Rugby Australia to target top NRL talent

[shadowformz]

Melbourne’s rugby landscape opened up with Rebels’ demise – Storm are pouncing on the opportunity | Jack Snape

The NRL club hope to entice young rugby union players to league by investing in strong pathway programs while Rugby Victoria drags its heels

www.theguardian.com

 

[The Axe of Druss]

.

Haha, women's soo out rated the wallabies vs Lions.

Just shows what a boring and useless sport it has always been.

.

*is right now

RU was great in the late 90s early 2000s and i bet the crowd and TV data backs that up.

Its 100% a bloated, over legislated mess these days for sure though

 

[BuffaloRules]

*is right now

RU was great in the late 90s early 2000s and i bet the crowd and TV data backs that up.

Its 100% a bloated, over legislated mess these days for sure though

Guess it’s up to opinion …. I wouldn’t describe it as “great “ in the 90s …although the game seemed a bit more attacking and Australia was good which probably helped public interest ….

it was transitioning to a fully professional sport during that time … the players become full time and fitter and employed RL coaches which improved their defences but didn’t do much for the spectacle of the game

 

[Dark Corner]

*is right now

RU was great in the late 90s early 2000s and i bet the crowd and TV data backs that up.

Its 100% a bloated, over legislated mess these days for sure though

It seemed to grow from day 1 of turning pro 1996-2006 with the Force coming in then after that year by year it started to fall.
I presume the years 1979- 1984 were good times for Australian Rugby Union with the Bledisloe Cup win and then the likes of the Ella Brothers and David Campese and then again 1989-1995 with the Lions, World Cup win 1991 etc ?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Union going pro here should have been a club comp like every other comp around the world. I always looked at the two blues results. Super Union killed it, should have made that a SOO or world club championship. But aye, I'm a munggo, what would I know?

 

[Gobsmacked]

‘We are not an ATM’: Saudis deliver tough love for rugby’s dreamers https://share.google/TAKmJlQ81HC8amcdP

Anyone have access to the full article?

 

[Leighton Rhino]

‘We are not an ATM’: Saudis deliver tough love for rugby’s dreamers https://share.google/TAKmJlQ81HC8amcdP

Anyone have access to the full article?

Just Chatgpt that shit

Key Insights from “We are not an ATM” (The Australian, July 25, 2025)

Speaker & Role: Danny Townsend, CEO of Surj Sports Investment (a branch of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund).

Main Point: Saudi Arabia explicitly denies being a financial backer for the R360 breakaway rugby league.

Memorable Quote:

> “We don't just spit out money – we're not an ATM.”



He emphasized that although rugby might be of interest, it is not among the 20 priority sports in Saudi's investment strategy.

Townsend stated they’ve never met anyone connected to R360 and have had no conversations about investing in it—“for which I’ve never seen a single skerrick of information except what I’ve read in the media.”

 

[Canard]

OK that changes everything then.

Without Saudi money this is nothing.

It's @T-Boon multiball

 

[taste2taste]

Just Chatgpt that shit

Key Insights from “We are not an ATM” (The Australian, July 25, 2025)

Speaker & Role: Danny Townsend, CEO of Surj Sports Investment (a branch of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund).

Main Point: Saudi Arabia explicitly denies being a financial backer for the R360 breakaway rugby league.

Memorable Quote:

> “We don't just spit out money – we're not an ATM.”



He emphasized that although rugby might be of interest, it is not among the 20 priority sports in Saudi's investment strategy.

Townsend stated they’ve never met anyone connected to R360 and have had no conversations about investing in it—“for which I’ve never seen a single skerrick of information except what I’ve read in the media.”

Rugby Union isnt in thier top 20 sports to invest in

Good to see they have some common sense.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Just Chatgpt that shit

Key Insights from “We are not an ATM” (The Australian, July 25, 2025)

Speaker & Role: Danny Townsend, CEO of Surj Sports Investment (a branch of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund).

Main Point: Saudi Arabia explicitly denies being a financial backer for the R360 breakaway rugby league.

Memorable Quote:

> “We don't just spit out money – we're not an ATM.”



He emphasized that although rugby might be of interest, it is not among the 20 priority sports in Saudi's investment strategy.

Townsend stated they’ve never met anyone connected to R360 and have had no conversations about investing in it—“for which I’ve never seen a single skerrick of information except what I’ve read in the media.”

If this is true, all the journalists that have been talking about this need to give themselves an uppercut. Did they not make a few quick calls before reporting on players that could potentially go to a league with no financial backing on million dollar contracts?

