I am glad that you mentioned club comp as it is important to know that what is good for Northern Hemisphere rugby is not always aligned with what is good for private club owners. It is actually good for Global rugby, both North and South, to have multiple strong nations including South Africa.

My theory is that a weakened South African rugby is better for European club owners as it makes it easier for them to buy South African players.

I don’t have an answer, but I do have another question. What’s in it for French and English clubs to help South African provinces?

Still some questions, are the Jaguares still moving to Spain and would such a team replace an existing European team? Also how do the European Pro 14 fans feel about this?
The BBC site has some answers, there seems to be mixed fan reaction. It is difficult see if the majority of opposition comes from the Pro 14 fans or fans from England and France not wanting South African teams in the Euro comp. They seem to welcome the added competition of the more successful SA former Super Rugby teams, and the ability to have them on their soil. They lament not being able to travel to away games, the travel toll in general, the name and the conference system. So a mixed bag.
Also the site claims that URC competition creators don’t want any changes to the format so a new team, the Jaguares or Cheetahs, would have to be at the expense of another.
The site also states that despite the pool system there would be one combined table and the top 8 teams would qualify for the URC finals. The 4 pool champions, and the next best 4 on the combined ladder would qualify for Europe pending approval of the SA teams into the European championship. So a lot of news to look forward to.

All UCR teams play each other at least once so it is slightly better. There is a slight difference on BBC site to this article. The BBC suggests that the top 8 on a single combined table will qualify for KO finals.

The pool champions do however, automatically qualify for Europe, if this is the case the pools will not be as significant for the URC as a stand alone competition. Interested to see which is the case.

Agree with a lot of what you have said. But I have enjoyed both SR Aotearoa and SRAU a hell of a lot.

I might have read that wrong, but appeasing an underperforming union is not a great start. I just assumed the pools were to ease travel burdens and maintain local rivalries.

It is slightly better than Super Rugby’s conference system as at least the URC teams all play each other at least once.

Trying to have a large multicontinental tournament while maintaining local tribalism and controlling travel is almost like putting all the shopping in one bag, but wanting that bag to be light.

It is a balancing act, but it is possible and as I said earlier good luck to them.

Atlantic Pro Rugby, or Pro Rugby Atlantic I like geographical context in my sporting names eg European Champions league, NBA, NRL A-league etc.
Super 12 and Super Rugby aren’t as good as SR Aotearoa and SRAU as competition names, the latter let the viewer know what they will be watching.
I did like the original Celtic League but that name has not been accurate for some time.

Best of luck to all involved they both deserve and need it. Hopefully the SA teams have found a home and the pro 12 teams will have some new eyes on the product.

Watching rugby in the limited time I was living in Europe, I found the then Magners league to be the most entertaining viewing experience now they have a larger population watching them. Once again best of luck, don’t mess it up.

Toulon?

We can’t get too greedy now Jacko, lets just say made in Australia with imported ingredients from NZ.
But still good on the kid, if he had of been brought up in NZ he may never have had the opportunity to play AFL so all the best to him.
Cheers for the laughs on a Monday.

All good Geoff and thank you for the article. Honestly I just heard the name for the first time today, I couldn’t even tell you which team he plays for.
I would have hoped that having Kiwi DNA, or DNZA, he would have helped spread the gospel of rugby throughout Victoria. But good on him for achieving what he has in the AFL, a game he probably wouldn’t have had much access to if he had of been raised in NZ.
It is obviously up to Dustin if he considers himself a Kiwi, Victorian, both or neither. If Semi Radrada can be a Fijian or a Kangaroo depending on how many players are on the field anything is possible. In all fairness though, he may have NZ genetics but I doubt any of his AFL education happened in NZ. Cheers.

Cheers Jacko, I guessed that he must have been an Aussie Rules player from the context of the comment. I didn’t know that he was from Aotearoa though so Kia Ora Dustin well done lad.

I must admit I don’t know a lot about AFL as the first three codes I follow are just different kinds of rugby. I guess you learn something new every day.

Who’s Dustin Martin, and are they dustin’ Steve Martin or Greg Martin? I’ll see myself out now.

