I just think it would provide better businesses synergies for some sort of co-operative agreement to be achieved. That said, having two separate entities could work out more to the benefit of each over time. It all depends on the delivery.

There seems to be some really fascinating pro league talk emerging. On the Ruggamatrix America podcast the IRB’s Development Management Mark Egan, comments on the 15s proposal. What I think is promising and it’s in agreement with the likes of Goff and co. on the podcast. Is that this group are keeping details close to their chests until they are ready to release more detail. Suggests, at least from my perspective, a far greater level of consideration and planning. Additionally, I keep hearing phrases such as, ‘deep pockets’, ‘of significant means’ and ‘ prominent and invested’ in relations to the yet unknown individuals behind this plan. The term ‘able to buy anyone’ has also emerged. I am really interested to learn of who exactly these guys are.

Something that I find rather encouraging about the GPR group since the original announcement. Initially, their plans were very ambitious but the fact they have quietly gone about their business building the team needed for the concept is really encouraging.

Great news facility. Well done!

Terence

Matt, it is hard to say at this point what final conclusion GPR came to with the competition. I have seen it change multiple times over the years. Things could have really changed now that they are using a more worldwide approach.

That site originally had 4 US cities listed on it before they took it down. I know for sure LA, New York and Chicago were three of them, but I cant remember if Dallas or Atlanta was the 4th. Either way, I then wonder who the other cities will be and how many will there be… If the US has 4, then Im guessing Toronto and Vancouver will also be on that list. And if that’s the case this could turn into a 28 to 32 team competition and quick. Think of all the rugby playing countries and if we (USA) have 4 teams then I’m guessing New Zealand, South Africa and Australia would all have 2 to 3 a piece. Then you start adding in Europe and I count 8 or so there. What about Japan and China…. Russia… Where does the list stop. Its really exciting to think about.

Here’s a list I came up with of possible team locations… I cannot wait to see where the teams are placed and how many there will be. Im guessing 16, but don’t know how you can do that if you have 4 of them in the U.S. Maybe it will be bigger and they’ll split the conference like Northern and Southern Hemispheres… this is going to be nuts…. I hope its as cool as I’m picturing.

Chicago – USA
Dallas -USA
Los Angeles – USA
New York – USA
Toronto – Canada
Vancouver – Canada
Buenos Aires – Argentina
Sao Paulo – Brazil

Auckland – New Zealand
Christchurch – New Zealand
Wellington – New Zealand
Cape Town – South Africa
Johannesburg – South Africa
Brisbane – Australia
Melborurne – Australia
Sydney – Australia

Paris – France
Dublin – Ireland
Milan – Italy
Barcelona – Spain
London – UK
Manchester – UK
Edinburgh – Scotland
Cardiff – Wales

Hong Kong – China
Tokyo – Japan
Moscow – Russia

I agree that a couple of the youngsters have talent, but in my eyes they just don’t stack up to New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa and some of the other teams in terms of size, power and speed. We look like a darn high school football team playing against Alabama sometimes. I want Thretton and Ebner on this team NOW. I’m so tired of these guys looking towards the NFL. They were born to play rugby and we need to get their butts on the pitch.

Going back to Matt D’s question. I was in touch with their new media relations guy and Grand Prix is not ready to release the exact details on the rugby series. A formal announcement is expected in the coming weeks. I had been getting hints for the past few months that they were close to a big announcement, so hopefully it won’t be much longer.