'That decision could have gone one way or the other - it was a pretty tight call and unfortunately it went to the Rebels'

If it’s nothing (a player gets his weekly paycheck from the club and thats it (which we know is definitely not the case in Ireland and France, or SA even I think?), then maybe it would retain more SR level players given that they’ll be getting the “AB” component (which is about where things stand, Burke for instance would have had to had his Sader contract upgraded to an AB one (think above Pero levels) to be on similar money.

I’d having to imagine if a player is getting paid to do nothing over the international windows though, they are going to want to get paid extra for appear for the ABs, so in this situation, it’s hard to see many players being retained, yes.

I’m pretty sure they flew to Japan and met in person.

I’ve heard/had these discussions numerous times. I don’t think theres anyway to judge the interest that would be retain in SR. For one, it might be a more entertaining league as a result, as the JRLO is compared to Europe, despite it obviously being a lesser standard.

If SRP is of a lesser standard and now able to use Japanese and American players to bolster teams, perhaps those markets more than make up for the downturn in NZ and Aus? Perhaps it gives NZR flexibility to create a more fit for purpose interdomestic competition, and interest actually increases? All you might need is a proper pathway from school to pro?

Razor asked NZR to keep an open mind. Did NZR answer any of these questions to themself?

I haven’t been following Trump but it’s irrelevant to this discussion other than it’s a random event that might see less sponsorship, sure. But that’s the type of ridiculousness we were getting in the articles, criticizing NZR for the effects of trump tarrifs.

I didn’t think Sky had anything to do with Sky in the UK, they might have some technological sharing but I wouldn’t have thought market directions would be shared. Here NPC games used to get 500k viewership when SR was going gangbusters around 2015-17 but NZR has continuously reduced it’s relevance and now Sky is sharing that perspective purely based on costs and small margins in this market. I wouldn’t think it applies anywhere else in the world.

You’re saying SRP is on Sky in the UK too? How would you rate/compare the product Ed, the comms team and any pre/post match stuff you see?

Barrett didn’t stand out at all again?

I was just joking about the flight paths having their own quirks. But it was the same in Super back in the day as well. They really got tough on reformation there at one point so it’s easy to think it was always that bad for them.

They get in far far easyier than others because of their commercial aspect (next thing there will be a PPP for Youtubers), but I think if they’re not cutting it after year they’d find it just as hard as anybody to get in. I followed Hayne a bit, but part of that was the clubs he chose as well. I doubt I’d be interested in doing it again.

Who Petaia, or LRZ?

So you’re going for the dirty approach. I’m not surprised, it’s the only way to easily implement it right now. I wouldn’t see the benefit to doing that myself. A draft, if purely feasible in it’s own right, doesn’t need to provide commercial benefit at all (if it works, that’s all it needs to do, as it no doubt did back in america’s heyday). But without the advantageous backing of sponsors and interest levels, if you pick the wrong method to implement it, like a dirty approach, you do potential harm to it’s acceptance.

The aspect’s of the approach you chose that I don’t like, is that the franchises are the ones spending the money of the U20’s only for there opposition to get first dibs. Personally, I would much prefer an investment into a proper pathway (which I can’t really see SR U20s being at all in anycase). I’m not exactly sure how the draft works in america, but I’m pretty sure it’s something like ‘anyone whishing to be pro has to sign for the draft’, and results in maybe 10 or 20% of those being drafted. The rest (that accumulative 80/90% year on year) do go back into club, pronvincial, or whatever they have there, and remain scouted and options to bring in on immediate notice for cover etc. You yes, you draw on everybody, but what is generating your interest in the drafties in the first plaec?

This is your missing peace. If some come through school and into the acadamies, which would be most, you’ve currently got three years of not seeing those players after they leave school. Those that miss and come in through club, maybe the second year theyre in the draft or whatever, aged 20/21, you’re going to have no clue how they’ve been playing. NPC is a high level, so any that are good enough to play that would already be drafted, but some late bloomers you might see come in NPC but then Sky’s not going to broadcast that anymore. So what’s generating this massive interest you’re talking about, and most importantly, how does it tie in with the other 7 clubs that will be drafting (and providing) players outside of NZ?

Is the next step to pump tens of millions into SRP U20s? That would be a good start for investment in the youth (to get onto international levels of pathway development) in the first place but are fans going to be interested to the same level as what happens in america? Baseball, as mentioned, has the minor leagues, if we use that model it hasn’t to be broad over the whole pacific, because you’re not having one draft right, they all have to play against each other. So here they get drafted young and sent out into a lower level thats more expansive that SR, is there interest in that? There would be for large parts, but how financially viable would it be. Twiggy tried to get a league started and NPC clubs joined. BOP and Taranaki want SR representation, do we have a mix of the biggest clubs and provinces/states make a couple of divisions? I think that is far more likely to fan interest and commerical capabilities than an U20 of the SR teams. Or ofc Uni fits a lot of options. I’ve not really read anything that has tried to nut out the feasability of a draft, it can certainly work if this spitballing is anything to go by, but I think first theres got to be a need for it far above just being a drafting level.

I mean it’s ludicrous to think that the 7th placed AB7s, who have been awful this circuit, can technically win one tournament & be crowned the men’s SVNS Series Champions. Any of the 8 mens teams can win on the day. Ridiculous!!!!

Love or Harkin, the time is now one of the more risky playmaker choices into 10. I don’t even think I’d keep Hohepa on the bench, go all out.