Draft system

[UKHamlet]

A draft system similar to the American Football draft is being proposed.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... s-26983071

[Sandydragon]

A draft system similar to the American Football draft is being proposed.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... s-26983071

interesting. On the one hand its got potential to level up across the weaker teams. On the other, the report mentioned the plethora of talent that the Irish system produces which can't get a game. How does pulling the second tier of Irish taken into the regions help Welsh rugby develop its own talent (or Italy for that matter)? I'm not opposed to a draft system for young Welsh players across our 4 regions, I don't think having a raft of NWQ players inserted will help anyone long term.

[Son of Mathonwy]

A draft system similar to the American Football draft is being proposed.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... s-26983071

interesting. On the one hand its got potential to level up across the weaker teams. On the other, the report mentioned the plethora of talent that the Irish system produces which can't get a game. How does pulling the second tier of Irish taken into the regions help Welsh rugby develop its own talent (or Italy for that matter)? I'm not opposed to a draft system for young Welsh players across our 4 regions, I don't think having a raft of NWQ players inserted will help anyone long term.

Agreed, if it's primarily a method of developing more non-welsh players who can't get game time in their own unions then no thanks. Happy to draft in any competent coaches though....

[Son of Mathonwy]

NB I doubt that the URC 'draft' idea bears much resemblance to the NFL Draft, which is 'the league's most common source of player recruitment':

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_ ... ague_Draft

[newgalesurf]

The traditional draft system used in the US will not work as there is not a strong University system underneath to feed players. Would also lead to having squad size and salary cap systems in place, and I am sure the richer teams would not like this.

Individual unions would have to give up a ton of control for this to work. contracts may need to be structured to have a 2 way structure of teams being able to be sent to than affiliate team (such as the Premiership teams

One thing that may work is something like the baseball rule 5 draft - where teams can select from a competing teams roster which could be in order of finishing position on previous season. Each team can submit a list of protected players to the league. Would allow some playing time for fringe players

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/rule-5-draft

[switchskier]

The traditional draft system used in the US will not work as there is not a strong University system underneath to feed players. Would also lead to having squad size and salary cap systems in place, and I am sure the richer teams would not like this.

Individual unions would have to give up a ton of control for this to work. contracts may need to be structured to have a 2 way structure of teams being able to be sent to than affiliate team (such as the Premiership teams

One thing that may work is something like the baseball rule 5 draft - where teams can select from a competing teams roster which could be in order of finishing position on previous season. Each team can submit a list of protected players to the league. Would allow some playing time for fringe players

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/rule-5-draft

Like the idea of the baseball rule. It would give year round interest and promote parity in a league without relegation. An alternative would be an IPL style auction for non-protrotected players who are out of contract, which isn't that different to what happens now but makes it a couple of days where you get media interest and interesting storylines.

Also agree that you need some form of feeder system for an NFL style draft to work. That means unions giving up their academy systems which I suspect is too bold for any of the URC unions.

I love the idea though of taking the money and coaches that go into the academies and using them to develop an actual university game that feeds the pros. It would have to be backed by scholarships but those that don't make it would at least come out with an education (if you avoid the pitfalls of what happens in the US where they're basically unpaid pros).