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Seems fairly topical at the moment so may as well exploit it.
What is the next step for Rugby WA and the local Clubs to make?
Fulvio suggested (from memory) there should be a cap of 8 (?Fulv) Premier Teams and a consolidation of Clubs competing for players and resources.
What does your RWA Club future look like?
How many Premier teams?
Is there one, two or even three Divisions of Clubs?
How much money would be required per Club to start seeing the development required to eventually get on a level footing with East Coast Clubs?
Can that ever happen?
Should there be a North and South Division with the North forming a Divisional team to play in Brisbane and the South forming a Divisional team to play in Sydney?
Shold RWA just forget about it and keep the local scene as totally amateur and source all players from other markets?
Knock yourselves out![]()
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Below is a image of all the clubs and their location
---------- Post added at 14:40 ---------- Previous post was at 14:37 ----------
the following teams are in the 2009 RugbyWA Premier competition
Wanneroo
Kalamunda
Perth Bayswater
Nedlands
Associates
Rockingham
West's Subiaco
Cottesloe
Palmyra
University
I like the idea of having somewhere above Premier League for players to go. That's what I liked about the ARC. If that means a North/South divide and some kind of Aussie Club Championship thingo or even a North vs South Origin series...anything that'll give the players more time and a higher level of Rugby, something that fills the gap between PLeague and S14.
C'mon the![]()
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the Club comp isn't the issue , it is Rugby WA letting our Super players go and play in crap competitions like Sydney and Brisbane!
When you sign a contract to play for the Force, you play Club Rugby in Perth...simple!
Or we will never get the experience OUR players need in WA!
You are quite correct TM however this thread is for discussing the future of the Club scene, more than happy to put another thread up regarding players movements. We'll try and keep this one on track.
![]()
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Pretty much hit the nail on the head GIGS as far as Rocky's future is.
Many will recall Rocky buying in 12 players from NZ in the early nineties, and aside from stealing Palmyra's thunder and winning the Cottesloe Sevens that year, the team did not perform overly well in the competition.
I think one of those players have stayed and has a junior playing in the club now, and there may be still another couple living in WA.
Other than that, the importing of these players did nothing to advance Rockingham's standing in WA rugby. In fact Rockingham dropped back to the then "District Competiton" a couple of years later.
The present administration would never go down that track again.
They believe that there has got to be a pathway through the club for junior players to set their sights on, and know that it is possible to play Premier Grade for the Club one day, and maybe higher.
Two seasons ago we had 13 players on the field in a Premier Grade match that had progressed from our own junior ranks. Average age of that team was 22.
We are very fortunate to have Kieran Longbottom, and last year's PG winner Ryan Tyrrell still very active in the Club, and the juniors think it's great watching them train.
We have great admin and coaches in the junior ranks, and they have the full support of the senior club.
Once again this year, we are playing many juniors who have moved through to our senior teams, and although we are not setting our sights too high at this stage, I think we will give a few clubs a fright.
Just on the other point, I am sure Palmyra would agree that fantastic facilities, as they have, do not do a lot to attract big numbers of players. They had some pretty hard times after their move to to Tompkins Park, and they are a lot closer to the CBD than Rockingham are.
Enough from me, knock yourselves out.
RugbyWA will spend the 2009 season focusing on the following key areas:
Recruitment and Retention of participants
Junior Coach Education
Match official recruitment, retention and education
Club Development
Volunteer Recognition
It is important that Community Rugby maintain and improve the high standards of servicing that our clubs should expect.
There has been excellent work done over the past four seasons in setting RugbyWA up for future growth along with running programs that gives our sport exposure at grass roots levels.
Below are the strategies RugbyWA is currently undertaking to Grow Rugby, Grow Wallabies in this state.
Senior Competition
Focus on Retention of players through support to Clubs.
Continued work after the success of Under 18 and 20s in 2008.
Integrate the 17 and 16 year old players more with senior clubs.
Ongoing initiatives to engage the 16-19 age groups, i.e. 7s tournament.
New competition structure to include two third and two fourth grades.
Junior Competition
Identify needs and wants of parents and clubs.
More fluent communication to stakeholders.
Provide in club development opportunities for players and coaches.
Better engagement of Junior club committees.
Link to this : Community rugby plan It is a PDF
---------- Post added at 16:08 ---------- Previous post was at 16:05 ----------
I think and hope that with Matt Tink as Manager Community Rugby things will improve in club rugby this year and for the years to follow. I do however know that they have a very tight budget so financially it won't be easier
It all comes down to $$$$ , But the ARU are talking over the developement of the game in WA in 2010.
Is this going to help Rugby grow?
And if this going to happen, what isn't there a major sponsor for the development for the game JON?
First (and presumably second) grade sees some pay for play, and are the obvious priority for the respective clubs. But most of those development initiatives are targetted at the levels below that. So I am curious - do folk see it as an advantage or disadvantage to the strictly amateur levels to be directly linked to what is (or will be) the semi-pro levels? Do the top levels enhance the levels below, or distract attention and divert resources? Ultimately should the amateur and semi-pro levels be separated as entities, albeit linked as feeder clubs?
But focusing on the goal of developing players for professional honours, I would hope to see as many activities as possible aimed at improving standards across the board. Things like, say:Just random ideas, maybe already happening, but sans loads of development dough, I do think some creativity will be required if we are to accelerate player development through the widening gap between club and professional rugby.
- training clinics across all clubs - kicking, scrummaging etc, but focused on particular skills and standards
- game time at a higher standard - "Select" team matches and the like.
- And if they are going to have Sevens comps, they really should look at parallel Tens comps to give the forwards some useful game time too. The backs may be the most likely local players to make a mark on the professional game, but it is forwards the sport needs.
- Tours - it is inevitably hard without funding, but is there some way RugbyWA can be creative in finding money or sponsorship etc
- Maybe even scholarships - I have heard of it in other sports where young players have been encouraged to travel and play overseas, especially when they have the ability to work. They get a bit of assistance with travel and some expenses, but are expected to work and simply play to whatever level they can achieve. That may not be the top level, but it is not wasted experience even so.
- And maybe some sort of recipocation deal, if we are going to get all chummy with NH clubs up in Singapore.
TG, it has already happened in NSW
The Development officers wear the Waratahs colours during Super Rugby , then wear ARU kit duirng the Wallabies tests and 3 Nations
So would the ARU tip in a more equitable amount into WA if they were funding it themselves?
i think we should have a promotion and relegation like EPL, limiting 8 teams in premier grade.