It was rumored for a long time and last week it was finally announced. The Atlantic Rugby Premiership (or whatever the final name is) is a positive step toward improving rugby in this country. The idea that Life, Boston, Boston Irish Wolfhounds, NYAC, and Old Blue would play against each other throughout the year is not a novel concept. These teams have been playing against each other in the Super League, the Elite Cup and in DI for a long time. So what makes this new competition different?
It's simple, it offers more games and competitive structure that is by and large in the hands of just a few clubs. In the old Super League and in the Elite Cup teams were only playing a handful of matches against their opponents. Now in the ARP each team is guaranteed to get at least eight quality matches spread out over a year. For players wanting to break into the Eagles picture getting those minutes in at least eight games is incredibly valuable.
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If it seems that the ARP is copying the Pacific Rugby Premiership model that's because it's true. Although the PRP wasn't perfect in it's first year (some clubs struggled to have good home pitches, some didn't handle getting information out well, some struggled on the field, etc.) what the competition did do was deliver a whole slate of competitive matches in a marketable product. Some teams seemed to excel in the competition. OMBAC looking rejuvenated as a club while SFGG and Glendale showed off their facilities and talent. Even better, because the league has a product it's able to grow year after year.
By having a regular season that went 12 regular season games it gave more time for players to make an impact. Glendale's Chad London was on the Eagles radar even before the PRP kicked off but it's hard to say that he would have made the Eagles summer squad had he not been given a chance to showcase his skills for 12 weeks. The same goes for the emergence of Preston Bryant. We also got reminders of the quality of players like Mose Timoteo, Colin Hawley, Zach Pangelinan, and Tai Enosa.
Unfavorable weather means that the East Coast can't have a straight 12 week season like the PRP but getting eight matches spread out over the fall and spring is as good as it will get. The season is also structured to allow players to play with the Eagles in November and the summer tour.
With the establishment of the ARP it's now clear that if you are a player wanting to make it onto the Eagles you eventually need to find yourself in either the ARP, PRP, or at the Seattle Saracens (playing in the BC Leagues is a very good standard). That doesn't mean that players won't come from other clubs but overtime they will be at a disadvantage. Every assembly the Eagles are trying to get their domestic guys up to speed with scrimmages. Hopefully with the ARP and PRP players coming into camp will have already played several high-level matches and the period of adjustment will be less. If you are player on the fringe of the Eagles you won't want to have to make up more when entering camp. Playing on an ARP or PRP team helps.
We still have a long way to go in club rugby (what league will Metropolis and New Orleans play in?) but having two robust competitions on the East and West Coasts is only a good thing. It's not going to please everyone (although it should challenge clubs to raise their standard if they want to join either competition) but the goal of top level rugby isn't to be as inclusive as possible, it's to win championships and provide players with an opportunity at international success. Right now we are a great path to getting our structure right.