will be 20 local derbies between franchises. Now is the time to create a complementary U/25 competition that could be played on the same day at the same venue but prior to senior match.
An opportunity for the young bucks to shine!
This would create a second tier competition that would feed directly into the Super 15. It would provide more incentive for spectators to attend matches. It would increase rugby’s product for future TV negotiations.
This is blindingly simple and incredibly obvious.
The salaries of the players are already paid for, the venue is already paid for. The only additional cost is travel and accommodation for one night.
“There are none so blind as those that will not see”.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
23 is OK by me - I am keen for something to happen in this regard - we are long way behind the Kiwis (NPC) and Saffers (Curry Cup).
katzilla
Roar Guru
Indeed which really means your providing a 2nd tier for future Journeymen rather then a development pathway. Those who are good enough and know it might hang around but those who know they wont will head off to greener pastures. Maybe 23? Better age, most guys in their Sophmore year, the year when most have the yips and the greats rise up while the others fall away.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
I chose u/25 as it provides for both the Acadamy youngsters as well grade players with say up to 5 years experience - to make sure that both streams have equal opportunities. Once players reach 25 they would drop off so that there is always positions becoming vacant for new blood. IMO players usually have "made it"by the time they 25.
katzilla
Roar Guru
Why did you pick 25 RK? A fair chunk of the Reds starter team would probably make that cut off.
John
Guest
Why not have an academy team to play against the local clubs? Look at the stars that emerged from the one off whatever-it-was-called comp a couple of years ago.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
EG - good point on u/25 - I saw this as a way to keep a focus on younger players. Perhaps there could a rule that has 75% of the playing roster u/25
el gamba
Guest
I agree with the general idea that a "feeder" comp needs to be introduced Rickety and I think that whilst a financial disaster, the ARC (or APC can't even remember!) was part of the reason that Australian rugby is achieving some competition for spots at the international level now. It gave some of the players we are seeing now a chance to play high level rugby regularly. Given also that the reason for not continuing the competition was solely financial, looking at ways to use "scales of economy" to reduce the cost makes a hell of a lot of sense and I like your thinking here. Limiting to under 25's? I am not sure about this as it may limit things too much (at least presently with most of the outstanding Australians this S14 season qualifying!) though this may change in the next decade if Australia can continue this influx of young talent. You may also want these games to be a pathway back through for injured players (a la Julian Huxley with the Runners) or to play some form back into those outside your matchday 22. Certainly, if the curtain raiser featured "up and comers" I for one would be at the ground a little early..
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Good points Bruce - however the franchises next year will have 10 home matches as opposed to the 5 or 6 now. This will increase revenues substantially but also will require an increase in squad size to cater for the increase in injuries. What better way of doing this than by creating this competition. It would provide a match fit pool of players to supplement the Super Rugby side whilst providing an opportunity for young emerging players. As for on "nonsense entertainment' well we can all do without that.
Bruce Ross
Roar Pro
I think you overestimate the number of players available through the academy system, Rickety. The franchises have only a very limited pool of players on professional academy contracts. There are a greater number who are part of the broader academy system but they are paid only a couple of thousand dollars per year. In order to meet their A or second team fixture commitments, the Waratahs, Brumbies and Reds already have to borrow club players. Increase the number of fixtures more than threefold and the logistical task becomes almost insuperable. That's without taking account of the fact that you propose to restrict the competition to Under 25s. As for your projected competition providing "more incentive for spectators to attend matches", any possibility of this being so is negated by the fact that lead-up matches have to finish so long before the main fixture so that all the nonsense of main game players and their hordes of hangers-on wandering the field and pre-game blaring "entertainment" can take place.