Heartland Championship - news

[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.

[Dan54]

I know it's not about games etc , but am absolutely stoked to read the mighty Nua (HKRU) has posted a surplus for their financials for 17th year. Apparently player numbers etc up too, but all in all it's f***en great to read a good news story on our game from grassroots!