What rugby competition would you like to watch?

Just call it The Farce. Would be more accurate as it was never a contest

Another SR format I would watch would also involve going back to the start of S12. As in, in retrospect we probably pushed for the wrong kind of expansion when S12 moved to S14. Instead of more teams we should have pushed for an extended schedule and below that looked to implement academy systems in both Perth and Melbourne that would then compete in either one of the 2 primary club competitions. Or even split between both. We should have pushed for a full double round robin S12 which would have had our teams playing 22 games a season. Hosting 11 of them and playing 18 of those 22 in viewer friendly time zone. We'd have at present 33 games played in Australia. Which doesn't sound great but considering we only had 32 played here this season and under the new proposed schedule with the axing of the Sunwolves we'll only have 26. I know some may complain about footprint but surely it would be better to have 3 teams all performing well and average 90-100k a match than 4/5 averaging 60-65k. Now, we could look to do this now but it would require some reworking. First. We'd have to cut a 2nd team to bring our numbers down to 3. Then we'd have to get SA on board by supporting one of the 3 SR franchises from the Republic that have openly stated they would be happy to move north to bring their numbers to 3 plus the Jaguares. NZ can keep their 5. This would bring the numbers to 12. Then implement the double round robin with a 6 team finals series. From our perspective. As part of cutting the 2nd team we could also work with GRR to remove the barriers to entry for a 2nd Aus team in that competition alongside signing an MOU to essentially farm out a number of out best emerging youngsters not already regulars in a SR squad to either the Force or the 2nd Aus team alongside returning Aus eligible players. This would provide these young guys with a higher level of competition than club footy and continued exposure to professional systems. It could also be expanded to the likes of HK and Singapore in a more limited extent as a means of retention if necessary. We could then do as was done last year at Leichardt Oval and run a SR vs GRR game for Wallaby selection. Depending on where the 2nd GRR team is based if the cut SR team isn't in that location then an extension of the academy system for U18s/Schools could be set up and have them play in say the Shute Shield in place of the currently vacant 12th spot. As a means of keeping the pathway open.

I'm not sure I have a solution, but here are a few points in no particular order: * Successful comps of any sport are the ones that sustain a season. I'm sure someone can think of an exception to that, but consider the EPL, or the NRL, the AFL, the NBA ... each is a season long competition of the same clubs/teams/franchises. * Jumping from SR to club to Int window back to club then to NRC destroys any sort of connectivity to the season. It's the first week in July and we're 2 days from the end of the season for SR. There's still 3 months of rugby season left! I've been going to TG Milner to watch the Woods play in club footy, and I feel like I can support club (and junior club and junior reps) rugby as well as SR. But it starts turning to a mush once the relatively meaningless NRC teams kick off again. One starts to lose any kind of tribalism if there isn't ONE TEAM to support season long. * The Shute Shield clubs will white-ant any attempt to reduce their status to the equivalent of the top div of subbies. I'm not sure why this is still a problem. The notion that Sydney and Brisbane clubs are the sole source of world beating Wallabies might have been valid in 1991, but for heaven's sake it's 2019. The world has changed. We don't wander down to Coogee Oval or Chatswood on any random Saturday, entry fee $5 and a pie and a beer to watch a paddock full of current Wallabies play any more. * If a season long national club competition becomes the way forward then 'hooray', let's all get behind that. But I doubt it will. There isn't sufficient money from probable broadcast rights to make such a comp fully professional - so which clubs miss out? Which clubs become the 'also rans' and go back to Div 1 subbies? * Made up teams with lurid bizarre jerseys and meaningless nicknames just won't cut it. We've seen what a problem it's been for almost a quarter of a century to get people who aren't 'rusted on' to figure out who the Stormers or the Sharks are. I'm still not sure who the 'Rays' are or were after a life of following and playing rugby and being a club committee member. As I said, no specific 'fix' here but some random thoughts. I think in essence what it means is having one competition for the entire length of the season with the best players. Meaningful teams with either a history or a for new clubs / teams a valid reason for existing. Plain jerseys, nicknames that grow organically from club / team supporters.

