2
![Not allowed!](images/buttons/down_dis.png)
![Not allowed!](images/buttons/up_dis.png)
I'm with Volvo. It would be disastrous to stack the force squad and destroy every other team.
The world knows the origin of this competition, it's vital that they avoid the impression that a rich sugar daddy has bought a bunch of teams specifically to lose to the force.
Since the WA fams are already committed, I reckon it'd be better for the force not to win in the first year. It'll seed confidence in the other teams and potential new markets that they actually gave a chance to win the prize, it will prove to fans that the level of competition is adequate snd it'll build a hunger in force fans to take the trophy in year 2.
Im not sure that third place would be healthy for the WA market, but a good, hard-fought finals series where the winner isn't assured is critical in my opinion
C'mon the![]()
![]()
Does anyone know when this announcement would be made..I wouldn't expect it to be later than 1pm Perth time if they wanted it on the news tonight in Australia
If Twiggy's on holiday in the boat, whose going to make the announcement?
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/pos...00888726610741
Could the news be what Volvo posted in the APD thread? New coach of Singapore and 8 players heading to singapore to play?
Let's hope we didn't wait 48hrs just for that.
From what we've heard the WF already has it's marque player in Jeremy Thrush.
Other teams may have up to 3 marques to help them grow the attraction and capability.
Has anybody gone along to watch the players at training?
Any feedback regarding other new players on the WF group?
The 24-48 hours post on FB was fake news by a GRR fan page that looks like the official GRR FB page but isn’t.
There will be no announcement today.
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Where were you when Andrew Forrest announced in November that he was signing up the best 100 players in the next two years to play Global Rapid Rugby? If you go on facebook and go to the Global Rapid Rugby page you can watch it. So unless you are assuming the majority of those best 100 players in the world being signed up are Western Australians and Australian players then it looks like most teams will have many many more than just 3 marquees each. Infact it looks like over half the teams will be Marquee players, so I'm sure between Cruden/ Giteau/ Donald/ Barnes and maybe even Barrett after the world cup I doubt anyone will blink an eye if we ended up with Carter. Plus it will attract unheard of fans to Force games, maybe even over 20k consistently by having potentially the best player of the last decade and one of the greatest All Blacks of all time.
The target was "around 20 of the best 100 players" ... so maybe 3 or so per team on average.
TBH, the assessment of the best 100 players is also quite subjective.
I wouldn't regard Thrush as in being that number, for example, although he's still a good player and suitable as a marquee.
Carter was definitely a guy who fitted the bill in his time (athough on his final lap or so now). Maybe we see more players of his ilk for 2020 (post RWC)
,
Fair enough, that sounds like a much better mix. Atleast teams will properly develop.
And Jeremy Thrush is definitely not a marquee player, the guy could barely make the All Blacks. He was a solid Hurricanes player at best, I really hope we get a better marquee than that, someone who is world class who can attract the fans. And no more Peter Grant please, he is at the point where he needs a walking stick to move.
So if there are only 20 marquee players divided by the number of teams then they must be intending to prop these teams up with non marquee foreign exports. News out of singapore is 12 players are heading North to singapore to play in Global Rapid Rugby
Half a dozen players from the South have headed off to play in Singapore but details appear light on the competition they are playing in.
Otago No8 Dylan Nel is believed to also be considering heading to the Lion City to play for the Asia Pacific Dragons in the Global Rapid Rugby competition
Halfbacks Kurt Hammer and Melani Matavao have signed to play for the Dragons and headed off last week. They will be joined by loose forward/lock Joketani Koroi and hooker Sekonaia Pole, who both play for the Harbour club. Hammer, Koroi and Pole are signed with Otago.
Also playing in Singapore is loose forward Naulia Dawai, who played for Otago in last year's Mitre 10 Cup. He was looking for an overseas deal and after being passed over by Super Rugby teams was happy to pick up an offer from the Singapore-based outfit.
Young Dunedin back Zac Harrison-Jones has signed with the Dragons. The Marlborough Boys' College old boy has yet to play for Otago but has impressed in club play and has a turn of speed.
Nel has been training with the Highlanders but it is understood he is working through a contract and there is a strong chance he may be off to Singapore. Nel is South African and after playing for a few years in Canterbury he came south last year to play for Otago during the Mitre 10 Cup. He is a robust, direct player and a player of promise. But he is a professional player and is chasing a deal. He has linked with the Green Island club for this season.
Otago winger Mitchell Scott was linked with a move to the Dragons and his future is up in the air.
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/so...head-singapore
That is alot of foreign imports in one team. Plus the 3 marquee players make 15 foreigners in the singapore dragons side alone. So this must be a way to get these teams up to a reasonable level quickly.