The Super Rugby Pacific draw has been confirmed for 2023, with teams starting to plot their seasons heading forward.This presented a unique opportunity, with all five Australian teams putting their CEOs up for media alongside RA counterpart Andy Marinos.It gave us a plethora of information surrounding the upcoming season along with the future of the game heading forward.From rule changes to new locations, here are the five main talking points from these press conferences.1.Trialling rule tweaksThe officiating of the game remains front and centre of discussions as Super Rugby looks at ways to increase ball in play time.Marinos expressed his concern with the shape of the game and looking to limit the involvement of the TMO."It's not necessarily changing the laws but getting a better interpretation of existing law that we believe we can get a better outcome with," he stated.The ACT Brumbies remain central to ongoing discussions, using last Saturday's practice match against the NSW Waratahs to trial shot clocks; 30-second for scrums and lineouts, 60 seconds for penaltys and 90 seconds for conversions.This along with a stricter policing of the breakdown has CEO Phil Thomson confident they can strike the right balance.“It’s something we’re discussing what innovations around the laws we can use to speed the game up and have more ball in play,” Thomson said. “It’s something Andy (Marinos) and Mark Robinson from NZR are working hard with the clubs. We’re all aligned to the thought that we need to have an exciting game out on the paddock that people want to watch.“It was good to see some of the tweaks on Saturday trying to keep that ball in play. It was enjoyable to watch and we’ll continue to work on it. The coaches have really bought into that, Stephen (Larkham) is the coaching representative on the working group to look at those for next year and we’re hoping there will be some nice initiative to improve that ball in play time.”2. Townsville expansionThe Queensland Reds are set to celebrate its 140-year anniversary with two games in Townsville in 2023.North Queensland was the big winner out of the COVID-interrupted 2021 International season, hosting two rounds of the Rugby Championship at the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium.With a home World Cup on the horizon, Townsville looms as a key area of growth at both Super and International level for the sport.“I think it’s hugely significant and important,” Marinos said.“We’ve gone with Tests this year in Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth which are probably deemed not traditional markets. For us as we try and maximise the golden decade, we want to spread the good news of the game across both the metro and regional areas.“Townsville strategically not only from a 15s but 7s is an important market and will be in frame for the World Cup in ’27 and ’29.“It also aligns with Dave (Hanham, Reds CEO) and the Reds are doing to grow the brand right through the whole of Queensland. It creates a great opportunity and I’m really confident. We had a great hit out with that double header albeit in COVID conditions but the town got around the game and really showed strong support.”3. Lessons from Super RoundOne of the key innovations Super Rugby Pacific has brought in is the introduction of 'Super Round', set to return to its originally slated timeslot of Round Two.COVID forced the switch to ANZAC Round, leaving little time to re-adapt and promote whilst competing with other sports.The concept stays in Melbourne for another season and with Perth already lining up its bid for 2024, Marinos and the Rebels are learning the lessons from 2022.“I think the big thing is we have a much longer runway that we can promote it and make sure it’s well sensitised to the market. It was a little rushed, to be honest, a bit clunky when we put it together (in 2022),” Marinos conceded.“We also had a whole lot of internal derby games before the crossover, this gives the opportunity right up front to re-establish the competition as something between the two countries. It’s about getting the early message to launch something I’m really excited about.“It’s really important given 2021 was so affected by COVID that we bring people back into the tent and that starts with our local community and those people that are invested in Rugby,” Rebels CEO Baden Stephenson added.“We’ve got a lot of engagement strategies to bring those people into the game…Post the Australian Open, Super Round is already getting a lot of interest so we need to make that a big success here in Melbourne.“I think it’ll be vastly improved from 2022.”4. Bringing Leichhardt to AllianzThe Waratahs will get the chance to christen their new home instantly, facing the ACT Brumbies in the Australian opener at Allianz Stadium.Leichhardt became the spiritual home for the club in 2022, cemented by their famous win over the Crusaders, with their contract with the SCG Trust dictating all home games will be played at Allianz heading forward.This leaves the Waratahs trying to figure out how to replicate the Leichhardt atmosphere at the new stadium, with NSW Rugby CEO Paul Doorn already flagging a few initiatives, including the removal of certain seats for a 'party deck.'“We’ve broken the stadium down and it’s big but intimate enough if you break it down into small chunks," he explained.“For us, the real bit that we want to take from Leichhardt is to adapt the northern part of the lower ball into the Leichhardt hill equivalent.“We’re working with the venue about taking out the seats like they do for A-League games and having that as a stand-up, social area with plenty of entertainment and lots of engagement pre and post (game). We’re trying with packages with drinks and food and actually making that into a party deck."5. Bridging the gapWith no NRC, Super Rugby clubs are looking to get match practice wherever they can.Three clubs have already announced partnerships with Japanese clubs whilst the Australia A tour of Japan will fast-track the development of the players on the fringe of Wallaby selection.The Force recognises this and has already lined up a host of games across the next 18 months against teams from New Zealand, South Africa and Japan.This along with letting players such as Jackson Pugh test their luck in the NPC is designed to help take the club to the next level in 2023 and beyond.“We know we have to get more matches into that 18-20-year-old group. From our perspective, the biggest problem in the west is the lack of matches below Super,” Lewis believed.“We’re looking for any way we can go about that. For 2022, we have two matches in Japan (against Urayasu D-Rocks) and for 2023 it looks like we’ll have six games (outside of Super Rugby Pacific) in Perth, one against Hawke’s Bay, Cheetahs for three games and two other matches against Japanese opposition.“In a perfect world, RA and the Super clubs would love to have a second-tier competition and it’s something we’re looking at but the more matches we can get under the belt, we can start to see that growth.“You look at Jackson Pugh, he started nine games for Auckland in the NPC. He was going over there as a bench player of sorts but became the starter and that’s ten matches which will make a better player and put pressure on not only the Force but also the Australian system.”Click Here: UK soccer tracksuit
