NRL launch Auckland Nines for February

[DIEHARD]

NRL launch Auckland Nines for February

The NRL has today launched a pre-season nine-a-side tournament that will provide an exciting new format to showcase the skills of Rugby League’s biggest stars and provide unprecedented opportunities to grow the game in New Zealand.

The inaugural NRL Auckland Nines will take place on February 15-16 in 2014 at Eden Park with all 16 NRL clubs to compete for a prize pool exceeding $2 million.

The NRL, Auckland Council, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and Duco Events today announced an initial five-year partnership.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to grow our game and for our clubs and players to share in a significant new investment in Rugby League,” said NRL CEO, Mr Dave Smith.

“It is an exciting format that will attract new fans and television audiences and it provides a stage for rising stars to emerge and showcase their skills alongside the biggest names in our game.

“I want to thank Auckland Council, ATEED and tournament promoter Duco Events for their support in the creation of the Nines, which will become a celebrated feature of the NRL’s pre-season for years to come.”

Under the tournament format, the 16 NRL clubs will be divided into four Team Pools with each team to compete against each opponent from within their pool. The top two teams from each pool progress to the next stage of the tournament.

Matches will be played over two nine-minute halves (18 minute matches) with the NRL’s Competition Committee to develop specific rules for the Nines tournament.

“Make no mistake, the 16 teams will be there to win,” NRL Head of Football, Mr Todd Greenberg, said today.

“Clubs have already started making their plans for camps and trials in New Zealand to make sure they have the best possible build-up to the Nines.

“It’s a unique style of play and it will really showcase the skills of our players.

“There is certainly a lucrative prize on offer for the winner and once the teams take the field everyone will see just how determined they will be to perform well and win the inaugural Nines crown.”

Today’s announcement in Sydney corresponded with a simultaneous event launch in Auckland with the event set to become New Zealand’s biggest annual sporting festival.

“The NRL Auckland Nines will become a hotly contested pre-season event and a great spectacle for sport fans,” Auckland Mayor Len Brown said at the Eden Park launch.

“This is unprecedented. Never before in the game’s history have all 16 NRL clubs played in one place on one weekend.”

In a sign of their commitment to the event, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development’s five-year sponsorship of $9 million is one of its largest ever investments from the Major Events Fund since New Zealand hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

Ms Rachael Carroll, ATEED General Manager Destination, said today’s much-anticipated announcement followed an 18-month feasibility assessment conducted by ATEED and involving the NRL, New Zealand Rugby League and Duco Events – the event organiser and underwriter.

“The NRL Auckland Nines stacks up very well against Auckland’s Major Events strategy criteria as an anchor event for Auckland,” Ms Carroll said.

“These are events that will generate significant international exposure, economic impact and visitor numbers over the contract term.”

Independent economic consultants Covec estimate the tournament will result in an additional 32,800 visitor nights in 2014, rising to more than 43,000 in the tournament’s fifth year.

The economic injection for Auckland has been estimated as $3.8 million in 2014, rising to $6.8 million in year five.

“Hosting the NRL Auckland Nines will greatly enhance the profile of Rugby League in New Zealand and will leave lasting legacies for Auckland,” Ms Carroll said.

“We believe David Higgins and his team at Duco Events will provide the ‘X factor’ to make this an entertaining and wonderful spectacle for all sports fans.”

NRL players and officials today added their support for the NRL Auckland Nines.

“We’re thrilled about having the NRL Auckland Nines at Eden Park and we’re excited about being able to throw our total support behind what will be the biggest Rugby League event ever staged in this country,” Warriors CEO Wayne Scurrah said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity not just for Eden Park and Auckland but for the whole country. Having all 16 clubs and hundreds of the game’s players here at the one time is a first for the NRL and will be a tremendous way to build up to the 2014 NRL season.”

Newcastle Knights coach Wayne Bennett said: “The NRL Auckland Nines is going to be a great celebration of rugby league and the Knights can’t wait to be a part of that.”

Origin coaches Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley also threw their support behind the concept.

