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.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
I too lived in one of those old fibro's - incredibly hot in summer and freezing cold in winter. A Portsea graduate, I was a combat Engineer.
Skip
Guest
TH, I agree with you. It is about priorities and Western Syney v Asia is a bit of chicken and egg. Do you tap into the player base that is Western Sydney or get the money from Asia. In a sense you do have a type of development in Western Sydeny being Rugby League. It is not perfect but there is a lot of disgarded U20s toyota cup players now trying their hand at Rugby either locally of in europe and Asia.
Skip
Guest
I lived on Anzac Pde in the classic old Fibro houses. I can still remember my brother and I breaking fibro (asbestos) of the garage and using it for chalk. Dad got posted to Duntroon then SRU. Were you Infantry or Artillery.
Tighthead
Guest
Yeah I agree RK - ignore the limiltless young player pool at your own peril.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Skip - again some great points to consider. I just hope that the ARU develop Western Sydney first so that it taps into that great nursery of young players - IMHO this is strategic to the health of the game in Australia. Mate - I'm ex Army and lived in a MQ in Holsworthy - Lighthorse Pde to be precise.
Skip
Guest
I seem to remeber prior to the force being established that the SARFU and ARU were talking about a Joint venture in Western Australia? So they may have the ble print for a JV. I think the ARU and Sanzar will focus on expansion into Asia a priority over Western Sydney. Commercially this makes sense. I dont want to denegrate people of Western Sydney (I grew up on the base in Holsworthy) but the potential to sell subscription based TV to Tokyo far outweighs Western Sydney! The ability of Rugby Union to expand into asia relatively quickly and seamlessly gives it a competitive edge over AFL and Rugby League. AFL is close to Saturation point in Southern states and it is yet to be seen if it will win the hearts and minds of Western Sydney and Gold Coast. Even established clubs such as Sydney and the Lions have a following but that is not growing the junior base. I was recently at a club rugby game in Brisbane and one of my mates bought along Charmo and Brownie from the Lions. No one knew who they were the thought they were rugby players on a break or something. Whilst AFL and RL may fight it out over Western Sydney Rugby has is looking to cast its net wider.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Skip, Simon - the Pacific Warriors idea has a lot of merit - great post Skip!
simon
Guest
Skip - I have thought as much. A combined AUS/PI/ and maybe ARG team to play out of WS at the next expansion.
Skip
Guest
Gents, Why not simply place a Pacific Warriors team in Western Sydney? This could be a Joint venture with the ARU and Pacific Islands. This would tick so many boxes. An established player base of Islanders. Strengthened by Aussies meanining less dilution of local talent pool. Stop Pacific Island player drain to Europe and Rugby League - surely the IRB would be keen to offer financial support. Ability to attract a very large portion of the Western Sydney population and shaft AFL. Break down down the perception that Rugby is a toffy, elite, Anglo saxon sport in Australia.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Tighthead, I agree. The more quality games that are played out west the better off the game will be.
Tighthead
Guest
Good call JK, the next game is at Gosford next week. It would not be too hard to organse a Baas v Jnr All Blacks at CUA Penrith which I reckon would fill the stadium up and be a shot in the arm for the Penrith Emu's.
JK
Guest
While watching the Baa Baa game last night, I was thinkin, why don't the bring a game like that out West, Sydney West I mean, haven't thought it through, but it would be great, CUA stadium maybe, if possible, Parramatta would work, but that's Parramatta. But if a West Syd team was to work, they have to be able to get a crowd out that way, good experiment maybe?
kovana
Guest
Maybe you can add more super rugby teams to the Australian conference.. And the top 5 will play in the internationals against the other super rugby team countries. Suggested new teams 1. Adelaide Ovals... 2. Darwin Mozzies 3. Alice Spring heaters. 4. Hobart/Tasmanian Devils..
arbitro storico
Guest
Sheek - mate - is everything alright? Aren't you feeling well? I only ask because I see that your generic Sydney team contains Sydney Uni. Is this a sign that the slow drip of Student support has finally eroded the "death to Uni" position you have held? Say it isn't so!
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Good point WCR but until they start to listen to us - the grass roots of the game - they will never get it right.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Guys, this supposed forum will never come about mainly due to the fact the ARU will not like what they hear. I'm all for Matt's suggestion of a combined AIS/Australian Rugby Academy in the West. The ARU could take any Olympic funding to set up such a facility.
Mike G
Guest
Top post RK. I mentioned in a post a while back that the reality is the NSW team can't continue to be called the Tahs if another team (rightly) is put somewhere in the west of Syd. I like the idea of a Sydney team playing out of the SFS, but that brings with it marketing/identity issues as per where the boundaries for each side would be. Perhaps the best way to go would be to have North, South & West Harbour, playing out of Nth Syd oval, SFS & either Parra stadium or the new, revamped Homebush ground, respectively??? Also, relating to the forum that JON was apparently talking up...I thought there was a forum of rugby people a few years back (CapGen I think ran it)...I might be completely off track though, just recall reading about it a fews yrs ago...Perhaps it was relating to the ARC???
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
I agree WB - IMHO the Tahs only represent the Eastern Suburbs, North Shore and of course the great pillager of other teams -Sydney Uni. The sooner that this is acknowledged the better - then we can get on an orgainse the Rams or Cockatoos or whatever and I do like Tighthead's idea of also including the Central Coast. I believe that the Roar provides the yet to be delivered forum that JON promised.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good post Rickety, if only the powerbrokers read and listened to the stakeholders of the game which is us !. I remember a couple of years ago JON openly said that a rugby forum would take place where we could have our say on the state of the game. We are still waiting for this forum. I fully support a team in Sydneys West playing games at Parra and CUA Stadiums. Not sure what the best name for the team should be given the Tahs are " supposed " to represent all of NSW. They may as well be the Nth Shore / Eastern Suburbs Waratahs in reality. Who the hell is Edwin Zemancheff ?. Is he another Dilip Kumar ?
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Great post Matt - geez I hope that JON and the new CEO read this thread - some absolutely great ideas!