| Questions about New Zealand rugby [message #983410] |
Fri, 28 April 2006 10:07 |
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This si topic for our friends from New Zealand
I’m French and I’m working on a comparative study of the different
national rugby championships of the main rugby nations. (NPC in the case
of New Zealand)
I’m trying to estimate the importance of the national championship in
each country and to understand how the changes which might have occurred
since rugby became a professional sport were taken, how the fans rate a
win in the national championship compared to a win in their
international club competition (Super 14 in your case), how they feel
about international tests being held the same day as national club games
etc… We see in the southern hemisphere but also now in Ireland or Wales
that a continental tournament involving provinces (Heineken cup in
Europe or Super 14in SH) have got more important than national
tournaments (New Zealand’s NPC, South African’s Currie cup, Irish or
welsh premiership), correct me if I’m wrong.
For example in France the French championship has a long tradition and
is very important for the players and for the fans. The trophy has
always been awarded after a final, which for decades has been played in
Paris, and the trophy being handed to the winning side by the President
of the Republic, showing how important the event is in the French rugby
season. The Heineken cup (European club tournament) is a young
tournament and is highly regarded too, I would say that winning the
Heineken cup is now considered equal to winning the French championship.
I would like to collect as much information as possible about the NPC
and Super 14 regarding a few things:
- I think Super 14 (formerly Super 12) is a young tournament (about 10
yrs old). Am I right or was there already a club/province tournament
involving teams from NZ, Australia and Sth Africa before? What has
changed since it appeared? How was the NPC rated before that, and how is
it rated now?
- NPC isn’t played on a home and away basis, as well as Super 14. Has it
always been like this? Did it change when Super 12 was created. How do
the fans feel about that? (In France from example the fans would deeply
regret not seeing their team play against all the other ones at home
every year)
- By looking at the fixtures, I can see that the All Blacks cannot take
part in some NPC matches because of international tests being played at
the same time. How do the fans feel about NPC games been played without
the international players? Has it always been like this? Do the All
Blacks at least play part of the NPC with their provincial teams?
- The Super 14 New Zealander teams’ squads are picked from NPC teams
(for example the Crusaders are picked from Canterbury and some other
teams, the Blues are picked frome Aukland and some others etc.). Does it
mean that a player from Canterbury who is not part of the Crusader’s
squad (and not of the All Blacks’ squad most likely) will only play the
eleven games of the NPC during the season? If not do the NPC provinces
take part in another tournament during the Super 14?
I thank you very much in advance for answering all or part of my questions.
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| Re: Questions about New Zealand rugby [message #983412 ] |
Fri, 28 April 2006 10:23 |
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> - I think Super 14 (formerly Super 12) is a young tournament (about 10
> yrs old). Am I right or was there already a club/province tournament
> involving teams from NZ, Australia and Sth Africa before?
Super 10
What has changed since it appeared? How was the NPC rated before that, and
how is it rated now?
> - NPC isn’t played on a home and away basis, as well as Super 14. Has it
> lways been like this?
yes
Did it change when Super 12 was created.
no
How do the fans feel about that? (In France from example the fans would
deeply regret not seeing their team play against all the other ones at home
every year)
dont care
By looking at the fixtures, I can see that the All Blacks cannot take part
in some NPC matches because of international tests being played at the same
time. How do the fans feel about NPC games been played without the
international players?
it sucks
Has it always been like this?
no
Do the All Blacks at least play part of the NPC with their provincial teams?
yes.
The Super 14 New Zealander teams’ squads are picked from NPC teams
> (for example the Crusaders are picked from Canterbury and some other
> teams, the Blues are picked frome Aukland and some others etc.). Does it
> mean that a player from Canterbury who is not part of the Crusader’s squad
> (and not of the All Blacks’ squad most likely) will only play the eleven
> games of the NPC during the season? If not do the NPC provinces take part
> in another tournament during the Super 14?
club rugby.
The NPC no longer exists. it becomes the air new zealand cup later this
year. entire new format.
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