Balmain Rugby Revolution

[Invictus]

$1 million rugby revolution led by Balmain
Inner West Courier 6 Sep 12

A KERRY Packer-style revolution of rugby union is being planned, with Balmain Rugby Club in discussions with Channel Ten and Fox Sports about staging a new million-dollar competition.

Balmain president Warren Livingstone, who has previously brought internationals Sabastien Chabal, Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau to play for the suburban rugby club, is behind the idea.

The founder of Aussie supporter group The Fanatics wants to establish a competition that bridges the gap between Super Rugby and the Shute Shield.

The eight-team competition would start after the Super Rugby season ended and include double-headers at Leichhardt Oval on Friday nights.

Teams would be made up of Super Rugby players not selected for the Wallabies, emerging young players, rugby league converts and international marquees.

Prizemoney of $1 million would be offered on a “winner-take-all” seven-week competition, which would be made up of Sydney clubs including Balmain.

Just as cricket changed when the World Series Cricket was started in 1977 – recently documented in Channel 9′s Howzat: Kerry Packer’s War – Livingstone said a similar revolution was needed in rugby.

“This isn’t supposed to be anti-establishment, but something new is needed,” Livingstone said.

“The reality is something new needs to come along, because the Shute Shield’s days are numbered.”

Livingstone, who has helped guide Balmain from suburban fifth division in 2005 to promotion to first division next year, said the unnamed competition would look at rule changes to make it more attacking.

“It’s got to be based on attacking rugby if it’s on prime time,” he said. “With the rugby league double-headers on Channel 9, we want to offer something to other networks to show.”

Former Wallaby Ryan Cross, who now plays with Balmain, said a competition to bridge the gap between Super Rugby and Shute Shield was needed.

“South Africa and New Zealand have the Curry Cup and ITM Cup, but we haven’t got anything,” Cross said.

[beige]

I'll believe it when I see it. I don't have anything against a club-based approach, or even having the competition based in Sydney in principle, but unless they include players from Queensland and elsewhere in the country the standard won't be any higher than the Shute Shield and thus won't fill that gap in the 3rd tier. I imagine the established clubs won't happily release their players to take part either.

[Invictus]

I agree, confining it to Sydney clubs will automatically limit your market/audience to the point where you would think broadcasters would not be interested.

Have to admit that I find the Sydney-centric east coast arrogance particularly agravating today...

[beige]

Still, whatever comes of it, I am at least glad that people have decided to show some initiative and do something on their own.

[DinkyDi]

Like it or not - until they can the rather ridiculous National Academy, what are the up and comers supposed to do to get seen? Nucifora has to go and the ARU needs to re-establish funding to the professional sides to run their own academies again.

Currently, unless you are in Sydney/Brisbane you are nowhere as far as the ARU are concerned. The creation of the next tier competition has to start somewhere - I am in favor of anything that can expose young talent and get them playing at a higher level than they currently can. However.. these kids need to live. Finding work in Sydney is difficult and the cost of living can be prohibitive for WA/SA boys trying to have a crack.

Not sure what the answer is baring getting rid of the current administration and reviewing and replacing the current defunct systems... private ownership has its place

[travelling_gerry]

[Invictus]

Like it or not - until they can the rather ridiculous National Academy, what are the up and comers supposed to do to get seen? Nucifora has to go and the ARU needs to re-establish funding to the professional sides to run their own academies again.

Currently, unless you are in Sydney/Brisbane you are nowhere as far as the ARU are concerned. The creation of the next tier competition has to start somewhere - I am in favor of anything that can expose young talent and get them playing at a higher level than they currently can. However.. these kids need to live. Finding work in Sydney is difficult and the cost of living can be prohibitive for WA/SA boys trying to have a crack.

Not sure what the answer is baring getting rid of the current administration and reviewing and replacing the current defunct systems... private ownership has its place

Limiting any such competition to Sydney clubs only does not help develop players from WA or VIC (or QLD/ACT for that matter). A broader based solution is required with teams from each area supporting an SR side at the very least.

[DinkyDi]

I wholeheartedly agree with you Invictus - however in the current climate of Easter States focus this is what is happening - if the comp is open to players from all over Australia then it is of short term benefit. In the long term a truly national comp is required probably using the SR "A" teams as starting point. Another issue was that even though the ARC was national.. how many WA players actually we given a shot in the Perth team? No a criticism but I cannot remember.

[James]

I wholeheartedly agree with you Invictus - however in the current climate of Easter States focus this is what is happening - if the comp is open to players from all over Australia then it is of short term benefit. In the long term a truly national comp is required probably using the SR "A" teams as starting point. Another issue was that even though the ARC was national.. how many WA players actually we given a shot in the Perth team? No a criticism but I cannot remember.

It's a very fair point, but that was then and this is now. I think the quality of local talent would be much higher now than it was then. I count about 6 locals in the squad of 28 according to Wikipedia. A couple more were probably used. You'd have to use some of your fringe Force players but I reckon you could have 50% local and 50% current Force players if we had a new comp.

[beige]

Interesting that the Rugby Club denied the story tonight but the News Ltd press will still be reporting it tomorrow - somebody in that organisation is being kept in the dark. The latest reports say a 6 week competition featuring private franchises divided into Sydney and Brisbane conferences.

What they do agree on is that the ARU is looking into the feasibility of an U21 competition between the five Super Rugby franchises.

