The Australian Rugby Union has announced where members of the Wallabies squad will be playing for the 2014 season of the National Rugby Championship (NRC).
In general, players have been allocated according to the premier grade club they play for and the club’s affiliations to the NRC franchise.
There are, however, a few notable exceptions to this.
Kurtley Beale has been allocated to the Greater Sydney Rams, for example, despite being a Randwick associated player. Had that affiliation been honoured, Beale would be playing for the NSW Country Eagles.
Beale played for the Rams franchise in the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007, so there is history between Beale and the team.
The Rams have benefitted greatly from the allocations, getting backline stars Beale, Rob Horne and Tevita Kuridrani, as well as front rowers Tatafu Polota-Nau and Ben Alexander.
By comparison, the Brisbane City, Melbourne Rising and Queensland Country sides only have two players from the national squad.
The alignments will be supplemented by players from the Super Rugby squads, however, and full squads have not yet been released.
Brumbies players have largely been divided among the Canberra Vikings and various New South Wales-based franchises
Israel Folau has been allocated to the Sydney Stars, alongside Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps and Will Skelton.
Andrew Fagan, the ARU’s General Manager of National Teams & Rugby Operations, says that the connection between the fans and the players was imperative in determining who played for which franchise.
“Rugby fans naturally have a strong connection to their national representatives, so it’s important for them to know which players are affiliated with their chosen NRC teams,” Mr Fagan said.
“The alignment of current Test players to the Buildcorp NRC is significant for the promotion of individual teams and the competition, while the potential still exists for players to train or play with their affiliated NRC team when they are not on international duty.
“Feedback we’ve received about the Buildcorp NRC from our Test representatives has been really positive.
“They are looking forward to being ambassadors for the competition and helping to shape and influence the culture of their respective NRC teams.”
Full list of Wallaby-NRC player alignments:
Brisbane City
· Will Genia
· James Horwill
Greater Sydney Rams
· Kurtley Beale
· Ben Alexander
· Rob Horne
· Tatafu Polota-Nau
· Tevita Kuridrani
Melbourne Rising
· Scott Higginbotham
· Luke Jones
North Harbour Rays
· Scott Fardy
· Michael Hooper
· Wycliff Palu
· Pek Cowan
NSW Country Eagles
· Adam Ashley-Cooper
· Sekope Kepu
· Matt Toomua
· Nic White
Queensland Country
· Rob Simmons
· James Slipper
Perth Spirit
· Nathan Charles
· Matt Hodgson
– Ben McCalman
Sydney Stars
· Israel Folau
· Bernard Foley
· Nick Phipps
· Will Skelton
University of Canberra Vikings
· Sam Carter
· Christian Leali’ifano
· Pat McCabe
· Scott Sio
Fred DY
Guest
I think the ARU should add some more current playing, ex-Wallabies, high profile S15 & ex-S15 players as recognisable figureheads for advertising, promotions or each team. Just get them out there. There has been so little info. coming out on the NRC. Use these players to show partially interested Rugby followers, interested NRL followers & whoever that it's not a game of unknowns, newbies etc. This NRC comp needs as much exposure as possible to get it going. Start promoting as soon as the player allocations are made. Get it out in the open, I know I have!
In Brief
Guest
The ELVs had the opposite effect though, so who knows? Under the ELVs in which penalties were limited to foul play and off side, scrums became an even more important attacking weapon. This was partly because a short arm penalty could be taken as a scrum (or tap) and partly because the defending team was forced to stand 5 metres back from the last feet at scrum time.
In Brief
Guest
The ELVs had the opposite effect though, so who knows? Under the ELVs in which there penalties were limited to foul play and off side, scrums became an even more important attacking weapon. This was partly because a short arm penalty could be taken as a scrum (or tap) and partly because the defending team was forced to stand 5 metres back from the last feet at scrum time.
Liam Ovenden
Roar Pro
Brisbane City ripped off on these allocations.
Bakkies
Guest
I see that to BB.
Bakkies
Guest
Just like Leali'ifano has opted out of going down to Melbourne.
bryan
Guest
I suspect enough reds will be playing for the 2 QLD teams, while there are 4 NSW teams to fill. Also, I suspect a number of those players now have families in NSW/Canberra, and actually asked to play there.
Brett McKay
Expert
I'm not sure where Paddy Ryan might end up James. He wasn't allocated, though was brought into the Wallabies squad. Plays for Uni, so Stars makes sense, but then he's from Tamworth, too...
jameswm
Guest
I think by Wallaby they mean those in the latest 30-man squad. Quade was injured. Same applies to Pocock, Moore etc.
jameswm
Guest
Toomua played most of his club rugby for Easts in Sydney I believe.
jameswm
Guest
Yep - about 25-27 + EOYT. Still below NH players I believe.
jameswm
Guest
Yep I remember reading that now Brett. So STars not missing too many of them. Flau and probably Skelton, though Willy is in a 4-way fight for 3 spots, with the Qld locks and Carter.
AndyS
Guest
Indeed Boomer, a lot of players not in that list that will advantage their teams. Not seeing too many of the Reds players with Wallaby caps in that list, freeing them up to play locally.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Fair call, cole. My question was more in relation to players' lifestyle etc. I mean for the dads/hubbies out there, I guess they would rather play for one of the local teams (or THE local team when it comes to perth, Melbourne and Canberra guys) than the town where they grew up. In any case I think a discussion between the player and the aru is a minimum.
Brett McKay
Expert
It's THE June squad, less Moore and Cummins...
Boomeranga
Guest
It's pretty close to the June squad Andy. They might have just gone with that list. Would explain no Cooper or Pocock when both would be amongst the higher profile and paid.
Boomeranga
Guest
And Sio for Kuridrani (although i might be getting the Sio's connection to West Harbour mixed up with the Aalatoa boys)
AndyS
Guest
If that is a full list of the Wallabies, does that mean anyone not on that list is no longer on a top-up? Seems to me there were a number of new names on that list that now count for a lot, and a whole bunch of old names not there who presumably don't count in the allocation at all now.
Bakkies
Guest
Swap Carter with Toomua for NSW Country that makes more sense.
Brett McKay
Expert
I mentioned him in the second of the three parts, actually: "Pat McCutcheon, as much as he wanted to play for Country, has elected to remain with his club and turn out for the Sydney Stars."