| Questions about Australian rugby [message #983460] |
Fri, 28 April 2006 17:43 |
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Hi this is for our Aussie friends.
I’m French and I’m working on a comparative study of the different
national rugby championships of the main rugby nations. (States
premierships and Australian rugby shield in the case of Australia)
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 states
premierships and the Australian Rugby Shield regarding a few things:
- Is there a proper national premiership in Australia. I don’t think so
but still I ask. Rugby Union seems to be played mostly in QLD ans NSW
where there seems to be State premierships played by clubs. Am I right?
Is there some kind of final crowning a Australian champion?
- Do the Super 14 players and especially the Wallabies play the state
premierships? For example what does Strinling Mortlock do when he’s not
playing for the ACT Brumbies in the Super 14 or for Australia? Club
rugby? Other games with the Brumbies? Nothing?
- I think Super 14 (formerly Super 12 and Super 10) 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 for Australian domestic tournaments
since it appeared?
- In 1991 for example, what was the average season for let say David
Campese, which tournaments was he playing when not playing for Australia?
- What is the Australian rugby shield and who plays for that? Do Super
14 players take part into that tournament? Wallabies?
- I heard about a new domestic tournament involving only the 4 super 14
sides to be played in september/october, same time as the Currie cup in
SA ans the NPC in NZ. Is it different from the Australian rugby shield.
I thank you very much in advance for answering all or part of my questions.
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| Re: Questions about Australian rugby [message #983476 ] |
Sat, 29 April 2006 02:46 |
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Hi this is for our Aussie friends.
I'm French and I'm working on a comparative study of the different
national rugby championships of the main rugby nations. (States
premierships and Australian rugby shield in the case of Australia)
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
states
premierships and the Australian Rugby Shield regarding a few things:
- Is there a proper national premiership in Australia. I don't
think so
but still I ask. Rugby Union seems to be played mostly in QLD ans NSW
where there seems to be State premierships played by clubs. Am I right?
Is there some kind of final crowning a Australian champion?
There is no National Competition in Australia, each of the State Rugby
Unions run their own State Based competitions limited predominantly to
the National Capitals.
The Australian Rugby Shield was introduced to provide the 2nd tier
entities with stronger competition for the best players from their
compeitions - this includes sides from West Aust, Victoria, South
Australia, Northern Territory, NSW Country and QLD Country/
- Do the Super 14 players and especially the Wallabies play the
state
premierships? For example what does Strinling Mortlock do when he's
not
playing for the ACT Brumbies in the Super 14 or for Australia? Club
rugby? Other games with the Brumbies? Nothing?
Those Super 14 players not included in the Wallabies squad play for
their local clubs - Sterling Mortlock plays for Gordon in the NSW
competitions (which incidentaly is split into two competitions - Shute
Shield which is held during the S14, without the S14 players and the
Tooheys New Cup, once the S14 players return)
Where those contracted players of the Western Force end up playing is
open for speculation.
- I think Super 14 (formerly Super 12 and Super 10) 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 for Australian domestic tournaments
since it appeared?
You are correct, the Super 14 evolved from the S12 and S10 competitions
- although the latter was based on the best finishing provinces from
the Currie Cup and NPC competitions - Super 12 started with the help of
Murdocks millions.
There has always been the annual interstate challenge between NSW and
QLD (apart from a short period in the 50s when QLD were considered too
weak to provide viable competition) ACT were only elevated to the same
comparative standard with the introduction of the S12 - prior to this
Canberra fieded their own team in the NSW competition (subject to the
whims of NSW officialdom)
QLD and NSW also played against tourning sides - when such tours were
in vougue.
- In 1991 for example, what was the average season for let say
David
Campese, which tournaments was he playing when not playing for
Australia?
David Campese played for Randwick in the NSW competions when not
required for NSW and Wallaby duties.
- What is the Australian rugby shield and who plays for that? Do
Super
14 players take part into that tournament? Wallabies?
As detailed above its the second tier competition excluding NSW, ACT
and QLD
- I heard about a new domestic tournament involving only the 4
super 14
sides to be played in september/october, same time as the Currie cup in
SA ans the NPC in NZ. Is it different from the Australian rugby shield.
Yes, It would be a different competition from the Australian Rugby
Shield
I thank you very much in advance for answering all or part of my
questions.
More info is available about the structure of Australian rugby at the
offical site of the ARU at www.rugby.com.au
Karl aka Stomper
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