One of many arguments for the ARC was/is that it would provide a direct path for aspiring players to the top. Similarly, the argument against the new Melbourne Super 15 team is that Australia apparently does not have player depth.
There is something which must be said, and that is it isn’t that there aren’t enough good players, or enough people playing it young, it’s simply retaining the best players within Australia.
For the NRL and AFL player retention is quite easy, as they are the top competitions in the world, with no competition for players from the likes of France, England, Ireland and Japan (the English Super League is somewhat similar but still does not have the same lure as the pro overseas Rugby comps have to the players). To be blunt, many Rugby Union schoolboys even go to the NRL with hopes of an easier career path.
So here is the argument loud and clear. Rugby in Australia has a fundamental flaw in the taking of potential stakeholders from other codes, and other competitions. And it needs to eventually be justified for popularity and success to occur for Australian rugby. There has been some retention thanks to super 14 participation being essential to representative sides, but still, too many are lost.
The so called lack of depth is just a myth, covered over by a harder ordeal. This ordeal is the retention of players til end of use, as is done in the NRL and AFL, and an issue which also plagues association football in Australia. The only way this can be rectified is through the development of a strong, and popular (meaning lots of or enough money) national domestic competition. The only problem is making it popular.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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