Who's the next big thing in the NRC?

hog You offer nothing new in your arguments against the ARU - it is like an LP record on repeat, at every opportunity you see that opens for you to challenge, the status of professional rugby in Australia. Yes the ARU signed up to Sanzar (not SR) but they had no choice if they wanted to be a part of the overwhelming changes, that hit every rugby nation in 1995 (i.e. the advent of professional rugby) and yet, you sound like you are blaming the ARU for doing that. I doubt if most supporters are looking for excuses about the current status of professional rugby but I do agree, there are waves of discontent about the direction, of SH pro-rugby. However, for a fledgling operation (and Sanzar is a fledgling pro-operation when compared to the other 3 codes) it is doing its best. Could it do better - perhaps, but its present MO is to provide an ever increasing payment, to its shareholders. The NRC is a start albeit, a competition to foster the depth of players for the SR teams as you say. In that respect, it is becoming a similar tier to what has occurred in NZ with the ITM competition. And, I admit, the game attendances to ITM matches, leaves a lot to be desired. But, as there are true supporters in NZ for the ITM, then we can only appeal to similar supporters in Australia, because without that support, then I'm afraid both competitions will probably, bite the dust. But if there is a single major difference between our two grassroots systems, for me it is the total integration of the sport throughout the education system in NZ. It is a shame that Oz rugby can be delineated or segregated (I hate that word) along the lines of public and private schools, as you describe. I suggest that rugby in Oz is a distant cousin to league in NZ. However, league is increasing its presence in the NZ education system so I don't know why, union cannot make similar inroads into Oz's public education system. And, I don't think that is a specific duty for the ARU either.....IMO, it is up to the parent boards, school boards etc to decide that action, so once again, it is up to the general public to decide and not the ARU. You certainly have a major disagreement with how rugby union is established, administered and projected in Australia but your arguments to improve these positions, are IMO, biased in their direction. If it is the responsibility of the ARU to promote union to its grassroots support as you suggest, then we must assume that it is the responsibility of the grassroots support, to respond accordingly. That support can start with game attendances to the current competition matches being RC, SR and NRC. And yet, you say the sport has failed to become inclusive but could it actually be so simple to suggest that the administration has failed or rather, that the supporters themselves, have failed. IMO, there has to be a shared responsibility to this current demise that you suggest because if not, I will repeat what I said earlier - rugby union was never going to be and will never be a nationally recognised sport, supported by its fans, in Australia. Anyway thanks hog, for letting me respond to your concerns you have for rugby union in Australia - I have no doubts that you are a committed supporter....a disgruntled one......but a passionate one all the same. Perhaps one day, changes may arise that will be cause to see some improvements, in the sport's administration and popularity, within Australia. As a kiwi supporter, I can only hope so hog because I really wouldn't want to consider, the alternative.

it is the ARU that happily signed up for Super rugby from day one knowing full well the consequences. they did it because it was the easy option. Everything changed, but nothing really changed. Whatever position the code finds itself here now is because of the decisions it made, it is our decision to play overseas domestic games, we then make excuses. ? The ARU can't support grassroots, but it is there job to create the interest in the game that fosters the growth of grassroots. The NRC is an 8 week development competition designed to strengthen the 5 Super rugby squads, it will not gain Australian rugby market share. Super rugby is the only competition that will further the popularity of the code here, but that will never happen with the way the competition is structured. That fact is now blatantly obvious. Rugby in this country was essentially until professional a private school upper class sport. The biggest downfall of Super rugby was it allowed the ARU and certain vested interest to remain exactly that. The sport has failed to become more inclusive, why? because pay TV money meant that nothing had to change. The code never grew because it didn't have to. Want your kid to play rugby, well enroll them in a private school. In 2015 that's still the answer 99% of people will give you here.

