A couple of weeks ago I penned an article regarding rugby in Australia and the crisis it is in. Since then I have talked about Super Rugby and the Wallabies. Now I would like to continue the conversation regarding the NRC and the next level down – the Shute Shield and similar competitions in other states.
» Shute Shield Fixtures“>Shute Shield Fixtures
I must confess that I have not watched the NRC but I did watch it last year and when it was the ARC so I am open to criticism regarding this fact.
Nevertheless the conversation should be had regarding this and other competitions within Australian Rugby. Prior to this it is valuable to look at where we want to be as a rugby tier one nation.
Cully’s article was the best I have read on this matter in that the All Blacks are in one universe and then there are five or six nations fighting out for two to seven – and should we be happy with being around two to five and occasionally being a clear No.2?
If this is the reality then how do we get to that position and indeed occasionally challenge the All Blacks deep into games and then maybe beat them? And this is why these competitions are important to get right.
At the moment Aus has 60 players that I found through minimal research playing overseas in four competitions. 14 are Shute Shield or the equivalent, 24 are current or former Super players and 22 are current or former Wallabies. They are playing in two competitions in France, one in Japan and one in the UK.
Looking at these competitions I would say that the closest to Super is the UK one and the others really are retirement funds. The relevance of this is to work out the players that we should be encouraging to play in the NRC.
Naturally, from a funding/salary point of view this will be tough so therefore once they are gone we may not get them back, however it is the 14 from the Shute Shield equivalents that I would like to know why they have gone, and has the ARU put enough effort into retaining them?
The NRC appears to be a very entertaining competition with high scores on both sides so is defence a priority or are the players fit enough?
Another issue is the timing of the competition with it going head to head with the finals of the NRL and the AFL. Maybe it should be on when the Super Rugby is on, which would give the academy and wider training squads from the franchises a chance to play.
I would like to also address an ongoing issue with the ARU regarding their advertising of the product. There was an NRC game to be played in Orange on Saturday, however, it has just been moved to Sydney due to the weather (I thought rugby was a wet weather game).
Over the last three nights on the local news there has been no story on the game. Last week was the final of the local competition – maybe the guys could have played the curtain raiser when there was around 2000 people there, which would have been a lot more than there would have been on Saturday.
Finally, ARU, there were many out here in regional NSW wanting to go to the game but when they learned kick off was 1pm, it became a no no. Rugby kicks off at 3pm out here.
With regards to the Shute Shield, naturally, this has been and will continue to be a very emotive subject as to the format and indeed viability of this and similar competitions.
I have indeed penned my views on these matters, nevertheless, the overriding issue is that there will be continuing funding problems unless the game as a whole does better.
Unfortunately, for all concerned with regards to these competitions I think it will be death by a thousand cuts so to speak. We have seen the erosion of information regarding programs, team lists in newspapers, scores on the ABC on the Saturday night news, the coverage shifted to a second channel and the list goes on.
Food for thought for the rugby community.
Abriachan
Guest
The sad thing about this NRC competition is that it is a thoroughly entertaining game but it receives next to no publicity in the national press. If the ARU wishes the competition to survive surely it should be making sure that the games recieve more exposure, both in advertising pre-match and in reporting post-match. Ian Brown's comment about Rugby being a "wet weather" game may be correct but the pitches in Orange last weekend were quagmires and unsuitable and unsafe for play.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
In 2014 this game was nationally viewed by 183k (FTA) & 120k (Foxtel). In 2016 this was 181k (FTA) & 134k (Foxtel).
concerned supporter
Guest
@TWAS, My thoughts are positive for Rugby if there is an increase of 5% from 2014.There is no other way to think. But are your TV viewing figures correct?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
When you considering Sydney is over half the FTA it's entirely conceivable that it would be half of the Foxtel ratings. So more likely around 164k watched the match in Sydney. What are your thoughts on the fact that viewers for this fixture has increase by 5% from 2014?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How can they be if they don't consider the Foxtel ratings? Since Foxtel doesn't provide them by city there's no way for him to determine the total audience. Of course you are inclined to think they are right. You regularly reject common sense.
