- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
There is an incorrect perception that rugby union in New South Wales is restricted to Sydney’s North Shore and the eastern suburbs.
These areas may be the heartlands but the game is played throughout the state, from Byron in the North to Bourke in the west and Illawarra in the South.
The Waratahs were once the representative side for the state and as the HSBC Waratahs they should represent all of us.
Some New South Wales rugby supporters no longer identify with the Waratahs. To them it’s Sydney’s team, and given that all Waratahs’ home games are played at the Sydney Football Stadium and ANZ Stadium it is understandable why they feel this way.
There are however those who drive several hours just to watch to a game; that’s how much the Tahs mean to them. The Waratahs must re-engage with the State so that this passion is ubiquitous.
First up the HSBC Waratahs must rebrand themselves and the game in this state. Rugby is not a game for the ‘upper class’ in New Zealand, South Africa, Wales or France; it doesn’t need to be in this State either.
I am certain that Kurtley Beale, Wycliff Palu, Kane Douglas, Berrick Barnes, Sekope Kepu, Atieli Pakalani, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sitaleki Timani do not think of themselves as Eastern Sydney ‘toffs’.
Not one of the Waratah players has leather elbow patches on his jacket. Union is a game for all shapes and sizes and must be a game for all social classes as well.
In Sydney, the west is the flavour of the month for expansion. The NRL is protecting its turf, while the AFL and A-League are at varying stages of setting up operations.
Union followers feel it is imperative to launch a Super rugby side in Western Sydney so the code doesn’t ‘miss out’. I believe this would be a foolish move.
The AFL and A-League will have a tough job making their new franchises successful. The AFL has the money to weather the storm. Rugby Union does not have the financial resources to support a second Sydney Super Rugby franchise.
However we can still have a strong professional and semi-professional footprint in Western Sydney and Country New South Wales.
The Waratahs can engage with all of New South Wales by several means.
First, spreading the love. The Waratahs play some of their pre-season games in country New South Wales. This is a good start, but the administrators need to go further.
Take one Super Rugby game a year to a country area. Look at the wonders it has done for the Crusaders franchise in 2011.
Admittedly it has brought a financial shortfall, but I’m not asking the Tahs to take all their games to smaller venues, just one country venue a year.
Take another game per year to Western Sydney, beyond ANZ stadium! The 21,000 seat capacity Parramatta stadium is ideal for games against the Force or the Chiefs.
If the eastern suburbs members don’t want to travel, offer them memberships without these games. Take the players to the people when they play in these regions. Visit the schools, the shopping centres and drum up support.
Second, bring all the New South Wales Unions to the party. Brand all the teams in the State with the Waratahs emblem (similar to what League does with the ARL logo). Give the players a tangible connection. All roads lead to the Waratahs.
Third, elevate Rugby in the schools. Bring Union to more schools throughout the State through development officers.
Elevate the Waratah Shield (the state knockout championship) and the State 7s competition in the media.
Make these championships the pre-eminent school trophies in the state, of any sport. If the GPS and CAS schools do not want to participate, antagonise them by declaring the winners the greatest rugby schools in the state.
Promote the Rugby Union successes of schools such as Westfield Sports High, The Hills Sports High, and Matraville High School.
To encourage more schools to enter, offer substantial financial rewards to the winning school.
Fourth, increase the Academy set up. The Waratahs currently have an academy side, but they should set up two more (semi-professional); one in Western Sydney and another representing country New South Wales.
Include these teams in the ARUs National Academy Competition against the other Super Rugby academies.
This will ensure that Western Sydney and country New South Wales get more high quality rugby fixtures while developing a pathway for more New South Wales players into professional rugby.
I believe it’s imperative for the Waratahs to engage with New South Wales. How do you think the Waratahs can become the team of its state?
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.