NPC 2023
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It leaves NPC as a semi professional development competition. It would remove players leaving and playing the MLS though. NPC probably being played as Super Rugby curtain raisers.
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It seems to be heading that way.
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@SouthernMann guess that would even the NPC playing field even further than it has recently by removing the main super players, leaving probably WTG and normal NPC squads.
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Of course the obvious problem is that there isn't enough SR games to dovetail completely into the NPC schedule however I think having the NPC as SR curtain raisers is a good idea, you'll probably pull bigger crowds.
Realistically speaking the NPC has been a semi-professional feeder comp for Super rugby for awhile in everything but name now.
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There are a lot of rose tinted glasses syndrome when thinking about NPC. Overall it isn't a good standard of rugby. Played in front of poor crowds by players who are trying to get noticed by teams overseas or get a gig next summer in Super squads. There isn't often opportunities to play into Super teams as acadamies provide the pathways to professional rugby.
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@SouthernMann said in NPC 2023:
It leaves NPC as a semi professional development competition. It would remove players leaving and playing the MLS though. NPC probably being played as Super Rugby curtain raisers.
The continuing downgrade of NPC rugby is why I've been pushing for more SR teams. There should be a better geographic spread of the pro game. Also the pro teams should reflect where the population bases are so more players can represent where they are really from
Some fans are dead against this for NPC nostalgia reasons. I don't think they realise they'll get the worst of both worlds.. the NPC will continue to die and pro rugby will be concentrated in 5 bases
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@SouthernMann said in NPC 2023:
It leaves NPC as a semi professional development competition. It would remove players leaving and playing the MLS though. NPC probably being played as Super Rugby curtain raisers.
The continuing downgrade of NPC rugby is why I've been pushing for more SR teams. There should be a better geographic spread of the pro game. Also the pro teams should reflect where the population bases are so more players can represent where they are really from
Some fans are dead against this for NPC nostalgia reasons. I don't think they realise they'll get the worst of both worlds.. the NPC will continue to die and pro rugby will be concentrated in 5 bases
this ^^^
people answering these kinds of suggestions with "i like things how they are" just ignores the trajectory we're on where we risk both comps failing
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As I have said before, I'd hate to lose NPC, but I am realistic and know it cant keep going in the current format, or even any other resembling years gone by.
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@SouthernMann I think most of the negativity towards the NPC comes from people who support teams from the SR franchises' main centres and possibly it's true for those teams that they attract small crowds. Or it just seems that way, because those teams play in stadiums that are too big for the NPC.
If NPC is the highest level of rugby that is played in a province, the NPC will be much more appreciated and get bigger crowds.
As most SR players also play NPC, I think the standard of rugby is fine for the level that is one step below SR. The rugby is often entertaining IMO. It may surprise you, but there are plenty of players who actually enjoy playing for their home province and take pride in the jersey they're wearing, whether it's the highest level of rugby they'll ever play or not.
You speak of people with rose tinted glasses as if they're ill ("syndrome"). I think you should take your arrogant GOM hat off and appreciate that not everyone has the same expectations of NPC and that people with that "syndrome" have a quite healthy love for rugby and tribal affiliations that aren't fed by SR franchises, because those SR teams hardly/never play in their home province.
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With Sanzar considering this,
Super Rugby to run from May to September, and the Rugby championship being played in October/November to an unprecedented autumn spot that aligns better with the northern hemisphere
or shifting the Rugby Championship from a winter/spring slot to the southern autumn, in which the four-team tournament would likely start in March..Under a proposal discussed at the SANZAAR table, Super Rugby would continue through the July Test window, with Test players absent. Sources say the three Tests could even be played as midweek fixtures, like State of Origin, and involve bye or split rounds to minimise the impact on Super Rugby, without halting the competition.
Where would that leave NPC.At the moment, NPC is played at the same time as the Rugby Championship. That doesn't necessarily have to change if they move the RC to October/November or to the southern autumn. NPC could still be played at the same time. They might have to change when local club rugby competitions are played, too.
