National Club Competition-ANNOUNCED!

[Jackal Dog]

Well supposedly it is happening: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,19321123-23217,00.html

Finally sanity prevails, 3 teams in NSW, 2 in QLD and 1 in ACT, VIC and WA sounds about right.

 

[Timbo]

Wows. I'm just going to copy paste a few segments here to comment:

The national competition will involve three teams from NSW, two from Queensland and one team each from the ACT, Victoria and Western Australia.

That's an interesting one. Will the NSW teams all be in Sydney, or will places like Newcastle and Woolongong get a look in? If they're all from Sydney, will they be existing clubs or will they be new entities? The article isn't exactly clear on that.

the Victorian team will include a number of contracted players from the Super 14 franchises

That's interesting. I wonder which S14 teams? And will the local sides have anything to say about their home-state players playing in Melbourne? However, it's a fantastic move to have a team there-It shows we're looking outside the heartlands.

It is understood the NSW Rugby Union had forgone the opportunity to have a fourth team so Victoria could participate and make it a more national competition.

Also interesting. What will be a major s*itstorm is if the NSWRU chooses to promote three Sydney club sides, as opposed to creating new entities to the competition, and someone will have to miss out as a result of this. That said, good on the NSWRU for thinking in the best interests of the game.

The new competition will cost $2.5 million to administer in 2007 and is expected to run at a loss in its inaugural season – as a consequence it is believed the ARU will withdraw funding from current club competitions.

So the state unions will be looking at a massive cost blowout in 2007. I suppose someone was going to have to take the fall for this but this could do what Randwick and Uni feared-bring the club competition to its knees.

The ABC has expressed interest in telecasting all matches in the new competition.

ALL matches! What bloody great news that is! The whole competition on free to air TV! The NRL can only get 3 a week, after years of struggling, and this competition gets 4 with a walk up start! However, it does say it's only an expression of interest. Hopefully there will be some other tender for the rights, be it 7 or Fox, which will drive the prices up to increase funds.

-----------------

All in all, this is bloody fantastic news for Australian rugby union. Finally the national competition we've so desperately wanted for years.

 

[Twizzle]

cautiously optimistic at this stage

but there is a huge difference between club rugby and S14 in Australia, this could go a long way to filling that gap, and perhaps improve the quality of our S14 teams over a period of time

 

[Timbo]

Three places for NSW in national comp
Ben Kimber, Greg Growden and AAP
Thursday, June 1, 2006

NSW will field three teams in a new national tournament that may threaten the future of the Sydney club competition.

A three-day summit on the future of Australian rugby ended yesterday with the game's power-brokers declaring it a success after it endorsed the third-tier, eight-team competition for next year.

NSW will field three sides, Queensland two, and there will be one each from Canberra, Perth and Victoria. Each squad will have 28 players.

The composition of the three NSW sides is now in the hands of the NSWRU, but its chief executive, Fraser Neill, last night virtually ruled out a Sydney club standing alone in the new competition, as Randwick and Sydney University have sought to do.

"I don't see how you could have a club stand alone when only three are allocated," Neill said.


David Mortimer, president of the Sydney University club, said the funds would have been better spent on grassroots rugby. "The program as proposed will surely result in a significant loss and that's money that would be better spent on the grassroots," Mortimer said. "The fix was in. It was exactly as foreshadowed, and if they think they won't be held accountable for their decision they've got another thing coming.

"This is a serious blow for those clubs that don't have the horsepower to regroup and fight the battle, but I'd be surprised if some of the bigger clubs weren't ready to take it to the next level."

The third tier will push Sydney's clubs back into amateur status, becoming feeder clubs for the new entities. It could have a serious impact on the viability of the Tooheys New Cup.

The NSW Rugby Union had forgone the opportunity to have a fourth team to ensure the inclusion of Victoria.

The competition will cost $2.5 million to administer next year and is expected to run at a loss in its inaugural season - as a consequence it is believed the ARU will withdraw funding from current club competitions.

The ABC has expressed interest in telecasting all matches in the new competition.

