Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan believes a Super Rugby draft is the next step to help bring life back to the competition.
With Super Rugby struggling for major cut-through and the gulf between New Zealand and the rest stark, McLennan believes a draft would not only help even the scales but also create added interest annually.
For years the AFL and NBA have thrived on an annual draft.
Indeed, increasingly it has become an event within itself and shined a spotlight on the emerging talent in its respective countries.
It has seen young athletes, in some cases with little playing experience but plenty of athletic pedigree, picked up in the draft in a formal setting, where the best minds in the country get the chance to see the next generation of players in a group setting in the flesh.
It has also added plenty of intrigue regarding the movement of other players too, with clubs either getting better or worse picks in the draft depending on whether they want to sign players not in the draft.
“I think we should be doing a draft now to create more innovation around the game and keep eligibility within Super Rugby Pacific and move different players to different clubs,” McLennan told The Roar.
“This would lead to better ratings and better broadcast performance.”
The recent return of the under 16s and under 19s national championship, which included Zach Fittler, the son of former NSW and Australian great Brad, had helped shine a spotlight on its emerging talent.
McLennan believed a draft, in time, would be another crucial step in keeping its emerging talent.
“We’ve suffered from a lack of investment and coordinated pathways,” he said.
“In truth, historically a lot of this is probably RA’s fault from the last cycle. It’s a lack of strategy over a long period of time. We’ve been poached by the NRL for too long. We need sustained investment back at grassroots, and [to] get the players back. That’s why we settled on the competition through to 2030. Now we know what we need to do.”
McLennan doesn’t want it just to include Australia’s Super Rugby franchises, believing New Zealand Rugby can benefit too.
Off the back of incoming All Blacks coach Scott Robertson’s comments around opening up discussions around picking players from overseas, the former Channel 10 boss pointed to the pressures the Southern Hemisphere giants faced and said the trans-Tasman neighbours could benefit from opening up the borders between Australia and New Zealand.
“Razor’s [Robertson] coming out and saying we need to look at eligibility. What we should be saying is that’s fine within Super Rugby Pacific, why couldn’t a New Zealand player come and play for us and also play for the All Blacks?” McLennan said.
“I think that’d enhance Super Rugby, and let key Rugby Australia players do the same.
“For example, Nic White could go to an NZ team and still play for the Wallabies.”
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Five years ago, off the back of Australia’s pathetic showing against New Zealand rugby where they came close to not winning a single match against their trans-Tasman neighbours for a second straight year, Ella said it would help the overall product if Australia could sign All Blacks-eligible players.
“If you can’t beat them, sign them,” he wrote.
“Imagine what a difference it would make if the Brumbies signed Beauden Barrett or if the Waratahs recruited Brodie Retallick.
“You would just need one or two key Kiwi players to make the Australian teams competitive again.
“If players were free to play for any team in the competition, it would help to level out the playing field and make Super Rugby a much better competition.”
Once again, the Super Rugby standings are dominated by New Zealand sides with four of their five sides featuring in the top five alongside the ACT Brumbies.
McLennan said RA’s trans-Tasman partners were aware of his desire to start a draft and believed the long-term investment of the competition through until 2030 allowed for greater innovation.
“We did say when we relaunched Super Rugby, we should be instigating a player draft,” he said.
BleedRedandBlack
Roar Rookie
Ok, just to be absolutely clear OB, MacDonald was in the 25 protected players for the Crusaders in 1998. He was in fact their starting Fullback, as he had been in 1997. He wasn't, in any way, outside that protected group. Hart didn't like that so he ignored the rules and used the draft, with the convivance of NZRU, to force MacDonald to play for the Chiefs. I have no idea what you mean by "Smithy wanting his cake and cream too", but it has no connection with any factual, logical or ethical reality. And as for Cribb, again you misrepresent/misunderstand the material reality. Despite the fact the Crusaders had turned Cribb into the AB starting No.8 in 2000, despite the fact they had given him a full contract for 2000 after drafting him as an injury replacement in 1999, [He was not an injury replacement in 2000. He was a fully contracted player acquired through the draft and in the First XV] they could not keep him for 2001. That was because one of the quirks of the draft system meant that the franchise where the player was signed on for provincial rugby had first dibs on the player irrespective of how long he had been at another franchise. After what happened to Cribb an exception was created where if a player had been at another franchise for either two or three years [can remember which] that player could go pick where they wanted. Eventually, because of its many abuses, the draft system was abandoned altogether. No one in their right mind, including Clayton McMillan, wants it back.
