Should there be an international RL 9s tournament?

[Chip Kick]

the 9s format was played in the Pacific Games last year in PNG.
6 island nations took part in the event, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Island, Solomon Island and PNG.
Hopefully they include it in the Mini Pacific Games next year in Port Villa

 

[yakstorm]

Just like the World Sevems helped fast track international growth in the late 80s and early 90s, regular Nines tournaments could help Rugby League accelerate its current growth.

In my opinion though to give an annual circuit competition the best chance it can't involve NRL or SL players. From insurance, to issues with clubs and player pull out, pre-season or Test Match clashes etc, it's a pain the circuit can do without.

Using Union 7s, this event circuit does fine most years without any (or many) Super Rugby, Top 14 or English Premiership players. It also allows for League to put a focus on having teams filled with domestic players.

Taking out NRL and SL gives a real chance for Fiji, PNG and France to shine and of course gives many other nations the chance to compete.

For the elite players a Nines World Cup can be held every 2 - 4 years.

Places like Port Moresby, regional NSW/Qld, southern France, northern England, could all hold circuit legs and draw reasonable crowds allowing a 2 - 4 leg circuit to be held initially (allowing for future growth)

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Union sevens players are those not good enough to play tests or even stupid 15 for the most part and yet they are obviously fulltime players. I can't see a league equivalent making enough money to pay that many players to be fulltime as well as pay for all the travel and other expenses. The union series get big crowds and plenty of sponsors. A league nines would struggle to get either. At best it could be a one off tournament like Auckland and maybe a world cup every few years that could move around. The nrl don't give a f**k about growing the sport so they won't ditch Auckland for an international event and a world cup would have to fit into the international window and cycle.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Union sevens players are those not good enough to play tests or even stupid 15 for the most part and yet they are obviously fulltime players. I can't see a league equivalent making enough money to pay that many players to be fulltime as well as pay for all the travel and other expenses. The union series get big crowds and plenty of sponsors. A league nines would struggle to get either. At best it could be a one off tournament like Auckland and maybe a world cup every few years that could move around. The nrl don't give a f**k about growing the sport so they won't ditch Auckland for an international event and a world cup would have to fit into the international window and cycle.

It would be interesting if a 9s club tournament formed independently of the ARLC...

You would hope that they would find a way to coexist, but their would be the potential for a SuperLeague/RugbySchism to take place again.

I think the best case would be for 9s to become a big part of the International calendar (maybe with a semi-pro FFACup-style comp domestically).

9s would be a great tool for the International stage as we could take comps to new locations with more confidence (all of the marketing will be directed at 1 city/1 stadium)

 

[yakstorm]

Union sevens players are those not good enough to play tests or even stupid 15 for the most part and yet they are obviously fulltime players.

Whilst most Sevens players are full time now, when the concept started in 99 only the big nations had full-time players.

This is why the IRB use to cramp the tournament over 3-4 weeks (usually top and tailing a week in a month). This allowed people to play in the tournament and only take 4 weeks annual leave.

As for crowds, not all events draw massive crowds. The Wellington Sevens drew 14K both days this year and there have been events in the past that have drawn sub 10K crowds.

 

[siv]

When do you play it when the RLPA demands a 8 week break which is basically Dec and Jan

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Whilst most Sevens players are full time now, when the concept started in 99 only the big nations had full-time players.

This is why the IRB use to cramp the tournament over 3-4 weeks (usually top and tailing a week in a month). This allowed people to play in the tournament and only take 4 weeks annual leave.

As for crowds, not all events draw massive crowds. The Wellington Sevens drew 14K both days this year and there have been events in the past that have drawn sub 10K crowds.

So a circuit would be impossible unless using fulltime players, as i said. And how many venues would get 14k for RL 9s with no elite players in it? PNG would be about the only place. And the NRL can't even find anyone to sponsor the kangaroos. The money would not exist. A once a year event involving elite players like Auckland would be the only way. If it grew from there it might become something like what union has but I still can't see RL crowds watching second and third string players.

 

[yakstorm]

In 99, 34x nations took part in the RU7s circuit. Only 5x had full time squads. In 2016, 18x nations have taken part. 5x of those nations don't have full time squads including Brazil and South Korea.

RU started 7s from a far atronger base that RL is coming from, however that doesn't mean that we can't create a tournament circuit within our means.

If you feel that is impossible well that's fine ECT, but if we can get crowds near 10K in Canada and over 8K in Hawaii for games involving amateur players then maybe there are markets where we could get a small circuit of 2-4 games working.

As for the Kangaroos, they do have sponsors, just not a naming rights sponsor. Canterbury, Downer, Telstra, Coca-Cola Amatil and Fosters are all partners of the Roos. For some their inventory is limited to signage, corporate tickets. The NRL has attached a high price to the Roos kit and honestly Holden wasn't prepared to increase the amount they gave the NRL from last year so had to give up assets (they also reduced their ground signage spend on NRL rounds).

