How do we bottle what the Chiefs and Crusaders have got? PLUS: Aucklanders wake up to 11,509th stadium proposal; the Warriors bag a duck; and a big day for Kiwis in the US.
This one is not fully competition focused but I've always found it curious that there is no official Super Rugby App. A good app with real time highlights and midweek content would surely boost fan interest. The ESPN app does a great job of this for fans following over seas competitions.
Hi Dylan - more afternoon games required! Super Rugby teams would most likely get thousands more kids turning up to games if they were at 2:30pm and not 7:30pm. Also the stadiums need to make the experience more enjoyable. Finally banning or at least discouraging the rolling maul would also help Super Rugby (not to mention the wider game) no end.
Hello Dylan. You gave one answer seven days ago when writing about the NFL.
There is a well-known axiom that applies to test cricket. You will know more than me, but I think it was an Aussie capt that first said when winning the toss, "One always bats first, except on that odd occasion when circumstances demand further consideration, and after reflecting for 15 minutes you bat" Or words to that effect.
Super rugby has developed something similar. At the start of each season when predicting the winner, one always selects the Crusaders, except on the rare occasion, such as when the Chiefs beat them mid-season, one ponders for about 15 minutes, then picks the Crusaders. I believe the result on Saturday guarantees the Crusaders will win the final, yet again.
And that is the problem!
If Super Rugby continues with its current 12 teams, then it needs management that does all possible to ensure a genuine 12 team race. Look at the NFL and their very cleaver draft system. One that sees the lesser performing teams having first pick on the best players available.
The other key issue is the lack of focus and accountability for super rugby. It needs its own separate entity, complete with board, management and responsibility for all super rugby issues across all 12 teams. The NZRU has always looked at super rugby as primarily a feeder system for the ABs. That has to stop.
Finally, look at the most successful annual sports event in the USA - the Super Bowl. The NFL is the US's most successful puller of spectators, sponsors, ad revenues etc. by some margin. And yet its regular season is just 17 weeks long. Food for thought that.
Agree with these points. Can look to the AFL in Australia for a competition that create events throughout the season as well; traditional Richmond vs Carlton opening game of the season, traditional Anzac day clash Collingwood vs Essendon.
If super rugby pacific would take my 12 step programme would save super rugby ..
1 .. franchise model would change that private ownership would have over 67 percent .. you would throw in a few rules such as the private ownership would be only allow nz company or people to run it .. they can selected their own coaches ..etc ..but must be sign off by nz rugby union ..that way the rugby union would save millions a year ..
2 .. get rid of bonus points .. for the competition..you only get points for a win . Or draw ..in the playoffs you have extra time ..
3.. allow all super rugby teams to pick any players from nz. . Can play In Australian team ..this would help the Australian teams you prob need to put a quota on it so you don’t ended up like force we have now ..
4 .. change some of the rules like you can’t score a try from a rolling maul .. change the card system ..have like they have in league .. you can put players on match review ..allow red for only dangers play and foul for the whole game ..keep the 20 min red card for reckless etc ..
5.. 75 percent of the games will be play in day time rugby .. just like they do in the nfl and epl ..which they make over 9 billion a year but they cater for there fans ..
6 ..make the rugby games special ..so you have like 80s theme ..where food and drink are half price ..then have themes like old timers day .. family kids themes ..you reduce the price of the food and prices for the game .. super rugby is way over price ..
7 ..get rid of the rest rotation for the abs and oz players .. so every week it’s the best play the best .. if you got like player like cane who needs a rest that is fine but not resting 4 players a time ..the d macs do not need to be rested ..
8 .. you change the playoff structure..no more top 8 ..only top 3 make it .. so after all the rounds the number side gets a bye into the final .. which means every game counts .. 2 gets a home semi final .. final play at the number team after round robin..
9 .. to make the pacific team stronger and Fiji they can pick players overseas .. again have strict quota ..
10 .. rugby union find a billionaire which will found the abs .. maybe the guy from taranaki who made a billion dollars in Russia he big rugby fan .. this way the extra cash would developed women’s rugby and grassroots and stop the base been ripped to shreds
11 .. have sky play classic games all week like blues v crusaders games to hype the genes more .. get rid of the ex rugby commentators..the fans deserve better .. have people like goorden bray ..or Pete fitszems or Nick far jones to add different views ..
