The Australian’s Wayne Smith wrote an article yesterday that gives cause for concern that Melbourne and the VRU may not gain the fifth Australian franchise from 2011.
If correct, it begs the question as to what’s going on at the ARU.
While questions might be asked about Gary Gray as VRU President, it beggars belief that any people at the ARU would choose to place the franchise elsewhere simply for reasons of getting square.
With union lacking a presence in Australia’s second biggest city and arguably biggest sporting city, the game cannot claim to be truly national. However, if the VRU and Melbourne lose out due to internal grudges against one man, correct or not, is the ARU really looking at the big picture and the best interests of the game as a whole?
One would think that even if some had issues with Gray, they would hold their noses, close their eyes and think of the game. But perhaps not.
Instead, the prospect of sending the franchise to the already congested Gold Coast (with a likely adverse effect on the Reds), or the potentially unreceptive western Sydney, simply to deny it to Gray, appears to be acceptable to some.
The ARU, and rugby union in general, has a poor image as a hot bed of politics and personalities, although this perhaps applies to all sports.
However, with the NSL gone, rugby seems intent on usurping its position as the Australian sport with an image of the biggest blockheads playing political games to the detriment of their sport.
In an age when people decry sport becoming a business, and commercial concerns winning out over traditions and sportsmanship, the certainty of the almighty dollar has some solace. After all, at least if its being run as a business, we all know if it will make money it will get support rather than being dependent on who has a grudge for who.
If this is true, then the ARU cannot move to independent directors and a board soon enough, to get rid of the amateur Machiavellis souring the game. If not, then the fact it is all too easy to believe doesn’t bode to well for the regard in which the game’s administrators are held.
Fourteen years after the game went professional, have the administrators caught up to the players and coaches and become professionals themselves?
simon
Guest
Vic was the right choice.
Republican
Guest
To keep this in perspective - This coming from Wayne Smith, a reowned hack of possumn srtirring proportion, this is simply not worth suffering any consternation over I assure you. Do not worry Melbournians, the ARU may well be disfuntional internally however there is NO way they would let this long held corporate goal of theirs go down the plonk. I actually reckon Western Sydney would work by the way as well as supplying Aust Union a real nursery that Vic will never offer quite frankly. Cheers
WEST
Guest
I wonder who would win in rugby between the crusaders and melbourne
mattamkII
Guest
Westy, sorry mate I just cant agree with you on this topic. Trust me as someone who lived and played in Vic for a number of years, the rugby community there is surprisingly strong. As for the Victory bid, I like it.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
If it helps get a professional team in Victoria I'm all for it. As long as they work at growing the grass roots of course.
Midfielder
Guest
WCR MV fans appear on balance quite open to it and can see the positives for them .. the ARU would be mad not to see the positives for them.. I think Pip made the best comment on another thread IMO Pip has nailed it..anyway Pip response.. ""People this is very interesting. The article reminds me that O’Neil and Geoff Lord would know each other from when O’Neill headed up the FFA in its infancy. On top of that, Geoff Lord is a former pres of the Hawthorn Footy club, so if there’s someone who understands running a football club in Melbourne, it’s him. Thirdly, it’s the sort of scenario that is going to get Melburnians talking about the prospect of a rugby team in far greater numbers than if the VRU was clumsily heading towards securing a license by default (the VR who??). Folks - all in all - this is a definite goer!!!
westy
Guest
Organised club rugby has been going for 100 years in Victoria. Over that time they have managed to have just over 2200 registered senior and junior players who actually play organised team rugby. . I know and the 10000 participants. i just love that term. The same VRU that was the principal cause of the cost blowout in the ARC. You can sort of wonder with a history of achievement like that over 100 years that the ARU is interested in an alternate bid. The VRU effort over a century actually makes the Melbourne Storms effort over a decade or so look positively rosy. I am sorry to be harsh but this is the reality the ARU faces . They do not have confidence in the VRU protests or not. The ARU look for real control of the franchise in its early phase.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Midfielder I'd say there is a reasonably positive reaction to the prospect. Yes some are less than enthusiatic but most are at least open to it.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Jolly If the combined states do get in the final on Mlonday and put up a fight against QLD 1 then maybe it will be time to consider promoting both WA and Victoria to the 1st Division. There are 11 WA boys in the team at the Championship.
Midfielder
Guest
Bay 35 From the MV fan forum there take on the MV bid... http://www.melbournevictory.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53809
Jolly Jupes
Guest
I noticed the might of the combined states (wa,vic,tas, etc) schoolboys knocked over the NSW 1 schoolboys team today for the second year in a row in the australian championships so maybe there is some talent outside of NSW and QLD on the way through
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Evidently Real Madrid had been looking to get into Rugby for some time now. CRC Madrid gave the that opportunity.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
I think the Eels were looking to establish a Super Team back during the last TV deal. I was just using Real Madrid and FC Sevilla as examples. By the way Real Madrid had a happy return on their investment with the Madrid Gatos ( Cats) winning the inaugural season defeating the Sevilla Mariners in the final in Madrid.
Hammer
Guest
You don't have to go offshore .. weren't Parramatta linked to afailed football team bid
True Tah
Guest
It was the same in Italy as well, AC Milan used to have a rugby side, they still might, just not in Super 10.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Oz article on Victory intersted in S15 team: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25757974-5015651,00.html Geez the Herald is all over this story .... all over it.
mattamkII
Guest
WRC, lots of the french sides were and still are from general sporting clubs...kinda the same.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
They won't be the first Soccer club to buy into Rugby. Although its not huge both Real Madrid and FC Sevilla bought into their local Super Iberica de Rugby sides in it's inaugral season. Plus FC Barcelona runs a teams in the division of Honour in the spanish Rugby Union national Competition.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Just read an article from The Australian. The second Victorian bid is supposedly from no other than the Melbourne Victory in an attempt to branch out into a different football code. So its prospective name could be the Melbourne Victory Rugby side. Interesting.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Bay That's the article I read yesterday. It doesn't really give any details. Which is frustrating.