Civoniceva Fan Q&A - Fiji NSWRL Bid decision soon?

[expansionist]

Mate, if you think the NRC side is your biggest threat regarding juniors then you're massively mistaken. There are half a dozen French Rugby clubs with scouts on the Islands searching for talent. Seriously, their are talent managers in France that can list you the best 15 year olds on the Islands. A few are even providing these kids with French lessons.

Its not so much that its our biggest threat regarding juniors, more that they have just gone and done it where we havent. They now have a local based opportunity for local juniors and we havent.

Agree with you regarding the French clubs local presence. Considering the amount of Fijians who have come into our game over the last few years and been hugely successful its actually surprising to me NRL or RL in general doesnt have more of a grip on local juniors there.

Fittler and Johns go there once a year to throw a ball around and bring back a hotel porter who plays first grade NRL...

 

[Whatwhere]

Its not so much that its our biggest threat regarding juniors, more that they have just gone and done it where we havent. They now have a local based opportunity for local juniors and we havent.

Agree with you regarding the French clubs local presence. Considering the amount of Fijians who have come into our game over the last few years and been hugely successful its actually surprising to me NRL or RL in general doesnt have more of a grip on local juniors there.

Fittler and Johns go there once a year to throw a ball around and bring back a hotel porter who plays first grade NRL...

Here's why. Comparatively the NRL offers fewer opportunities. Seriously, even with the semi-pro/pro state leagues. Here's why. Currently their are over 170 Fijians playing professionally in France at the moment. France has two fully professional division with the LNR (think NRL of France actual translates to essentially the same name) commiting €75m to establish a third fully professional division over the next 3-5 years. That's 42 clubs with around 38-50 squad places (2100 contracts at the high end) all offering a minimum $75-100,000 AUD place housing, schooling for children, cars etc.

And that's not even taking into account the soon to be 4th tier Federale 1.Which is more like the NSW and Qld Cups.

 

[latingringo101]

Although they won't get an NSWRL team until (by the looks of things) 2018, its not all doom and gloom.

The NRL has an outpost the (NRL Fiji) and regularly visit schools and run training clinics with local kids.

The FNRL (Fiji National Rugby League) have a solid 10 team competition including Juniors, Schools and Senior domestic teams. The English Community Lions, Country Rugby League and various international teams visit the Island regularly to play against Resident teams.

And as pointed out regular NRL personalities and players visit the island and help donate kits, balls and scout for RL players year in year out.

Obviously it sucks that they won't get an NRL team soon, however the structures in FIji are well and truely in place for RL to thrive there

 

[Whatwhere]

Although they won't get an NSWRL team until (by the looks of things) 2018, its not all doom and gloom.

The NRL has an outpost the (NRL Fiji) and regularly visit schools and run training clinics with local kids.

The FNRL (Fiji National Rugby League) have a solid 10 team competition including Juniors, Schools and Senior domestic teams. The English Community Lions, Country Rugby League and various international teams visit the Island regularly to play against Resident teams.

And as pointed out regular NRL personalities and players visit the island and help donate kits, balls and scout for RL players year in year out.

Obviously it sucks that they won't get an NRL team soon, however the structures in FIji are well and truely in place for RL to thrive there

Lacking a NSWRL team isn't going to kill off League. For kids on the Islands it provides alongside Rugby another opportunity. Which is why contrary to zealotry from some League will never take over from Rugby in Fiji as just playing one or the other will limit those opportunities,

 

[taste2taste]

Here's why. Comparatively the NRL offers fewer opportunities. Seriously, even with the semi-pro/pro state leagues. Here's why. Currently their are over 170 Fijians playing professionally in France at the moment. France has two fully professional division with the LNR (think NRL of France actual translates to essentially the same name) commiting €75m to establish a third fully professional division over the next 3-5 years. That's 42 clubs with around 38-50 squad places (2100 contracts at the high end) all offering a minimum $75-100,000 AUD place housing, schooling for children, cars etc.

And that's not even taking into account the soon to be 4th tier Federale 1.Which is more like the NSW and Qld Cups.

Where the heck does French rugby get all its money from ? They have a smaller tv deal than the nrl and they have average crowds of 8k.

 

[Whatwhere]

Where the heck does French rugby get all its money from ? They have a smaller tv deal than the nrl and they have average crowds of 8k.

They have an average is a little under 15,000 a game. I think you're thinking of the Pro12.

Simple answer relates to economies of scale. Larger audiences, more momey from sponsors. They all also happen to own their own stadiums or have long termleases to operate them with their municipalities so they are able to generate further income via game day operations. Most also have social clubs. Sporting clubs also tend to enjoy significant tax breaks in France.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

They don't have more viewers for a start. If they did their tvrights would show it in what they get. They are getting under half what the NRL gets in money, you work it out.

 

[Knownothing]

They don't have more viewers for a start. If they did their tvrights would show it in what they get. They are getting under half what the NRL gets in money, you work it out.

All the franchises are owned by very rich people with more money than sense.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

All the franchises are owned by very rich people with more money than sense.

Absolutely correct.

 

[Whatwhere]

They don't have more viewers for a start. If they did their tvrights would show it in what they get. They are getting under half what the NRL gets in money, you work it out.

So in a country with a population excess of 66m and a sport that over 50% of the population have been polled to be a fan of and 39% being regularly viewers of the game does not have more viewers?

 

[Knownothing]

Absolutely correct.

Nice to know that I occasionally get something right.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Get the info and post it then. The NRL usually averages120/130 million a season.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Nice to know that I occasionally get something right.

Facts are facts no use denying the truth now is there

 

[Whatwhere]

Get the info and post it then. The NRL usually averages120/130 million a season.

The only source I've found so far is from 2011 with Canal+ stating that Top14 games rated an average of between 800-850,000 a game. At the lower end of those figures across 208 game (8 games a week across 26 rounds) that would total 166,400,000 to 176,400,000.

If you're unclear even if it is the lower figure that's still a bigger number than the 120-130m you stated the NRL averages.

Now, remember that this was in 2011. Since then Canal+ has increased there broadcast rights offer by 37%. Considering Canal+ aren't a charity there must be added value in upping their offer.

But to be sure, I'll keep looking for more recent figures.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

And yet the NRL still smashes it in TV rights but meh what do I know eh.

And as for your source, could you link it?

Thanks wcr.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

BTW, how can you have 8 games a week if you only have 14 teams in that league?

 

[Whatwhere]

BTW, how can you have 8 games a week if you only have 14 teams in that league?

f**k. In a meeting and typing on the sly. I shall recalculate.

Edit: Even at 182 games it still comes in at 145,000,000 at the low end.

 

[CQ Italia]

Apparently the NRLis concerned the existing NSW cup clubs are not sustainable enough and wont consider expansion until every club is rolling in cash....... but they will look at it in some point in the future.

Typical NRL, Union will be up and running and attracting the best Jnrs long time before we ever see a RL in NSW cup club there.

Not true. Only true for NRL expansion
Plus Fiji like PNG will have to pay for away teams flights and accommodation, if anything like PNG does in ISC (QLD), Fiji will boost those NSW based clubs crowds significantly. Redcliffe for example went from 400 to 4000 for Hunters