 

[Heritage XIII]

Whilst most Sevens players are full time now, when the concept started in 99 only the big nations had full-time players.

This is why the IRB use to cramp the tournament over 3-4 weeks (usually top and tailing a week in a month). This allowed people to play in the tournament and only take 4 weeks annual leave.

As for crowds, not all events draw massive crowds. The Wellington Sevens drew 14K both days this year and there have been events in the past that have drawn sub 10K crowds.

Not to mention their Moscow tournament had only 'hundreds' attend despite the propaganda and the London 7's seemed to have two tiers of the stadium empty. I think Sevens is not going to be the big thing rugby union wants it to be especially if traditional markets are already receiving flagging interrst like Wellington, London. Hong Kong and more recently Las Vegas have got great crowds but the Vegas one is seriously marketed like a frat party with lots of boozed up hype. Dubai & Hong Kong really keep their success due to those markets offering the expat community something to do in places where there, especially Dubai, not much going for the expat except another home-like outlet to add to their work life & probably good food & bars (even that is a stretch in Dubai)

 

[ozbash]

Union sevens players are those not good enough to play tests or even stupid 15 for the most part and yet they are obviously fulltime players.

no,, just no, you fool.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Great contribution f**ktard. But it's absolutely true. The sevens teams are Sydney grade players and other assorted nuffies.

 

[Knownothing]

Great contribution f**ktard. But it's absolutely true. The sevens teams are Sydney grade players and other assorted nuffies.

Some them will be Olympians. The women are faves for a Gold.


Nuffies.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

In 99, 34x nations took part in the RU7s circuit. Only 5x had full time squads. In 2016, 18x nations have taken part. 5x of those nations don't have full time squads including Brazil and South Korea.

RU started 7s from a far atronger base that RL is coming from, however that doesn't mean that we can't create a tournament circuit within our means.

If you feel that is impossible well that's fine ECT, but if we can get crowds near 10K in Canada and over 8K in Hawaii for games involving amateur players then maybe there are markets where we could get a small circuit of 2-4 games working.

As for the Kangaroos, they do have sponsors, just not a naming rights sponsor. Canterbury, Downer, Telstra, Coca-Cola Amatil and Fosters are all partners of the Roos. For some their inventory is limited to signage, corporate tickets. The NRL has attached a high price to the Roos kit and honestly Holden wasn't prepared to increase the amount they gave the NRL from last year so had to give up assets (they also reduced their ground signage spend on NRL rounds).

How is any of this evidence of a viable nines tour? Union is far stronger so no realistic comparisons there. 2-4 tournaments is barely a circuit anyway. And even then it will either require NRL and SL players or others that are going to have to be paid substantially. Canada doesn't get crowds near 10k. It has had a few inflated figures of 7k. Hawaii raises nothing for the game. There are almost no venues that could get 10k plus, especially not year on year. And 10k is nothing. And if the NRL can't sell the front of the roos jersey there's little hope of getting even a fraction of the sponsorship union gets. Not to mention the NRL would not lift a finger to support it. Plus RL people bitch about anything that isn't NRL or origin now, and won't support anything that doesn't feature the top players. Look at the attitude towards city/country or even NRL games during origin. They need to start with one off tournaments at major venues and get NRL and SL players to rep for the top 12 or 16 teams and even then it would require the NRL, sponsors and TV to support it. And it's still no certainty to pay for itself and succeed.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Some them will be Olympians. The women are faves for a Gold.


Nuffies.

I am aware the Vichy apologists are getting sand in their vaginas over the fact their amazing Olympians wouldn't even play NSW cup but that's the truth of it.

 

[Knownothing]

I am aware the Vichy apologists are getting sand in their vaginas over the fact their amazing Olympians wouldn't even play NSW cup but that's the truth of it.

Maybe some of Sevens players are not very good cricketers, either. So what?


Cricket is not an Olympic sport.

 

[ozbash]

I am aware the Vichy apologists are getting sand in their vaginas over the fact their amazing Olympians wouldn't even play NSW cup but that's the truth of it.

you wouldnt know the truth if you slipped over it..

 

[Last Week]

Time of the month ECT?

 

[adamkungl]

I'd be happy with a mini-circuit at the end of every year to end the international season. It'd be great to see in countries outside the usual 3 that host big tests and tournaments.

Could have low-cost regional tournaments in October to qualify for the main 16 team event in November.

Oh if I was in charge...

 

[siv]

It worked very well at U18s level

 

[The_Team_Won]

They should drop the format of only being a NRL based comp and open it up to teams from all over the world like the old ARL 7's comp.