Where should the 15th franchise go?

[tic]

No brainer - Japan. If they go with Melbourne, the ARU might as well bring in the liquidators now. Melbourne people will not support rugby - simple. Melbourne people call the Storm, a rugby team - they don't have a clue about the difference. As for the crowds for rugby tests in Melbourne, don't be fooled, a BIG % are fly in/fly out spectators.

There should be no consideration of another Australian team for many, many years. The introduction of the Force created a very big drain in depth. The result has been to weaken provinces like ACT and Qld with the Reds only starting to now rebuild their depth - this has had an obviously devastating affect on crowd averages that are now down to around 20000.

We must give the four Australian teams a lot of time to recoup/consolidate. Whilst the Force have been very pleasing these past two years, they also need time to consolidate - particularly if there are some key player losses in the next two years.

[GIGS20]

The USA it's simple, they have stacks of cash and a clever executive will be able to stitch together a massive TV rights deal with SOME cable TV operator even if it's not the flagship ESPN

There will be the sponsorship money to handle travel etc
You will surely find a place that will fill a 100,000 seat stadium for just about anything in the US, you thought Melbourne was mad about sport!

Logistically and historically it's stupid, this expansion is IN NO WAY about logistics or history, it's about money!

[beige]

Where was Argentina on the list?

They would appear to be on the cards for further expansion but not for this initial 15th franchise...

[Seldom]

Japanese Team based in Singapore?????

[beige]

Japanese Team based in Singapore?????

I know we all look the same, but...

[Seldom]

I know we all look the same, but...

The idea was that the travel time is then cut by half. You could also do a saffa trip via Sing'ers on the way

[jargan83]

might have worked in 1942 i guess. I thought if you wanted to open Japan up to Rugby wouldn't you need to play the games in Japan so the Japanese people can see it?? A Pacific Islands team on the Gold Coast would work because apparently theres alot of them there (i say apparently because i am going by word of mouth)
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[Flamethrower]

Allegedly

[thunderchicken9]

A US team, based maybe in Australia or - Hawaii - if California's too far - would be awesome!!! Hawaii has the benefit of there being no major professional sports league to compete against!! - Rugby would be given full attention!!! Not sure if there's a natural grass field in a sizable stadium on Maui or Oahu.. Seems that the University of Hawaii still plays on crappy synthetic turf...

oh yeah, Belated Congrats to the Wallabies!!!!!!!!!!!

[BLR]

^ That's an ideal idea, what's the population in Hawaii however?

[beige]

The idea was that the travel time is then cut by half. You could also do a saffa trip via Sing'ers on the way

Yeah I know I don't think it would work though. I agree that a Japanese team should play in Japan - otherwise, if they're gonna base a team closer to here, I'd just go with the Pacific Islanders...

You ever seen a Hawaii Warriors football game, BLR? Awesome!

[thunderchicken9]

^ That's an ideal idea, what's the population in Hawaii however?

Oahu is about 780,000.. total for all the islands is between 1 and 1.1 million. By comparison California's around 30 million... Hawaii is much closer than California though. Hawaii's worth considering at some point, diverse culture, great weather.... Unless the Super 14 want to check out Fresno(!)

[BLR]

Oahu is about 780,000.. total for all the islands is between 1 and 1.1 million. By comparison California's around 30 million... Hawaii is much closer than California though. Hawaii's worth considering at some point, diverse culture, great weather.... Unless the Super 14 want to check out Fresno(!)

Well Hawaii is ideal because of the fact that it's close to the Pacific Islands and Japan if any future expansion is needed. The lack of other sporting teams is good as it can tap into the market more successfully then it would do in the mainland. Plus Pacific islander players.

[Seldom]

Hawaii, good place to convert forwards!!!!!!

[beige]

Plus Pacific islander players.

There are actually more Japanese than Polynesians in Hawaii, so it ticks that box. Plus it's a US state, so it ticks that box. Hmm, I'm interested now...

Screwy time zone though - the Warriors had a quarterback named Colt Brennan, that experts regarded as the best in the country, a couple of years ago but most people in the US hadn't seen him cos they were already in bed by the time he played.

In Japan's favour, they have 126 000 players who are mostly conveniently located around the Greater Tokyo area. JRFU headquarters is the 25 000 seat Chichibunomiya stadium in Tokyo, so you get a fraction of those people, plus some members of the general public, and that stadium will look mighty impressive. Issue of competitiveness obviously (although there are good foreign players like Reuben Thorne, who don't necessarily qualify for Japan, based over there who could play for them).

With the PI team, you got the players, the unions want 'in' and the location is a lot more convenient but doesn't really open up revenue streams (although they do facilitate the expanded comp either way, which brings in money of its own).

And I don't think Australia's ready for the other two options.

(Incidentally, I still haven't voted myself...)