Rugby Australia has today sensationally confirmed media speculation that a new national club competition was potentially in the works as the sport’s governing body works on the next domestic broadcast deal.
The news comes less than a month after Fox Sports reportedly walked away from negotiations over the next broadcast period, although RA CEO Raelene Castle today said she was confident Foxtel would return to the table during the tender process.
News Corp papers put out an explosive report last night that claimed the National Rugby Championship would be scrapped after this season, with a merged Shute Shield and Queensland Premier Rugby competition – with promotion and relegation – to replace it when the new deal kicks in next year. Teams in Canberra and Victoria would potentially also be included in this new competition, as would the recently-dumped Penrith Emus.
Incredibly, the statement from RA released this afternoon appears to confirm this report.
The full statement reads as follows;
Rugby Australia is set to begin its market process for the 2021-2025 media rights in the coming days.
It has been reported in media today that a new national club competition could form part of the ‘whole of Rugby’ package of rights to be presented to broadcasters.
Rugby Australia wishes to confirm that it has investigated the establishment of a national club competition ahead of its media rights negotiations, however the final competition format will not be determined until further consultation with the successful broadcaster, the State and Territory member unions, and the clubs.
The National Rugby Championship (NRC) will continue in its current format in 2020 and continues to be part of the discussion for 2021 and beyond.
In any case, Castle remains confident a TV deal will be struck and that Fox will reopen negotiations soon.
“We went through a negotiating process with them (Fox Sports) through their exclusive negotiating period,” Castle told AAP.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t get to a place we were both comfortable with. So now we’re in tender and we would expect that as a market process they would step into that process.”
“This is a decision that is about generating the most financially beneficial outcome we can for the game.”
piru
Roar Rookie
The only people interested in it are those that live in Sydney. Yep And unfortunately they are making the decisions for all of us
jeznez
Roar Guru
Very wise Tom.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I try not to … I’m not that into nostalgia
jeznez
Roar Guru
Not if you read David Lord, Spiro etc! :silly:
AndyS
Guest
Sensible is in the eye of the beholder, but there has certainly been plenty of arguments on either side. I literally mean no-one has ever even tried to mount an argument as to how SU stacking up all the players and using it to dominate the comp is somehow a good thing for the Shute Shield.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I’ve yet to hear one sensible argument for the existence of the NRC as it is either mate. Building something from something is always an easier route to success than starting from scratch with nothing. The NRC tried to do just that
AndyS
Guest
Many people have commented specifically on it. I've yet to hear one present an argument as to how it is actually a good thing for the Shute Shield. Writing it large isn't going to improve it as a principle.
ScottD
Roar Guru
No mate, I simply can't see why they choose not to engage with the NSWRU and RA and discuss how they can be involved in NRC.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I must confess I played in a team once that was disbanded because too many players were in jail and couldn't turn up to games :)
Micko
Roar Rookie
They have no reason to care for NRC, and lecturing them in a patronising way isn't going to win these people over...ever!
Micko
Roar Rookie
No Scott they never did. They were shut out from the start. And you people can't understand why they're frustrated, angry, and turning their back on RA, SR etc. :shocked:
ols
Roar Pro
You should have seen some of the guys I coached for years in WA. More reform school than private school.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Randwick? You mean a team that’s been nowhere near a grand final in Sydney for eons? If you were to look at Shute Shield in this last decade you’ll find Uni, Eastwood, Warringah, Manly, Norths, East’s have been consistently strong. The days of the ‘Galloping Greens’ are a feint memory
Tom G
Roar Rookie
At least a national comp based upon real teams that have an existing following makes a lot more sense than the NRC which has not captured anyone’s imagination. My only criticism is that it is precisely what should’ve happened from the outset. Time has been wasted. As for the concentration of talent and money if this occurs argument? Hasn’t anyone been following how Sydney Uni operate in the Shute Shield?
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Moot point as the most successful winter code has 2 teams from Perth.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Cambridge RUFC isn’t Cambridge University. The University as a “club” but it’s equivalent to Kings College at UQ that has a “club” but doesn’t compete in any competition.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Cambridge and Oxford have rugby clubs. Cambridge’s was founded in 1872. I guess you mean they don’t compete in the Premiership competition.
sheek
Roar Guru
AndyS, The CC is just a small part of my overall structure suggestion. And if the intention of all provinces was to make the CC the holy grail, & players gravitated to the stronger provinces, then that would have too addressed. Historically, Canterbury & Auckland would dominate NPC; WP & NT would dominate Currie Cup; NSW & Qld would dominate APC & Buenos Aires & Tucuman would dominate Campeonato Argentines. But fortunately, there is enough evidence that the other provinces would also enjoy their time in the sun as well. I want to reduce the dominance of SR, so the domestic comps can regain their pre-eminence. I would suspect 8 teams in each premier (1st division) domestic comp to be the ideal number. But in saying that, it would be up to each country to determine their own limit. NZ could argue its 1st division can have 12-14 provinces. But they might have to bite the bullet, & nominate only 8 non-promotion/demotion clubs. I would suggest Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington, Otago, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, & 2 others. Maybe Bay of Plenty & Tasman. The NZ Plunket Shield (cricket) only has 6 provinces. I don't know sometimes why kiwis make such a big deal of reducing the number of teams in the dominant domestic comp. Super rugby has already done this, to much widespread anguish. I'm only making a suggestion.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yes mate, they did and they still do. All they need to do is sit down and engage properly with RA and NSWRU and work out how they want to structure the NSW participation in NRC and it would be done. Instead all they are trying to do is to undermine every effort to create a national sport.
AndyS
Guest
But it only continues Super Rugby if all the best players on the competition gravitate to the two teams that make it every year. Otherwise, it is just two NRC teams playing some extra games against different opposition...interesting perhaps, but it would still remain two NRC teams. There wouldn't be any step up in the level of professionalism or standard, because they are just the same teams with the same strengths and weaknesses playing a few extra weeks at the end of the season. So they would inevitably do the first thing and destroy the competitiveness of the NRC. If you doubt that, look at the Super 10 you hark back to. It took the top four NZ teams each year, yet in three years there was only one change in who finished in the top four of the NPC. That must have been good for the underlying comp. No wonder they insisted on regional teams rather than continuing with provinces like the South Africans. They went that other way you're suggesting - look and see who has finished top four of the Currie Cup every year since 1996 as a result.