 

[Gobsmacked]

If this is true, all the journalists that have been talking about this need to give themselves an uppercut. Did they not make a few quick calls before reporting on players that could potentially go to a league with no financial backing on million dollar contracts?

They literally filled headlines and sold papers..that's literally their job and lively hoods depends on it , well clickbate anyway.

There was a journalist on NRL 360 who said directly that thier sources say that this is absolutely nothing to worry about and will never get off the ground- so top marks to him ( fat bald bloke with glasses) , he gained credibility from me because of it.

But generally these things are what makes the news world go round. A bit of speculation, imagination ect.

Let's be honest.. it's been fun to play devils advocate.

 

[Wb1234]

They literally filled headlines and sold papers..that's literally their job and lively hoods depends on it , well clickbate anyway.

There was a journalist on NRL 360 who said directly that thier sources say that this is absolutely nothing to worry about and will never get off the ground- so top marks to him ( fat bald bloke with glasses) , he gained credibility from me because of it.

But generally these things are what makes the news world go round. A bit of speculation, imagination ect.

Let's be honest.. it's been fun to play devils advocate.

Sounds like Andrew Webster ? He’s a Union fan first anyway so if him would know

 

[T-Boon]

OK that changes everything then.

Without Saudi money this is nothing.

It's @T-Boon multiball

Except I do have Saudi $$. We are one of the 20 sports. They think we can be the best sport in the multi verse.

 

[gerg]

They literally filled headlines and sold papers..that's literally their job and lively hoods depends on it , well clickbate anyway.

There was a journalist on NRL 360 who said directly that thier sources say that this is absolutely nothing to worry about and will never get off the ground- so top marks to him ( fat bald bloke with glasses) , he gained credibility from me because of it.

But generally these things are what makes the news world go round. A bit of speculation, imagination ect.

Let's be honest.. it's been fun to play devils advocate.

Probably just a tactic to garner some interest in the Loins tour.

 

[Canard]

On a scale of 1 to "There will be a 10 team pro RL comp in the US by 2025", where does this sit?

 

[Billythekid]

On a scale of 1 to "There will be a 10 team pro RL comp in the US by 2025", where does this sit?

I’ve been reading about that on these forums for what feels like the last 15 years. This seems like it’ll blow over a lot sooner.

 

[taste2taste]

On a scale of 1 to "There will be a 10 team pro RL comp in the US by 2025", where does this sit?

USARL had sold team licenses and had multiple TV broadcaster offers on the table !

Kick off all set for April 2025 !!!

R360 has also sold team licenses and has multiple TV broadcasters offers on the table.

Make of that what you will

 

[Gobsmacked]

USARL had sold team licenses and had multiple TV broadcaster offers on the table !

Kick off all set for April 2025 !!!

R360 has also sold team licenses and has multiple TV broadcasters offers on the table.

Make of that what you will

Moral of the story:
Don't buy team licenses for comp that don't exist.

 

[Jetka100]

They literally filled headlines and sold papers..that's literally their job and lively hoods depends on it , well clickbate anyway.

There was a journalist on NRL 360 who said directly that thier sources say that this is absolutely nothing to worry about and will never get off the ground- so top marks to him ( fat bald bloke with glasses) , he gained credibility from me because of it.

But generally these things are what makes the news world go round. A bit of speculation, imagination ect.

Let's be honest.. it's been fun to play devils advocate.

Are people suddenly realising most sports journos are just speculating and making stuff up? It’s like whenever James Hooper speaks about a player’s contract amount. You know he’s making it up, the rest of the panel knows he is making it up, he knows everyone knows he is making it up, but we all just play along.

 

[The Man Shake]

Just Chatgpt that shit

Key Insights from “We are not an ATM” (The Australian, July 25, 2025)

Speaker & Role: Danny Townsend, CEO of Surj Sports Investment (a branch of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund).

Main Point: Saudi Arabia explicitly denies being a financial backer for the R360 breakaway rugby league.

Memorable Quote:

> “We don't just spit out money – we're not an ATM.”



He emphasized that although rugby might be of interest, it is not among the 20 priority sports in Saudi's investment strategy.

Townsend stated they’ve never met anyone connected to R360 and have had no conversations about investing in it—“for which I’ve never seen a single skerrick of information except what I’ve read in the media.”

Those Saudi peasants. They obviously don’t understand how the upper crust operates. First you break out the Pimms and the cucumber sandwiches. And then you sign off on the private equity deal. Huzzah.