Super Rugby 2024
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@Winger hasn't been 12 teams since 2005. I agree that was 'tight' - but it was so successful that Aus and SA wanted more teams.
Japan's timezones work for us. The issue is the seasons (as always); playing in summer in Japan is somewhat challenging. Like playing in Fiji
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@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@gt12 absolutely needed to get the JRU on board, and they didn't. Massive organisational miss there - Japan has the highest single country rugby audience ever.
We can try this outside of SPR. Say some sort of knockout competition. Prefderable a world competition in some years
But let's make SRP Pacific great first. It can be done. But not by changing the AB eligibility rules as Board Chair Kevin Malloy is promoting
And some news on the “absolutely critical" Chief Executive. Get this right and SRP will do very, very well.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350206536/ardie-waratahs-super-rugby-chair-wants-bold-ideas-table
However, Malloy confirmed that the search for the “absolutely critical” chief executive was nearing its conclusion.
Recruitment agency Robert Walters was used to do a lot of the early heavy lifting, before a committee comprising Malloy, NZ Rugby director Rowena Davenport, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh and Justin Harrison, the chief executive of the Rugby Unions Players’ Association in Australia, reduced the list of candidates to four.
“We’ve had one meeting, we've gone from eight to four,” Malloy said..
“We have a meeting again next week and with the intention of probably getting to two, and the final two will go in front of the full [Super Rugby Pacific] board.”
Interestingly, Malloy said that the four remaining candidates didn’t “necessarily” possess a rugby background, with marketing skills and expertise in fan engagement seen as crucial.
This would appear to open the door for someone such as the highly regarded Justin Nelson, the Australian who has worked wonders with the NBL in New Zealand. However, Malloy wouldn’t be drawn if Nelson was in the mix.
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@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
Aus and SA wanted more teams.
And then it went downhill.
It's a lesson that should be at the forefront of the SRP Pacific Board. Keep it at 12 teams. And don't let Aust's ego (wanting the same teams as NZ) destroy it. Or a big-headed Board
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@Winger said in Super Rugby 2024:
@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
Aus and SA wanted more teams.
And then it went downhill.
It's a lesson that should be at the forefront of the SRP Pacific Board. Keep it at 12 teams. And don't let Aust's ego (wanting the same teams as NZ) destroy it. Or a big-headed Board
Why not 12 teams split 4/4/4? The old way. I mean, SA is gone, so we're stuffed, but thatw ould have worked and been fairest.
Aus would have had to choose at the time to take Perth or Melbourne. NZ loses the Highlanders - which must have had the lowest popiulation base by a margin of any Super side
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Is the balance of power shifting across the Tasman?
The Reds' win over the Chiefs hints at a sea change for the Australian game in a struggling Super Rugby Pacific.
Ignore the click bait title. Mostly this is a discussion on the Reds pod structure
Also there was this paragraph
A mere 400 people crowded into the FMG stadium in Hamilton on Friday evening to watch Melbourne Rebels overcome Moana Pasifika 29-23. They are the two clubs for whom Rugby Australia is alleged to have proposed a secret merger, as the Rebels are wound down with over $22m AUD of debt.400 people. Thats friends and family
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MP are the most pointless exercise. A club without an identity, a purpose, or a home ground. just why?
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@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2024:
Is the balance of power shifting across the Tasman?
The Reds' win over the Chiefs hints at a sea change for the Australian game in a struggling Super Rugby Pacific.
Ignore the click bait title. Mostly this is a discussion on the Reds pod structure
Also there was this paragraph
A mere 400 people crowded into the FMG stadium in Hamilton on Friday evening to watch Melbourne Rebels overcome Moana Pasifika 29-23. They are the two clubs for whom Rugby Australia is alleged to have proposed a secret merger, as the Rebels are wound down with over $22m AUD of debt.400 people. Thats friends and family
My mates in the Tron had no idea it was on - they live within walking distance of FMG. Was always a weird venue to play at for MP and the Rebels.
I have no idea how a Rebels-MP merger would work.
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@mariner4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
MP are the most pointless exercise. A club without an identity, a purpose, or a home ground. just why?
They should suck it up and base them in Apia, with some home games in Nuku'alofa.
