Players call for national club comp

Luke Pentony

Updated September 22, 2012 19:27:38

Queensland Reds star Luke Morahan says Australian rugby needs a national club competition if the Wallabies are to remain competitive on the international scene.

The Wallabies' injury crisis and the performance of Australia's five provinces in this year's Super Rugby season has led to renewed calls for the creation of a third-tier competition so as to improve player depth.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU), under the guidance of then-chief executive Gary Flowers, introduced an eight-team Australian Rugby Championship (ARC) in 2007 but it was scrapped after one season because of financial reasons.

The ARC suffered a $4.7 million loss in its maiden year and it was forecast the competition would incur a further $3.3 million deficit in its second season.

The ARU, under the direction of current chief executive John O'Neill, declared at the time that continuing the ARC would be "an untenable financial risk".

This decision ignored the ARC's potential to aid player development similar to New Zealand's national provincial championships (NPC) and South Africa's Currie Cup.

Morahan says Australia needs a third-tier competition to sit below Test matches and Super Rugby if the Wallabies are to match their international rivals.

"Speaking to a few of them (players) about the ARC, the previous tournament, they seemed to enjoyed and say it was a good standard of football," he told Grandstand.

"I think if we were to progress rugby in Australia we need a competition like that, like the Currie Cup or the ITM Cup (NPC) in New Zealand."

Balmain Rugby Club, who competes in the New South Wales' suburban competitions, earlier this month revealed it was working on a proposal to establish a third-tier competition.

Twelve clubs, all privately owned, would be based in Sydney and Brisbane in its first season before consideration would be given to expanding the competition that would likely be held from late August to early October.

It would involve players not included in the Wallabies' Rugby Championship squad and $1 million in prize money would be on offer.

Morahan has not been approached in regard to Balmain's plans, but he says the creation of a national club competition has been spoken about amongst players.

"It's just been general chit-chat between players and saying they think it would be a good idea," he said.

"So that's as far as it's gone really."

The chance to play at the club level is something Morahan relishes, even though he has established himself in the Reds' starting XV in the past two seasons and made his Test debut against Scotland this year.

He will front up for University in Sunday's Queensland's Premier Rugby grand final against Sunnybank and admits he always welcomes the opportunity to play on the club scene.

"I enjoy all the boys there, they're all my mates," he said.

"So, it's something you can get back to and have a bit of fun and really express yourself, and have good fun."

Sunday's season decider at Ballymore is set to be an intriguing encounter, with both sides featuring internationals.

Aside from Morahan, University will have Mike Harris and former Wallabies squad member James Hanson in their starting XV, while the Dragons have been boosted by the inclusion of Rob Simmons and Ben Tapuai.

The Dragons also have 2009 Wallabies tourist Richard Kingi at full-back and former Australia prop Greg Holmes on their reserves bench.

Harris, Simmons and Tapuai have been granted temporary release from the Wallabies tour party to South Africa so they can play on Sunday and gain some match fitness.

Morahan says Harris' availability has been an added bonus for University, who qualified for the grand final by beating minor premiers Brothers 59-12 a fortnight ago.

"I think it's a boost for the whole team because he's in that playmaker role and he creates more opportunity and leads the team around a lot easier," he said.

"But Sunnybank have brought in Rob Simmons and Ben Tapuai, so they're boosted as well."

University is chasing its second premiership in three seasons, while the Dragons are defending their title.

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000

First posted September 22, 2012 18:14:05

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Brumbies to blood six players for Wales

Updated June 10, 2012 22:42:10

The Brumbies are set to field a squad lighter on both years and experience when they take on reigning Six Nations champion Wales for their mid-week tour match at Canberra Stadium on Tuesday.

Of the 22-man squad named on Sunday, three will be making their run-on debuts for the season, while another six - five of whom will start on the bench - will wear the Brumbies jersey for the first time this year.

It is clear Brumbies coach Jake White is giving his young charges an opportunity to shine against top-quality international opposition, with Wales having gone down narrowly to the Wallabies 27-19 in Brisbane on Saturday.

With eight Brumbies, including skipper Ben Mowen, missing to the Wallabies squad, lock Ben Hand has been handed the captaincy reins for the match, despite having only played 50 minutes this season.

He starts in the second-row to partner semi-regular lock Leon Power, while in front of them in the scrum, hooker Anthony Hegarty and Scott Sio are getting their first starting jumpers, as is flanker Colby Fainga'a.

