Brumbies call for new competition

[James]

if they want a genuine second tier comp this isnt the right option, super14 barely draws enought interst on its own let alone a second tier of it drawing any interest.

It could however work as a fix in the short term, maybe have a home and away series against all the other Australian sides.

Doesn't have to be a long term competition but for the first few years of Super 15 we'll have more games = more injuries and another team = less squad depth for everyone. It'll be getting and keeping those fringe players match fit and better prepared for the Super 15.

[beige]

And, as we mentioned in another thread, they're playing most of these games anyway so may as well link them together with a points table...

[PerthGirl]

Someone send a message to JON

[Working Class]

Such a set up would also provide an opportunity to introduce a couple of other Academies to further bolster overall depth. Considering the need for further development in Sydney's West a second Sydney based Academy aswell as another Queensland one could enter.

[beige]

I'd prefer just to keep it basic personally - that's the strength of the idea.

[Burgs]

K.I.S.S. hey Beige?

[GIGS20]

Yes, but the idea of opening up the second tier to franchises which would be lobbying for an expansion slot isn't flawed either. It would ameliorate some of the pain which a Melbourne startup would cause by giving them a head start on the development pathway. Possibly even allow them to develop some talent which is S16 ready on their own before a ball is kicked.

The ARU would, of course have to be of the opinion that the development pathway is worth the inevitable losses it would suffer in it's early years though.

[Working Class]

I doubt they'd enter immediately but over time. How I see it such competition would be the perfect opportunity to build the necessary depth not only for the existing SR teams but for any possible new ones in the future.

The best thing about this is the A squads will hopefully be exposed to the same levels of training as the main squads. The aim if it does get up and running should be to raise the general level of the A Comp to that of Super Rugby. The benefit to Aus Rugby would be immense.

---------- Post added at 21:58 ---------- Previous post was at 21:52 ----------

GIGS, exactly.

[beige]

Well let's see if the Brumbies have any luck getting their more practical idea off the ground first and then we can worry about the complicated expensive stuff later.

[GIGS20]

there's no need for the complicated expensive bit yet, but surely there's plans for the S15 to expand in the future, otherwise Japan, Argentina and the Pacific Islands are being strung along for no reason whatsoever!

[Gean]

Gosh. A second tier competition. Who'd have thought THAT would be a good idea? Why didn't someone think of it before now?

Oh, hang on............

Maybe the Brumbies have heard of a little something called the Curry Cup

[shasta]

If it's kept simple there should not be a hell of a alot more expense than at present. The fixed costs involved in running acadamies and carrying the squad players outside the match day 22's are there already. Stadium costs are already covered with probably some additional payments to stage 2 matches at the venues. Then there are the variables like travel, accomodation, extra match officials etc. But the extras should be a whole lot less than the ARC model.

[GIGS20]

If it's kept simple there should not be a hell of a alot more expense than at present. The fixed costs involved in running acadamies and carrying the squad players outside the match day 22's are there already. Stadium costs are already covered with probably some additional payments to stage 2 matches at the venues. Then there are the variables like travel, accomodation, extra match officials etc. But the extras should be a whole lot less than the ARC model.

Mate, you and I both know the biggest expense in the ARC model were the exorbitant payments to Sydney (not sure about Qld) club teams to 'compensate' them for the loss of their players..........do you think that won't be a problem under the new model?

[Burgs]

Potentially not if it is done as an "A" Comp of the existing teams because there would only be a handful more players per team and they would already be contracted to the Franchise and potentially could be playing Seniors the following week in most cases.
Depending on how the draw is structured the majority of the matches may well be over before the Club season commences and players should be available on the Bye weekends, which would probably be staggered anyway. So this time it would only be maybe twenty players odd per week compared to the ARC 176/week.

[beige]

My understanding of the Super 15 draw is that the first round of derbies (assuming these games are played as curtain-raisers) will be done by the end of March, which takes at least half of the 20 games out of potential clashes.

And as I mentioned, it's not like these games aren't being played anyway - this is the Junior Waratahs' 2010 fixture list:

Sat 6 Feb HSBC Junior Waratahs v Australian Barbarians
Sat 13 Feb Brumby Runners v HSBC Junior Waratahs
Fri 19 Feb HSBC Junior Waratahs v CASI (ARG)
Sat 27 Feb QLD Reds 2nd XV v HSBC Junior Waratahs
Sat 7 Mar HSBC Junior Waratahs v QLD Reds 2nd XV
Sat 14 Mar HSBC Junior Waratahs v Brumby Runners

Now throw in the non-overlapping Brumby Runners and the Reds Academy fixtures and that's an extra 7 games right there.

Just replace those Barbarians/Argentinean/etc. fixtures with Force fixtures and, with a bit of coordination, they would have just about been able to throw something together THIS year without much extra needing to be done.