The competition will run from July 28 until October 14. This playing window is based on:

 The club season will no longer be broken into two competitions. Club rugby will run from March to July;

 It will begin after the Super 14 and the Australia A program;

 It will ensure the availability of Australian under-19 and under-21 players;

 Each team will play 10 to 12 matches, with the top four teams contesting the finals.

ARU boss Gary Flowers said he was thrilled Australian rugby would have a third-tier competition like New Zealand and South Africa. "It's been something that Australian rugby has been looking at for well over a decade," he said.

"The biggest issue has always been getting an agreement from all our broad stakeholders, and I think it's great we've got an agreement. It's the next big thing in Australian rugby."

Meantime, Wallabies back-rower George Smith backed up his success in the Brumbies players' player award by last night winning the 2006 Australian Super 14 player of the year award.

Smith, who tallied 35 votes, finished seven ahead of Peter Hewat, Stirling Mortlock, David Croft and Scott Staniforth. NSW prop Benn Robinson was named Super 14 rookie of the year, while the Waratahs' Ewen McKenzie was the Super 14 coach of the year.

Smith's ACT teammate - prop Bill Young - will seek a second opinion on the extent of his neck injury. Young, who is not out of contention for a Test front-row spot, is eager to continue playing.

Wallabies centre Matt Giteau rates himself as having no chance of playing against England on June 11, as he is not yet able to run after having minor knee surgery.

Waratahs back-rower Stephen Hoiles has been forced out of NSW's match against New Zealand Maori at the SCG tomorrow night because of a knee injury.

The Australian under-21 team had an impressive 45-12 win over the NSW Academy at Victoria Barracks yesterday, with Josh Holmes, Digby Ioane and Tatafu Polota-Nau all prominent.


This story was found at: http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/05/31/1148956419968.html

 

[bayrep]

I heard on Radio this morning that it would be an 8 team comp with 3 teams coming from Sydney with the other teams coming from ACT, Perth, Mel(?), Brisbane.

I only heard the report once when I was dashing out the door so dont quote me on the areas but I definitly heard 3 from Sydney and 8 teams in the comp.

 

[Timbo]

I'd be suprised if all three were from Sydney.

I can see...2? Perhaps? One playing out of Aussie and the other out of Waratah Stadium?

I'd be suprised if Newcastle wasn't included-Player numbers in the Hunter have exploded recently.

 

[Woods99]

I'd be suprised if all three were from Sydney.

I can see...2? Perhaps? One playing out of Aussie and the other out of Waratah Stadium?

I'd be suprised if Newcastle wasn't included-Player numbers in the Hunter have exploded recently.

Timbo,

I think it is pretty settled that the three NSW teams will be from Sydney. Probably Sydney City (Uni, Randwick, Easts and Souths) playing out of SFS, Sydney North (Manly, Warringah, Norths, Gordon) maybe out of North Sydney, and Sydney West (Eastwood, Parramatta, Penrith, West Harbour) playing out of Parramatta Stadium.

There would also be games at Gosford, I reckon. Players from the Illawarra and Hunter will no doubt be included by invitation.

 

[bayrep]

This has to be a huge step forward for Aus rugby. It will be interesting to see the new talent making it to the next level.

Who would be the favs out of the comp ?

 

[Timbo]

Timbo,

I think it is pretty settled that the three NSW teams will be from Sydney. Probably Sydney City (Uni, Randwick, Easts and Souths) playing out of SFS, Sydney North (Manly, Warringah, Norths, Gordon) maybe out of North Sydney, and Sydney West (Eastwood, Parramatta, Penrith, West Harbour) playing out of Parramatta Stadium.

There would also be games at Gosford, I reckon. Players from the Illawarra and Hunter will no doubt be included by invitation.

Where have you heard any of this? Randwick rugby I know for fact is up in arms that they have no involvememnt whatsoever in it, so I doubt that there'll be any representation from them in a merged club (per se).

 

[Timbo]

This has to be a huge step forward for Aus rugby. It will be interesting to see the new talent making it to the next level.

Who would be the favs out of the comp ?

Depends on who signs who. And which clubs lose most players to the Wallabies.