hog Thank goodness you recognise the differences between what the ARU is trying to do and what the other codes are doing....if you expose the other codes to the same consequences that the ARU have to follow (i.e. overseas SR & RC games on a weekly basis) then hopefully, you will understand the difficulties that faces the ARU, when trying to compete, against those codes. Hence my reasoning to not compare those competitions with the competitions facing the ARU. There is no comparison. It isn't as easy as you may believe to require the ARU to support grassroots rugby - domestic or otherwise. At the moment, there is the RC, SR and NRC competitions. I accept, the SR and RC have been operating since 1996. I also accept the argument as to why has it, taken so long for the ARU, to get a national competition operating in Oz Rugby land. However, surely you can accept that finally, a national domestic competition has started and what is needed right now, is the absolute support from all and sundry Oz supporters, to give it a kick start, at least. If the Oz supporter doesn't do this, then I'm afraid your arguments that it is the ARU's fault for not fostering a national competition or growing the grass-roots base, will be without conviction and simply an opportunity, to pass the buck, to hide the obvious - that rugby union was never going to be and will never be a nationally recognised sport, supported by its fans, in Australia. And I concur - I hope for an excellent match this weekend so, good luck to your side too.

Don't compare other codes because its apples & oranges, i give up, who do you think rugby's competing with here. its not just the All Blacks mate. Anyway good luck on Saturday night should be a good game. :-)

hog So you're saying the NRC competition is not domesticated enough to represent an improvement for grassroots rugby. So what do you consider is an acceptable scenario for the ARU to build that will in your opinion, improve grassroots rugby and please, don't keep quoting the other code competitions because in simple analogy, they are oranges to the NRC/SR apple. There is no comparison, when those three codes do not play against teams, from other nations, on a regular weekly basis - where those codes base their competitions, on suburban club sides and the SR has chosen state based operations filtering down to city based sides spread throughout the country. It seems this set-up is inadequate, insufficient and inconsistent to meet your grassroots growth philosophy. Forgive my ignorance but it seems to me that you simply want a return to suburban clubs playing against each other and that you consider the ARU, has an obligation to support this position.....fair enough then but just a quick query - how many teams do you envisage per state (that is if all states are invited), how many players per team etc etc or do you think the current NRC sides will or will not, fit the bill?? Mind you, I presume this is all being done without the ARU and its current SR and national teams not participating in the SR and RC series to maintain like for like competitions, between all codes. Meantime, all other men & women national sides will probably have to cease playing because funding, is being diverted to a new suburban club competition. Good luck if that is your idea, to improve Oz grassroots rugby.

Old Bugger, When we ask for more grassroots support we are asking the ARU to pursue a more domestic based set up, uno like the other 3 codes AFL/NRL/ A league. We've had 20 years of Super rugby and it has been nothing short of a disaster here, but no doubt you will dis agree with that. Yes the people that play the game and support the game are the ones that will grow the grassroots. The problem is that we don't have enough of those over here. And sooner or later if the code ever wants to become more popular in Australia it will have to ask the question why that is not happening. Anyway no doubt a few Wallaby wins and everything will be rosy again

hog Do you think that NZRU's financial assistance goes down to the grassroots?? Here's a secret - it doesn't. Primary schools and junior rugby don't receive any assistance - parents pay for their children to play the game. High school 1st XV rugby doesn't get support for each school - that would be impractical. They do get sponsored competitions but the raw cost, is up to the schools and the players parents. Club rugby players have to pay their own registrations and some clubs struggle to cover insurance costs without some community support. The provincial unions get assistance with paying the wage bill but all other costs are up to each union to cover. They do this by trying to increase supporter ranks and game attendances. Where the money is provided is in the SR competition, 7s men & women team, ABs, B-Ferns (women), Jnr ABs and MABs. All grades that are national reps. So what are you talking about if you're seeking grass-roots support from the ARU - it is impractical and a pipe-dream. They have men & women 15s and 7s teams; they have SR teams, they have Jnr WBs these are all national sides. Only the supporters both strong and fickle, the young players and their parents, the schools, the clubs and the state unions can grow the game in Oz-Land because you and RobC are dreaming, if you think your national union alone, will grow the grassroots rugby communities. The people who play the game, who watch the game - these are the folks that will grow the grassroots - certainly not the national body, so why insist that they should??