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@Kiwiwomble said in NPC 2023:
@SouthernMann said in NPC 2023:
It leaves NPC as a semi professional development competition. It would remove players leaving and playing the MLS though. NPC probably being played as Super Rugby curtain raisers.
The continuing downgrade of NPC rugby is why I've been pushing for more SR teams. There should be a better geographic spread of the pro game. Also the pro teams should reflect where the population bases are so more players can represent where they are really from
Some fans are dead against this for NPC nostalgia reasons. I don't think they realise they'll get the worst of both worlds.. the NPC will continue to die and pro rugby will be concentrated in 5 bases
this ^^^
people answering these kinds of suggestions with "i like things how they are" just ignores the trajectory we're on where we risk both comps failing
Are they failing though? The SR audience has grown. There is more interest in the competition than there has been for a long time. More people are watching it. Just not from the stands, but from their homes. I've yet to see the proof that the competitions are failing.
I think people who are negative about SR and NPC, especially on the Fern, are too much influenced by the negativity that the media are spewing, or - the other way around - the journos who write that negative crap are reading the GOM comments on the Fern too much and are influenced by it, and then write that garbage.
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@SouthernMann said in NPC 2023:
It leaves NPC as a semi professional development competition. It would remove players leaving and playing the MLS though. NPC probably being played as Super Rugby curtain raisers.
The continuing downgrade of NPC rugby is why I've been pushing for more SR teams. There should be a better geographic spread of the pro game. Also the pro teams should reflect where the population bases are so more players can represent where they are really from
Some fans are dead against this for NPC nostalgia reasons. I don't think they realise they'll get the worst of both worlds.. the NPC will continue to die and pro rugby will be concentrated in 5 bases
TBH, I think that the fans who are pro ending the NPC are the ones who are being influenced by nostalgia, those who wish it was the NPC of old when it had all the ABs (just in the top 4 teams) and big crowds.
But, the current NPC is a different beast, it either develops players or allows players to gain gametime. That's it's role, it's no longer the premier comp in the country. It seems to be well thought of in the provinces and less well thought of in the old dominant big city unions (as @Stargazer notes).
Is there actually any evidence the NPC is dying? In the last few years we've finally seen the majority of teams live within their means and I assume Sky is happy with the content they get to broadcast. And as much as posters are making out players don't come through it this is plainly untrue. It works hand in hand with the academies and the spread of Super players throughout the teams is probably better now that ever.
If the new Super comp had a team based in HB I'd be stoked (but not if they wear fucking orange jerseys), but would I rather that than an NPC? Nah (and here you could probably label it for nostalgia reasons, but I've already given my thoughts on why I think the NPC is valuable above). We don't have to be like the NRL and mirror their yearlong comp - as I've said in other thread I'm sick of the continuing reference and comparison with the NRL in the media/forums etc. It's making dislike league and I've always been a bigger fan of the state house version of rugby than most around here.
Ok, rant over.
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I dont think, in my experience, the NPC is thought poorly of in the major centers, i think its just a split of people attentions, we ask fans to chose what merch to buy, what season tickets to buy, if i have to choose i would say i prefer the NPC, love the history and the inherent connection to the community,thats why my preference is something the elevates the unions
but if there are enough people that are happy with things how they are, small crowds, short seasons etc, then change is not likely
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@taniwharugby said in NPC 2023:
@SouthernMann guess that would even the NPC playing field even further than it has recently by removing the main super players, leaving probably WTG and normal NPC squads.
It wouldn't level the playing field as the player pool in the franchise's main centres is much bigger, and with that also their depth. If they'd take all the SR players out of the smaller NPC provinces, the quality drop would probably be bigger than in the larger provinces.
What are "normal" NPC squads? In my view, normal NPC squads include the SR players from the province.
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and broken might be a wrong word, personally i just want more, more people in the grounds, more merch, more games, more tension, more passion, more upsets....if you're happy with how it is then of course its not broken
