NZRFU are running a comunist style leadership over NZ rugby clubs.

Question

Should NZ zealand clubs be able to buy there own players and administer there own money. Should ownership be avalible to private people and companies. Should we look at the sucess in the french and english rugby clubs. Is the NZRFU just interested in continuing this 18th century style domination of New Zealand Rugby. Should our super 14 Franchises be owned by the provinces?

Answer 1

Great topic for a great debate.

When you look at the history of our game over the past 25 years, rugby here in NZ 25 years ago rugby was in a very healthy state with the NPC our premier competiton outside of the AB's and club rugby  flourishing as the clubs were the nursery for our provincial teams.

The introduction of Super rugby was the beginning of the end for grass roots rugby along with the professionalism of our code. Invested money for the provinces started finding its way into the coffers of the Super franchises as the need for R&D for the players was neccessary to ensure that an investment of this magnitude was competitive from the outset.

Major sponsorship from the provinces were starting to leave due to what exposure they could get investing in Super teams. Local businesses having been supportive of local clubs for years but that money has started to dry up as there has been a negative return on their investments.

I believe we need to look at the NRL club model for our Super franchises. Memberships, massive clubhouses attracting community support and raising funds for ther teams. What ever you may believe poker machines may do, to me it is a necessary evil. It is revenue that can support such an enterprise and assist with the sponsorship of grassroots rugby in their provinces. The Ozzie clubs do it great. Whether the franchises are privately owned or not there is need to attract greater community spirit and pride which will flow into supporting clubs. The Moorebank Rams in Sydneys outer west are the main feeder club for the Bulldogs. Mason, SBW, Willie Talau, Solomon Haumona and many others came from this club to play for the Bulldogs.

Rugby League is so huge in the suburbs in Sydney due to the community spirit they have for their local club and when players are elevated from this level to the bigger more professional out fits they will again support them. That aspect is missing from our communities as there is nothing surrounding these clubs that they can relate to.

I was born in Rotovegas but I will not support the Chiefs until I see clearly that there are BOP colours on the strip. There is nothing there for me to relate to.

We do not have the coporate dollar they have in France and England so it is difficult to attract that type of money to privately owned franchises but I am sure some of our millionaires would entertain the idea. Eric Watson would love to own the Auckland Blues and I am sure the owner of the Phoenix would love to own the Hurricanes as well. Both codes are a great investment for people like that as there is a positive return and it is on an international stage.

Answer 2

no. just need someone new to run nzrfu. if we put ownership into the hands of companies, what will happen to the game at the grassroots level? locals not able to play because thier local club has brought in a few high payed players. i see this already in the national 7s tournaments. it's ment to be club against club. not ringer against ringer. lets get back to playing for the love of the game rather then playing for money. look at where commercialism and large paychecks have gotten our national game already.

Answer 3

Yes, i agree.  I think that we need to make some radical changes and fast.  I'm all for grassroots rugby, but we need to keep all our top players in NZ.  If this means that teams are owned by business men, so be it.  

Answer 4

I must say I totally support the comments from Player, or actually all of them. But the NZRFU and the Unions will not listen to Joe Bloggs. This has been going on for years.

The Super 14 needs to be cut to 4 teams with the non-performing Chiefs given the boot and extended out to home and away like the NRL.

I also agree that private companies need to be involved more and not just token one man on the Board.

Life has changed dramatically world wide from the 60s and 70s, and not just in Rugby it is all sports.

One last comment good on ya Sonny Bill see you at eden Park in a couple of years. No doubt you will be playing for the Hurricanes when Tana Umaga comes home top coach them.

Answer 5

no leave as is but find a more world stage savy person to run nzru.