A problem that faces the rugby community, with the loss of support, is the loss of income which may come with it. This is generally covered through sponsorships and private wealth injections.
One area which I have realised that rugby falters with is the community acceptance of high rollers, and the exceptional fanaticism of big money fans.
In the A-League, you have Clive Palmer and Anthony LaPaglia. In the AFL, you have the biggest people acting as Chairmen. In the NRL, you have Russell Crowe.
But in rugby in Australia, you don’t see this as often as you should, especially as it is one of the strengths of rugby – that people with big money support it.
Sure we have recently seen Harold Mitchell introduced as the first private owner of a Super Rugby side and Kevin Maloney expressing interest in the Reds.
But this should have happened in ’95.
So what can rugby do to inspire this enthusiasm from its big earning fans?
That is a question which can’t simply be answered, as it requires an understanding of all types of people. All I can offer is an explanation on why some people like this must exist for rugby.
The link with the “establishment” is one which rugby in Australia proudly holds onto.
It is true that for, many years, the breeding ground for rugby greats have been the GPS and CAS. These same systems are also the homes and breeding grounds to the CEOs and Chairmen of the major business institutions in Sydney and Brisbane.
Whilst they have been taught to spend and gain money, they have also been taught to conserve money where possible, and this is what thought we have to change, not for everything, but just rugby and the general sports market.
This can be done through inspiration and cultural introduction.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
New blood. concepts, ideas, energy - Vital to invigorating any concept, absolutely vital.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Shoulda been Jon O, what was he thinking??? Still will look into your points, cheers!
amband
Guest
they will privatise them if they think there's a dollar in it for them. Isn't the league "Storm" owned by news Limited, AKA, Murdoch Look at the English premier league. man U is 1.1billion [ yes billion with a "B" ) pounds in debt thanks to the private owners. who could skip leaving it in debt. Portsmouth under administration. Those that want to be a big fish in a small pond in Australia will try and buy league and union teams if they see profit Look at the what the Rugby super 14 teams and how they are named. No more Orange Free State or Natal, no more Canterbury and Otago, no more NSW or QLD. It's Brumbies, waratah Crusaders sharks bulls and bulldust! This is due to a private corporate influence. They are not allowed to call themselves the State name for obvious reasons They should be removed from their level of involvement, and the gave retuned to being not for profit identities run by professionals who know how to run not for profits
The Other Reds Fan.
Guest
I don't necesarily like the idea of someone owning my team. I could not imagine Queensland being privately owned. There is then always the threat, as with the guy who owns the Townsville soccer team, Northern Fury, that he will pack up and leave. As a result they lost Robbie Fowler. I know its different, but The Force with Firepower showed what happens when you place reliance on a private financial backer. Sponsorship yes, ownership, no.
jack mitchell
Guest
SIX O-- WHO IS THE MAGNIFICENT JonM ?? THE BEST UNDER-UTILISED RUGBY ADMIN TALENT IS BABY HUEY NOW WITH THE REBELS. O'NEILL, GODDARD JENKINS & CO SHOULD MOVE ON ( OR BACK TO SOCCER). THEY DO NOT PROMOTE THE GAME AT ALL. LOOK AT HOW AUST IS GOING IN ARGENTINA IN THE WORLD UNDER 20'S, WILL WE SEE THE BAA BAAS TOMORROW NIGHT? JACKM.
amband
Guest
you nailed it with GPS. CHS and the general working class rugger players, the majority, are ignored. You wonder why we have lousy front rows!
Brett McKay
Guest
good post there Sixo, I think you've nailed a lot of it nicely. The other side of it is that the ARU have basically controlled all aspects of rugby in Australia since forever, and have really only started entertaining the notion of private equity in the last few years. The big end of town has always been attracted to rugby (and one of the reasons for Nine's interest in attaining the domestic rights from next year was the advertising revenue from the likes of Investec, Macquarie, QANTAS, Lexus, et al), but there's never been that dominating figurehead that's wanted to be seen giving the thumbs down to the opposition from up in the royal box. And to be honest, I don't know rugby wants or needs somoeone like that. We already have John O'Neill!!
MattS
Guest
As a league fan I disagree. I think it is wiser for the Australian teams to be community based. Having private owners is fraught with danger and can make clubs lazy. Look at the suger daddies in English & French rugby union. How many of those clubs turn a profit? Apparently the French clubs throw millions of $$$, via 'owners', to get silverware and some great tradition French clubs like Agen, Narbonne, Beziers etc are falling by the wayside or atleast struggling. Some may say this is a good thing as the 'big' cities' are the future but you need a balance and you don't need your heartlands suffering. Both union & league (though league is ostracized for this) have their 'heartlands' and these should always be recognised and intertwined with the growing fabric of the two codes. Both league & union should lean more toward community (don't ask me for a definition) models where necessary. Just my opinion.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
The problem is as you say cultural, it is deep-rooted and it gets by however never excels. If you live in NSW have you ever wondered why, for example, that despite the rottenness of the current Labor administration the Liberals are not able to assemble an electable opposition. Why has League seemingly left us for dead when we started competing with the same rules but now their game has only a superficial resembence to ours. What is the difficulty in the struggle with infrastructure development. And realistically NSW is not alone in an ongoing struggle with political failure and dishonesty. The answer is that we get the administration we deserve. If more people decided that the higher moral ground was a more desirable goal than the current situation then we would see change. That is giving support to anything in any sphere of your life that values improvement, excellence and progress. The average Aussie is a peaceful, fun loving person who doesn't like to stand out from the crowd or rock the boat but that is what is required to effect change. People like myself who are 'from the colonies' but not Australian born see this dynamic from the outside. I am but a palefaced migrant (1964) but I vote for the independents more than I have ever voted for a major party and will continue to do so. JonM values excellence. He is regarded as one of the best Sport Administrators in the world. We know he tries hard but he has been brought down by the reactionary forces in Club and State administrations in his last stint. They will try to do it again if their narrow interests are challenged. However to answer your question directly we do enjoy support in the boardrooms and not just because they played in the GPS competition but because of the quality of young men we produce, leaders and team players who make things work. The joke is : "If they dropped a bomb on the SFS during State of Origin game you would kill every tradesman in Sydney, to do the same during a Rugby Test Match you would kill every decision maker". What we don't have is a visible, high profile support but is that because they don't seek the limelight or because we don't move in those circles and wouldn't recognise them? There is a lot of financial support for our game but it is what the current administration do with that support that is the real crime.