Allan Eskdale
Roar Rookie
I believe there is a cap on SR squad wages. The problem is that the higher echelon players are topped up by RA. They have to balance the $ they can afford against what can be earned elsewhere. Forcing a player to play in Perth rather than live in Sydney no doubt might tip the balance in favour of moving offshore, or cost RA more. The English Premiership operates under a completely different set of circumstances; deeper and broader playing pool, players are contracted to he club, distances between clubs and cities is less of an issue.
Micko
Roar Rookie
That's because the SR model is about the worst financial model one could adopt for the Australian market. BOTH RA & NZR are going downhill, and sees both now begging for PE money rather than fix their professional league.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Settle down Jacko. That was in response to the suggestion that if you pay taxes you are entitled to all the benefits a Citizen gets. Most countries, including NZ, do not extend the same benefits to non- citizens as they do citizens. And yes I know Aussies in NZ get a better deal in NZ but even that does not attract many Aussies. Ask yourself why so many Kiwis migrate to Aussie and so few the other way.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
That's a very good question. It wouldn't be a rugby or financial reason!
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
As someone who has got a lot out of Oz, I’m surprised you’re as strongly opposed to Oz Rugby as you are. Find it very interesting. Glad you enjoyed your time in God’s country aka Perth.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Looking to do an article how France will be sending the most professional squad to the u20s. They have players who are racking up T14 and ProD2 minutes.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Both coaches with test experience. If you don't have test experience you need to be an NZ SR coach. Why go to Oz for rubbish wages when you can go to Europe and build your own nest egg.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
SR12 and Prem are all about look how our whole league is so even and use a wage cap to do it. If SRP had a real wage cap you would have a more competitive league (though not as strong). Most professional sports leagues have wage caps to keep clubs afloat. Player Unions should want more for their players but not kill the club
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
I’m not going down that road, TJ, except to say family ties can bind. I spent two years working in Auckland and I echo the sentiment of the comments of a tour group from WA I ran into over there when they asked a local: “Why are all your young people coming to Australia and leaving all this behind!” Quality of life is such a subjective measure, I’m not touching that. PS and FYI: I also spent time in Perth and south of Perth so I know something of that state. Still have close family there. :happy: :happy:
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Connor Vest also played NPC. I think at Auckland too. Angus Scott Young was there the year before in NPC. SR is such a short season. I've long commented more Aussies need to go play 1-2 seasons of NPC particularly while Shute Shield/Qld Hospital Cup is the next comp we have after SR. Learn more about Kiwi rugby. Pugh only going to be better and better after a year at Auckland.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Yeah I find the same will be the case if Phil Waugh gets the CEO job. Please show me what commercial background he has in running a major company/sport etc.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Agreed. But look at the Auckland 6 who has come to the Tahs and been there best player. Wouldn't you want if you're an AB fan to go, hang on, he's an Auckland boy, we'll have a look at him in an ABs camp.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Better location to live and quality of life for a start. You're enjoying Oz life. Shock a Kiwi enjoys living in Oz.
yeah-nah
Roar Rookie
I’m a teacher and NRL scouts are often at intermediate school rugby tournaments – competing with NZ secondary school scouts.
scrum
Roar Rookie
That’s true if a it’s an accident covered by ACC. If you visit the Doctor for an illness you pay.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
I wonder if perhaps Hamish should have a peek at NZ women's rugby, rather then having 5 teams that they don't believe they have depth/players for they only have 5.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
So do you think you should be able to reside in Aussie and pay no taxes. No one said pay no taxes. Thats you making that up. Ive paid tax in Aus for 38 years, my wife for the same timeframe and my children for a combined 58ys so no ones not paying taxes Scrum. Ive been an Aus citizen for 3 years. Have a son born here who wasnt allowed to become a Aus back in 1990. Dont tell me I dont contribute and dont pay my way. Like all immigrants we contribute and I was a "skilled Migrant" as was my wife.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Loosey currently an Aussie shifts to NZ.... Gets the dole straight away. Can apply for citizenship. Gets free medical as soon as processed thru the system, gets child care help and many more of the social benifits around being a tax payer or contributor. An NZer shifts to Aus and gets none of those and cant become a citizen for over 10 years with costs of well over 4K.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
Can you give an example? Not sure what benefit you aren’t getting. You don’t have to vote for the rabble in Canberra so that has to be worth paying for.