12 finally you got have a competition like the nfl ..any given Saturday ..meaning any team can win on the day ..we got to make all the teams strong .. so which means you got set up an independent committee to make the teams ..at the moment Too many self interested which stops making the comp better such as we all know the blues were against the Mona pacific team ..
Get South Africa back, include Japan & the US & Canada. And keep Fiji & Samoa/Tonga. Get Australia down to three teams. And include all these countries in the Rugby Championship.
I don't watch rugby - but this approach might interest me. Bring in Free Agency and a hard salary cap. Use the NPC (and Australian/Pacific equivalents) to supply a draft every year. High school players need to spend at least 1-2 years in NPC - will make the comp a proving ground for young superstars rather than having the cream just get picked straight for Super Rugby/All Blacks and mostly skipping NPC. NZ, Pacific teams can pick Aussie players in free agency and the draft and vice versa. Would need a change in contracting approach to achieve this, but lets make it happen. Player movement would keep the comp in the news year-round. Storylines will develop organically this way and talent would be shared more equitably across the competition. People like it when games are close!
Hi Dylan, I was actually thinking about this the other night. What I'd do is I'd split the comp into 2 divisions with promotion/relegation. You'd have the top 6 in Div 1, and bottom 6 in Div 2 with each team playing home and away round-robin within their division.
The minor premiers would go straight to a grand final while 2nd & 3rd would play off to find the other finalist. The bottom 3 of Div 1 would face relegation with 4th, 5th & 6th playing off against 3rd, 2nd & 1st respectively of Div 2 with the Div 2 teams getting home advantage.
To find the initial division placements, have a random draw (except for the previous season's champion who would go into Div 1). You could even alternate between Oz/NZ teams so that there would be a good mix in the first year and to appease the Aussies. It would be a very interesting first year. After that, it's sink or swim.
The harsh reality is that there is not enough money in NZ rugby to fund a top professional competition. There are many other more attractive competitions in Australian sport, while the South Africans have followed the money and gone north. The inevitable outcome is that NZ's best players will play their club footy in Europe or Japan. A global window - as we see in football - is the only way forward. Not sure why Fozzy can't see this...
This one is not fully competition focused but I've always found it curious that there is no official Super Rugby App. A good app with real time highlights and midweek content would surely boost fan interest. The ESPN app does a great job of this for fans following over seas competitions.
Hi Dylan - more afternoon games required! Super Rugby teams would most likely get thousands more kids turning up to games if they were at 2:30pm and not 7:30pm. Also the stadiums need to make the experience more enjoyable. Finally banning or at least discouraging the rolling maul would also help Super Rugby (not to mention the wider game) no end.
Hello Dylan. You gave one answer seven days ago when writing about the NFL.
There is a well-known axiom that applies to test cricket. You will know more than me, but I think it was an Aussie capt that first said when winning the toss, "One always bats first, except on that odd occasion when circumstances demand further consideration, and after reflecting for 15 minutes you bat" Or words to that effect.
Super rugby has developed something similar. At the start of each season when predicting the winner, one always selects the Crusaders, except on the rare occasion, such as when the Chiefs beat them mid-season, one ponders for about 15 minutes, then picks the Crusaders. I believe the result on Saturday guarantees the Crusaders will win the final, yet again.
And that is the problem!
If Super Rugby continues with its current 12 teams, then it needs management that does all possible to ensure a genuine 12 team race. Look at the NFL and their very cleaver draft system. One that sees the lesser performing teams having first pick on the best players available.
The other key issue is the lack of focus and accountability for super rugby. It needs its own separate entity, complete with board, management and responsibility for all super rugby issues across all 12 teams. The NZRU has always looked at super rugby as primarily a feeder system for the ABs. That has to stop.
Finally, look at the most successful annual sports event in the USA - the Super Bowl. The NFL is the US's most successful puller of spectators, sponsors, ad revenues etc. by some margin. And yet its regular season is just 17 weeks long. Food for thought that.
Agree with these points. Can look to the AFL in Australia for a competition that create events throughout the season as well; traditional Richmond vs Carlton opening game of the season, traditional Anzac day clash Collingwood vs Essendon.
Hola from the naki
If super rugby pacific would take my 12 step programme would save super rugby ..
