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Dear new CEO, the game in NSW is in a state of malaise and yet chairman of Waratahs rugby, Edwin Zemancheff, recently expressed his appreciation of “the great results Jim L’Estrange achieved in running Australia’s oldest and most successful rugby organisation.”
I am curious on Zemamcheff’s spin on what defines “most successful.”
There is a reality disconnection here.
The Shute Shield as a product is going nowhere. Its brand is meaningless to all but the few diehards that survived being abandoned by the NSWRU. Viewers are starting to watch it more on TV, but there has been little or no impact on crowd attendances.
The ARU, which is directly responsible for the development of the game in NSW, shows little acknowledgement of the potential of western Sydney by allocating the same resources for the west as for the north and the south-east i.e. two development staff in each.
Western Sydney clubs have always struggled in competition with the highly organised and well funded rugby league initiatives. Now the AFL has joined the fray with a massive war chest, life will only get tougher.
More recently, Parramatta has reached its lowest point in its club history and is teetering on collapse. Apart from a concerted filibuster campaign by some, nothing much has been done to assist Parramatta in its hour of need, especially by the clubs east of Parramatta.
There is a solution which you may or may not like.
It is simple. You chase a sixth super rugby license for western Sydney and let it get on with providing its own rugby opportunities for the vast pool of rugby league and rugby union playing kids on the Cumberland Plains.
Further to this, you lobby the ARU to create a national (inexpensive) u/23 super rugby competition that is played prior to super rugby games, minimising costs by utilising the same venues and coaching resources which will in turn provide more product for the rugby viewing public.
The Shute Shield remains, but Sydney club rugby has become a feeder system to the east Sydney Tahs (Randwick, Easts, Norths, Manly Warringah, Sydney Uni) and the west Sydney Rams (Eastwood, West Harbour, Parramatta, Penrith, Southern Districts).
Just imagine the tribalism when these teams face off against each other at Parramatta Stadium.
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.