Super Rugby 2024
-
Ben Grant. I thought he did well enough but 16 tackles
Brad Shields has been in great form. A lot more consistent so far since his return. And at 33 years.
Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: ‘Brilliant’ record breaker and ‘inspired’ former England star shine in Round Nine
We selected our team of the week loaded with players from the winning teams that included memorable victories for the Reds, Blues, Hurricanes and Western Force.
4 Ben Grant (Hurricanes): A classic tight five outing for the second-row who made a whopping 16 tackles whilst commanding the line-out taking all his throws and stealing one from the Drua. His complete performance gets in ahead of powerhouse Blues veteran Patrick Tuipulotu.
3 Santiago Medrano (Western Force): Most important wins are ‘propped’ up by the big men up front and that was the case when the Argentine ran in 14 tackles around a solid set-piece effort against the Crusaders.
2 Ricky Riccitelli (Blues): The prolific hooker was on the scoresheet yet again in another high-standard outing as he formed part of a pack that demolished the Brumbies. The Aucklander also got a try assist while nailing the set-piece.
1 Tevita Mafileo (Hurricanes): Another outstanding defensive effort from the ‘Canes loosehead who managed 14 tackles while never taking a foot back in the scrums. Mafileo looks to have entered a rich vein of form.
-
Wallaby Jordie Petaia is in doubt for the rest of the Super Rugby season, and potentially Australia’s Test series against Wales, after suffering a shoulder dislocation in the Queensland Reds’ 31-0 win over the Highlanders in Brisbane.
-
@Daffy-Jaffy poor bloke is made of glass
-
@Tim the person manning the odds is obviously a Chiefs fan. How are they equal with the Blues and Canes?
-
@Winger said in Super Rugby 2024:
4 Ben Grant (Hurricanes): A classic tight five outing for the second-row who made a whopping 16 tackles whilst commanding the line-out taking all his throws and stealing one from the Drua. His complete performance gets in ahead of powerhouse Blues veteran Patrick Tuipulotu.
I like the look of Grant, he looks to have a bit more size on him compared to when he was with the Legion last year in the MLR. He performed his role well and even stole a couple lineouts from the Drua. Not a bad guy to have in your squad tbh, would prefer him to Josh Tuala.
-
@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Tim the person manning the odds is obviously a Chiefs fan. How are they equal with the Blues and Canes?
That's not how betting odds work.
-
@Bones lol I know, still, how are the Chiefs still at even odds with the Blues and Canes? Doesn't really make sense to me. Recent results would suggest they'd be paying slightly higher. The bookmakers haven't adjusted the Chiefs odds for a few games now.
-
@Canes4life "the" bookmakers are trying to make money.
-
The Super Rugby Pacific Board has appointed Jack Mesley the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Super Rugby Pacific (SRP).
Sydney-based Mesley, who will commence in the role on 22 July, boasts more than 20 years of professional experience in marketing and operations, and currently holds the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Australian Professional A-Leagues.
Mesley said he was excited by the opportunity to engage with the competition and the fans, to help deliver the best possible entertainment product and to drive deeper engagement with the game.
“This is a monumental step for the unions and clubs to come together with a real intent to grow Super Rugby Pacific and put fans at the centre,” Mesley said.
“I am looking forward to working with closely with the Super Rugby Pacific clubs to understand their commonalities and differences, and to come together to ignite the flame for generations to come.”
A graduate of the University of Canberra, Jack has extensive and broad experience in driving fan engagement and achieving commercial outcomes. Prior to his role at the A-Leagues, Jack was the Chief Commercial Officer at NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and spent nine years in brand and marketing at leading beverages company Lion.
Super Rugby Pacific Chair Kevin Malloy said Mesley’s strong marketing background and practical skillset made him ideally suited to the Super Rugby Pacific CEO role.
“What set Jack apart from a strong pool of candidates following a thorough search was his passion for rugby, his enthusiasm and a breadth of experience in both marketing and sports,” Malloy said.
“We were looking for someone who isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves, given the joint venture is still relatively new. Jack sees the potential of the competition and wants to build on the success we’ve had to date. And he understands the need to form strong relationships with the broad range of stakeholders. We are really looking forward to having him onboard come July.”
BIO:
Jack Mesley is a commercially minded sport administrator who has a strong background in brand and marketing. With over 20 years of experience in building brands and driving business growth through sports and entertainment partnerships.He is currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Australian Professional Leagues, home to the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, Liberty A-League Women and E-League.
Prior to A-Leagues, Jack was the Chief Commercial Officer at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and held various senior marketing and commercial positions at Lion, Diageo and the Asian PGA. Having held executive roles as both a sponsor and rights holder, Jack is uniquely placed to spearhead brand growth and maximise returns.
Jack is a passionate rugby fan, having played rugby for the Brumbies Under 19s while studying at the University of Canberra. He spends his weekends on the side-lines of grassroots rugby, with his son playing.
-
@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
-
@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
Aren't they player union driven, in both NZ and Oz, so the new "independent" corporate Super Rugby will still need to work within that framework I assume?
-
@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
Agree. Super rugby has, in my view, huge potential. But not if it continues to be subservient to test rugby. This must be kicked into touch in some way
I just hope they have found someone great. Not just OK as they couldn't find someone who was super-duper.
-
Surprised that NZR wasn't more involved in this recruitment
Super Rugby Pacific chair Kevin Malloy, New Zealand Rugby director Rowena Davenport, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh and RUPA chief executive Justin Harrison played key roles in the hunt for the chief executive.
The position attracted about 290 applicants, and recruitment agency Robert Walters whittled that down to a long list before rugby bosses settled on a final three.
Mesley emerged as the successful candidate from that process and will now take the chief executive role at a crucial time in Super Rugby’s history.
The future of the troubled Melbourne Rebels remains up in the air, while new TV deals in New Zealand and Australia for 2026 and beyond are up for negotiation between NZ Rugby, Rugby Australia and their respective broadcast partners.
The NRL is also an increasingly bullish competitor, with the Warriors performing well and the competition determined to expand.
Super Rugby Pacific will need to be smart to deal with those challenges but Malloy told Stuff on Tuesday that Mesley had the right mix of attributes to succeed, despite not having a background in rugby administration.
“I think a really important aspect of this job will be stakeholder management,” Malloy said. “He certainly came across as very strong with people skills.
"The other thing is, we wanted somebody in this role who is, ‘Roll
“You're not going to have a hell of a lot of resource necessarily.“So, this isn't the role for a 20-year veteran CEO who is used to having lots of people running around after them.
“This is for a young gun with something to prove. That's the sort of person that we saw in Jack.”
-
@Winger said in Super Rugby 2024:
@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
Agree. Super rugby has, in my view, huge potential. But not if it continues to be subservient to test rugby. This must be kicked into touch in some way
I just hope they have found someone great. Not just OK as they couldn't find someone who was super-duper.
TBH, you've got league if you want club/franchise to dominate rather than tests.
Also, that face and added to his "marketing" background has me already feeling nervous.
-
@Nepia i think there is a middle ground too be found, international and Franchise/club are different things and should be marketed as such, one doesnt need to be subservient to the other. if we can make the franchise game as popular as NRL and then the international game steps in where we have State of Origin then we'd be onto something
-
@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia i think there is a middle ground too be found, international and Franchise/club are different things and should be markets as such, one doesnt need to be subservient to the other. if we can make the franchise game as popular as NRL and then the international game set in where we have State of Origin then we'd be onto something
Yeah, but many players often sit out club games during SoO season and this seems to be the main issue that people complain about when talking about the test player breaks in Super Rugby.