concerned supporter
Guest
His email address is "dweidler@nine.com.au"
concerned supporter
Guest
@TWAS, You say You are aware that Weidler’s figures are incorrect right?" You tell him they are incorrect!I am inclined to think they are right.Remember they are TV ratings for Sydney. @PeterK D. Weidler was talking Sydney TV ratings not Perth.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The 97k is only FTA. Foxtel doesn't break their figures down by market. But considering that the 1st Englad test drew under 200k on FTA in Sydney, 97k for a lesser game on a run of bad form, up against AFL and NRL finals isn't unexpectedly bad. When the Wallabies are attractive that figure doubles of more, but on the back of a 1-5 record for the season, they are not attractive.
PeterK
Roar Guru
also since when was Perth the games' heartland?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You are aware that Weidler's figures are incorrect right? The match drew 181k total viewers on 10 and 134k on Fox. That's actually a 10% increase in the same fixture in 2014 (wasn't played last year) on Fox and a 1% decrease on 10. For total viewers it's a 12k increase from the last time the fixture was played.
concerned supporter
Guest
Sydney TV Ratings - Extract D Weidler - Sunday Sun - Herald "THIRD RATE GAME Rugby really battling for TV ratings. Last Saturday night in Sydney when the three oval-ball codes went head-to-head,league dominated with 431,000 viewers across payTV and free-to-air.The AFL clash between the Swans and Crows was next with 156,000. the Wallabies Test against Argentina drew a paktry 97,000 viewers. That's a new low point for our national team in the city that's supposed to be the game's heartland." Is there anyone on the board of the ARU who has any business acumen or vision?Are they all there for their "profile".
mtiger
Guest
Yeah, the private school is there for its own good, and if it also means some national representative athletes including in the NZ rugby religion, so be it. You can tell Oz private schools what to do. You are helping them make champions. Total alignment in objective!!!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don't claim to be an expert. But I know exactly who's playing and who's coming from those systems thanks to the information published. Your whole argument for the SS is "oh you wouldn't know from the outside". Hardly compelling.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
TWAS was referring to your question on whether I have been to any of the grounds you listed about. Inferring that he must have been drinking was completely unnecessary and does your argument any good.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Yes, I've even played at all of them. Also, been to a few NRC games. Not a lot of difference.
concerned supporter
Guest
@TWAS, You say "Anyway, there’s a thing called the Internet. I can see all games scheduled, all teams listed and now with rugbylink I can see every single player that played every single game." With the thing called the Internet you can see all games scheduled ' team lists etc etc of rugby competitions in Romania or maybe also Outer Mongolia. Does that make you an expert in rugby competitions played in those countries?
concerned supporter
Guest
@TWAS,You say "And? How relevant is the age of clubs? Some weren’t in the top div over 20 years ago. How many players have only ever represented a Shute shield club? I doubt there would be many as you don’t play competition games for a Shute shield club until colts. And I’d say WCR has considering he played for a Shute shield club." Have you been drinking? Your post is unintelligible.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
As for my expertise on SS colts. Why does one need to be in Sydney to know anything about it? That's been part of the SS's defence for years. "You wouldn't know what we do from the outside". I'd say that if you can't demonstrate your value to people outside the system, there's a good chance it may not exist. Anyway, there's a thing called the Internet. I can see all games scheduled, all teams listed and now with rugbylink I can see every single player that played every single game.
concerned supporter
Guest
@TWAS, You said "And it only considered the Sydney metro viewers. Which is the only market that views the Shute Shield " That is incorrect, mates of mine ,ex SS players who now live on the Gold Coast pick the Saturdays game up on Northern Rivers TV.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
And? How relevant is the age of clubs? Some weren't in the top div over 20 years ago. How many players have only ever represented a Shute shield club? I doubt there would be many as you don't play competition games for a Shute shield club until colts. And I'd say WCR has considering he played for a Shute shield club.