Sixth South African team will be introduced in 2016

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by MrPrez, Sep 4, 2013.

  1. Cribbage RG Cribb

    Except Australia doesn't have a domestic competition.

    There'd probably be more interest in one if Super Rugby collapsed - they'd probably just use the existing Super Rugby sides and create another couple to make it resemble a proper league - but Australia needs Super Rugby far more than the other two countries for this reason.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2014
  2. MrPrez CM Dyer

    Don't really think it'd be "in the spirit of the tournament" to give more SA teams. SA teams haven't been stronger than the other nations (despite the interest) and beyond that, it's best for the tournament that each nation is equally represented.
     
  3. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    It does as of this season. And I still don't buy the South African argument. School rugby is bloody big news here too. It wouldn't surprise me if School rugby is followed more than domestic cricket here too. I've definitely seen larger crowds for Petone club rugby than I ever have for a 4 day domestic cricket match. Also likewise, NZ schools have huge scouting networks across the whole South Pacific.

    Match attendance is a problem here, but it's only 6 years since the Hurricanes regularly sold out the Cake Tin for Super Rugby matches. The availability of TV coverage plus the devaluing of the product are likely causes of the reduction in crowd numbers.
     
  4. Furball G Furball

    You guys don't know how lucky you are, Super Rugby's great to watch.
     
  5. Julian BJ Taylor

    It did 6 years ago as well http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Rugby_Championship

    It was an absolute bust. They had zero interest and bled money. It will happen again this year, put your fucking house on it. I just glossed over the crowd numbers from the 07 tournament and from what I was told at the time by some blokes pretty heavily entrenched in Sydney Rugby all of those figures were at least double of how many were actually there. They had a couple of hundred people turn up to the grand final.

    After that debacle the best rugby players in their cities (who remember that) aren't going to want to commit to this year's comp either.

    ARU seem prepared to flush another several million dollars down the shitter.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2014
  6. Julian BJ Taylor

    Just found a separate article saying the ARU lost over $5 million in that season.
     
  7. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Quite. I remember it well. What are they planning to do differently this time?
     
  8. Julian BJ Taylor

    Call it the NRC rather than the ARC.

    They're forcing the City first grade comps to finish early I think so they can pick the eyes from Sydney and Brisbane club rugby. Many of those blokes are professionals elsewhere though and I find it hard to believe that they will commit without salaries that will better what they earn away from the game.
     
  9. Julian BJ Taylor

    They have a Qld and NSW country team. Will be interested to see whether they play at different venues. They should, that's the only way a rural team will generate crowds.

    Should go Wagga, Dubbo, Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, or something similar.
     
  10. jazman84 JM Eightyfour

    The ARC was disgusting tbh.
     
  11. jazman84 JM Eightyfour

    They really shouldn't be aiming it towards the professional players. I know that's what people would rather watch, but if they have a smaller outlay, then it wont be such a bust when it fails, but it might prove it's worth in increasing the level of competition in 2nd tier Union in Australia.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2014
  12. Julian BJ Taylor

    Mate it's not viable as an amateur competition.

    And non-pro or semi-pro players generally won't be interested unless they're paid pretty well because they'd be giving up salaries from their chosen profession to play over 3 months or whatever it is,.
     

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