Southern Orcas

[GoldCoaster]

Wellington is one tenth the size of Auckland. with union being at least 75% of the juniors.

 

[Bengal]

The city of Wellington around 140-180,000
Greater Wellington anywhere from 320,000 up to 400,000 odd at a rough guess

 

[carlnz]

Its very easy to have that many players, they have also have Manawatu, Tarankai to call on.....and the amount of grades they have...thats registered players from 5 year olds to Bartercard Cup....

 

[Bengal]

Hmmm you're going outside of the Wellington now, best to call it the lower North Island catchment area incorporating both Wellington and what used to be Central Districts (Taranaki, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay).

 

[AuckMel]

http://www.irb.com/InTouch/Regions/UnionInfo.htm?Country=New Zealand

Just over 129,000 according to the IRB official stats.

 

[carlnz]

Their still is Central Disticts....Southern Orcas Covers from Manawatua down to Otago

 

[Martli]

I live in Wellington and as a youngin' (still am one, just an older youngin') I played union, since this was what my dad was into (and hence what I was exposed to) but there just didn't seem to be any oppertunites for a kid my age to play league, even though I never was really into it anyway. People just didn't seem to play it, atleast in my area of Wellington. But I reckon if a Wellington club were included in the NRL, it will do wonders. They have already said that they are going to start up an academy to develop junior players, even after the NRL decided not to expand. I will watch this venture closely since there still dosen't seem to be that many options for someone my age (16) to play RL in wellington, especially since my school dosen't have a league team.

 

[carlnz]

Thats the difference between rugby and league. Rugby is played during college but not at clubs. While League has the odd School team but you have to play for a club (u14, U15, U16, U17, U18)

To have an academy set up will be a excellent for NZRL.....We lose to many players to gayby, so we need to start offering our kids another oppertunity.

 

[Martli]

From what I've seen in the paper, league seems to go up to U15 or U14 down here (as far as junior grades go). I played all my rugby for a club and stopped when I got to college due to lack of interest. But you're right, you can't really play union at a club during college years.

 

[Iafeta]

Mispost.

 

[carlnz]

Its weird you say this, as Wellington are the best U18 side in the country - so you must think they have a storng system in place

 

[Martli]

^^They probably play in college teams, or they just play in senior teams.

 

[carlnz]

Well that with that academy being set up, Wellington will get stronger than Auckland in years to come....

Good to see the Billonare is sticking with the Orcas

 

[wydie]

Wellington now supply just as many Junior Kiwis as Auckland, although if Wellington doesn't get an NRL in the future I see more migration to Auckland, Aussie or England.

 

[carlnz]

Well Simon Mannering is moving to Auckland next year #-o

Wydie, im going to watch Wellington play this weekend...will be interesting to see how Josh Davis goes...

 

[Martli]

Well Simon Mannering is moving to Auckland next year #-o

Well, atleast it isn't Australia. Any word on weather he'll play for Wellington this week?

 

[Tidus_Raider]

If the Orcas do eventually get admitted into the comp why cant they go by the name of Wellington Orcas. What is with the 'Southern'.

Imagine trying to promote this team to non-league fans. Where is this team based? What region does it reresent? Is it south Australia, South Sydney, South Auclkland, South NZ or South Island. Maybe to the league fan the answer is obvious but to young kids growing up how will they be able to distinguish that a team called the Southern Orcas represents Wellington? Better yet imagine the NZ derby:

The New Zealand Warriors AKA Vodafone V Southern Orcas.

 

[Dr Crane]

Imagine trying to promote this team to non-league fans. Where is this team based? What region does it reresent? Is it south Australia, South Sydney, South Auclkland, South NZ or South Island. Maybe to the league fan the answer is obvious but to young kids growing up how will they be able to distinguish that a team called the Southern Orcas represents Wellington?

Not localising it to Wellington may improve the support base.

 

[carlnz]

Mannering is out acording to NZRL - but i hope he plays today! I think they have a good shot at beating the Lions.

The Southern is good for the name - meaning they have the whole south Island to choose from plus central NZ....

They would be a strong team..

 

[carlnz]

Wellington thrashed the top equal Auckland team Mt Albert Lions 38-16

Match report at www.rugbyleaguenz.com

Mannering played, and was simply outstanding - again!! Watchout NRL next year!