18th club, whose next?

[Marlins]

It’ll be interesting if NZ secure standalone rights to the RLWC25 and how it could impact the next expansion side. Let’s say NZ does host, it would seem like a golden opportunity to put the 18th team in NZ. Wellington (Orcas) appears to be the only bidding team from NZ. Not sure if there’s any others.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Singapore has held International Rugby 7s for decades, and the sport has gained Zero traction there in this timeframe.

There's plenty of junior rugby union clubs in Singapore fielding teams from U5s to U17s.

Here's one of them:

Dragons Rugby Club - Rugby League in Singapore

2024 Season Starts from 13th January 2024 Register now Under 5’s For those born in 2019-2020. A very warm Dragon’s welcome to the Under 5’s, please click here for lots more information. Learn More Under 6’s For those born in 2018. A very warm Dragon’s welcome to the Under 6’s, please click here...

www.dragonsrugbyclub.com

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

None of those players leave without the Dolphins in existence.

The Storm lost a bunch of forwards nearing the end of there career, who they would have moved on anyway.

Tabuai-Fidow was wasted on the bench and wasn't happy. If the Dolphins didn't reach out to him then some one else would have. Newcastle poached Ponga from the Cowboys when he was an understudy stuck behind Lachlan Coote. Players leave when they cannot hold down a spot in the team and are offered a chance elsewhere.

 

[Perth Red]

It’ll be interesting if NZ secure standalone rights to the RLWC25 and how it could impact the next expansion side. Let’s say NZ does host, it would seem like a golden opportunity to put the 18th team in NZ. Wellington (Orcas) appears to be the only bidding team from NZ. Not sure if there’s any others.

Havent heard from Chalmers since 2021. No one else has publicly come forward at this time. Chalmers still has the Orcas on his linked in positions and has registered URLs and TM's for Orcas so presuming he get the financial backers he would still be keen.

Presuming Vlandys doesn't do the dirty on the game again then in all likelihood TV negotiations will be done in 2025/26 and a club 18 decision will be made soon after for an admission in 2028.

Wellington Orcas make their case to become the NRL's 18th franchise

Andrew Chalmers believes the Wellington-based side should be granted the 18th NRL licence.

www.sen.com.au

 

[Canard]

There's plenty of junior rugby union clubs in Singapore fielding teams from U5s to U17s.

Here's one of them:

Dragons Rugby Club - Rugby League in Singapore

2024 Season Starts from 13th January 2024 Register now Under 5’s For those born in 2019-2020. A very warm Dragon’s welcome to the Under 5’s, please click here for lots more information. Learn More Under 6’s For those born in 2018. A very warm Dragon’s welcome to the Under 6’s, please click here...

www.dragonsrugbyclub.com

Can you show me this evidence of "plenty" of junior teams?

And what, if any, presence does Union have at a senior level?

 

[Perth Red]

Can you show me this evidence of "plenty" of junior teams?

And what, if any, presence does Union have at a senior level?

Not sure of relevance but pre covid looked like 8 clubs fielding 16 sides in the snr comp. with 6 of them fielding sides in the U19's and a few more clubs than that in the 7's comp.

SRU National League 18-19 | Singapore Rugby Union

www.singaporerugby.com

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

Can you show me this evidence of "plenty" of junior teams?

And what, if any, presence does Union have at a senior level?

Why would senior level be a requirement?

 

[Wb1234]

Not sure of relevance but pre covid looked like 8 clubs fielding 16 sides in the snr comp. with 6 of them fielding sides in the U19's and a few more clubs than that in the 7's comp.

SRU National League 18-19 | Singapore Rugby Union

www.singaporerugby.com

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

Singapore has held International Rugby 7s for decades, and the sport has gained Zero traction there in this timeframe.

I dont think a once-a-year tournament aimed at foreign tourist is the best indicator of potential

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Can you show me this evidence of "plenty" of junior teams?

And what, if any, presence does Union have at a senior level?

I just did!

The Dragons' site reveals teams from U5s to U17s. There are boys teams and girls teams in each age bracket!

It disproves your claim that the game has made "zero traction" in Singapore over the last 30 years. And that's just one club. There are other clubs in Singapore.

It's more than the Melbourne Storm have been able to achieve in Victoria over the last 25 years.

 

[Dark Corner]

Does he use the same hair dye as the Rugby Union's Hamish McLennan ?...just asking for a friend (again)/

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Why would senior level be a requirement?

There's a National Men's, Women's and Development League at senior level. There's also an U19s League.

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

I just did!

The Dragons' site reveals teams from U5s to U17s. There are boys teams and girls teams in each age bracket!

It disproves your claim that the game has made "zero traction" in Singapore over the last 30 years. And that's just one club. There are other clubs in Singapore.

It's more than the Melbourne Storm have been able to achieve in Victoria over the last 25 years.

