Here are a few fast facts to start off.
First, rugby is suffering financially in Australia.
Second, most people agree that a second-tier competition is needed.
Third, one of the persistent barriers to a second-tier comp has been tribalism and the fact that people don’t want manufactured teams that they can’t or won’t get behind.
Fourth, while a lot of people are saying that we should get rid of Super Rugby, it is not realistically going to happen.
Fifth, the tyranny of distance makes it difficult to run Australia-wide competitions… but we have to find a way – that is a given!
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Sixth, a national club competition between only selected clubs is not a way to develop pathways.
The solution?
The ideal second-tier comp could be state-based, just like the Sheffield Shield, with a draft for Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory, and largely amateur. The best time for it would be at the end of the club season, over either seven rounds with a limited finals series or in pools, but two rounds would be better. An East-West conference structure could minimise travel.
You barrack for and support your chosen state. But it gives the punters a ready-made tribe to support. You won’t have to manufacture teams and logos with zero tradition. It would be players playing solely for recognition; down the track it could turn professional, but for now, keep it amateur.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Being played at the end of the club season, it still gives the more experienced or semi-pro club players the chance to go overseas in the off-season.
Super Rugby contracted players would not be eligible. A limited number of Academy players could be eligible on a quota basis.
It would be run by the state unions, which already exist, as a specially set up board. RA has a seat at the board, by invitation.
The board delegates to each state union to run its own race, financially. Thus, all the clubs can get around the table without tribalism or club/ state rivalries and can properly allocate their time and resources.
Clubs should be prepared to contribute people who will give up their time. Volunteers need to be the lifeblood. Training, strength and conditioning resources and playing venues could be shared around. Just leave this to the states to organise.
Eastern Suburbs Shute Shield celebrations 2024.
Trials and selections
Hold the state trials before the regular club season or during a defined bye window. The squads are set in advance and aware of their training schedules, and you are not interfering too much with the clubs pre-season or playing schedules.
Then, play the regular club season, training one or two nights and play the competition after the Prem rugby seasons are over, when the teams can come together as full-time squads. Give the players strength and conditioning training programs to work on in their own time.
Games should be set so as not to interfere with the Test schedule. Thursday night or Friday night games could be an option, particularly if you get TV rights, and that way, it is the only show in town on those days. Stan should go for it, initially, and that gives coverage right through the weekend with the European and other rugby competitions that may be on, leading into the Test season.
Venues
Use the better suburban grounds. 10,000 to 15,000 seats would be great and aim to pack them out. Even get out to the regions, with games timed to coincide with local festivities, festivals etc.
Leichhardt Oval. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
PR
I compared the NRL and AFL homepages on The Roar, recently and it’s all about fan stuff. They are not printing the kind of “woe is me” stuff that the Rugby pages are full of, but catering for their adoring fans. What a contrast!
Show me the money
Give the host clubs (the Prems and Subbies), the schools and universities and especially the sponsors the ability to make some good money out of the day. All clubs should share the merchandise rights, etc. Local universities and TAFEs can chip in and use the games as a training exercise for students – marketing, events, catering, sound and lighting, business students, trainers, physios, etc.
Local sponsors get free advertising for making their venues available – pubs, clubs, car hire, local shops, museums, and tourism attractions. Local tourism authorities can offer packages in regional areas. As earlier mentioned, make it as much a carnival feel as possible.
Run it in tandem with local Sevens festivals, or other special events.
Travel
This is the elephant in the room, so get your thinking caps on.
There must be people of good will out there who do this stuff for a living.
