Western Sydney Rams formally express interest in becoming 15th Super team

[travelling_gerry]

July 22, 2009

The Western Sydney Rams have formally expressed an interest in becoming the 15th team in the expanded Super rugby competition from 2011.

Rams spokesman, former Wallaby Brett Papworth, says Western Sydney is the rugby heartland in Australia and it would be irresponsible not to make a bid to join the southern hemisphere’s largest provincial tournament.

Prospective ventures have until 5pm (AEST) Wednesday to lodge their interest to the Australian Rugby Union, and it's expected bids will also come from Melbourne, the Central Coast and the Gold Coast.


AAP

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html

[travelling_gerry]

July 22, 2009 - 5:50PM

Wallabies great Brett Papworth believes the very survival of rugby union in Australia is dependant on the Western Sydney Rams being accepted as the 15th team in the expanded Super competition in 2011.

As chairman of the Rams' steering committee, Papworth on Wednesday mounted a compelling case for a second team in Sydney when his prospective venture formally lodged their expression of interest at being granted the 15th Super licence.

With an AFL team all but certain to be located in Sydney's west from 2012 and the possibility of an A-League team in the area up and running within 12 months, Papworth said it was imperative that rugby - and also rugby league for that matter - also shored up some of the football market.

"It is a massive part of Australia and in terms of the rugby codes, it is the heartland," Papworth said.

"You can't get away from this being the heartland.

"Look 20 years down the track, the north-west corridor of Sydney, the south-west corridor, it is a massive growth area. Can you imagine in 20 years the population in western Sydney and there is no rugby team? It makes no sense to us.

"The future of rugby is dependant on rugby winning the battle for the talented 13 to 15-year-old kids.

"You see, if they choose to play another game, then rugby (in Australia) is finished. Rugby league's finished.

"So you've got to be in the contest. Western Sydney's never been in it. The ARU has never really invested heavily.

"We would like to think this is a great investment in the future of the game and the more talented Kurtley Beales or Israel Folaus that come out of west of Sydney ... rugby needs to be an option for them."

The Rams' chief threat to the 15th license appears to be coming from Victoria, but Papworth argued that the Melbourne Storm were a perfect case study of the most successful team in the NRL still costing the league and major stakeholders News Limited millions of dollars.

"Going to Melbourne and being national, be careful what you wish for," he said.

"Western Sydney, we've got it captured. They are here. The players are here. The investment needs to be made here.

"Before you start going national or global, get your heartland in order."

Papworth admitted the Rams' interest was "in many ways, it's an unashamedly parochial western Sydney bid".

He nevertheless predicted the Rams might well draw bigger crowds than the NSW Waratahs do at the Sydney Football Stadium.

"It will require some serious marketing on our part, but I'm not sure that western Sydney (people) see the Waratahs as their team," Papworth said.

"The population here in the west don't necessarily duck out to the SFS on a Friday night to support the Waratahs.

"I think it is seen as an eastern suburbs, north shore private school-type set-up.

"I know for a fact Waratahs members are furious about them playing games at ANZ Stadium, so that gives you an idea of where they come from.

"I think the west would embrace a team that is there for them."

© 2009 AAP

http://news.rugbyheaven.com.au/break...0722-dtee.html

[mudskipper]

the broadcaster is not interested in a West Sydney team... it wont happen...

[shasta]

July 22, 2009 - 5:50PM


The Rams' chief threat to the 15th license appears to be coming from Victoria, but Papworth argued that the Melbourne Storm were a perfect case study of the most successful team in the NRL still costing the league and major stakeholders News Limited millions of dollars.

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But what he's not saying is that the Melbourne Storm are a perfect case study of what the ARU will hope to achieve in terms of Junior Rugby growth. The Storm has taken a while to get a following in Vic but it's been worth the expense. The Melbourne junior teams are coming along nicely with very little help from the Storm or the NRL. Their S.G.Ball Cup (U18) squad ventured into the NSWRL competition for the first time this year - and made the Grand Final losing to the Bulldogs who have been contesting it for about 50 seasons. Every player bar 1 or 2 were Victorian bred.

West Sydney might be a future move but Melbourne is the way to go at present. I reckon the AFL is on a hiding to nothing in West Sydney. The A-League is not going away whatever the other codes do.

For any other dual code trajics who like to keep up with this sort of stuff -Q Cup, JB Cup, country carnivals etc - The Barefoot Rugby League Show on NITV.

[jargan83]

West Sydney might be a future move but Melbourne is the way to go at present. I reckon the AFL is on a hiding to nothing in West Sydney. The A-League is not going away whatever the other codes do.

The only person who think thats the AFL will move into West Sydney successfully is Andrew Demetiou, alot of AFL commentators/media people think that other places such as Tasmania should get a crack first. It is Soccer and Rugby League out west in Sydney