Here's a question I've been wondering about for a while now: if you moved or extended your season back into spring so players couldn't play both Union and League, how many of your players would stick with League?
It Depends on a number of factors. For example, Jacksonville has been around awhile and they have been very successful. Furthermore there are not any Superleague (union) teams in the area, and im unaware of the local union clubs divisions.
Travel up the coast to NY, Philly, DC, Boston, New Haven. They all have Superleague Teams (union) in addition to D1 clubs. This makes things more complicated as the Superleague clubs main season is in the spring.Furthermore if any of the other divisions (d1, 2, 3,) make the playoffs in the fall, they too would continue in the spring. I cannot speak for those clubs as I am unaware of how many players if any come from a union club.
For the Rebellion, we wouldn't exist. Many of my players are still in University and none of the mens club players knew anything about league, and what they did know was completely negative and inaccurate. This misinformation comes from old boys stories about league being not true rugby and evil. That was the biggest hurdle i have, and i only obtained a few players from the union mens club, as i said most of them are university age. Throughout the course of the season some of the union players warmed up to the team after they came and saw a game and the fact that we play infront of a couple hundred people. Even with all the media attention (when i speak to reporters they didnt even know of the union's club existence) i still am treated with contempt from older union players. ( i personally think its because they don't believe they can handle the game, or its because i have made more headway in 6 months then they have in 5 or 6 decades).
Also the history of the stability and level of competion in the past still lingers in peoples minds. In the past having played in the AMNRL there have been teams that forfeit constantly or show up with 9 guys 2hrs late. This has turned off a lot of players, because the lack of competition made them question what was the point of investing all their time and energy for something that at times was a bit of a joke.
There are a few ways that this can be overcome but it wont be anytime soon.
1) Standards, financially and structurally.
2) Consistency, in competition, in fan attendance and in development.
3) Advertising and Marketing - What player wouldnt want to have the chance to play infront of a few thousand people
4) Not lying to players and teams. If your going to start a pro-comp, if your going to be on national tv, if your going to guarentee teams games you better follow through. If not put that as a long term goal instead of something that is actually happening. (fool me once shame on you, fool me twice im outta here)
5) Making a sincere and earnest attempt at youth development. - Look at play rugby.
6) Hard work and Dedication - if you want to make this happen and make Rugby League not be an obscure sport played by a few clubs here and there it takes hard work and determination. if your not self motivated dont screw it up for everyone else.
7) Putting Rugby League first and not ones self interest. Im not saying we shouldnt be intrested but when your making decisions you need to ask yourself what the effect on the game will be on the future, if it wont benifit it you will get more respect by swallowing your pride and acting in the best interest in the sport.
----- And when one does this they shouldnt have their face rubbed into their failure, rather they should be given credit for their accomplishment and praised for their humility.
8) MONEY - IF ANY OF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN WE NEED MONEY AND WE NEED IT SPENT IN THE RIGHT PLACES.
--- TRAVEL AND FIELDS
---- MARKETING AND ADVERTISING
----------------WITH MARKETING AND ADVERTISING YOUR ABLE TO OBTAIN SPONSORS BECAUSE THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL YOU HAVE A PRODUCT TO SELL THEM. MEANING CROWDS, AND A HIGH LEVEL OF PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN THE SPORT.
---- AND OF OURSE YOUT DEVELOPMENT. THAT IS TO SAY NOT 1 OFF CLINCS BUT ACTUAL TEAMS FROM A YOUTH AGE LEVEL ON THORUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
-- FOR NOW COLLEGE ISNT A CONCERN AS THEY CAN COME AND PLAY IN HOPEFULLY A SUBDVISION OF A HIGH LEVEL TEAM.
This may seem like a tall task but my motivation has come by this wise saying.
--- Sow much, reap much; sow little, reap little.
---When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people.
in summation - it can happen but it will take time. Right now i am trying to cooperate with the union club in my city, in addition to the college clubs. Demonstrate how they are able to benefit from the Rebellion as opposed to a social 7s side that plays 1 to 4 tournaments a year socially from which their players return in the fall playing 7s rugby as opposed to 15s rugby union, which causes their offense and defense to deteriorate.
