Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="TRF_stormer2010" data-source="post: 873917" data-attributes="member: 39190">My support for this is predicated on an assumption that 1) We do in fact actively start chasing lost sheep and do our utmost to keep a hold on those players our systems develop during their peak years.2) The selection of the teams aren&#039;t based on our real politics or the &quot;rugby politics&quot; of the 14 unions but rather on which centers would be best placed to take advantage of the opportunity given. The Pumas to my mind are an obvious choice but I myself bulk at Kimberley and the Griquas. Even if the money was there to match salaries elsewhere would in-demand players really want to be based in Kimberley? The actual location is also a push factor that has held back the Cheetahs IMO to a small degree but Bloem is just a vastly superior place to Kimberley. This may be my Cape bias but I feel the Cape has more than the capacity ITO players, fans and facilities to take the other spot the furthest whether it be SWD Eagles based in George (a rugby market that is untapped after the SA leg of the 7s series moved to PE), Boland or even a team based just outside Cape Town like the Stellenbosch/SSW/Strand area or Northern suburbs. Cape Tow stadium is an absolute beaut just sitting there and the City of Cape Town will bend over backwards to accommodate a serious tenant. Lets face it, the Cape produces the talent our other teams use in any case.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="TRF_stormer2010, post: 873917, member: 39190"] My support for this is predicated on an assumption that 1) We do in fact actively start chasing lost sheep and do our utmost to keep a hold on those players our systems develop during their peak years. 2) The selection of the teams aren't based on our real politics or the "rugby politics" of the 14 unions but rather on which centers would be best placed to take advantage of the opportunity given. The Pumas to my mind are an obvious choice but I myself bulk at Kimberley and the Griquas. Even if the money was there to match salaries elsewhere would in-demand players really want to be based in Kimberley? The actual location is also a push factor that has held back the Cheetahs IMO to a small degree but Bloem is just a vastly superior place to Kimberley. This may be my Cape bias but I feel the Cape has more than the capacity ITO players, fans and facilities to take the other spot the furthest whether it be SWD Eagles based in George (a rugby market that is untapped after the SA leg of the 7s series moved to PE), Boland or even a team based just outside Cape Town like the Stellenbosch/SSW/Strand area or Northern suburbs. Cape Tow stadium is an absolute beaut just sitting there and the City of Cape Town will bend over backwards to accommodate a serious tenant. Lets face it, the Cape produces the talent our other teams use in any case. [/QUOTE]

Verification