Melbourne awarded 15th Super rugby team

[Twizzle]

Melbourne awarded 15th Super rugby team

Posted November 12, 2009 07:09:00
Updated November 12, 2009 07:52:00


John O'Neill says the decision makes sense (file photo). (Getty Images: Matt King)
Map: Melbourne 3000

Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill has applauded "a vote for common sense" after Melbourne was awarded the franchise for the 15th Super rugby team when the competition expands in 2011.

The Victorian capital was chosen by independent arbitrators after the board of SANZAR (South Africa New Zealand Australia Rugby) failed to reach an agreement last month between it and a competing bid from South Africa's Southern Kings.

Former World Cup-winning captain David Kirk and retired New Zealand High Court judge Barry Paterson conducted the review of each bid before deciding on Melbourne.

The existing Super 14 competition will be reorganised along a conference system with five teams now in each of the three countries.

SANZAR said a 15th Super rugby team in South Africa would have reduced broadcasting revenue by between $US15 million and $20 million over the term of a contract.

"The Melbourne application provided considerably greater commercial benefit... than the Southern Kings application," SANZAR said in a statement.

O'Neill added in a statement: "This is a vote for common sense.

"Melbourne has an extraordinary capacity for sport and we can now deliver them a Super rugby side they can embrace and support in an established competition of genuine international standing."

Victorian Rugby Union president Gary Gray said the new franchise should get some concessions to contract players.

"So we'd be able to recruit experienced and successful players from other parts of the world, but importantly, there is a lot of depth in the Australian rugby ranks and part of the benefit of having the fifth team is to further strengthen what's sometimes referred to as the fairly low in depth ranks of quality players in Australia," he said.

The team will play at the purpose-built rectangular stadium opposite the Melbourne Park tennis centre and within sight of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/12/2740325.htm

 

[African Monkey]

So where will the talent come from ? I would hope that they don't resort to buying nuffies from Counties Manukau and Manawatu.

 

[Bulldog Force]

So where will the talent come from ? I would hope that they don't resort to buying nuffies from Counties Manukau and Manawatu.

Don't be silly. They'll go Shopping at The Mighty Melbourne Storm, of course!

 

[Thomas]

Don't be silly. They'll go Shopping at The Mighty Melbourne Storm, of course!

Ahh...so Queensland then?

 

[Twizzle]

Ahh...so Queensland then?

lol,

lets face it, like the Storm they have no home grown talent to pick from, just home grown money for which to buy players from other states plus I would expect a few islanders in there and possibly even a kiwi or three

I would expect any home grown talent be expats from the other side of the ditch or polynesians.

 

[Mr Angry]

So which League players will they target?

I found this rather amusing

there is a lot of depth in the Australian rugby ranks

They are kidding right?

The current teams struggle in that comp. NZ has depth, RSA has depth, We have the reds.

 

[Rastus_in_Melbourne]

Adelaide the only 'major' capital not to have a ARU side. And they get the IRB 7s.

 

[Thomas]

So which League players will they target?

I found this rather amusing

They are kidding right?

The current teams struggle in that comp. NZ has depth, RSA has depth, We have the reds.

There are more Australian born players playing professional rugby overseas than there are playing in Australia purely because there are only a limited number of opportunities in Australia. This helps.

 

[Mr Angry]

I'll take your word for it, but why is it our super 14 teams never win?

 

[Twizzle]

I'll take your word for it, but why is it our super 14 teams never win?

they get paid alot more to play overseas,

much like our soccer players and why the A League is like park soccer

 

[Timbo]

Terrific news.

It's great we'll get all the Aussie teams home and away each season. The longer season means more rugby which can only be a good thing.

 

[Knownothing]

lol,

lets face it, like the Storm they have no home grown talent to pick from, just home grown money for which to buy players from other states plus I would expect a few islanders in there and possibly even a kiwi or three

I would expect any home grown talent be expats from the other side of the ditch or polynesians.

There are five Victorians in the current Australian Schoolboys side. But there will be a number of PI and Argentinian players in the initial playing roster, just to get the side off the ground.

I would bet pounds to peanuts that players like Rocky Elsom (born in Victoria) and maybe Digby Ioane (also a local product) will be in the first Rebels team.

A lot of money will be poured into this one, and it won't come from the ARU, it will come from Melbourne business interests.