“It’s going to be huge – 100,000 people over two days at Eden Park. It will be sensational. The Nines will be our advertisement for Rugby League around the world,” Meninga said.

Daley added: “A lot of players who take part will be some of the best players in the NRL but also some of the exciting young talent coming through our system. It will be a wonderful spectacle and hopefully everyone in New Zealand gets along to support it because they’ll see some great football played.”

http://www.nrl.com

[DIEHARD]

I've been long an advocate for this, but never thought it'd be so big. And we really all need to get behind, support this and hype it up.

I just hope in the future a few interenational teams are invited. Come on, we wanna see Fiji, Canada, Jamaica and PNG.

[DIEHARD]

Looks like DICK SMITH is the major sponsor. Good to see a new company having an involvement with Rugby League.

[Coaster]

Not going to believe it.
But I am flying out of Auckland on the 15th after a 2 week trip

[DIEHARD]

Not going to believe it.
But I am flying out of Auckland on the 15th after a 2 week trip

Oh... right in the balls...

[DIEHARD]

Auckland Nines tournament testing ground for future rule changes

THE NRL will use the inaugural Auckland Nines tournament as a test-case for future rule changes in a bid to make the game more exciting for fans.

All 16 NRL clubs will be presented with the official tournament rules in Auckland on Tuesday, which will be highlighted by the announcement of five-point tries.

The nine-a-side tournament will be held on February 15-16 at Eden Park in Auckland with $2.6m in prizemoney up for grabs.

Taking in consultation from current and former NRL coaches and also current referees, NRL head of football operations Nathan McGuirk said the innovative rules for the Nines tournament would entice free-flowing, attractive football.

``All of them are designed to attract exciting play and advantaging attacking play within the Nines tournament,'' McGuirk said.

``If the team manages to score a try under the posts in the bonus zone they will receive a five-point try, rather than a four-point try.

``The reason we like it is because in these hybrid type games you get a lot of long breaks where teams don't chase, so it gives a great incentive for teams to try and protect their bonus zone if a particular team is definitely going to score.

Cam King , Braith Anasta , Sam Burgess , Anthony Watmough , Paul Gallen with local junior league players at the Launch of the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines at Rugby League Central , Moore Park . Picture Gregg PorteousSource: News Limited

``It gives fans that opportunity where teams are six points behind with a minute left on the clock to still win the game.

``There's a level of excitement and unpredictability which we really like with this rule in particular.

McGuirk said the five-point try wasn't one of the rules that was about to be implemented to the NRL. But he added other rules from the Nines would certainly be considered if it meant improving the appeal of the NRL.

``I wouldn't say that its one we're considering going into the NRL, but there are potentially others that are announced next week which may be looked at for the NRL,'' McGuirk said.

``Another rule we're looking at is finding ways to keep the ball in play for most of the match. ``

The tournament will feature nine-minute halves with all 16 NRL clubs forced to field a side with at least 75 per cent of every squad made up of player's from the club's top-25 roster.

At least one player from each club's top 5 salary cap must also be included in each playing squad.

The Auckland Warriors are favourites for the tournament

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/a...#ixzz2mDJ4wfvU

[DIEHARD]

5 point tries

[kioli]

I don't mind it, will be interesting to see how it goes

[Titanic]

Why not do away with all kicks at goal completely except field goals which can only be taken from at least 30 meters out with a semi-circle marking the 30 meters from each black dot?

[DIEHARD]

Golden Try

[DIEHARD]

- Two nine minute halves with a two minute half time period
- Nine players a side with six unlimited interchange players
- Scrums will only form after a double knock on, with attacking teams to elect which side to feed the ball
- No video referee, with one on-field referee
- Five minute golden try period in qualifying rounds with a draw to be deemed if there is no result, while unlimited golden try for the finals
- A tap restart will take place after a 40/20
- Five points for a try scored in the bonus zone under the posts, with two point drop kick conversion attempts
- The scoring team will have a drop kick off to restart play
- Five minute sin bins
- Five tackles in a set