Fans could help fund an Australian rugby third-tier

Private equity. If the A League can get footbal fans with dough to fund teams, then so can rugby surely. Just look at the French Top 14 ...

That is an interesting idea. So effectively, the Waratahs would finish SR and then scatter themselves on one year contracts to whichever four teams qualify? Can't say I'd view that as much of a win if I was one of the players that did the hard yards only to be told to have a seat in the stands to watch blow-ins wear the jersey. For the others too, not sure a one-off exposure to something better for a few weeks with the same old coaching staff would necessarily do much for player development either. But certainly a new one, be interesting to see how it would fly with the clubs.

I don't see how it couldn't. If only four team from the first division were going though, all Super Rugby players, the best players and funding will gravitate to the four most financial. That has already happened to some extent, creating a lopsided comp. I'd expect this would turn it turtle, making the whole thing into a joke. The ARU also won't continue to pour Premier rugby funding into all those teams, it will be held aside for travel costs and payments for the later competition. The whole point of that money is the player development, and that is the role the second comp would assume. If they were expected to find still more money, then an ARC as was would be cheaper given they already blow $1.8M a year. Much may be told over the next couple of years though, as my understanding was that Pulver was planning to pull that money to fund his little curtain-raiser scheme. With so many teams already crying poor, might be a slightly different Shield before too long. Or worse, it will be exactly the same, demonstrating just how much money has been wasted...

The problem is you used the word "understanding". If there is one thing Roarer's aren't is understanding. And we wouldn't want to encourage that.

It just seems a bit pyrrhic that we'd effectively have to destroy the competitions that created the teams in order for them to be involved. Still, perhaps it is the only way to move out of the past and start looking forward.

So long as it is understood that going down that path will pretty much put paid to the competitions in Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane. As you've noted, all the talent is already being concentrated by the very limited semi-professionalism going now. The further down that path we push the clubs, the more that will occur as any player that wants to play the next level up has to move to one of the select few. We are not respecting the traditions of those competitions by keeping them involved in this, we are destroying them. The other thing to bear in mind is that the composite teams from Perth and Melbourne will be the Super teams, with a couple of locals filling in for Wallabies. They are all contracted players, so if there is any way they can be kept together to train and play then they will be.

The aspect of this debate I find frustrating is that we are genuinely f'good at organizing domestic comps, but the structure currently in place doesn't leave room for much to happen. Oz sport is full, so no sub-elite comp will get much attention and coin support. The best outcome imo would be to aim the Syd, Bris and Canberra clubs at each other and let a top tier emerge. It won't happen though so I like the Super B idea, provided there is a way to make it aspirational. if it becomes the Hunting for a Contract Cup (even if your 30 years old), it will be worthwhile. It has to take be embraced as the stepping stone to Supe, otherwise it will die a sad death. To tie my opinion back to WCR's, I'll pay. I always expected them one day adding an extra few on my Waratahs ticket, but it doesn't have to be. Better to watch a game than a boy band.

" rubbish crowds and ratings"? ratings - they must get revenue from the broadcasters who think it is worthwhile Every ITM Cup premiership and Championship game is broadcast live by Sky UK, also Setanta (Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand) - often three in a row on Saturdays with (NZ time) 2.35, 4.35 and 7.35pm starts Sure NZRU don't sign away those broadcast rights for free? And as for rubbish crowds? Compared to . . . a Waratahs match? Many an ITM game will top 10,000, one involving the Ranfurly Shield 15,000+; season average about 8,000. Not bad considering they are played midweek much of the time in smaller cities. They're expecting over 15,000 on Sunday for Otago v Hawke's Bay at Dunedin, that's above their 2013 Super average of 13,300 Hope the competition is around a few years yet. Another benefit to ABs, ten of the current AB squad are back playing for their provinces from tomorrow, match-fitness.

Isn't that currently called 1st grade?

My problem is that I don't believe that the ARU could handle something like crowdfunding - they've stuffed up just normal rugby badly (virtually no FTA rugby coverage immediately after the RWC in 2003, selling rights to channel 9 who effectively sponsor league, not putting together a women's national team at all etc). To be honest, I sometimes wonder whether they aren't barracking for league themselves, with the way they've managed it.