Who would you like to see in the 20 marquee players?
For me, not necessarily in the top 100, but blokes I've enjoyed watching?
Sergio Parise, Richard Kingi, Mamuka Gorgodse, Rene Ranger, Richie Gray, Santiago Cordero, Justin Tipuric
Oh wait.. and Lee Halfpenny
Bismarck du Plessis
Manu Tuilagi
Alesana Tuilagi
Nemani Nadolo
Ben Volavola
Semi Radradra
Sitiveni Mafi
Tendai Mtawarira
Tim Nanai WIlliams
Greig Laidlaw
Chris Ashton.
Malakai Fekitoa
Fritz Lee
Dan Carter, James O'Conner, Sean McMahon, Makikia Fekitoa, Jaques Potgeiter, Zack Homes, Jerome Kaino, Bryan Habana, Israel Dagg, Sean O'Brien. a mix of some young guys and some experience is what these new teams will need to compliment what they already have IMHO.
Apparently Fiji will be the Drua bolstered by several overseas based Fijian. Should be a good team.
So essentially the 2017 & 2018 NRC Title Holders and Horan Little Shield holders will be two teams in GRR. That should do wonders for the NRC next year, I guess the NSW teams might have a chance in 2019 then. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by WCRugger
It should. Hopefully it will drive the NSWRU to really look to inject some real professionalism into its teams and help raise the NRC to another level. I know this may be an unpopular opinion here but I hope SR is able to right the ship and GRR grows to include a WS team. And both competitions can run side by side.Quote:
Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr
Then I hope the mooted Samoan team and the WS join the Force and Drua in the NRC playing against the current SR squads. I think that would make for a particularly interesting structure for the game in this country and region.
Habana has retired. Vermeulen has signed with the Bulls for Super Rugby.Quote:
Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr
But player/coach Jaques position which we had this although, although not coming to full fruition could be possible, nothing is impossible. Richie is retired too, but who knows, he might be sick of flying choppers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bakkies
I hoping for Dwayne Van Myulen
Dan Carter, Matt Giteau, Richie McCaw, Yannick Jauzion, James O'Connor, Lima Sopoanga, George Smith, .. could probably name some more
Is David Smith still playing? Could make an appearance for Samoa?
I don't think nationality comes into it other than where the teams are located Ali. Smith could play with any outfit (even here lol)
It kind of does for the PI teams. From what I understand Fiji will be represented by the Drua plus overseas based Fijian players and I suspect the same for Samoa. Which quite frankly should be the case as it gives PI players particularly from those nations opportunities to play at home and a clear pathway in order to do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by sittingbison
That's true.Quote:
Originally Posted by WCRugger
However, SB is talking about the marquee players contracted by Rapid Rugby, not players recruited by the various teams themselves.
Marketing aspects of these marquee names aside, the mechanism there is to provide for some leveling of player talent across the competition.
I would suggest suggest the bulk of these players will be playing in Asia because Asia is where this comp has to make its mark. The teams from Western Australia and the PIs will already be relatively strong. They might get a marquee player from Rapid Rugby itself. Or they might get none.
And I suspect that if they do get a marquee player they'll be Fijian/Samoan. Which again, is exactly how it should work in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiap