The smell of the crowd, the roar of the liniment - real rugby is back. Earthy, grassroots, supposedly amateur (but cash is being splashed with gay abandon), club rugby is the life blood of what makes the New Zealand game great. But are the ``blood donor'' outlets drying up? Do the ``fish-heads'' at the top really care? Are we fast becoming American football? Concentrating on secondary schools, scholarships, academies and professional contracts and forgetting the rest? Well I don't want to be negative in the first hit out for the year, but the answer seems to be overwhelmingly yes.
So there was a big meeting in late January at ORFU headquarters and it was decided to try to end all of our comps on the same date, which is to be applauded, and to play the majority of our rugby on Saturdays, which is also be to applauded. But at what cost? The ORFU wanted the Premier comp finished on July 20 so the Otago team could have an uninterrupted run into its ever shortening window.
Some clubs think they walked away from the meeting with some sort of victory. But prospective Otago players are out of the competition after July 20. Therefore our semis and finals are bereft of supposedly the best players, so we won't know who is really the best team, so what have we played all year for?
Look, there is no right and wrong answer. We've probably made the best decision with a stacked deck. But it is time to say this is not good enough! Otago needs to take a stand. We keep preaching from the marketing handbook how fiercely local we are and bleed blue and gold - well it's time to walk the walk. We are not America, we don't have the population. If rugby is to survive, club rugby needs to survive to foster kids from 5 years old.
Clubs need a protected window or they are gone. Look at where the numbers are this year - down the toilet again. Don't listen to the ``experts'' that numbers are up - at colts level and above numbers are through the floor (I'll expand on that over the next few weeks). The clubs across the Otago union need to get in the same headspace to get the other unions on board and plead our case - that enough is enough or rugby will die in this country. So what can we do? Get your club to join the movement!
Speaking of debacles
The GI Spannerheads had to play the West Taieri Warthogs in a promotion relegation game in September last year. On the face of it, fair enough, the rules at the time said it was OK. West Taieri won the Premier 2 comp fair and square. Then, according to my spies, it gets a bit murky. I spoke to a few of the West Taieri lads who said they were keen to play it but the club had no intention of going up if they won.
GI had finished its comp in the middle of July and the Prem 2 comp didn't finish till the middle of August and things were exacerbated as West Taieri procrastinated over whether it would challenge. It finally did and GI coach Deano Moeahu had to herd together a team from all parts to play a game that, in the scheme of things, was meaningless. And the ultimate irony was they then had to pay $2000 for the privilege of playing, because it was at Forsyth Barr Stadium! To the Spannerheads' credit they didn't complain to the media, they just sucked it up and played - they acted like a Premier club. West Taieri, I'm not so sure.
On the plus side, the metro committee has sorted the rules out so this travesty cannot be played out again.
Nostradamus predicts
Well, where do we start? Southern (Magpies), the defending Premier champions, could be down to three teams, with no Prem 2s, so there is no cover for injuries - so I'm predicting fifth at best.
Harbour (Hawks, second last year) has not got great depth with no Prem 2 side, but it has added a Colts side. However, its Prem squad looks strong so it should make the final.
Kaik (fourth last year) has good depth across the club, will make the final and could go all the way.
Dunedin (Sharks, third last year) should make the four as it has good depth, with a very strong Colts outfit.
Varsity has had a clean-out, so depth is questionable and struggling at Prem 2, but Colts are always strong, so fourth or fifth at best.
Alhambra-Union (The Onion, sixth last year) has great depth across the club, but the Premier side looks a touch thin, so about mid table is its best result.
Zingari-Richmond (The Colours, seventh last year) is looking at global warming with its Premier side on paper very weak. Club numbers are good and it has added a team, but I've got it choking on the spoon - sorry lads.
Taieri (The Eels, eighth last year) will be better than last year and Josh Larsen (lock) is back, and in Josh we trust. Club depth is down, with only one Colts side, but it'll challenge for the top four - fourth or fifth at best.
Green Island (The Spannerheads, wooden spooners last year) are looking a lot stronger, so could go as high as top six. Depth is still questionable, with no Premier Colts, side but it will train eight days a week (Deano, give them a break), so it is the club to watch.
Now I could get this all wrong, but I don't think so!
The foibles of paying
Lance (Abramovich) Spence from Harbour, who splashes the Chipmunks cash with lolly scramble-like freedom, has outdone himself this year and has offered all intending Colts players a trip to Bali as a sign-on fee - great work if you can get it. Real estate baron and tycoon Mike (Doc) Dougherty and the unofficial heavy at Kaik is following in the big footsteps and the cash has been flowing from the High Veldt. But he's still got a bit to learn from the ``old master'' Abramovich. Doc paid a promising young first-five from England a suitcase full of cash, flew him out and found him a flat and a job. All good so far, but on the first night in town the boys had a party at the flat and, you guessed it, he fell off the roof and ruptured his knee!
Abramovich, get the pitons out, climb up to the Veldt and give them some pointers. As one wag has pointed out to me, the Kaik boys won't be able to drink in any clubs this year - they'll have to get home and keep the bar takings up!
Some other bits
Harold Driver, the legendary DCC head of grounds, passed away in the off season - you'll be sadly missed by all our clubs, mate. He closed grounds only when he had to and he grasped the fact that rugby was a winter sport. RIP big fella.
Congrats to Peter Mirrielees cracking the 200 tomorrow - great work, mate.
There have been rumours the refereeing head honcho and world's best licensed victualler Harty had permanently lost his voice. The continual drone from Leith Liquor has been mute for two weeks. Fear not, just a minor hiccup - a nose and throat op and the ``human generator'' is back up and running!
This weekend
In week one up against the sponsor of the picking comp, beer magnate, pub and restaurant king, Dunedin's answer to Al Capone, Mark Scully. So I should get off to a flyer. Kaik (12-) are away to Varsity at the ``Greenhouse'' tonight at 7pm and Kaik get up just. The Magpies (12-) are at home to Spannerheads and will get it done, but there will be nothing in it. The Hawks (13+) are at home at Groperville and could run up a cricket score against Zingers. The Sharks (13+) are wallowing in the Sandpit and could gorge on Shetland Pony at Kettle Park! Good luck to all in your first hit-out for the season and may injuries be few and far between.
- Paul Dwyer