- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Club rugby in Sydney has a long way to go if it’s to realise its true worth. At the moment, crowds are pathetically small, and I imagine revenue from the punters is equally laughable. Is this the best competition the administrators can provide?
Do any of them have a viable, considered plan to improve the situation? And are they happy with our current low level of interest and exposure?
These are the questions that need to be examined.
We have a great product, what we don’t have are people with vision and capacity in running the game.
It’s not unfair to say that they have failed the game, they either need to step up or step aside.
The problem seems to revolve around politics, short-sightedness and narrow-mindedness.
Is leadership not the natural by-product of our game? These are the obstacles we need to overcome for the game to achieve its true potential.
The goal of rugby administration in Sydney should be to create a competition that has value and will attract revenue from fans as well as a wider group of sponsors.
There needs to be an improvement in the stadia and finally the game should be played across the entire Cumberland plain.
With the right personnel, that’s not a big ask, provided the right formula is implemented.
Potential Solution:
(a) Creation of a rugby board, made up of capable people whose sole purpose is the enhancement and expansion of the game. This board must have the willingness and capacity to discipline clubs, players and staff for all behaviour contrary to the best interests of the game, and be able to impose sanctions all the way from fines to suspension.
(b) A system of contracting players independently of the clubs. This enables assigning players for a season to ensure we have evenly contested games. No-one is going to pay to watch a 77-7 drubbing.
With the two above, we have the basis for generation of interest on many levels. The potential is limitless.
Of course there are a myriad of other details but essentially breaking the selfish power of the clubs, and replacing it with an attitude that the game is bigger.
We have the sport where a team playing as a single unit can achieve seemingly improbable outcomes.
That, therefore, must be the challenge.
Show leadership now!
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.