Sorry for my short absence, took a well deserved break from it all and now fully refreshed. I have seen the comments on the Rugby Super Series and some of those echo my own thoughts. A lot of hype goes into this event, and undoubtedly, it is the premier rugby event in East Africa. That it has gone through lots of transformation since inception in 2003, I feel it has lost touch somewhere. Given that the first event was quickly cobbled together to create the franchises, for one little has been done to maintain them. The reshuffling of teams within the franchises means the original Lions team of 2003 is not comprised of the same teams of players. A winner with the Cheetahs in 2004 could very easily have been a winner with the Buffaloes in 2005 (not actual) and not by changing his nominating team. In attempting to improve club/team management, the event has failed miserably as in there are no standards or rules for nomination to the management of the teams and cronyism and all manner of isms has crept in with personal agendas and fiefdoms ruling the day. But I digress.
By the third year when the tournament was confirmed and a permanent fixture, and sponsors were now getting value and willing to put in their money, the franchises should have taken permanent forms, not subject to cutting and pasting. And a fair system of distributing new players hatched. Existing players to the franchise would be the original team. Each season, clubs would be asked to submit say 8 new players to a pool, from which the franchises would draft the players in turn, giving everyone a fair chance of getting the top players. No player would be allowed to play who was not forwarded to the pool. And this would happen every year. This would create permanence, create a structure that is known and followed, remove the perception that some franchises are stronger than others - and totally kill clubism!
As a development tool, I'm not sure if the aims have been achieved. That quality games are few and mainly towards the knockout stages also dilutes the spectator value. But that is the subject of a complete post.
Incidentally trying to get information on this event is proving very difficult. With the old website taken down, and the subsequent sub domain on the KRU website showing last years information - is everyone really in sync on this event?
All in all do enjoy your Bamburi Rugby Super Series and may the best side win.
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