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RA outlines intention to develop Super Rugby pathways into Pacific
After brokering a one-year extension to player pay deals on Thursday, Rugby Australia says their focus now shifts to progressing an expanded Super Rugby competition and developing vital pathways in the Pacific.
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On Thursday, the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) agreed on voluntary pay cuts with the governing body following COVID-19 disruptions since 2020.
They extended the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for a year which will cover all male and female professionals till the end of 2022.
CEO Andy Marinos said the deal was a collaborative effort between state rugby associations and the players’ association, but will assist in navigating COVID impacts and the uncertainty of further interruptions.
He will now divert his attention to the forthcoming Super Rugby Pacific competition, with the inclusion of Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika vital to enhancing and developing pathways in the Pacific Islands.
“They’re going to bring a point of difference,” Marinos said.
“In saying that, it’s going to be a hard transition as we’ve seen in the previous iterations of Super Rugby where new teams have come in.”
Marinos and RUPA CEO Justin Harrison believe additions via the Pacific are not only important to bolstering competitiveness in the format, but also developing player pathways.
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“It’s been quite clear from both New Zealand and Australia’s side of our intent to continue to help and drive revenue in the Pacific,” Marinos said.
“We’re really keen and excited to see how the competition is going to sort of settle down and start building momentum off that.”
The Drua had their first taste of non-local competition in a trial match victory over the Melbourne Rebels on Thursday evening in Victoria.
Harrison said their exposure in the expanded Super Rugby competition will bring high-performance pathways to a nation on the fringes of the top 10 in the world.
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“A Super Rugby model that’s got integrity and also a high performance model to give developing-tiered countries an opportunity to expose themselves to a high-performance rugby model is beneficial,” he told AAP.
“We’ve seen historically from their inclusion in the NRC (National Rugby Championship) that they are able to have a team that’s competitive and that’s the direct flow-on from their exposure and involvement in that competition.
“Fiji have put together a squad that will be in their minds competitive, how that plays out throughout the competition remains to be seen.
“The important thing will be their base here in Australia. They’re dealing with all sorts of adversities and the support of athletes and staff will be a big focal point as well.
The Drua kick off their campaign against the NSW Waratahs in round one on February 18.
Comments on RugbyPass
Utter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
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