National Rugby Championship draw announced

Agreed As someone who rarely misses a Randwick home game I don't see anything in this competition to me. The northern suburbs and western Sydney teams make sense, but how do you not have a team representing the eastern suburbs of Sydney? Crazy. Would love to know how much someone was paid to come up with "Sydney Spirit", "Melbourne Rising", etc. I'm inclined to believe that this will fail for the same reason as the ARC: fake clubs with no history playing with experimental rules that no one understands, but hey Sheek could be right, it's so ridiculous that it just might work. Then again I'm just a bitter Randwick supporter that would rather watch them play rather than Super Rugby or the Wallabies these days. BTW as someone that lived in Adelaide for about three years until late last year there is decent amount of rugby played and watched there. The Western Force send a side over to play an SA combined team during the Super Rugby break two years ago and I seem to recall 2-3000 people turning up for something put together at short notice.

Brett, "That absurdity [BBL] is worth $20M a year just in TV rights." This comment has been rolling around in my head for the past two days. It does bother me mightily that such an obscenely dysfunctional competition could be structured that makes a bucket of money, with not the slightest homage or respect to history, tradition or tribalism. It's the most rank, dank example of "build it & they will come" I've ever witnessed. I think it says more about the pithy shallowness of our society that the BBL is so financially successful. And I'm not even thinking about the type of cricket played!

Bakkies, I know about feeder clubs. This is not the same. You want to build a sustainable comp with deep roots into the community? This is not the way to do it. If the sporting public at large doesn't buy into these teams, then the reason for the existence of the NRC will become meaningless. But of course, there's always the example of the BBL.

The point of Queensland Country is that their players aren't from Brisbane.

'You don’t see a NSW Country-Rabbitohs-Roosters team in the NRL, which is basically the same concept as the Eagles. Or University of Ballarat Roosters in the AFL, which is basically the same concept as UC Vikings.'' No but certain AFL teams have feeder clubs in the country like Bendigo Bombers that compete in the VFL comp which is the old VFA.

No Randwick or Eastern Suburbs representation, yet games at Coogee, what a joke, who do you think is going to turn up to that one. Disappointing

Yeah, and it would be good the only national comp (other than surfing) up the coast. Hopefully they will go there next season.

Don't worry Phil, I've built the bridge, crossed over it & descended into the next valley. And it's liberating. I was merely responding to James & Brett's queries. I no longer have any emotional baggage regarding Australian rugby, except perhaps some sadness. I just say what I think & I'm no longer bothered if people don't agree with me.

Brett, You don't see a NSW Country-Rabbitohs-Roosters team in the NRL, which is basically the same concept as the Eagles. Or University of Ballarat Roosters in the AFL, which is basically the same concept as UC Vikings. Yeah, I am quibbling about team names, nicknames, colour schemes, & I think with good reason. But I also keep bringing up the BBL. I guess you can put any crap out there these days. And as long as TV grabs it, then its okay.

Sheek, they are only names. Build a bridge and get over it.

James/Brett, Vikings wasn't right in 2007, & still isn't right in 2014. How their monopoly will play out in Canberra (re NRC & Dent Cup) remains to be seen. At least Brisbane & Qld Country have avoided names like Tornadoes & Aces. Rays, Rams & Spirit are the only nicknames lifted from 2007 (apart from Vikings). North Harbour is geographically more correct than Central Coast, but Greater Sydney is a backwards step on Western Sydney. I'm not sold on either Sydney Stars nor Melbourne Rising, while NSW Country is a complete miss-mash of conceptualisation. So really, the NRC of 2014 is barely 50% like the ARC of 2007 in terms of conception. Of course, this is purely my opinion. And at the end of the day, what do I know? But I would have thought that if wanting to develop a national comp with deep roots into the community, you would come up with something better than this. The BBL is making a stack of money, & I guess that's all that matters. If the NRC makes a stack of money, who cares if it conceptually flawed.

Its happening more and more again for NSWRL teams. Raiders have been involved in three or four 3-grade days with NYC, NSW Cup and then NRL. It certainly makes it a better value proposition

Thanks! Wondering when the website will be launched

Brisbane and Sydney

Luke, Randwick brought it upon themselves by wanting to run a stand alone NRC team where they don't even have a competitive Shute Shield team. Early days but the SS clubs comprising the Rays seem to have taken a sensible approach.

They've gone ahead and made it hard for Randwick supporters... After spending a lot of high school rugby getting brutalised by big country boys, I was having a hard time with the idea of supporting NSW Country. And Sydney Stars and North Habour Rays are definitely not options because of their hated feeder clubs. I was actually thinking of supporting Greater Sydney Rams, but they are playing at Coogee Oval against the "home" team, NSW Country..hmmmmm

NSW Country are training at Coogee as most of the Country players they will pick from are now based in the city.

Ha, got that :D

Thanks to the ARU for brining rugby back to the bush can't wait for the eagles home game in orange