Probably one of the Sydney teams, but Canberra or Perth would be smokeys.

 

[bayrep]

Each club will cover a certain area and what ever area the feeder clubs are in then thats who they will play for. Does it sounds like it it will be an open market with th 8 clubs being able to buy players from any area ?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Maybe the distances in SA and NZ aren't as great and the players can still do their jobs and study at the same time as playing somewhere else.

There's no use in being deluded that rugby competitions can ever get to be like in those countries where they are the top code.

The difference with NZ is that the whole system is largely driven from the grass roots up, the vast majority of players who play for NPC sides are locals. The frequency of players relocating increases at S14 level.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

I don't think there's a different between NZ and Australia . New Zealand rugby is strong due to its school rugby and the same goes for Australia .
The kids leaving schools can only either go to a amateur club and makes its way up or go straight to the APC/NPC .
Remember there's hundreds of kids leaving schools each year and there's only eight teams in the new propose APC .
When Wales and Scotland wen't pro and form district/super teams alot of people were saying that it won't work .
But the new local semi-pro club premiership are very stronger in Wales and Scotland .
Ever since the S12/14 emerge in NZ in 1995 I have seen the amateur premiership club rugby in Auckland become stronger and clubs that were useless become stronger. Because the stronger clubs are now equal footing with the less clubs because of the non-appearing of its All Blacks/S14 players.

Give it time and it would only get better ! I don't think call it APC is a good name .

 

[rugged]

You are right, it shouldn't be called APC as we don't have provinces in Australia.

 

[Timbo]

ACC? They are clubs afterall.

 

[Timbo]

Clubs get heads around new ball game
Ben Kimber
Friday, June 2, 2006

WITH the announcement of an eight-team APC from next season, the posts have definitely moved for Sydney's premiership clubs - but NSWRU chief executive Fraser Neill is adamant those clubs will now find it easier to kick a goal.

The mood in club rugby circles yesterday was widely varied as the ramifications of three professional Sydney teams and a radically altered calendar were considered, but largely it seemed as if the clubs have accepted the powerbrokers' claims of a need for drastic change.

"Club rugby was trying to be something it's not and it's been killing itself," one prominent club official said. "This is an opportunity for a rebirth."

Under the plan, club rugby in its entirety is set to be played over around 20 weeks from March to July, finishing in advance of the APC when selected players will advance to the professional environment of the third-tier competition for 3 months.

The new calendar, and more importantly the composition of the three teams that will represent NSW alongside two Queensland sides plus teams from Canberra, Perth and Melbourne, are now the focus of the next battle for the NSWRU.


During the summit this week, one possible permutation floated involved the three sides all using four feeder Sydney clubs for entities that could be termed Northern Sydney (Gordon, Northern Suburbs, Manly, Warringah), Western Sydney (Eastwood, Parramatta, Penrith, West Harbour) and Southern Sydney (Eastern Suburbs, Randwick, Southern Districts and Sydney University).

"We're pretty disappointed in it, because we think they've overlooked the grassroots," Randwick president Ian North said. "If they take our good players away they'll take away our ability to attract more sponsors. I think they're forgetting there's 200 blokes wanting to play a game each weekend.

"If we can't bring as much money in, we can't look after all our players. In theory it's good to have that third tier, but they're forgetting the rest of the guys. I think it's time these blokes in the blazers came down and saw how it really works."

Neill maintains the move for the clubs will simplify their position on the pathway to Australian rugby's pinnacle, the Wallabies, and stated that the teams would not be simply a glorified academy program and that club involvement was crucial.

"I don't think this degrades the clubs at all," Neill said. "This is a new competition that differentiates very much from the club rugby. [But] it's one of the things that we identified, that there was some form of relationship between the clubs and the teams, that they [the clubs] felt they had ownership. The relationship between the clubs and the new teams is very important in strengthening this pathway for the players, which is what this is all about."

Problems loom, such as the ability to attract crowds and sponsors to new entities, the capacity of third-tier players to turn fully professional for only 3 months a year, and the full impact of the possible shift of money and crowds away from the wider base of club rugby that has been a support system for some time.

