Planet Rugby Forum

It has been rumoured for a while now, but the Brisbane Global Tens tournament, set for Suncorp Stadium next February, was officially launched today.

The event is the brainchild of the same crew behind the NRL Auckland Nines tournament and has been confirmed to run for the next four years.

Held the week after the Sydney leg of the World Sevens Series, the Global Tens tournament will feature the ten professional franchises of Australia and New Zealand, plus Toulon from France, the Panasonic Wild Knights from Japan, the Blue Bulls of South Africa and the Samoan international team.

The tournament will live and die by the quality of players it attracts with previous suggestions indicating that each team was contractually obliged to at least bring their top five players. If they can achieve this and we can enjoy a weekend of the likes of Israel Folau, Quade Cooper, Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper, Ben Smith, Julian Savea, David Pocock, Berrick Barnes, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Liam Gill running around, then bring it on I say. But if ends up being a glorified NRC v ITM Cup 10s tournament, then the numbers just won’t stack up.

It is expected that a lot of focus will go to activating the precinct around Suncorp Stadium to take in Caxton Street, to enhance the spectator experience. This can only add to the desired carnival atmosphere of the event, although I can’t imagine the venue wanting too many people leaving the stadium to buy their food and drink.

Tickets go on sale to the General Public at 9:00am on Thursday 11 August and a 2 day pass ranges from $60 all the way up to something called “Elite” for more than $500. With 28 games to take place over two days the value of the cheaper ticket seems to be there however, again, much depends on the quality of the stars playing the game. You could also question whether rugby needs to spend its time promoting yet another version of the game, but the usual response will be (after the money counting stops) that if it introduces any new fans to the traditional game, then it’s worth it.

BRISBANE GLOBAL TENS – AT A GLANCE

Ten Australian and New Zealand professional clubs and four elite invitational teams will compete (in 2017 the event will feature Toulon, the Bulls, Samoa and the Panasonic Wild Knights)
Ten-players-per-side, ten-minutes-per-half, knockout tournament
Culmination of a week-long festival of rugby
16 hours of compelling live rugby, featuring 28 matches played over two days
Broadcast live across Australia, New Zealand, UK, Japan, Africa, France and other major international markets
Held annually on the second weekend of February, two weeks prior to the start of the Super Rugby season, at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Launches the rugby season in Australia and New Zealand
Sanctioned by the Australian Rugby Union and New Zealand Rugby

BRISBANE GLOBAL TENS RULES

The rules of the Brisbane Global Tens are based on World Rugby’s official rugby tens rules
Essentially a hybrid of the traditional 15-a-side game and rugby sevens, the objective is to promote free-flowing and fast paced rugby, while still retaining the physical intensity and enthralling forward and backline play that rugby fans love
Ten players per team on field, with unlimited interchanges
Ten minute halves, five minute half-time
Knockout matches drawn after regulation are continued into extra time, in multiple five-minute periods
All conversion attempts must be drop-kicked
Conversions must be taken within 40 seconds of scoring a try
Five player scrums
Scoring team kicks off
Yellow cards net a three-minute suspension
Referees rule on advantage quickly (where one play usually ends advantage)

KEY DATES

Monday 8 August, 2016 – Ticket pre-sale opens for Super Club members at 9:00am (AEST)
Thursday 11 August 2016 – General Public tickets on sale 9:00am (AEST)
Monday 6 February, 2017 – Tournament week in Brisbane kicks off
Saturday 11 February, 2017 – Day One – Brisbane Global Tens
Sunday 12 February, 2017 – Day Two – Brisbane Global Tens

Thomas wrote:Rugby.

In Brisbane.

In February.

The Australian Rugby Union chief executive, John O'Neill, has called for a later start to next season's Super 14 after the South African flanker Juan Smith collapsed with heat exhaustion at the weekend.Smith was taken to a Brisbane hospital on Sunday night and placed on a saline drip after he succumbed to heat stress in the dressing room following the Cheetahs' 22–3 defeat by Australia's Queensland Reds.The game was played in temperatures exceeding 32C and humidity of 66% and both teams struggled to cope with the extreme conditions.

Thomas wrote:February is easily the worst month in Brisbane.

Jay Cee Gee wrote:NRL issue press release?

"Oh yeah? We'll we're gonna do the Sydney 11's then ya farken carnts!"

749a wrote:

Jay Cee Gee wrote:NRL issue press release?

"Oh yeah? We'll we're gonna do the Sydney 11's then ya farken carnts!"

When is the Auckland Nines next year - have they announced it yet?

I imagine it eill either clash with this or the Sevens event in Sydney the week before

749a wrote:

Thomas wrote:Rugby.

In Brisbane.

In February.

To fit 14 hours of play a day in they're going to be playing riught through the middle of the day too

The Australian Rugby Union chief executive, John O'Neill, has called for a later start to next season's Super 14 after the South African flanker Juan Smith collapsed with heat exhaustion at the weekend.Smith was taken to a Brisbane hospital on Sunday night and placed on a saline drip after he succumbed to heat stress in the dressing room following the Cheetahs' 22–3 defeat by Australia's Queensland Reds.The game was played in temperatures exceeding 32C and humidity of 66% and both teams struggled to cope with the extreme conditions.

Working Class Rugger wrote:
Not 14 hours of play. Likely only 14 games each day for a total of 28. So a strectch of 7 to 8 hours. Still tough going in the heat and humidity of February up north.

16 hours of compelling live rugby, featuring 28 matches played over two days

kiwigreg369 wrote:Why not play in Auckland where it's cooler?
KG

Auckman wrote:

kiwigreg369 wrote:Why not play in Auckland where it's cooler?
KG

and shift the 9s to Brisbane?

