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To all of you passionate Metro Rugby Stalwarts. For too long all of us have been heading in the same direction ( developing a fair comp,, pathway for aspirants, coping with growth etc etc) but many have been on different tracks.
As previously alluded to, RugbyWA have co-ordinated 3 detailed meetings with representatives from Premier clubs, Champion clubs, referees and the Judiciary.
A proposed model from the floor has been put together and is out there for discussion before the next President's gathering so that all issues and questions can be considered and together the pathway refined and timeline established for the way forward to be implemented.
Let me ask you to please chat with your presidents and canvass good critical analysis, if you see a problem, think of a solution, if you see a solution, get behind it.
The aim is to create a wide base sometime in the future - maybe 5,6 or 7 years ( working towards the final proposal will require some steps along the way so timing is pretty critical).
The idea is to split the competition into 3 divisions with 14 clubs. Not every club will field teams in each division . 14 clubs allows for regular and fair scheduling and includes the flexibility to split during a season, accommodate byes and keeps clubs together on game days.
The intent is to create a pathway for most juniors to play premiergrade rugby with the club they start with - so we need clubs to step up to fill the numbers in Division 1.
Div 3 clubs need only field 1 team - this is to accommodate district clubs and potentially new clubs that form.
Div 2 would field 2 teams and Div 1 would field 4 teams made up of 3 senior sides and a Colts ( development side)
For a club to enter Div 1, they must field 4 teams and have a dedicated progression or Colts/development side. Some would like this side to be curtain raiser to Premiergrade matches and be a truly Reserve grade team - one item open for discussion. A club that fields 4 teams in Division 1 DOES NOT need to field teams in Division 2 and 3.
A club like Uni would probably field teams in all three divisions, a club like Curtin may start in Division 1 and grow into the others. REMEMBER THIS IS STILL SOMEWAY OFF.
To get to this model we need to develope the competition to allow clubs like Joondalup, Curtin, Mandurah, Arks to grow their skill level so perhaps in 1 - 2 years time Curtin's 1st grade side competes in the Premierclub Reserve grade comp. and perhaps 2-3 years after that, they have the depth and skill level to compete at Premiergrade level.
Where will this growth in skill come from? Apparently the junior comp. especially under 14 is extremely competitive and pretty even. How good would it be for this group to play premiergrade rugby in 6 years time?
Anyway - I cannot cover all the salient aspects of the Future search, but would ask you to chat with your presidents and ask questions here. Suffice to say that Premiergrade clubs will have to wear a little bit of pain en route to the 3 Division, 14 team comp. The pathway may mean that premiergrade clubs will have 3rd and 4th grade paly at a different venue to Prems, Reserve and Colts for 3 or 4 games in a season. The scheduling will work hard to ensure at all home games the clubs remain together but 3 or 4 away games out of 9 may mean a split.
The end proposal ( 14 team, 3 div comp.) did get unanimous acceptance from the participants, but all agreed the path to this comp and timing will be absolutely critical to grow retention rates, create a pathway to the Force and Wallabies and to allow flexibility to split the comp so that newly formed Premiergrade sides are not playing the well established clubs all of the time.
Look forward to your comments and questions:
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Originally Posted by zed