There are bound to be more than just teething problems for the competition, which ARU chief executive Gary Flowers revealed was set to be built on a base of around $2.5 million spent annually, but alongside the four provincial CEOs yesterday Flowers was buoyant and vowed to support the concept through what could be a difficult birth.

"It's a critical thing for Australian rugby to embark upon if we want to maintain our competitiveness at an international level over a longer period," he said.


This story was found at: http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/06/01/1148956479172.html

 

[aussies1st]

About bloody time! Hopefully we see more talent coming out of Australia now.

 

[Corbin]

I'd Bet Northern Sydney to be the strongest in the long run.

I actually play for the biggest Junior RU club in the SH. (Newport junior rugby club)

Games for Northern sydney would have to be at Pittwater Rugby Park

Corbin

 

[Timbo]

Nah, Norths will have to play out of North Sydney Oval or Brookvale, if for no reason other than the TV and Corporate facilities at Pittwater being pretty dodgy.

Interestingly enough the speculation that one of the sides will be a Randwic/Easts/Uni/Souths combo. co-incides with the announcement that Jubilee is getting another large upgrade.

 

[Timbo]

Power clubs to oppose national competition

Friday, June 2, 2006

Australia's two most powerful rugby clubs will oppose the formation of the new national competition.

Sydney University and Randwick will fight the introduction of the eight team Australian Provincial Championship which will start in July next year with three teams from NSW, two from Queensland and one each from the ACT, Melbourne and Perth.

Both argued to be included as stand alone entities in a national club competition rather than contribute to the creation of new teams.

"I don't think the debate is over by a long shot," Sydney University president David Mortimer said.

Randwick has formed a committee to challenge the ARU's decision.


"I can tell you we're very disappointed, we're looking at getting together to form some sort of solution," said one senior Randwick figure.

The ARU had been contemplating a third tier competition below Test and Super rugby for a decade and came to its decision following a three-day summit this week involving 70 key rugby identities including clubs, players and officials.

ARU chief executive Gary Flowers said the decision was based on unity at the summit.

Flowers believes the new competition will actually reinvigorate the clubs while providing greater depth for the national team.

"We believe it will breathe life into club rugby," Flowers said today.

"It will restore club rugby to the pathway for club players through to the new national competition, then the Super 14 and then the Wallabies."

But while many clubs were pleased with the process and outcome - Manly president Frank Ellis said it was a "win-win" - Uni and Randwick vehemently disagreed with Flowers.

Mortimer said the ARU could revive the fading club rugby scene by finding a way to allow Test and Super 14 players to turn out for their clubs in a national club competition.

"Club rugby has suffered for some years from a lack of players," Mortimer said.

"Our players are not allowed to play for us, club rugby would be invigorated if the players were allowed to play for us."

He said a national club competition including the top three or four clubs from Sydney and Brisbane was better than artificially creating teams from Melbourne and Perth.

"The same players would be available for a national club competition, only they'd be playing in a strip they're used to playing in," Mortimer said.

While Mortimer believed the new competition would put an end to ARU funding of club rugby, Flowers said there was a commitment to continued investment at the grass roots.

The APC will cost up to $3million to get off the ground and will run at a loss in its first year as the ARU looks for broadcasters and sponsors.

But it will find it difficult to attract either on a large scale with the APC's July-October season clashing with Australia's domestic Test series and World Cup in France.

The competition's structure is in its infancy with much work to be done in organising team locations, administration and staff.

The three NSW teams are likely to be based in Sydney's north, central-west and south-east, although the Illawarra and central coast are possibilities.

At least one of the Queensland teams would be in Brisbane while north Queensland and the Gold Coast were potential sites.

There will be no draft to start with and players will be free to choose their team, although there will be a salary cap.

Flowers said it was essential Australian rugby provided a better standard competition for its players after the Super 14 season in order to keep pace with New Zealand and South Africa.

The APC will unashamedly mimic the New Zealand model in which fierce rival clubs come together to form a regional team.

AAP


This story was found at: http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/06/02/1148956525019.html