The Storm is a good comparison. We went there is 1998 with almost zero interest, and built the fan-base one fan at a time (the Storm Clouds book is a great read on this. The club would literally go door to door in the suburbs with the most Kiwi expats and try to sell memberships/tickets). Now there are one of the most valuable clubs in the comp.

Some of the cities in SE asia could unlock some unimaginable TV deals/ sponsorships and the region is close enough to just extend the NRL.

I was a teacher in China years back and some of those kids today are enormous (Shows what a decent diet can do for your health) so the potential is there. Get the NRL into the region and use that as the flagship to drive participation and interest

 

[Pneuma]

I just did!

The Dragons' site reveals teams from U5s to U17s. There are boys teams and girls teams in each age bracket!

It disproves your claim that the game has made "zero traction" in Singapore over the last 30 years. And that's just one club. There are other clubs in Singapore.

It's more than the Melbourne Storm have been able to achieve in Victoria over the last 25 years.

Nrl Victoria city competition has 18 clubs and 250 teams you ignorant twat.

 

[greenBV4]

The Storm is a good comparison. We went there is 1998 with almost zero interest, and built the fan-base one fan at a time (the Storm Clouds book is a great read on this. The club would literally go door to door in the suburbs with the most Kiwi expats and try to sell memberships/tickets). Now there are one of the most valuable clubs in the comp.

Some of the cities in SE asia could unlock some unimaginable TV deals/ sponsorships and the region is close enough to just extend the NRL.

I was a teacher in China years back and some of those kids today are enormous (Shows what a decent diet can do for your health) so the potential is there. Get the NRL into the region and use that as the flagship to drive participation and interest

But, SE Asia isn't in NSW or Qld???

Would require effort, this is something the NRL has shown reluctance to give unfortunately

Vlandys might mention it to the media off handedly though, so it'll give a month of press until the next idea comes along, then never happen

 

[blue bags]

Agree should be games at Brookvale
Gosford every weekend

 

[The Great Dane]

Havent heard from Chalmers since 2021. No one else has publicly come forward at this time. Chalmers still has the Orcas on his linked in positions and has registered URLs and TM's for Orcas so presuming he get the financial backers he would still be keen.

Presuming Vlandys doesn't do the dirty on the game again then in all likelihood TV negotiations will be done in 2025/26 and a club 18 decision will be made soon after for an admission in 2028.

Wellington Orcas make their case to become the NRL's 18th franchise

Andrew Chalmers believes the Wellington-based side should be granted the 18th NRL licence.

www.sen.com.au

Chalmers talks a big game, but he comes across as being way out of his depth, maybe even a bit of a charlatan, and everything he touches turns to shit. So it'd probably be for the best if he wasn't involved anyway.

I guarantee that the NRL could find investors for a second NZ side if the NRL showed that they were serious about expansion in the market and went looking, but if I was the NRL I'd launch the second NZ side inhouse then sell it once it was reasonably well established. It'd be the best method to make sure things were done right in NZ's case.

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

Chalmers talks a big game, but he comes across as being way out of his depth, maybe even a bit of a charlatan, and everything he touches turns to shit. So it'd probably be for the best if he wasn't involved anyway.j

I guarantee that the NRL could find investors for a second NZ side if the NRL showed that they were serious about expansion in the market and went looking, but if I was the NRL I'd launch the second NZ side inhouse then sell it once it was reasonably well established. It'd be the best method to make sure things were done right in NZ's case.

Ive personally come around on the idea of promoting Reserve grade operations (I think the Dolphins hit the right balance with the soft rebrand)

It means we have the operations in place and we just look to expand (rather than going from 0 to 100 in one go). I do wonder how the Titans would have gone if we gave the licence to Burleigh or Logan instead of Searle (or required Searle to launch a reserve side a few years in advance)

 

[Perth Red]

Ive personally come around on the idea of promoting Reserve grade operations (I think the Dolphins hit the right balance with the soft rebrand)

It means we have the operations in place and we just look to expand (rather than going from 0 to 100 in one go). I do wonder how the Titans would have gone if we gave the licence to Burleigh or Logan instead of Searle (or required Searle to launch a reserve side a few years in advance)

Problem with that is it will continue to restrict expansion to NSW or Qlnd only. Its not currently financially viable to run a second grade club without pokie or NRL club funding.

 

[Canard]

Ive personally come around on the idea of promoting Reserve grade operations (I think the Dolphins hit the right balance with the soft rebrand)

It means we have the operations in place and we just look to expand (rather than going from 0 to 100 in one go). I do wonder how the Titans would have gone if we gave the licence to Burleigh or Logan instead of Searle (or required Searle to launch a reserve side a few years in advance)

Well Logan didn't exist as a club in 2007,unless you mean the merged Souths Magpies entity, and is some 90km away from the Gold Coast.

And Burleigh has been a feeder club for the Titans since their inception, so not sure what you think would have been any different??