R9, Mate my information maybe jaded and opinions are simply that. I agree that bums on seats in stadiums are a definite concern in all participating SR nations. To create excitement the franchiser needs to be competitive and that’s basically our issue. The skill level in all our SR teams appear to be stagnating and as reiterated before, cable coverage internationally of SR has a large following. But, it’s NZ rugby that appears to attract worldwide interest. According to a rugby panel show I watched when last in NZ. Team interplay, abilities and skill level make their brand of rugby exciting. All involved rugby nations now understand the standard they need to emulate, to be competitive. We are setting no standard whatsoever. The NZ board work hard trying to remain relevant, the AB’s are the most successful franchisers on the planet I’m told and recognized in most countries around the worlds. The debate is not about players, it’s about finance, TV coverage and sponsorship. Would a local country wide competition be sustainable, would the cream of our players be interested in participating in a lower grade of rugby. Within a crowded market generating adequate support would be difficult. Then accordingly; we arrange a couple of conference teams who would probably be hammered by the Kiwis. Because, their game is evolving and we are languishing through the lack of innovation. To be competitive we must be relevant which requires playing the best teams whenever possible.

You'll end up with the ERCC or CC...more or less the same teams qualifying every year because they get all the players and extra money, so it just devolves to SR again and the underlying competitions made into a joke.

Worth a thought. Thanks for the article.

Depending on the game. But generally pretty close to double.

Sam...a lot of that makes good sense.

But I am a super fan of Super Rugby. It’s so global! I am a globalist! Bring back the Moondogs!

Thanks, CC! Good topic. I think fans need/crave “best v best,” extreme and “ancient” rivalries, and being part of something that everyone is talking about. SR has lost 100+ of its best players. Maybe more. The rivalries are mostly derby-related; until we get to tests. And marketing sucks. The solution probably comes with a power play.

‘Rugby is a business and the only time I have witnessed increased patronage is when we play quality offer-shore teams.’ Puff, since rugby turned professional and the inception of SANZAR- when have we not had access to regular competition again quality off-shore opposition? Given the status quo where our teams play 8 games against teams from NZ and SA/Arg, the only time I have witnessed patronage effectively drop off the edge of a cliff is when we play quality off-shore teams.

I think the National Rugby Championship should be perservered with but cap the number of SR players. Keep the end of season tour of NZ by the NRC Rep 15, it should also be a regular fixture. I also think we need national domestic 7s comp from each state union but have NSW represented by a Subbies team, not Shute Shield players for parity with the other state unions, and similar in QLD. Have a leg of the tournament at each state capital with the final to coincide with the Australian leg of the World Sevens. Leave Shute Shield and QLD premier grade to do their thing and play off for a national club championship. If Foxtel ditch the sport as rumoured, pitch the NRC as content for Kayo or BeIN sport. 7two already televise Shute Shield, so there are options. The game isn't dead people, it just needs some creativity, courage and leadership. ( and no, thats not sarcasm)

Rebels v Tahs is the Weary Dunlop Shield.

not sure the engraver would hold it long enough to carve the letters!

Out of curiosity, do the derbies rate double those with just one Australian team? With four teams, the choice would seem to be two derbies and two matches without any Australian team, or four matches involving one Australian team. Which would collectively rate higher across the four matches?

So, I with a few others track SR ratings over on Green and Gold Rugby. And I'm sorry to burst your bubble but the numbers actually suggest from an Australian perspective the games involving Australian teams in Australia actually rate higher than well every other game not involving Aus teams or Aus teams in NZ and certainly in SA. In fact, and again this is backed by knowing the numbers. Our derbies are our highest rating games. With the 1st Tahs/Reds game bringing in the highest regular season ratings of 128k. In fact it is those games featuring Aus teams playing in NZ and most notably SA and Argentina that significantly impact the overall average. A competition featuring time zone friendly games and Australian teams would using the number siggest a sizeable jump in the average. Chuckle all you want. But the numbers don't lie.

Theoretically depth would build over time. But it’s highly likely Aus rugby would go broke before it’s realised.