National Rugby Championship set to excite fans and develop elite players in 2014 and

[TOCC]

Its clearly not 41 teams as the title suggests, its 41 expressions of interest, some clubs have submitted EOI's individually and as part of a syndicate with other teams. At least half of these EOI's won't get past the proposal phase.

[beige]

Its clearly not 41 teams as the title suggests, its 41 expressions of interest, some clubs have submitted EOI's individually and as part of a syndicate with other teams. At least half of these EOI's won't get past the proposal phase.

Yeah - for instance as was posted on the other thread there were two EOIs submitted from Canberra but they've already said either they will combine or one will drop out.

[jargan83]

Yeah - for instance as was posted on the other thread there were two EOIs submitted from Canberra but they've already said either they will combine or one will drop out.

Gee if only there was some way of keeping the information all in one place....

[Stone Cold]

Gee if only there was some way of keeping the information all in one place....

That's Crazy Talk

[shasta]

Good job!
Posted via Mobile Device

[beige]

NEWCASTLE will not have a team in the inaugural National Rugby Championship, but officials will consider bidding for a franchise down the track.

The Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union and Hawthorne Club, a philanthropic group, submitted expressions of interest for one of the teams in the fledgling tournament but have decided against submitting a combined tender.

A lack of time to compile a "proper and professional" bid and the likelihood that a regional team will be based in Sydney and play games in the country were the determining factors.

The tender document, which outlines in detail the franchise model, financial requirements and other logistics, was distributed by the Australian Rugby Union last week.

Applications close on February 14 and the successful teams will be announced on February 28.

"Time constraints to put the proposal together was against us," NHRU president Phil Payne said.

"It wasn't until we got the documentation which outlined the details and the requirements that we were able to make a proper judgment.

"You need structures, business plans, corporate and media partners, the whole lot.

"You don't want to do it in a half-baked manner. It would have to be rushed."

Read more: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/20...idding/?cs=391

[beige]

Five Sydney clubs - Parramatta, West Harbour, Penrith, Eastwood and Southern Districts - are understood to have joined forces to tender for one of the NRC franchises, the team to be called the Greater Sydney Rams; a logo and club colours have already been agreed.

Negotiations have begun to play TV games under lights at St Marys Stadium, with non-television matches hosted at Concord Oval - at one time the home of Australian rugby and the Wallabies - or at Eastwood's T.G Millner Field.

ESPNscrum has learned that ARU officials have indicated to Greater Sydney Rams organisers that they want Folau to be the marquee signing. However, there is likely to be a push for Folau to stay with his grade club - Sydney University - if the Students are involved in a NRC franchise.

Read more at http://www.espnscrum.com/australia/r...Bj7a22uVthX.99

That just leaves Eastern Suburbs unaccounted for out of the Sydney clubs, and I believe another thread mentioned the QRU will bid for two franchises itself in lieu of any Brisbane clubs bidding.

[TOCC]

At this stage no Queensland Premier Grade clubs will be submitting to be part of the competition either as individual teams or syndicates due to financial/logistical reasons. Which means the QRU will be tendering for the two teams either in a City/Country split or a Brisbane North/South divide. I believe that the City/Country format is the more likely scenario, with City representing Brisbane based at Ballymore and Country representing the everything outside of the state and possibly based at Bond University on the Gold Coast.

Its probably a best case scenario, only a few clubs in Brisbane actually have the financial backing to bid for such a team and it could have created a chasm between teams at the Premier Grade level in attracting talent as players gravitated towards teams associated with the NRC. At least this way the City/Country teams will be picked in a more representational role rather then club bias which may occur in some of the Sydney Syndicates.

[oxleymoron]

The formal tenders for the NRC close next friday.

[beige]

The formal tenders for the NRC close next friday.

Adelaide still bidding?

[oxleymoron]

Yep

[maelkann]

I believe that the City/Country format is the more likely scenario, with City representing Brisbane based at Ballymore and Country representing the everything outside of the state and possibly based at Bond University on the Gold Coast.

Bit rough to refer to everything outside of the state as Queensland Country, isn't it?

So we don't have five Super Rugby Teams from different states and the ACT, we have a Queensland City and four Queensland Country sides?

[GIGS20]

Bit rough to refer to everything outside of the state as Queensland Country, isn't it?

So we don't have five Super Rugby Teams from different states and the ACT, we have a Queensland City and four Queensland Country sides?

Booking a praise for when they become available

[chibi]

The old rugby historian in me would love to see Brothers, Brisbane Souths and Randwick go it alone in this comp, bear in mind though, I know that won't be the case; I'm just thinking back to the times when they could boast Five Nations strength line-ups. I kinda miss the old Sydney XV games they used to have also.

[beige]

At this stage no Queensland Premier Grade clubs will be submitting to be part of the competition either as individual teams or syndicates due to financial/logistical reasons. Which means the QRU will be tendering for the two teams either in a City/Country split or a Brisbane North/South divide. I believe that the City/Country format is the more likely scenario, with City representing Brisbane based at Ballymore and Country representing the everything outside of the state and possibly based at Bond University on the Gold Coast.

Apparently the QRU are planning to funnel all country-origin players into one of the teams, although whether that means an actual country side I don't know.

The old rugby historian in me would love to see Brothers, Brisbane Souths and Randwick go it alone in this comp, bear in mind though, I know that won't be the case

If reports are to be believed Randwick effectively are bidding to go it alone (they're supposedly partnering with UNSW, which would be akin to the Brumbies' tie-up with Canberra University if I understand it correctly).