All the expansion going on throughout the various codes of football is detested by some and held as hope by others. These are all very risky endeavors, with usually close competitions trying to protect their kingdoms and attack each others.
But there is one expansion route that the football codes still aren’t taking seriously enough – and it’s paved with gold.
That is the women’s game.
Football has done quite well at promoting the game to the fairer sex, but that is mostly on the basis of traditional offerings. However, Rugby League and Rugby have failed to capitalise on a fairly captive market. I see a market here, above anything else, for Rugby Sevens to take hold of.
Certainly the fast-paced action, quick games and lesser physicality would appeal to some young women out there, and could be pushed in schools.
A gateway into schools may be into the private system, but it can go way beyond that. There is already a good development stream for the women’s game, with our national team being world champions. But think what that team, in the future, could achieve with a greater width of talent playing at school age levels. This would in fact push for greater coverage of the women’s game in Australia.
Some direct gateways could be for school girls who play water polo in the summer. The physical level of each game is similar, and the muscles trained would correspond, as well as the fitness levels. This may sound far-fetched but water polo is in fact water rugby, originating from the game in its early development.
So, there is room for development here, and the targeting of woman is the next step for rugby with only 1,660 female players registered, according to statistics.
This is where the ARU should take a chance, especially with the momentum of the Olympic movement.
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February 1st 2010 @ 6:24pm
Midfielder said | February 1st 2010 @ 6:24pm | Report comment
IMO RU has missed badly in not encouraging women to play… they have more than likely put a lot of women of rugby because of their boys only rules…
Like RG said many women want to play why not let them and like all things in its early stages it needs some coin and some coaches to help it along…
February 1st 2010 @ 7:35pm
Jack Petro said | February 1st 2010 @ 7:35pm | Report comment
Some very good ideas and concepts … however, you seem to all miss the biggest point: it’s not the National body or State Unions that are at fault for the falling numbers in the Women’s game; it’s not the physicality of the contest. What it is is that “most” Clubs just don’t like to have the girls playing … it’s not part of their ethos … rugby’s a game for the blokes not the women!
Unfortunately, this antiquated idea has got to stop if we want the game to prosper. We are the number 1 ranked nation in Women’s Sevens; there is a Women’s World Cup (15-a-side) on this year and the Wallaroos have qualified to be part of it.
If you want to see what all the fuss is about, go down to Canberra for the National Championships in June; I’m sure Cheryl Soon (Wallaroos Captain) and her friends from all around Australia will be putting on a rugby show!
February 2nd 2010 @ 2:45am
Ian Noble said | February 2nd 2010 @ 2:45am | Report comment
Womens rugby in the UK is one of the fastest growing female sports. The Womens WC is being held in England this year with the final at the Stoop. I anticipate that the normal top tier nations will be competitive, but if I recall there is at least one team from Africa (Uganda) in addition to a strong team from the ‘States. I suspect the tournament will get pretty good attendances and judging from a recent Eng v NZ game, the rugby will fast and entertaining. By the way it was the first female rugby international shown on Sky and I think surprised many viewers with it’s intensity and speed.
February 2nd 2010 @ 6:03pm
Jimmy Nellis said | February 2nd 2010 @ 6:03pm | Report comment
Wasn’t sure after reading this if it was tounge n’ cheek but by seeing the responses…..I think not.
Isn’t the “needs” to develop- part a bit drastic though?
Maybe “it would be a quaint idea” or “if the ARU is bored and looking for things to do they may….”
February 3rd 2010 @ 11:10am
rugbyfuture said | February 3rd 2010 @ 11:10am | Report comment
the oriiginal title was different.
February 2nd 2010 @ 6:14pm
ballboy said | February 2nd 2010 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
That’s exactly right Jimmy. As much as I support women’s rugby having coached and managed it for three years, the reality is that it just won’t bring the crowds in. That’s not to say it shouldn’t be pushed through the club system. We used to play curtain raisers for the Ones at Syd Uni and the crowd loved it. But it is never going to attract the sort of crowds required for the ARU to throw a tonne of money at. That being said, I encourage all of you to get out and see the women play. They love the support and they can really play the game.
I saw a NZ / Aust game late 90′s. NZ wiped us of the park to the tune of 50-odd nil. their number 12 was dead set Frank Bunce in a skirt. She was electric. Can’t remember her name.
February 2nd 2010 @ 7:07pm
Jimmy Nellis said | February 2nd 2010 @ 7:07pm | Report comment
Glad you caught my drift ballboy.
As far as big crowds-they don’t need them they’ll play just because they love it and that’s great.
Development typically means investment and as far as paying back (other than a bit of pr)…that dog that just won’t hunt.
No expert but my guess is ARU ain’t exactly rolling in it and probably have some bigger fish to fry.
Perhaps hiring some goons 24/7 to make sure the contracted fellas don’t steal stuff after a few or vomit in weird places but then I’m uptight like that ( :
February 4th 2010 @ 12:13am
bennalong said | February 4th 2010 @ 12:13am | Report comment
Let’s get real !When they’ve put their all into getting rugby into state primary schools,( boys and girls can play), then and only then should money go where crowds won’t.
Rugby is a full on contact game and suited to only a small percentage of women. Sorry. I don’t begrudge the girls a go but the promotional dollars aren’t there to throw around. Get the hearts of the kids first. 95% will be boys!
February 4th 2010 @ 4:07am
Bruce Ross said | February 4th 2010 @ 4:07am | Report comment
bennalong said:
“Let’s get real !When they’ve put their all into getting rugby into state primary schools,( boys and girls can play), then and only then should money go where crowds won’t.
Rugby is a full on contact game and suited to only a small percentage of women. Sorry. I don’t begrudge the girls a go but the promotional dollars aren’t there to throw around. Get the hearts of the kids first. 95% will be boys!”
Let’s also get real about the fact that the chances of “getting rugby into state primary schools” is somewhat south of zero. The overwhelmingly majority of primary school teachers are women, and the days when teachers willingly took on sports coaching as an extra voluntary duty are long gone. Plus rugby is perceived as a violent game and we have become a very litigious society.
The way to build juniors is top down rather than bottom up. Very few girls’ high schools are ever likely to take up rugby but over time clubs could form Under 18 teams stocked with kids who are looking for an alternative to netball, soccer, etc. But the first step is to get beyond single team clubs and add lower grades.
Very grass roots but that is how men’s rugby started out a century and a half ago. It doesn’t take much money; it does take a lot of energy and commitment plus the involvement of males prepared to give up their time to assist the sport. And my advice to the women is to resist for as long as possible building a bureaucracy. Look what it does to men’s rugby.
On a positive note, I am quite confident that the women’s rugby club with which I am associated will take a major step forward this year in terms of having ongoing experienced coaching support.