I agree with what you say but also the historic test in America with the All Blacks was to also pave the way for other top sides like Wallabies, Springboks etc to follow suit.

It was a massive historic achievement for Rugby in America last year all thanks to the collective effort from both USA Rugby, Corporate sponsors, NBC Network especially to the NZ All Blacks who are global brand on its own. This is great for Rugby but the Wallabies also need to promote their end as well hopefully it can sell out its great for the game!!

Well said. How those guys in the ARU board room stay in power is beyond me!! Like the Manly Coach Geoff Toovey once said

“Oh Come On, Come On, that’s Ridiculous, That’s Ridiculous there’s got to be a Investigation to all this, Someone’s got be Accountable for all This”

Only if he was referring to the ARU maybe those Nobs would get the picture!!

Andy what you say is true but when a code like Rugby in Australia is struggling it’s starts at the top the ARU!!

You cannot build a sport or a product on a weak foundation it’s like the foolish man who built his castle on sand the waves will wipe it out each time no matter how many times it’s built.

The ARU have failed to invest & re – structure the game from the grassroots up nation wide. Rugby now in Australia is paying the price big time at all levels it’s a domino effect.

Forget the Nrl, AFL & A – league were not them the battle is within Rugby itself to get it’s own house in order.
Rugby is blessed to have the international game to fall back on in Australia but the ARU have to lose that mindset of hoping people will start to watch if Wallabies start winning, we’re not in it just for t.v ratings we also want people to stay with Rugby & that all starts from the grassroots!!

Rugby yes still competes pretty well in my opinion with its major set backs in Australia, the ARU have also done something’s right as well like the NRC which I really do enjoy, it provides a pathway to Super Rugby but it gives the Kids something to play for as well.

NRC, Super Rugby, Rugby 7s, Wallabies etc will only prosper as a code in Australia when the foundations of the game is fixed!!

I agree since when was Australia known to take the easy way out!! Rugby Union is booming around the world yet Rugby is struggling badly here in OZ you can only blame those idiots from the ARU!!

The Wallabies will eventually break the strangle hold some day of the Mighty All Blacks as its just the nature of sports, but to cheapen the series will have no value & meaning for either nation especially for the Wallabies already torn image.

World Rugby like FIFA work really hard in investing time & money to build structures to grow their sport especially World Rugby, but if the NFL were to move in & take on World Rugby head on in the Pacific than that’s a major threat.

Maybe than World Rugby would counter the NFL with a Super Rugby franchise each to Fiji, Tonga & Samoa who knows but I highly doubt the NFL have any plans in the Pacific.

As for the Nrl in the Pacific well they can keep dreaming World Rugby would destroy them as they already have.

What’s new in Melbourne aside from nothing but AFL??.. I’ve also been to Melbourne myself & have mates who play Rugby for the Footscray Rugby club the Unicorns your right Rugby has no media attention & a very small following there but no one said it was going to be easy all in due time it’s still an open market regardless.

Pacific Islands in provincial Rugby like NRC etc there’s nothing wrong with that it’s still exposes them to high level Rugby.

Melbourne as a city have tons of money the Pacific Islands don’t so it was an open market for Sanzar to try capitalise on it makes sense given time.

The Super Rugby ship has sailed my idea probably as well but it’s still open for discussion like always.

World Rugby are already aware of the Nrl sudden & brave ambitious plans to take over the Pacific Islands but that’s yet to be seen as Rugby league is nothing but lip service is this department.

World Rugby will just inject more money possibly after the RWC in England & further cement their status as the number 1 code in Pacific islands since Rugby Union was first introduced in the region. It would take more than just stealing talent because that’s all the Nrl have done so far.

I’m yet to see the Nrl fund Rugby 7s Olympic & Commonwealth pathways, RWC squads, accommodation travel expenses etc for the Pacific Islands like World Rugby has done just like World Rugby C.E.O Brett Cosper who is Australian has said World Rugby are the Major sponsors for the Pacific Islands so league can just play second fiddle like always.

A Super Rugby pacific island team just won’t work combined or not SANSAR just won’t fund it as they need to make more money not lose money.

NRC , ITM Cup & maybe Currie Cup I truly believe is the answer for Pacific Island Rugby & their own development. One team each from Fiji, Tonga & Samoa to commit to one of the domestic provincial Competitions in OZ, NZ & maybe SA given assistant funding from World Rugby & the go ahead from the respective Unions it’s a win win I believe.

American football taking over in the Islands that’s like Rugby league’s claims on taking over the Islands as well yet Rugby Union still dominates.

That’s a good point you make. Maybe the line should be drawn strictly on place of birth as your only option plain & simple World Rugby should just make it official.

World Rugby already funds the Pacific Islands especially Fiji, Tonga & Samoa. Trust me alot of the problems also lie within the corrupt Unions within the pacific islands who use the money to fund their own lifestyle like Samoa for example.

Brett Cosper C.E.O of World Rugby has said himself that World Rugby have spent over 16 million dollars over a 3 – 5 year period that’s bloody alot money to help the pacific teams play in Rugby 7s, Rugby World Cups, accommodation etc Some how in the pacific they are always short on cash which is no secret to where the money is going.

Samoa Rugby Union had to come clean when World Rugby was forced to step in & sort out the mess.

Pacific Islands I believe would best suit local provincial entry 1 from each island into the Itm cup, NRC & may be Currie Cup it would bring more interest & breath a new life into those competitions at the same time providing a high level of development for Pacific Rugby.

That’s a good joke you’re right Sam Burgess would never be in the Rugby elite class as Richie Maccaw, Jones, Brooke, George Smith etc & would get smashed but young guns like Sam Cane & Michael Hopper who can play the game.

