ARU applauds Sydney Clubs for their national vision

Australian Rugby Union CEO and Managing Director Gary Flowers has applauded the Sydney Premier Rugby Clubs for their support of the National Competition.

Gary Flowers and Chief Operating Officer Rob Clarke presented the full financial details of the National Competition to the Sydney Club Presidents this morning, after which they gave it a resounding vote of approval.

“We now have every stakeholder supporting the National Competition, including the State Unions, the Sydney and Brisbane clubs and most importantly, the players,” Mr Flowers said.

“We spent an hour and a half with the Sydney Club Presidents this morning, going through the full financial details of the competition.

“It was a very positive meeting and a good chance to discuss the issues directly with the clubs.

“We have said all along the National Competition will breathe life into Club Rugby.

“Club players will step up to a professional training and playing environment for three months of the year, before going back to Club Rugby where they will pass on their knowledge and experience.

“The Sydney clubs recognise that by acting as feeder teams to higher representative teams, their players will return to Club Rugby as better players.

“Apart from acknowledging the high performance-benefits for their own players, the Club Presidents have demonstrated their national vision for Rugby, for which they should be applauded.”

Mr Flowers said a detailed implementation plan for the National Competition had been developed, with the announcement of a broadcaster and a naming rights sponsor as the next steps.

“I don’t want to pre-empt our negotiations, but we are well advanced in terms of getting a national broadcaster and a naming rights sponsor on board," Mr Flowers said.

Planning will now begin on the makeup of the Premier Rugby competition and the other grades.

The NSW Rugby Union Board on Monday endorsed teams to play out of Sydney, West Sydney and the Central Coast.

NSWRU is close to finalising the venues for the National Competition and the clubs will be informed of that decision prior to their October 5th meeting when they will finalise their alignment to the NSW representative teams.