So, it is starting to become topical again due to SANZAR needing to resolve the future of Super Rugby this winter.
Apart from the best location for viability, which can be for a different thread, the other most raised concern is player depth.
This of course is why the ARC and APC were being developed, to build the numbers and depth of elite and near elite players within our shores however, as can be seen by the list below, it will be more of a case of attracting players home now.
There are still some very good players in Sydney and Brisbane Club Rugby who may play in positions we already have great depth in, or may be a little later in maturing, so they will also come under consideration.
Purely by way of demonstrating player depth, don't get too hung up on individuals, I have listed the players I have found who are listed playing in the NH this season.
There are certainly others I have missed, as well as those in English 1st Div at least.
The main point to consider is that the new entity will need to find 32 players from this list, Clubland and the other four S14 teams to come into existence, I think it is theoretically very realistic, with or without Pacific Island input.
2009 Northern Hemisphere Australian Players:
Props
Rodney Blake Aviron Bayonnais French Top 14
Ben Coutts Stade Montois French Top 14
Daniel Roach Ulster Magners League
Hookers
Alex Walker Saracens Guinness Premiership League
Locks
Mark Gilbride IBM Big Blue Japanese Top League
Michael Aldridge Rugby Roma Olimpic Italy Super 10
Cameron Treloar Rugby Calvisano Italy Super 10
Justin Harrison Bath Guinness Premiership League
Tim Swinson Newcastle Falcons Guinness Premiership League
Openside
Leiataua Tomiki Castres Olympique French Top 14
Flanker
Ben White Cardiff Blues Magners League
Blindside
Rocky Elsom Leinster Magners League
Backrow
Daniel Heenan Sanyo Wild Knights Japanese Top League
Number 8
Fotunuupule Auelua RC Toulonnais French Top 14
Toutai Kefu Kubota Spears Japanese Top League
Todd Ollivier Rugby Roma Olimpic Italy Super 10
Justin Purll Rugby Calvisano Italy Super 10
David Lyons Llanelli Scarlets Magners League
Scrumhalf
Matt Henjak RC Toulonnais French Top 14
Sam Cordingley FC Grenoble French Pro D2
Nic Berry Racing Metro 92 Paris French Pro D2
Tim Atkinson Kyuden Voltex Japanese Top League
Chris Whitaker Leinster Magners League
Flyhalf
Manuel Edmonds Aviron Bayonnais French Top 14
Brock James ASM Clermont Auvergne French Top 14
Christian Warner Rugby Roma Olimpic Italy Super 10
Tim Donnelly Connacht Magners League
Paul Warwick Munster Magners League
Shaun Berne Bath Guinness Premiership League
Chris Malone Harlequin FC Guinness Premiership League
Centre
Craig Gower Aviron Bayonnais French Top 14
Lachlan MacKay CA Brive French Top 14
Steven Kefu Castres Olympique French Top 14
Mark Gasnier Stade Francais French Top 14
Mafileo Kefu RC Toulonnais French Top 14
Chris Siale Tarbes Pyrenees French Pro D2
Josh Gamgee IBM Big Blue Japanese Top League
Nathan Grey Kyuden Voltex Japanese Top League
Peter-William Marrapodi Rugby Roma Olimpic Italy Super 10
Lloyd Johansson Rugby Viadana Italy Super 10
Rory Sidey Newport Gwent Dragons Magners League
Marc Stcherbina Newport Gwent Dragons Magners League
Greg Barden Bristol Guinness Premiership League
Ben Jacobs Saracens Guinness Premiership League
Utility Back
Mark Bartholomeusz Petrarca Padova Rugby Italy Super 10
Wing
Luke Rooney RC Toulonnais French Top 14
Lachlan Mitchell London Wasps Guinness Premiership League
Peter Miller Kyuden Voltex Japanese Top League
Fullback
Damian McInally Kubota Spears Japanese Top League
Brendan Williams Benetton Rugby Treviso Italy Super 10
Liam Bibo Connacht Magners League
Clinton Schifcofske Ulster Magners League
Peter Hewat London Irish Guinness Premiership League
Chris Latham Worcester Warriors Guinness Premiership League
And what's a big Burgs post without a selection involved so, without fear or favour (and wishing a couple of stars were just a little bit younger!), here is-
Burgs' 2009 Northern Hemisphere Australian XV:
1. Ben Coutts Stade Montois French Top 14
2. Alex Walker Saracens Guinness Premiership League
3. Rodney Blake Aviron Bayonnais French Top 14
4. Tim Swinson Newcastle Falcons Guinness Premiership League
5. Cameron Treloar Rugby Calvisano Italy Super 10
6. Rocky Elsom Leinster Magners League (C)
7. Leiataua Tomiki Castres Olympique French Top 14
8. David Lyons Llanelli Scarlets Magners League
9. Matt Henjak RC Toulonnais French Top 14
10. Brock James ASM Clermont Auvergne French Top 14
11. Lachlan Mitchell London Wasps Guinness Premiership League
12. Lachlan MacKay CA Brive French Top 14
13. Lloyd Johansson Rugby Viadana Italy Super 10
14. Brendan Williams Benetton Rugby Treviso Italy Super 10
15. Liam Bibo Connacht Magners League
16. Hooker
17. Daniel Roach Ulster Magners League
18. Michael Aldridge Rugby Roma Olimpic Italy Super 10
19. Daniel Heenan Sanyo Wild Knights Japanese Top League
20. Nic Berry Racing Metro 92 Paris French Pro D2
21. Manuel Edmonds Aviron Bayonnais French Top 14
22. Mark Bartholomeusz Petrarca Padova Rugby Italy Super 10
23. Prop
24. Prop
25. Hooker
26. Mark Gilbride IBM Big Blue Japanese Top League
27. Ben White Cardiff Blues Magners League
28. Tim Atkinson Kyuden Voltex Japanese Top League
29. Craig Gower Aviron Bayonnais French Top 14
30. Mark Gasnier Stade Francais French Top 14
31. Mafileo Kefu RC Toulonnais French Top 14
32. Chris Siale Tarbes Pyrenees French Pro D2