Waikato to put more than the Shield on the line

Actually, the scrum really needs something like the 'hook' back in it again, if we forget for an instance that hooking the ball creates a disadvantage to the team whos supposedly supposed be given the advantage, could the ability to safely 'hook' the ball again be a good indication of a balanced and safe scrum in general? As in, start adapting/changing laws till everyone doesn't collapse on their face when the hooker lifts his leg (I pointed this was the cause of some collapsed scrum to youo in the past) a fraction.

Look what Tonga and Samoa have done to Rugbyleague international game? They've brought it back to life especially with what Tonga has done beating New Zealand (2017 rlwc, 2024 Pacific Championship) twice now and beating Australia and Great Britain back in 2019.

This is why Rugby Union is following suit because the game is dying and it needs a lift.

Look at International Rugbyleague now look at what Tonga did in the 2024 Pacific Championships? with the players available to Tonga and Samoa they can challenge and beat tier 1 nations like Tonga did New Zealand twice and they've beaten Great Britain and Australia also.

Same thing Union is doing now which is good for the Pacific Islanders who the All Blacks and Australia don't need anymore to go and play for their parents heritage. Makes perfect sense and it makes the game competitive and brings more interest etc.

Noone wants to watch the All Blacks flog Tonga 100-0? Who cares if they were born in New Zealand and developed in their system and go play elsewhere? It's only good for the game. If they play for Tonga and then switch to Samoa? Why not Richie Mo'unga, Shannon Frizell, Leicester Fainga'anuku can all be available for Tonga come rwc next year. Richie's Dad is Tongan and Mother Samoan and he can represent both Tonga and Samoa.

So to those that disagree? This is the same narrative that's lasted the last 100 years and the the Pacific Islands have suffered. Now they can compete.

Expired young? How old are you mate, little whipper snapper? lol

Young as in time is running out ;) That is indeed what I was meaning. You think they're going to continue until 2027?

Fair points, I think they're in a good spot though and Rassie is probably banking on these new athletes lasting a lot longer than previous era's all time greats.

What I meant is that in your reply you seemed derogatory of the idea of using either those existing clubs or new franchises to bolster the Europa Cup, so I was just trying to confirm that you misunderstood the person you were replying to as suggesting the creation of a new entities?

Or were you thinking that those existing clubs aren't big enough to be raised to Super Cup standard and you're against form a club or franchises that are? Basically you comment is unclear because you've assumed the term franchise means he's not taking these existing clubs and raising them up, when to me he used the term quite liberally.

So, were you just in favour of FIR's idea over KH's use of an existing tournament? I'm assuming theres a desire from FIR to raise the standard of domestic rugby, to bridge the gap to URC, by incorporating it's teams in a proper league competition, much like the URCs, with the other countries best clubs (who are all in the same place as having clubs underneath their clubs). Is the dilemma that FIRs best club side aren't on a similar level to the Super Cup teams, so they can't just use that as a bridge gap competition?

Or is it merely that they think theyve found a way to better find funding for rugby as whole, by joining their leagues or something simple, and it would be completely separate, even under, the Europa Cup. The franchise reference is not without merit. It esnures stability and uses an existing competiton format. It is the reward of a 'spot' to a club (new or old) based on many factors other than just which team is the champion. It takes into account ensureing the stadia, staff, and training facilities etc are on a standard that is acceptable to enticing outside players in, and driving standards upward. So we might be back to this old chestnut argument about rewarding those leagues champions against doing what's best for the game, again LOL

Really JW your bias is just so obvious.