Heartland Championship - news

[Smudge]

If holding the shield genuinely boosted crowds for more than a couple of weeks to create a bit of a war chest, I'd support that, but all you're doing is shifting the cost from the Heartland union to a larger union that has plenty of overheads as it is (player contracts etc). No issue if it's Hawke's Bay heading north to Poverty Bay for example but if the two challenge matches were away in Timaru and Thames Valley, for example, you're probably looking at $60k outlay and no gate takings in return.

[Pepe]

Excellent news. It now means the mighty King Country get to steal it before anyone else.

[Bovidae]

@Smudge Throwing a bone to the Meads Cup winners is a recent thing. Usually the RS holders would just accept challenges from neighbouring unions. NZR should pay the costs if they want to continue with this system.

[Bovidae]

New Zealand Rugby Commercial (NZRC) has announced that the Grassroots Club Rugby and Heartland Rugby programmes will air on NZR+, You Tube, Sky Sport and TVNZ from late June.

https://www.nzrugby.co.nz/news-and-events/latest-news/grassroots-and-heartland-rugby-shows-set-to-return-to-screens-across-aotearoa

[Kiwiwomble]

also interesting i just that the "Bunnings NPC" socials have renamed themselves "Bunnings Provincial Rugby"....not sure what it means other than we wont just see NPC....so more from all levels?

[gt12]

Not sure whether they can monetize it well, but it's a great way of getting eyeballs - my son and I watch cycling highlights on the morning whenever there a race going on.

I could see us dialling in to watch highlights / run downs of heartland games in the same way.

[Kiwiwomble]

@gt12 i kind of wonder if its one of those benefits thats will be really hard to quantify....but could be important in raising the general awareness in the public

[Bovidae]

Mainfreight Rugby was going to be axed, as I remember reading a comment from Ian Jones about his disappointment. TVNZ will have ads, and so will youtube I assume, so there will be a source of income.

[taniwharugby]

@Bovidae ads probably less frequent than the DJ interludes at live matches...

[Smudge]

Bit of shit going down on the West Coast since they were docked 15 points for fielding an ineligible player - the 3rd breach in the last 10-15 years.

[Trig]

@Smudge What exactly was the breach. I had seen Mitch Gibson in the team list earlier in the season and had just thought he was a loan player which most other provinces also utilise

[Smudge]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360829211/west-coast-rugby-union-fined-and-stripped-points-heartland-rugby-championship-breach

[Bovidae]

SF time.