Australian under-20s representative Kimami Sitauti and Cam Crawford are also set to earn their first provincial caps on the wing, while five-eighth Zack Holmes and full-back Robbie Coleman retain their usual spots.

History sits with the Brumbies ahead of their clash with Wales, having defeated the tourists on their past two visits to the nation's capital in 1978 and 1996.

And although Wales is likely to rest its best players ahead of the next Test against the Wallabies in Melbourne on Saturday, Brumbies number seven Ita Vaea said it would be a chance for everyone in the squad to prove their muscle.

"Everyone's got to be very physical and there's got to be a lot of run forward, so we're not treating it different to any other game," he said.

"It's going to be hard and they're going to come at us so we've got to prepare well and take it there on Tuesday night."

The three-week international break has afforded the non-Wallaby Brumbies something of a rest, although they have been kept in the mix by playing each week in Canberra's local John I Dent competition.

White has poached two players from local side Tuggeranong Vikings for the Wales clash in Beau Mokoputo and JP Pradaud, both who will start from the bench along with fringe Brumbies Siliva Siliva, Dylan Sigg and Tom Cox.

Vaea welcomed the break as a chance to put energy back in the tank, but denied it would affect the Brumbies' momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

The Brumbies remain on top of the Australian conference and - barring catastrophe - are set for their first finals campaign since 2004 with three games to play against Western Force, New South Wales Waratahs and the Blues at home.

Brumbies: Robbie Coleman, Cam Crawford, Tevita Kuridrani, Andrew Smith, Kimami Sitauti, Zack Holmes, Ian Prior, Ita Vaea, Colby Faingaa, Peter Kimlin, Ben Hand (capt), Leon Power, Scott Sio, Anthony Hegarty, Ruaidhri Murphy.

Res: Siliva Siliva, JP Pradaud, Dylan Sigg, Fotu Auelua, Beau Mokoputo, Tom Cox, Jesse Mogg.

AAP

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia, wales, united-kingdom

First posted June 10, 2012 22:42:10

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French rugby player's father joins brawl

Updated November 30, 2011 12:44:19

The father of French international Imanol Harinordoquy brought the Top 14 Basque derby between Biarritz and Bayonne to a halt after running onto the pitch to defend his son.

Harinordoquy's father came down from the stands in the sixth minute of the clash and faced up to Bayonne flanker Jean-Jo Marmouyet after his son got involved in a punch-up behind the play.

Harinordoquy senior's admirable sense of family loyalty was brought to an abrupt end by Bayonne fly half Benjamin Boyet, who tackled him to the ground before Biarritz hooker Benoit August stepped in to restore order.

Christian Gajan, Bayonne's director of rugby, was outraged by Harinordoquy's father's behaviour.

"I find his behaviour deplorable that he came onto the pitch to defend his son by boxing with (Jean-Jo) Marmouyet at the beginning of the match," he said.

"You could have been mistaken for believing it was a youth match between two local villages, it was a scandalous episode."

Harinordoquy junior - who is known as one of the tougher customers in the sport and a veteran of three World Cups - opted not to comment.

AFP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, france, australia

First posted November 30, 2011 12:37:21

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Wallabies players rested for game against Samoa

Last Updated: Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:55:00 +1000

Several high-profile Australian rugby players will be rested for this weekend's Test against Samoa but captain Rocky Elsom will make his long-awaited return from injury for the season-opener.

ACT Brumbies flanker Elsom will lead the Wallabies out in Sydney for what will be just his second appearance since Australia's tour finale against France last November, after he suffered hamstring and ankle injuries.

Four uncapped players have been named in the team, which sees Queensland Reds stars including James Horwill and Quade Cooper rested ahead of the Tri-Nations opener against South Africa later this month.

The Reds stormed to victory against the Canterbury Crusaders 18-15 in the Super 15 finals last weekend.

Winger Digby Ioane was the only Red named in Sunday's starting XV - his first appearance for the national squad since a season-ending shoulder injury against England last June. Four Queenslanders will open on the bench.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said the squad had a hectic lead-up to October's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and now was the last real chance to rest players.

"We assessed all of the Queensland guys when they joined us on Monday night and decided this was the best course for us," said Deans.

"They've had a big workload already this year. Given that our schedule is so congested, with five Test matches in seven weeks, we felt that now was realistically the only opportunity we had to give them a break.

"They'll get their opportunity, they're excited, and I know they will all contribute when we call on them."

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