coming together nicely, we just need some opposition now!...
Printable View
coming together nicely, we just need some opposition now!...
RugbyRoos kinda goes with Minderoo, who are organising and bankrolling the program.
Anyone have any news from Twiggy's meetings behind the iron curtain?
I still vote that Twiggy goes for the '20% (rounded up)' rule, whereby up to 5 from any 23-person Wobbly/rep squad can come from IPRC, regardless of which IPRC 'nation/city' they're playing for.
We can never expect deClyne & Co to accept IPRC dominating selections to the exclusion of their eastern SR complicit buddies - not until the board's gone, & SR's gone!
And besides, we don't want the Oz-eligible players ONLY playing for the mighty Force - we want an even/decent comp with folks of all nations spread through all the IPRC teams, with a fair smattering of 'local' content (don't we?).
Nick Taylor more mentioned signings to be announced within days.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/western...-ng-b88751638z
Indo Pacific Rugby Championship awaiting Rugby Australia approval
Nick Taylor | The West Australian
Tuesday, 20 February 2018 6:57PM
Nick Taylor
Rugby Australia has still not given a final tick of approval to the Indo Pacific Rugby Championship despite day-long talks in Perth today.
But RA deputy chairman Brett Robinson claims there are two possible paths for the new Western Force – play in a stand-alone IPRC or a “supercharged” National Rugby Championship.
However it is understood that IPRC is not backing away from its stand-alone plan and the NRC option is not high on the agenda.
IPRC is set to kick off in March next year but matches against Pacific Island teams like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and Super Rugby sides like the Crusaders and Brumbies are already being organised for the Force.
Robinson said after discussions with mining billionaire Andrew Forrest’s IPRC management that he would not make any statement to raise expectations about the future of the Force.
However he said: “We don’t see any significant hurdles to overcome or get in the way with the progression of IPRC in 2019.
“We don’t want to be a roadblock. We want to nut out the last sticking points around IPRC.”
Robinson said discussions were also held on a new SANZAAR strategy paper.
“It lines up what the world might look like in the next two three years,” he said.
“It looks at different options that SANZAAR has, the status quo or other options, including expansion in an Asia Pacific context.
“From the Force’s perspective that is probably the piece that is more relevant.
“We are keen to understand where we can assist in the IPRC or if there is a way to work on a supercharged NRC. We are not clear which path.
“The focus on SANZAAR is to make the existing competition work but at the same time look at what it could look like in 2021 and beyond.
“It comes down to expansion into Pacific Island and Asian markets, markets that Super Rugby are looking at, either through IPRC if we go down that path or through an expansion of the NRC.
“We can open up opportunities for those teams.”
One area that RA will not be shifting from is Wallabies eligibility.
Players can only qualify if they are signed to an Australian side or have played 60 tests if playing overseas.
“That is our position. It protects the integrity of our domestic competition,” Robinson said.
“In an IPRC world the WA team will be a vehicle for people to play for Australia.”
Forrest wants any Australian players lured back from Europe or Japan and playing in any IPRC sides to be eligible.
So it sounds like SANZAAR is positioning itself to take on the IPRC by expanding further into Asia with Super Rugby.
Also sounds like they want AF to fund the NRC to be a bigger Comp for them!! I hope they were told In so many words to get farked!!!😡
I can't see Twiggy "Super charging" the NRC. He has already stated publicly that the IPRC is going ahead regardless. He might still sponsor the NRC but the way Rats Arse is stuffing him around, he will probably pull that sponsorship before long.
I KNEW it! RA trying to inveigle themselves into the IPRC plans so they can look after themselves now they realise how close Super Rugby is to spiralling down, and RA have spent all the money with very few options on new broadcasting deals. Apart from Foxtel, who else have they got, Twiggy’s way ahead of them in nutting out the future potential markets in broadcast so the RA are now flailing around the SANZAR dead duck. Well done Minderoo for standing firm and letting the RA know who’s really in charge!
I actually think that Robinson is right and that Twiggy is wrong regarding Wallaby eligibility via the IPRC. Players should be eligible via the Perth (and it appears they are). Players should not be eligible via the other 5 teams (or eventually more) until the lay of the land is clearer. There are plenty of people who would love to see the death of Super Rugby. That is not in Australian Rugby's best interests and therefore is not ultimately in the Force's best interests. We may not like what has happened but we really need to draw a line in the sand and let that go. The other 5 teams could be easily populated by talent from their own countries along with the islands, NZ, South Africa, other areas or Australian players who don't think they'd make the Wallabies anyway (take a guy like Robbie Coleman for instance).
A super charged NRC is a stupid idea. Either we are in a top-flight competition or no competition at all. Good players will opt to go to an NRC team that also has a super rugby team attached. I don't particularly like the language coming out of Rugby Australia at the moment. It seems like they want to control what is happening. Funny. They destroy the Force and then they start talking about all of these options in Asia. Want to have their cake and eat it!
We want an ‘elite’ team back again AND a quality NRC team so WA players have exactly the same pathways and opportunities as NSW, QLD, VIC and ACT players. It’s not an ‘either or’, ARU, it’s a ‘both’!!