Reason why Sam Burgess hasn’t been heavily reported about in league world is because Sam Burgess has been nothing but a major flop so far!! Considering he was one of league’s biggest & best players he’s profile was a blessing & a curse at the same time in his transition to the Global powerhouse that is Rugby Union.

Maybe because he’s not an Aussie as well, honestly I don’t really care how he goes good for him for having a go!!

Unlike the Aussie media’s relentless news on Jarryd Haynes attempt to make the NFL will also quickly dissappear if he fails.

I understand the Aussie media’s attempt to raise Jarryd Haynes profile in America to better he’s chances of making it in the NFL but Americans ain’t stupid just let them decide if he is good enough or not!!

The Same goes for Sam Burgess in his attempt to make the England World Cup squad & the chance to play at the Pinnacle of World Rugby the Rugby World Cup a true Global Sporting event something Little League can only dream of.

All in due time.

Sam Burgess in the Forwards will take time Rugby Union in the forwards game is alot more technical hell Rugby union in general is technical so it’s a work in progress.

Unfortunately for Sam the World Cup is 1 step to far to play in the Pinnacle of Rugby amongst the World’s elite on his debut year. Sam definitely isn’t World class yet in Rugby but it was foolish of anyone to think he could force his way into the England squad over experience players especially as a Rookie with no Rugby experience!!

Well he originally is a Rugby Union player like most kiwi boys before being poached from Aussie clubs, so you never know… but with the endless amount of talent in the Rugby Union ranks in NZ it will be interesting if he went back to Rugby my answer is no.

Also to be a part of potentially the Warriors first Premiership side & to represent his home team there’s still plenty to play for!! It does matter!!

Why does it matter to you weather he can ball play or not??… I get what your saying for that price tag he should be more of the complete player, but just let the Warriors & Andrew McFadden & his coaching staff worry about that.

Tomkins short stint in the Nrl really hasn’t delivered on the hype surrounding him was it the Warriors inconsistency that affected his performance Probably??.. also his Girlfriend surely didn’t help.

Maybe the week to week grind of the Nrl was too much for him to handle??.. who knows maybe he just wasn’t Nrl material??. but to assume RTS career will plummet base on Tomkins is stupid.

NZ Warriors have to be given a chance to work with RTS to unleash his full potential time will tell.

Very true!! Alot of Kiwis are poached mainly from Rugby Union ranks in New Zealand.
Credit to Australia for providing a career pathway & a great lifestyle for home ground Kiwi talent. To be fair Australian clubs do invest heavily on kiwi talent in a alot ways they just want recognition for their investment.

I guess Australia just feels cheated almost, but most players coming to OZ from NZ are still born & breed Kiwis at heart that’s all that matters!! If Kiwis also feel like Australia is home for them & decide to play for Australia good for them, Australia is also home to alot of Kiwis like myself & really thankful for the lifestyle Australia provides!!

RTS will be a great asset to the Warriors good luck to him.

I’m pretty sure he can pass a ball!!! like you said he is still young & still learning!! Sounds like your hurt that he is leaving, more money to return home that’s a dream come true for any player!!

He did see the bigger picture, Roosters ain’t New Zealand & stop looking down on the Warriors they saw an opportunity had the money & RTS was more than happy to sign.

Tomkins being so home sick probably never had his heart set on playing for the Warriors anyways. I’m not sure but Warriors lost alot of Money on Tomkins good luck to him, season has yet to finish though.

RTS is a Kiwi returning to his homeland of New Zealand like Tomkins home is where the heart is. Warriors are prepared to invest heavily on RTS it’s a risk given Warriors history of inconsistency but RTS will fit in perfectly with NZ Warriors in my opinion.

Basketball definitely is more global than Rugby Union but with World Rugby working hard to grow Rugby it’s fast closing the gap with other global sports.

It’s already the fastest growing team game as a amateur sport in America. Rugby 7s in the Olympics what a blessing what better platform than the Olympics to grow the game.

It just lifts the profile of Rugby to greater heights never seen before trust me it will bleed over to the 15s game further cementing Rugby Union’s position as a true Global sport!!

Not many sports can offer Olympic pathways & provide to different formats of the same game to excel at like Rugby 7s & 15s, Rugby Union is truly blessed!!

Reap what you sow, World Rugby continues to plant seeds & it’s starting to pay off.

Well as far as the point system goes like you said we just have to agree to disagree.

Brumbies are aware of the Challenge that lies ahead of them but the pressure is on the Blues to finally break their losing streak!! Eden park is no different to any Rugby field, I’m a Blues supporter & they just have to dig deeper & find something called a heart and play with it!!

Welcome Argentina to the Super Rugby family I also hope their own domestic Rugby competition can turn professional as well like Itm cup, NRC & Currie Cup so they can retain good Rugby talent in Argentina.

I’m more concern on the format of Super Rugby I’m not sure how it’s going work with the different time zones & how the table system is going to pan out that will be interesting.

Japan & a 6th South African team will also join the Super Rugby family a total of 18 teams between four proud nations. I’m all for Rugby Union to continue to break new markets & grow this great game but 4 nations has to be where it stops otherwise it just becomes bloody ridiculous.

From what I do know it will go from top 6 to top 8 for the finals.

I like to see the 3 Conference System stay in place with Argentina joining NZ conference, Japan joining the Australian Conference & South Africa with its new franchise to remain in the South African Conference.

Top 2 from each conference will make the finals with two wildcards to decide the last remaining two sides in the top 8 will be the way to go in my opinion.