1 .. franchise model would change that private ownership would have over 67 percent .. you would throw in a few rules such as the private ownership would be only allow nz company or people to run it .. they can selected their own coaches ..etc ..but must be sign off by nz rugby union ..that way the rugby union would save millions a year ..
2 .. get rid of bonus points .. for the competition..you only get points for a win . Or draw ..in the playoffs you have extra time ..
3.. allow all super rugby teams to pick any players from nz. . Can play In Australian team ..this would help the Australian teams you prob need to put a quota on it so you don’t ended up like force we have now ..
4 .. change some of the rules like you can’t score a try from a rolling maul .. change the card system ..have like they have in league .. you can put players on match review ..allow red for only dangers play and foul for the whole game ..keep the 20 min red card for reckless etc ..
5.. 75 percent of the games will be play in day time rugby .. just like they do in the nfl and epl ..which they make over 9 billion a year but they cater for there fans ..
6 ..make the rugby games special ..so you have like 80s theme ..where food and drink are half price ..then have themes like old timers day .. family kids themes ..you reduce the price of the food and prices for the game .. super rugby is way over price ..
7 ..get rid of the rest rotation for the abs and oz players .. so every week it’s the best play the best .. if you got like player like cane who needs a rest that is fine but not resting 4 players a time ..the d macs do not need to be rested ..
8 .. you change the playoff structure..no more top 8 ..only top 3 make it .. so after all the rounds the number side gets a bye into the final .. which means every game counts .. 2 gets a home semi final .. final play at the number team after round robin..
9 .. to make the pacific team stronger and Fiji they can pick players overseas .. again have strict quota ..
10 .. rugby union find a billionaire which will found the abs .. maybe the guy from taranaki who made a billion dollars in Russia he big rugby fan .. this way the extra cash would developed women’s rugby and grassroots and stop the base been ripped to shreds
11 .. have sky play classic games all week like blues v crusaders games to hype the genes more .. get rid of the ex rugby commentators..the fans deserve better .. have people like goorden bray ..or Pete fitszems or Nick far jones to add different views ..
12 finally you got have a competition like the nfl ..any given Saturday ..meaning any team can win on the day ..we got to make all the teams strong .. so which means you got set up an independent committee to make the teams ..at the moment Too many self interested which stops making the comp better such as we all know the blues were against the Mona pacific team ..
Get South Africa back, include Japan & the US & Canada. And keep Fiji & Samoa/Tonga. Get Australia down to three teams. And include all these countries in the Rugby Championship.
A draft system has some merit. And/or limiting the number of teams - with promotion/ relegation if there is a need to expand.
I don't watch rugby - but this approach might interest me. Bring in Free Agency and a hard salary cap. Use the NPC (and Australian/Pacific equivalents) to supply a draft every year. High school players need to spend at least 1-2 years in NPC - will make the comp a proving ground for young superstars rather than having the cream just get picked straight for Super Rugby/All Blacks and mostly skipping NPC. NZ, Pacific teams can pick Aussie players in free agency and the draft and vice versa. Would need a change in contracting approach to achieve this, but lets make it happen. Player movement would keep the comp in the news year-round. Storylines will develop organically this way and talent would be shared more equitably across the competition. People like it when games are close!
More like NPC .. less super.. more tribe. Then have the Nth vs Sth island best of 3 and use them as All Black trials..
Hi Dylan, I was actually thinking about this the other night. What I'd do is I'd split the comp into 2 divisions with promotion/relegation. You'd have the top 6 in Div 1, and bottom 6 in Div 2 with each team playing home and away round-robin within their division.
The minor premiers would go straight to a grand final while 2nd & 3rd would play off to find the other finalist. The bottom 3 of Div 1 would face relegation with 4th, 5th & 6th playing off against 3rd, 2nd & 1st respectively of Div 2 with the Div 2 teams getting home advantage.
To find the initial division placements, have a random draw (except for the previous season's champion who would go into Div 1). You could even alternate between Oz/NZ teams so that there would be a good mix in the first year and to appease the Aussies. It would be a very interesting first year. After that, it's sink or swim.
The harsh reality is that there is not enough money in NZ rugby to fund a top professional competition. There are many other more attractive competitions in Australian sport, while the South Africans have followed the money and gone north. The inevitable outcome is that NZ's best players will play their club footy in Europe or Japan. A global window - as we see in football - is the only way forward. Not sure why Fozzy can't see this...