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Because of our involvement in Super Rugby and the Tri-Nations, rugby decision-makers in Australia have looked to the New Zealand and South Africa provincial competitions as the blueprint for the development of a third tier here.
What is not realised is that the provincial structures in those countries are an aberration based on historical and geographic factors. The rest of the rugby playing world base their competitions around clubs.
Unlike in Australia, Northern Hemisphere club rugby appears to be thriving.
A major reason for this is that clubs are organised into hierarchical divisions with regular promotion and relegation between divisions. The same sort of model applies almost universally in football’s most successful code, soccer.
In 2007, I circulated a proposal to the Presidents of the Sydney Premiership Clubs and Board members of NSWRU for a two Division club competition designed to produce more competitive football.
I am now suggesting that an additional tier be added to that structure which could in time lead to a genuine National Club Competition.
Restructuring of the Sydney club competition and possibly the Brisbane competition:
1. There would be two Divisions – Premier and First. The number of clubs in each Division would be subject to negotiation. As well as current Premiership clubs, the First Division might include Central Coast, Illawarra and some Sub-Districts clubs.
2. Clubs would be permitted to apply to enter both divisions. Initially, it is likely that many of the Clubs in Premier Division would also be competing in First Division.
3. In both Divisions, the Club would be required to field two Grade and two Colts teams. Games would be played on a home-and-away basis, with both Grade and Colts teams playing at the same venue.
4. At the conclusion of each season, the winner of the Club Championship in First Division, provided it had met all its playing commitments and was not also competing in the Premier Division, would be entitled to challenge the lowest placed Club in the Premier Division Club Championship for the right to play in Premier Division in the next year.
The major problem with the present competition is the imbalance in playing strength between Clubs.
Some Clubs are developing increasingly professionalised coaching and training programs, while others have inadequate training resources and are still locked into what was appropriate decades ago.
A great difficulty for the currently weaker clubs is the requirement that each Club field seven teams – four Grade and three Colts.
This can mean that resources are too thinly spread, with the result this year that teams have been withdrawn and games forfeited. At the same time, there are other clubs that have no difficulty fielding seven or more teams.
Under this proposal Clubs could choose whether to field four or eight teams.
A further weakness of the present competition is that Grade and Colts games are played at different venues, meaning that Club officials and supporters rarely get to see the emerging talent in their Club playing.
An Eastern League
Clubs from Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra would be invited to apply to play in an Eastern League competition. Assuming the present Super 14 structure continues, the competition would begin after the end of the Super 14. Eight to ten teams would play a single round on Sunday afternoons at their own venues, followed by a finals series.
Sunday afternoon rugby could be expected to draw substantial numbers of spectators given that Premiership, Sub-Districts and private school rugby are all played on Saturday. The League would also be very attractive to the additional TV channels coming on line and looking for new sporting product.
Unlike the ARC, most of the infrastructure would be provided by the clubs competing and it would not be essential to have players on professional contracts or to relocate them.
With appropriate sponsorship, the League would not be a drain on ARU finances.
Because Sydney Clubs in the Eastern League would have to field teams on both Saturday and Sunday, the Premiership competition would be of much more even standard.
At the conclusion of each season the highest ranked non-Eastern League club in Sydney could challenge the lowest ranked Sydney Club in the League to take their position.
Eventually, the Eastern League could evolve into a true professional National Club Competition.
The advantage of the model proposed is that it allows for growth and change while building on the traditions and tribalism of Australian rugby. And it gets away from the mess that has been created by viewing our great sport primarily as a business.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.