Auckman wrote:Why not do late finishes?

If they start at 3.00pm then they can finish at 10.00pm.

J Man wrote:How about watch cricket in summer you knob skins.

L. Ron Hubbard wrote:If the best players are made available then I'm all for it

Ali's Choice wrote:

L. Ron Hubbard wrote:If the best players are made available then I'm all for it

There is no way the Crusaders will play their All Blacks during this tournament. And I suspect that the other NZ teams will go the same way. These guys don't play pre-season games now because of an NZRU mandated break for All Black players. Why would the NZRU completely derail what has been a successful program of managing All Black players for some meaningless 10s carnival?

kiap wrote:

Morgan14 wrote:Is 10s a good game to play/watch? Ive never seen a match (yes, even in the age of youtube...). Or is it 7s with an extra ruck or two and a slightly more competitive scrum?

Sprig wrote:

Ali's Choice wrote:

L. Ron Hubbard wrote:If the best players are made available then I'm all for it

There is no way the Crusaders will play their All Blacks during this tournament. And I suspect that the other NZ teams will go the same way. These guys don't play pre-season games now because of an NZRU mandated break for All Black players. Why would the NZRU completely derail what has been a successful program of managing All Black players for some meaningless 10s carnival?

Not sure if in the above article, but on the original thread on this topic it is noted the the promoters have individual contracts with certain players and with the teams directly. Promoters are promoters so sure will say anything regardless of truth but still... seems like there will be some heavy involvement by key players.

Thomas wrote:

kiap wrote:

Well, shit.

Chris Latham has challenged former Wallabies teammate Stephen Larkham to dust off his boots and come out of retirement for February's inaugural Brisbane Global Tens tournament.

Former Test fullback Latham is keen to renew some old rivalries when he makes his playing return at 41 for the pre-season extravaganza.

Each team at the Brisbane Global Tens will have the chance to field an ex-player as their 'wildcard' selection, with 117-cap fan favourite Latham fitting the bill for the Reds.

Lote Tuqiri is reportedly being considered as the NSW Waratahs' wildcard pick while the Brumbies will also exercise the option, and could potentially roll out Larkham as a captain-coach.

Larkham, 42, still plays lower grade rugby in Canberra and regularly injects himself into Wallaby training sessions.

"I daresay he would be (a good shout)," Latham said on Tuesday.

"He was one of those naturally gifted players, I think he'd still have it."

"As soon as names get thrown up, you start to reminisce of the times where you had those little battles and stuff.

"Whoever really comes back, it's going to be a fantastic event.

"You look forward to catching up with those guys, and hopefully being opposite again and having those duels."

Latham retired in 2012 after a decade at Ballymore and swansongs in Europe and Japan.

He is the backs coach at Japanese Top League club NTT Docomo but is still fit and, like Larkham, throws himself into training when numbers are short.

"When you retire, you start to get a little jealous of all these new tournaments and things that start to come in that weren't available when you were a player.," Latham said.

"You sit back and wish you were a 19-year-old kid starting your career again."

Latham joins Liam Messam, Henry Speight, Israel Folau, Israel Dagg, Jerome Kaino, Karmichael Hunt, Taniela Tupou, Loni Uhila and Rene Ranger as confirmed starters at the Brisbane Global Tens.

Ali's Choice wrote:

Sprig wrote:

Ali's Choice wrote:

L. Ron Hubbard wrote:If the best players are made available then I'm all for it

There is no way the Crusaders will play their All Blacks during this tournament. And I suspect that the other NZ teams will go the same way. These guys don't play pre-season games now because of an NZRU mandated break for All Black players. Why would the NZRU completely derail what has been a successful program of managing All Black players for some meaningless 10s carnival?

Not sure if in the above article, but on the original thread on this topic it is noted the the promoters have individual contracts with certain players and with the teams directly. Promoters are promoters so sure will say anything regardless of truth but still... seems like there will be some heavy involvement by key players.

There may be some 'marquee' players involved, especially Australian players. But there won't be any All Blacks who are involved with the EOYT because they will have an NZRU enforced rest period prior to Super Rugby starting.

Davedj77 wrote:Considering the league 9s sux balls, and I actually like league, I am expecting the 10s to equally suck balls. I have almost zero interest in this and will only watch if there is nothing else to do.

Enzedder wrote:Oh shit yes, we need more rugby, and league, and cricket and tiddlywinks.

Bloody TV stations - heard of the the goose that laid the golden eggs, chumps?

Enzedder wrote:Oh shit yes, we need more rugby, and league, and cricket and tiddlywinks.

Bloody TV stations - heard of the the goose that laid the golden eggs, chumps?

Ali's Choice wrote:

Sprig wrote:

Ali's Choice wrote:

L. Ron Hubbard wrote:If the best players are made available then I'm all for it

There is no way the Crusaders will play their All Blacks during this tournament. And I suspect that the other NZ teams will go the same way. These guys don't play pre-season games now because of an NZRU mandated break for All Black players. Why would the NZRU completely derail what has been a successful program of managing All Black players for some meaningless 10s carnival?

Not sure if in the above article, but on the original thread on this topic it is noted the the promoters have individual contracts with certain players and with the teams directly. Promoters are promoters so sure will say anything regardless of truth but still... seems like there will be some heavy involvement by key players.

There may be some 'marquee' players involved, especially Australian players. But there won't be any All Blacks who are involved with the EOYT because they will have an NZRU enforced rest period prior to Super Rugby starting.