NPC v Super Rugby

I'm curious what everyone thinks on this forum. Given that this virus has messed up all immediate rugby schedules it seems that The NZRU is considering running some sort of rugby latter in the year (if possible).

So, if you were to choose one, which would it be ? Do you want an NPC comp with the top flight players included or the local Super teams in some sort of competition ?

I know there are many unanswered questions like salaries, travel restrictions and competition rules but for the sake of this pole lets ignore them.

NPC any day of the week if it had the same players that Super Rugby had + AB's

Whatever makes NZR the most money - we need it. I'll watch both equally happily

Super for me. Well, as a body of work anyway. The standard is just so much higher; before teh stupid conference system it was pinnacle rugby for bloody ages.

In fact, since they went to conferences, there has been a gradual decline in the quality, with a sudden step change in 2016 with Super 18. FFS.

NPC. If this was the only show in town the quality of the rugby on display would return to its glory days as the best players would be involved.

@Machpants said in NPC v Super Rugby:

Whatever makes NZR the most money - we need it. I'll watch both equally happily

I love the NPC because I get to watch the Magpies, but the three tiered system is perfect for me and I like being able to watch Super, then the ABs and then the Magpies.

I have no issues with the quality of the NPC, it's our 3rd tier but usually the rugby is of a pretty good standard.

Obviously if only one could survive I would take the NPC then daylight.

The whole thing looks like a conspiracy to to prise open Tasman's iron grip on the NPC!

Will have to be NPC if it's going to run for more than a few weeks - but, as a one season option there might be some challenges to overcome. One might be how to avoid a suite of mismatches between teams stacked with All Blacks and teams not - especially if some of the Div 2 teams are stacked (e.g. Taranaki).

Maybe some of the ABs should go into a draft?

NPC all day, every day. Opportunity also for NZR to boost sponsorship dollars: bye bye M10 unless you want to pony-up.

I don't know if I share your pessimism re Tasman, Chris B. Your top XV would still compare highly favourably to any other.

NPC all day every day, which given my teams lack of success since, well, ever, is plain odd!!

Having a solitary AB back for us would be huge.

@shark I'm not particularly pessimistic about Tasman's chances - but, without ABs involved it might have been a cakewalk to the 2020 title - especially if Tasman players on the fringe of AB selection didn't make it!

I don't know whether this poll reflects the NZ general opinion since NPC is played in front of empty seats.

@cgrant Would the stands still sit empty if it was the premier competition and the best players were available?

Guess you could argue the best players aren't available for Super rugby either but the crowds are disappearing from that too....

Super makes more money because of SATV rights, but either would do well in a post-Covid world due to pent up demand and limited supply (in terms of top flight matches per year).

If we could actually choose either, I would select NPC because of the Ranfurly Shield.

@Godder said in NPC v Super Rugby:

If we could actually choose either, I would select NPC because of the Ranfurly Shield.

The what?

If the NPC did start, I would keep it smaller and just restrict it to the Premiership teams and keep the Championship teams out of it. That would create less travel and onus on the actual NPC costs and you would still get a great TV viewership.

@Hooroo Sounds like a winner.

@Hooroo

@Stargazer For the better of the competition. A smaller economical comp is better than no comp. Would generate revenue too.

@Hooroo I suggested earlier to shorten the comp by scratching cross-over games. That's as far as I would want to go. The unions in the Championship need the income, too, and their SR players and ABs need to play.

@Stargazer said in NPC v Super Rugby:

@Hooroo I suggested earlier to shorten the comp by scratching cross-over games. That's as far as I would want to go. The unions in the Championship need the income, too, and their SR players and ABs need to play.

Everyone needs the income so that is a mute point.

I would assume they would be allowed to loan their AB's to the playing provinces.