Honestly, I think the best thing for Japan would be to assist them in creating their own top flight rugby competition through a sort of foreign exchange program. The clubs could work with each other to exchange one or two players for a season. This would allow the players to have a new life experience as well as broadening their rugby knowledge and experience.
How this has worked in the past and present is top international Aussie and NZ talent have played a season for a Japanese club. They have been rewarded well financially, not just for the immediate benefit of helping to win the title but also for sharing their wisdom and experience with the team for the future making them a good investment.
Japanese players such as Michael Leitch, Fumiaki Tanaka and Shota Horie have also played for NZ and Aussie SR teams which would have given them some valuable experience in those environments that they have taken back to Japan. If exchanges such as these could become more common formal practice their would be a lot of positives for all involved.
While I don’t see the need to actually play Japanese teams when we could share players I can’t resist a challenge. So if Japanese teams had to be involved I would do it like this;
two divisions: 1st division SR Asia, 2nd Division SR Pacific (I am bad with names)
SR Asia top 2 teams from Top League, SRAU and Aotearoa
SRPAC bottom 4 teams from SRAU and Aotearoa
each team plays everyone not from their domestic competition once making it 4 games putting it in line with the Authors original schedule.
The same Author, Joe King, wrote an article about two weeks ago outlining how Japan could be involved as well.
But as I said I think I would rather see a more formalised talent exchange program, and possibly more tests against Japan possibly every 4 years to line up with the BI Lions tour.

In this scenario the TT trophy could be used as a title that is defended by the holder every game across all competitions, similar to the Ranfurly Shield. The team with the most points at the end would still be the TT champion but they may not be the ones holding the gold.
The beauty part of this is that it gives teams out of the hunt something to play for when they play the champs. For example say the Crusaders were the title holders going into this game against the Rebels, the Rebels fans would have something to be invested in with the trophy on the line. If they got the upset they would defend the title in both the SRAU and the TT.
ATM this model would be my preference as all teams would travel to all venues over a two year cycle. Also without a TT final the emphasis is on the Domestic cups, great concept cheers JK.

Of course you’re right, you couldn’t call it rugby league without us. There will always be a place for the big units, the pub after the game we’ll even get some cordials for the backs. All good fun, cheers.

The world in general is a poorer place without us big units. Truly the smartest, best looking and most humble of us all. Not that I am biased or anything.

If AFL is becoming a presence in traditional rugby schools then that would be a concern for both rugby and league. Both codes recruit from GPS.
I would imagine that the best talents are still choosing first 15 over Aussie rules but if that changes the talent pool could be even thinner.

I must admit I don’t watch AFL. I would imagine that AFL players would be on the leaner side. If that’s true then at least these schools would still be making front rowers. Can’t imagine slipper or Thor going for too many marks. Cheers.

Hi NOIP, I like to think that I am smart enough to know what I don’t know, and I don’t know the financial details of the AFL so I’ll have to take your word for it.

However the AFL seems to be taking more of a long term approach which the NRL should be taking note of and possibly concerned about.

As far as propping up new teams goes, an NRL requirement is financial strength and stability, so a new should not be receiving any more than the minimum amount that all teams get. This amount is reportedly less then the extra income that a new team would bring.

I doubt very much that the NRL would license another team if that would leave them out of pocket, so the real issue is stretching talent. Which is short term pain for long term gain.

I agree with you Lost, the NRL cannot afford to remain at 16 teams. I think that the AFL expansion model should be looked as an example of dealing with an apparent lack of talent. When the Suns and Giants were brought in there were massive score line differences but a few short years later both are doing well and their game has grown in terms of interest in the professional product.

If the NRL doesn’t expand into areas such as Ipswich AND Moreton Bay the AFL just might.

I like the concept, having some sort of international provincial competition creates some variety and provides a point of difference between rugby and other professional Aussie sports. Keeping a high quality domestic product is also important for youth talent to develop.

Yeah don’t know why he feels the need to leave Catalan they seem to have been very understanding allowing him to leave on compassionate grounds and trusting him to return. Would like to know what’s going on there

Imagine if Folau put that energy into learning how to kick and tackle.

JR I am not sure if that info should be looked at in isolation to come to the conclusion that no one is watching. This was a dead rubber game between the 4th and 5th placed teams, neither could reach the final. I watched because it’s rugby, but I found it difficult to get into as I don’t follow either team and the results wouldn’t change anything.

Perhaps more teams will make the competition more interesting and eliminate televised matches without consequence. Whether only the Drua are brought back or a 12 team competition is on the cards is a worthwhile discussion.

Cronulla was not struggling on field at that time. St.George Illawarra was formed in 1998. in 1997 the Sharks played in the first and only super league grand final.