Who fucking cares if the facilities are a bit raw, at least give them an identity.
With MLR and Japan (and perhaps a dispensation for some availability for Super sides), there are plenty of competitions where Samoan and Tongan players can get paid and exposed to professional rugby.
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@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2024:
Is the balance of power shifting across the Tasman?
The Reds' win over the Chiefs hints at a sea change for the Australian game in a struggling Super Rugby Pacific.
Ignore the click bait title. Mostly this is a discussion on the Reds pod structure
I've discovered that you submit an article to The Roar, but the title is chosen by the editors. So titles are such shit on there, often not just click bait, but totally irrelevant to the meat of the article
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@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
I have no idea how a Rebels-MP merger would work.
i can never remember how MP are funded....at least partially NZR? if so maybe they make it a joint NZR/AR team (like that would run smoothly) and try and connect with the expat community in melbourne....stupid...but better than trying to convince melbournians to support rugby?
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@Nepia MP are hosting the Reds up here next month, so be interesting to see what crowd we get along.
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@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia MP are hosting the Reds up here next month, so be interesting to see what crowd we get along.
I think you'll get a decent one, I think we would have got a decent one at McLean Park. I think the smaller provinces will turn out for games between teams not from the area more than a franchise base for another team with apparently no marketing.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
I have no idea how a Rebels-MP merger would work.
i can never remember how MP are funded....at least partially NZR? if so maybe they make it a joint NZR/AR team (like that would run smoothly) and try and connect with the expat community in melbourne....stupid...but better than trying to convince melbournians to support rugby?
Would NZR finance them if they were mostly Oz based, as that would what would happen I assume.
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@Nepia current thinking maybe not, if they thought that a base in aussie that players could do sabbaticals close to home and stronger teams make a strong competition...then maybe....so almost certainly not
side note, anyone see that the Warriors have bought a bar in kingland to connect with the fanbase up there, give them an option to watch games in a "home" environment....i like it
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@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia current thinking maybe not, if they thought that a base in aussie that players could do sabbaticals close to home and stronger teams make a strong competition...then maybe....so almost certainly not
side note, anyone see that the Warriors have bought a bar in kingland to connect with the fanbase up there, give them an option to watch games in a "home" environment....i like it
I notice on their tweet they said "for all sports".
In all honesty I'm such a pessimist with that team that I still think the wheels completely fall off in the next 12-24 months even with RL Coaching Jesus.
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@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
I have no idea how a Rebels-MP merger would work.
i can never remember how MP are funded....at least partially NZR? if so maybe they make it a joint NZR/AR team (like that would run smoothly) and try and connect with the expat community in melbourne....stupid...but better than trying to convince melbournians to support rugby?
Would NZR finance them if they were mostly Oz based, as that would what would happen I assume.
They own the drua licence, but I am not sure how much money NZR part for the drua, who were based in Oz most of last year's
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@Machpants oh, in my head i thought the drua were an aussie licence and MP were a NZR one
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@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants oh, in my head i thought the drua were an aussie licence and MP were a NZR one
I am pretty sure NZR own both. WR are paying some money in, and Ozzie Govt are doing some Fiji sport funding. It would be nice if this was all transparent, but nah
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From what has been seen so far, I think it is a reasonably safe bet to say that the Top 4 (in no particular order) will be the Chiefs, Blues, Hurricanes and Reds. I would suggest the Brumbies are highly likely to come 5th.
On the assumption the Crusaders probably drop their next two, just due to the amount of catch-up required, I think you can then make a pretty fair argument the Highlanders and Waratahs fill 6th and 7th. Whether the Crusaders can sneak into 8th, will come down to both how quickly they turn things around after going 0-6, and how consistent the Drua are. Chances are, the number ends up being 5 or 6 wins, and that will be decided by the Drua I'd suggest.
So basically, I'd be willing to stick my neck out on the line to say that either the Crusaders miss the 8, or they'll sneak 8th, which with players coming back and momentum from having been in good form could end up being the absolute worst booby prize for coming 1st.
There'd be something really funny about the Blues going 11 in a row, only to fall to the Crusaders in the quarter-finals... if the Reds could nick 2nd by virtue of all the New Zealand sides beating each other, then they are a red-hot chance at a home final...