 

[aussies1st]

About time Union got into Melbourne. Lealiifano is a product of the Victorian system and with the Brumbies loaded with 5/8, it wouldn't surprise me to see him go there.

 

[KHunt]

There are five Victorians in the current Australian Schoolboys side. But there will be a number of PI and Argentinian players in the initial playing roster, just to get the side off the ground.

I would bet pounds to peanuts that players like Rocky Elsom (born in Victoria) and maybe Digby Ioane (also a local product) will be in the first Rebels team.

A lot of money will be poured into this one, and it won't come from the ARU, it will come from Melbourne business interests.

Rocky Elsom only signed a 1 year deal at ACT Brumbies and I have no doubt he will be the first person they sign and captain. He's spoken of his desire for a team in Melbourne.

Digby's a possibility, but I hope he doesn't ask to leave next year whiles on a 2 year deal.

IMO this side could be the new Brumbies, everyone wrote them off initially when they started and look how successful they have become.

 

[Teddyboy]

Why didn't SANZAR agree that maybe Melbourne and the Southern Kings would of been good for the comp by kicking out the Cheetahs who pull crowds of only 10000 or the Cats???,then in New Zealand you have the Highlanders whose crowds are lowlanders and Australia's Perth team looks like going the same way as the Western Reds.

 

[Te Kaha]

Why didn't SANZAR agree that maybe Melbourne and the Southern Kings would of been good for the comp by kicking out the Cheetahs who pull crowds of only 10000 or the Cats???,then in New Zealand you have the Highlanders whose crowds are lowlanders and Australia's Perth team looks like going the same way as the Western Reds.

You know people wll take you seriously if you start actually contributing instead of dribbling.

 

[jargan83]

RSA has depth

Not neccesarily. Cheetahs and the Lions are usually dead certainties to finish in the bottom 3 or 4

 

[aussies1st]

Wallaby Berrick Barnes head-hunted as the potential skipper of Melbourne's new Super 15 side which could be boosted by up to ten international stars and rugby league's top young guns.
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says champion All Blacks five-eighth Dan Carter should be top of the list of recruits for the new team which was yesterday given the green light to enter the expanded tournament in 2011.

The new team will trigger an aggressive recruitment campaign from early next year with more than $4 million in contract funds from the ARU.

Melbourne-born Wallaby skipper Rocky Elsom, Paris-based Mark Gasnier, leading Argentine utility back Juan Martin Hernandez and former All Black prop Carl Hayman are also certain to be on Melbourne's wish list.

Barnes signed a two-year deal with the ARU this year and will play for the Waratahs next season. But he has an option allowing him to move provinces after 2010.

He is the ideal face to market a new franchise and his leadership was recognised in his naming as Wallaby vice-captain of the Grand Slam tour before injury forced him home.

"We could allow the number of foreign players to go up to 10 initially and be phased out over an agreed period," said ARU CEO John O'Neill.

Jones said Melbourne needed to build their team around high- profile players and Carter would be the ideal recruit.

Playing alongside the All Blacks ace would be invaluable experience for a young Australian player, he said.

"And if they can't get Carter they should go after Matt Giteau," he said.

While luring Carter across the Tasman would be an expensive exercise, Jones said that was the reality of the situation if the team was to be successful.

"You need to bring talent in and to do that you need money-- they need to get some really good corporate sponsors in," Jones said.

And Jones said the first forward Melbourne should chase is ex-Test second-rower Dan Vickerman, who is currently studying at Cambridge.

He identified current Wallaby stars Will Genia, Benn Robinson and Cliffy Palu as other players Melbourne should have in their sights.

Jones said Australian Michael Cheika, who has enjoyed success in charge of Irish Heineken Cup champions Leinster, would be the ideal choice to be Melbourne's first coach.

O'Neill also signalled fresh raids on rugby league, with the focus on players from the under-20 Toyota Cup and schoolboy ranks.

"The reality is there is a big pool of talent in Australia called rugby league," O'Neill said.

"We are now carefully spotting league players in the younger, 16-years-plus age group who aren't superstars but have ability to adapt to our game."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26341457-23217,00.html

 

[African Monkey]

They could always sign Michael Witt.

 

[Teddyboy]

You know people wll take you seriously if you start actually contributing instead of dribbling.

Bollocks the Cheetahs and Lions play in 50000 plus stadiums and get around 10000 for games.At least if the Southern Kings where in the S14 you be looking at crowds of 30000 plus.