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Young Australian rugby talent is crying out for changes to the pathways currently available to talented juniors. As it stands, once a player leaves school, unless they’re unbelievably gifted like Kurtley Beale or James O’Connor, they sit in Super Rugby academies rotting away.
As the academies do not play regular games, players end up playing in their states local league, ie John 1 Dent Cup (ACT) or the Shute Shield (NSW).
Even once the Super season is over, they continue playing in these amateur competitions while their Kiwi and South African counterparts are playing in the ITM Cup or the Currie Cup.
Who is going to develop at a faster rate, Rohan Saifoloi, a 2009 Australian Schoolboys rep, playing first grade for Southern Districts in Sydney or Gareth Anscombe, a 2009 New Zealand Schoolboys rep, playing regular ITM Cup for Auckland?
Young talents in Australia do not get enough exposure to playing against high class talent and as such Australia does not have the depth of their Southern Hemisphere rivals.
This is reflected in Australia’s results in the past three IRB Junior World Cups. We have placed fifth (2008), fourth (2009) and second (2010).
However, last year when they placed second, they were still beaten 62-17 by New Zealand in the final. This simply isn’t good enough for the apparent second best rugby playing nation in the world.
The ARU must also find a way to arrest the alarming rate at which state and national schoolboy representatives are switching to Rugby League.
In the 2011 NYC season, there are at least 15 registered players who have at the least represented their state in schoolboy rugby union. Essentially, rugby is paying to develop some of league’s talent.
Players are switching to league due to the money being offered to them and the fact that they also must have a job or be studying to be eligible to play in the NYC. They also have the opportunity to play against high quality opposition every week whilst being part of a professional set up.
A solution to this issue is the re-introduction of the Australian Rugby Championship (ARC), albeit in a more viable, sustainable way.
Make it a national clubs competition, using traditional clubs such as Queanbeyan (ACT), Gordon (NSW) and Brothers (QLD). The Sydney Fleet do not tug the heart strings of the rugby faithful.
This way we can keep the tradition, which is the heart and soul of community rugby, whilst ensuring the players just below Super Rugby Level are playing the highest level they can.
Shop the concept to Fox Sports or One HD rather than just showing the one game on ABC1 per week. Furthermore, increase advertisements of the competition so as to increase awareness of the competition and make it more attractive to potential sponsors.
The best way to improve a rugby player is by having them play every week, testing themselves against the best. A player simply isn’t going to improve by dominating games against sub-standard opposition.
The ARU have left this issue for too long, however it can no longer be ignored with only one of Australia’s five Super Rugby teams a realistic chance of winning the tournament. They must act now for an improved future.
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.