I would certainly be a supporter of three grades in the one day like the old days. For mine it has to be Under 23s, followed by reserve grade and then the big match. Used to love that when I was younger through the 80s I would arrive around 12pm for the first game, then watch reserve grade wich usually started around 1.25pm and then the big game at 3pm. At the end of the reserve grade, everyone would mill in the tunnel while walking off and then the first grade side would run out a matter of minutes later.
When the first grade side came out you would have the referee come on first - if it was Greg Hartley, he would shrillily blow the whistle and prance out like he owned the playing field. Real show pony stuff. Then the Sharks would run out followed by the opposition.
For some reason this was changed at some point to have the opposition come out first, followed by the home team and the referee at the end. I do know why they brought the ref out last - it was to shift the focus of the ref to the players. Due mostly to Hartley's show pony antics. But does anyone know why they changed the order of the teams running on?
I know most clubs now would struggle if everyone had three grades due to the amount of travels costs but I guess if we get a good TV deal the extra revenue may help.