I should make my it clear that my last post was addressed to Magic Sponge.

im with you hog! as youre aware http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/05/04/aru-needs-focus-grassroots-rugby/

had a quick check around. Cant tell. EG... has your WA mates updated you re DHP?

Does it really work, you point to a 4 year period with a home world cup and the honeymoon period of professionalism to support your argument and Australia was winning. The ARU have only ever concentrated there funding into the Wallabies and Super rugby so whats happened in the last 15 years then. Those fickle supporters, well maybe that's the price you pay for a top down approach, why not try to grow the grassroots, hell you never know they may hang around a bit longer. The whole approach relies on the Wallabies and Super teams constantly winning. Sorry but IMHO that approach is the exact reason why the code finds itself it where it is now.

Back under your bridge with you. You intolerable little troll.

Yeah, great competition in the second row next year. Should bring the best out of all of them. Brumbies are certainly well covered at 10, but that can change quickly. 10 is also a position that requires succession planning, probably at least 3 years in advance. Just look at the shambles the reds have become. Tighthead also requires succession planning, so I hope Ruan is coming back after his stint in Japan. Game time is what props need most to develop so I hope we see more of this from bench props in the future. Also I rate Longbottom and if the Force don't value him I would try bring him to Canberra. Though that horse has bolted... Would have liked to see another Sio in the team, but they're obviously staying loyal to Vaea and Butler and you can't fault them for that. Also rate Vaea and Butler highly.

They've bought a very good th from the blues, who has an Aussie parent.

hog The simple answer is it works, when Aus rugby is winning i.e. 1999-2003 was a golden period for Aus SR sides and the WBs. IMO, it is why the ARU is concentrating its funding on the SR and WB teams - to get these teams back onto a winning path. Hopefully, this success will attract the supporters again. Sadly, it is the fickle supporter who leaves the game, when that success goes south instead of showing some back-bone and continuing to support when, times are tough.

Apart from the usual suspect there's also Nehe Milner-Skudder (Canes), Ryan Tongia (Landers) and Nani Laumape (Canes) for starters.

I dismiss it as revenue because it's not that they actually got that much. They got $800M and then the broadcaster set aside an amount, rated it at sell price not costs price, then it was considered the value. The advertising is from the people that broadcast the code already. There's a very good chance they would have done that anyway, because it's in the broadcaster's interest. My point was more so that the advertising figure was included to bump up the value for the NRL to crow about, which has them now talking about a $1.7M deal next time around. Channel 9 and Foxtel could have just nominated the cost for their normal NRL marketing as $40M per year total and included that figure. That would enable a $200M increase in the perceived value without the NRL getting anything for it. Considering the AFL, Australia's premier game and a truly national game jumped around 20% from one deal to the next I think $1.7B is a pipedream, unless they are planning to include $700M worth of free advertising in the deal.

Not sure Aus should follow the ITM Currie short format, as Rugby dominates NZ and SA winter sports Aus Rugby needs more nationwide content. The sooner NRC runs concurrently to SR + a few rounds more the better: - That means we get 4 Aus SR games a week, plus at least 4 NRC games. - Total at least 8 a week. - The downside is there's less incentive for Aus viewers to watch NZ SA Arg Japanese games - This means more content for Aus fans and more opportunities for Aus players. And coaches Also, has anyone seen the Varsity cup presenters? Not exactly the John Eales type. But... very presentable.

Thanks Bob. Good topic. Props: Pett Thor Alaalatoa Kite Sef Heiberg. Anae is back! Hooker: Ready. Is Poreki still in Aus? Lock: Lousi Coleman Rory . Anyone seen Richard Arnold? Flokanker: Holloway. Maybe Korczyk/ Is Cam Treloar playing? Backrow: Lolo Gray PaulieTuala Koteka Browning. Gill and Butler (both still only 23yo) Halves: Ayoub JackDeb and his boot, Stirzy, Frisby (still only 22) Louwrens Green. Paia'aua? Backs: KEREVI! DHPetty CFS Magnay Kellaway Jones Sefa K Placid Toua JJT