[DinkyDi]

That would be a start re the U21 comp - I cant see Rugby WA flying in too many U21 players from over east so it could mean great exposure for some of the local lads

[beige]

That would be a start re the U21 comp - I cant see Rugby WA flying in too many U21 players from over east so it could mean great exposure for some of the local lads

It's another one of those "wait and see" things - the ARU talked about that a year or two ago and they ended up canning the academies instead...

[DinkyDi]

It's another one of those "wait and see" things - the ARU talked about that a year or two ago and they ended up canning the academies instead...

So true- nothing will happen until the ARU grow some balls and commit to the growth adn development of national rugby... fly pigs i fear until JON and Nuci find other sports to screw up

[beige]

So true- nothing will happen until the ARU grow some balls and commit to the growth adn development of national rugby... fly pigs i fear until JON and Nuci find other sports to screw up

When he was at the FFA, what eventually became the A-League model was actually delivered from outside (the players association to be specific after they commissioned an external report) and JO'N had the good sense to run with it. Maybe if this Balmain thing turns out to be anything more than a fevered dream he'll do the same - it won't be his funds after all.

[Invictus]

$1 million rugby revolution

September 7, 2012
A story broke yesterday about Balmain Rugby Club’s involvement in a $1 million rugby revolution currently being developed. With that in mind here is some clarification on our plans and its ‘wrinkles’.

Since March this year we have been working on the creation of a 3rd tier competition to supplement the development of rugby in Australia. Over that time we have worked on different models while trying to maintain a strict fiscal discipline to ensure that this is an achievable goal and not a pipe dream. We are now a lot closer to that goal but there is still a long way to go.

Our plan is not anti-establishment, instead we are developing a viable solution and we will be working with the various bodies to ensure its success.

Our proposal includes the realignment of club competitions to match the Super rugby finishing date which would free up players to compete in this competition while The Rugby Championship was played.

We believe there is a window in late August, September and early October each season for an attractive rugby product using players that do not make the Wallabies 30 player squad, alongside young developing players. It would act in part as a selection tool for Australia’s rugby franchises and assist them with assessing talent in a higher standard than premier rugby. We know from our discussions with these franchises that it is a concept they would support.

This competition will be similar to the 3rd tier competitions currently existing for the last two World Cup winning nations New Zealand and South Africa; the ITM and Currie Cups.

Our short term plan is based on building a sustainable competition by managing overheads. The vast majority of rugby followers agree that a completion like the proposed is a tremendous opportunity but the barriers to entry are primarily fiscal.

Conscious of this we have decided, at least in the first season, to concentrate on two conferences; one in Sydney and the other in Brisbane. It is then hoped once the tournament proves itself that we will expand into other rugby strongholds in Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and potentially NSW Central Coast, NSW & QLD country.

In the first season each Sydney and Brisbane conference will have 6 privately funded teams based on districts that will appeal to a broad supporter base.

By keeping participating teams to 12 in the first year we believe the returning players from each Australian Super rugby franchise (30 contracted players + 5 extended playing squad members) will strengthen these teams beyond what is possible in premier rugby.

The introduction of 5 Super rugby franchises has undeniably diluted the standard in premier rugby competitions and the well documented financial challenges of these premier clubs have been exacerbated by the player drain to Super rugby. All clubs have an important part in Australian rugby but the cavernous hole between club rugby and super rugby is only getting bigger.

The Australian Rugby Championship in 2007 provided this bridge between club and Super rugby and produced some tremendous rugby while uncovering current Wallabies such as Kurtley Beale and Lachie Turner. But the high cost of travel dictated for the new proposed tournament that we would need to look at a different model, at least in the first instance that is played in cities where travel is reduced to short commutes.

New Clubs will be created and all 12 teams will be privately owned. Importantly we would not have promoted this concept without the substantial interest in ownership from individuals we have targeted and we are confident that creating these Clubs with inspired owners will not be a speed hump.

The basic premise of this competition is the promotion of developing footballers – providing pathways that will once again make Australia a great rugby nation yet at the same time appeal to the rugby faithful who have come out and overwhelmingly endorsed the idea.

To develop young footballers all 30 man squads must be made up of at least 10 players under 22 years of age. Marquee signings will be encouraged and will be outside the modest salary cap. Non-marquee players will receive modest match payments with the opportunity to win the $1 million prize money. They will be part-time players and will need to supplement their incomes with other employment or rugby contracts.

This competition won’t make players rich but it will provide players increased exposure to potential future employers while continuing their development via contact in game situations with a higher standard of players, teams and coaching.

The season will be short and intense. 5 games will be played in each conference with the top 2 teams from each conference playing off in the conference Semi-Finals – Sydney 1 v Brisbane 2, Brisbane 1 v Sydney 2. Winners will go through to the Grand Final.

Matches will be played at times attractive for television such as Friday night double headers at 6:30pm & 8:30pm. These matches will be played at suburban grounds; eg Leichhardt Oval, Redfern Oval with low entry fees offering fans value for money. Sunday afternoon games will be played at 4:00pm with mid-week night games as the tournament develops.

Earlier this year we spoke in confidence, to key decision makers at Fox Sports and Channel 10 about the concept of a 3rd tier rugby tournament and the resulting proposal we are developing is based on their feedback.

It is without doubt a work in progress and we look forward to the continued refinement to make this an attractive product for television and Australian rugby fans. Watch this space! We Are Balmain.