NSW moves ahead with National Competition Planning

NSWRU Chairman Arvid Petersen and Chief Executive Fraser Neill have praised the Sydney Premiership clubs following a landmark meeting about the future of the game in NSW.

On Thursday night the Sydney club presidents were presented more detail on the proposed breakdown of the three NSW representative teams and the make up of the premiership and supporting competitions for 2007.

“It was a productive meeting,” said Arvid Petersen, NSWRU Chairman.

“First and foremost the clubs were informed that they have a four year funding guarantee and they will each play a critical role in their respective representative team.

“They also had the option to decide when the Shute Shield would be played and what they came back with made sense,” Mr Petersen added.

Clubs have proposed that the Shute Shield pencilled in for March be moved to later in the year and that the Tooheys New Cup be played in the March – July window.

Mr Petersen said the opportunity for player advancement is clearly laid out before them.

“Players can impress during the Tooheys New Cup then earn selection in their NSW rep club with a view to push for a number of Super 14 contracts which will be left open,” said Mr Petersen.

“This is a year round solution for the proper development of our players while maintaining the role of club rugby in the process.

“This also helps players in the lower grades compete at a higher level come Shute Shield which runs side-by-side with the National Rugby Competition.”

NSWRU has made a strong commitment to club rugby remaining a feature on the calendar from March to September.

“There was some misinformation out there about club rugby ending in July but that was never the case,” said NSWRU Chief Executive Fraser Neill.

“It was our plan for the lower grades to continue through the second part of the year and to the clubs’ credit they added value to that by proposing that the top grade plays for the Shute Shield.

“There’s some work to be done before Monday’s Board meeting to ratify all of the proposals but I’m confident that we’ll have some exciting developments to announce on Tuesday,” Mr Neill added.

The regional breakdown of the NSW representative teams will be confirmed at Monday’s Board meeting as will a timeline for the finalisation of the competition elements.

“Each club will have input into these new NSW teams and they’ll have the full support of NSW Rugby,” Mr Petersen said.