Loading

“So, for many years, we’ve tweaked it but … at the start of 2024, we committed to the clubs that we would do an overhaul of the system. Timing just didn’t allow it for the 2025 season and recruiting cycle, but coming into 2025, we had that commitment to the clubs to look at it and push on.”

A six-week review by the SRU began in June, which included feedback and consultation with all clubs, and the new ‘cap system’ was approved by the board last week. The points system will remain in place for first and second grade colts.

Under the new cap system, clubs can only field a maximum of three players with 10 or more Wallabies or Waratahs caps, three players with full Super Rugby contracts and three who have played for the Junior Wallabies the previous year.

On face value, this would devastate a club like Easts, who had eight Super Rugby players in their grand final side last year. But crucially – and in a bid to reward local development – the new system also gives a full dispensation for any player who came through the club’s colts program, which amounts to six of those contracted Easts stars, like Teddy Wilson and Jack Bowen.

SRU data shows that of the 39 players in the Waratahs squad, 23 played colts with their current senior club.

Poaching of players was also a concern among club bosses and is addressed by a limit on players per game who’ve transferred from another club the previous year.

The new SRU system also stipulates that clubs can only pay contracted Wallabies/Super Rugby players a maximum of $500 per game, with no other incentives; the likely aim being to stop richer clubs hoovering up new star talent.

The aim of spreading talent across clubs and rewarding clubs with vibrant junior pathways is also seen to give a points discount to colts players who played at local village clubs.

Watkins said there is a place for overseas players in the Shute Shield, given it is an elite competition, but there was also a desire from clubs to reward those who develop talent and not block those players from progressing to top grades and NSW. Under the new system, only six players qualifying as a “foreign player” are allowed in a match day 23.

Easts president Dave Allen welcomed the move away from the player points system, which many clubs said had become a huge administrative burden.

“It had become really complex and, when you’re adding up points under pressure on the sideline to make sure that you’re not over. That’s all done by volunteers, right? And it’s a huge amount of stress to put on them, so it’s a step in the right direction because it’s just simpler.” Allen said.

On the overall changes, Allen said: “I get it with all these things, you’ve got to be a bit socialist with it … you try to bring everyone down to a certain level … and they’ve broadly struck the balance right. If you have a player who came to you straight out of high school into a club, they don’t get counted, so that’s positive.”

Loading

Allen said he would still like to see a similar discount for amateur players who arrive at the club as adults and are developed into professional contracted players, like Charlie Gamble and Jamie Adamson.

But he said the new cap system would see Easts now double down on investing in their colts program.

“We’re never going to get something that everyone thinks is perfect,” Allen said. “So it’s pretty reasonable in the end. The (SRU) process was good. They had good people in there and they tried to get a range of opinions and that’s the way it’s coming out.”