Australian rugby union is reducing the amount of salary top-ups offered to elite Australian players. Last year they offered 50 to our country’s best, now there are only 26.
The reduction is a result of cost-cutting to compensate for financial losses organisation-wide.
Overseas competitions, especially Japan and France, are tempting our elite players with offers they may not be able to resist if the situation stays the same in the future.
The average elite rugby player has 10, maybe 15 years at best to make the most out of his career. There is simply not enough time to turn down better offers.
The Queensland Reds nearly lost their famous fraternal duo Anthony and Saia Fainga’a last month to Japanese and French clubs. Much to Coach Ewan McKenzie’s pleasure the brothers stayed out of loyalty.
Not all of these mid-tier players will have the same attitude. Sooner or later we will see players leave their homes and play overseas.
The real question is how the Australian Rugby Union will rectify this issue, not only for the sake of the players themselves but for the spectators of the game. Rugby union in Australia has enough competition at home without threats from overseas.
Australian rugby union needs to work on behind-the scenes-issues like advertising and grassroots programs to strengthen the support of the game. More crowds mean more revenue and an overall boost in the popularity of rugby union. This way there may be a possibility that the players will be paid enough for them to stay.
Money seems to be thrown at the top end of the game rather than the bottom.
An Australian team won the Super Rugby trophy in 2011 and still we are unable to recognise our top players. Resolving this problem could prove tough. The game was more popular during our last Super Rugby win from the Brumbies in 2004.
The other big issue is how the ARU classifies an elite player: by international caps, popularity or simply ability?
We are going to see much more emphasis on selection and way more competition. Every position in the Wallabies squad can be filled by players with equal ability. It’s simply not acceptable for these bench players to go without the recognition that they deserve.
Private sponsorship could remedy these issues. Enabling players to seek private sponsorship could give them that boost and incentive to stay in Australian teams.
Finding a solution for these issues will always be difficult, but something has to be done and that lost finance must be found soon before its too late and we lose the players that we love. Until Australian rugby gives elite players what they want, the Wallabies are going to lose players overseas.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Apparently the answer was 'ground hire' fees according to the SMH on 16 July 2012.
Ben S
Roar Guru
The 'Brit' rugby clubs aren't bleeding money at all. There's issues with the Welsh sides, but not the English sides.
Emric
Guest
I've always thought that it was time New Zealand and Australia combine their Rugby Unions. The NZRU and ARU need to become the ANZRU to manage the game across both countries - we are a single market entity now and its time our sports reflect that. Everyone says it wont work because of the distances that Australian and New Zealand teams would have to travel - I disagree ultimately sport money is increasingly dependent upon tv ratings and crowd attendance - I will use super rugby figures from ANZ to make my point. There have been 9 rounds of super rugby Attendance - Australia's conference has a total of = 213,468 Average = 21,347 New Zealands conference has a total of = 177,263 Average = 19,696 Australia's cross over games has a total of = 128,970 Average = 16,121 New Zealands conference has a total of = 140,028 Average = 14,003 TV Total TV ratings across 9 rounds with 4 games per round Total = 8,681,717 NZ Sky/Prime = 5,543,387 Aus Fox = 3,138,330 If a 5 teams from Australia can produce such ratings on TV - imagine what an expanded competition with New Zealands top Provences and a group of Australian sides introduced could do. Its time for the NZRU and ARU to take bold steps for the sake of the game in both our countries.
Justin
Guest
More that a kiwi was handing out gold jerseys left right and centre...
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Aussieinnz, Rugby union has had a century-old tradition of blackballing working men trying to make a living. Why stop now ? After all, if an administrator takes a job in the US, then he's welcome back with open arms ...
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
PeterK, If you do that, the salary cap ceases to exist - money that could have gone as sponsorship to the club, and then would have had to be paid out as hard cap money, is instead is turned into "private sponsorship" for players. If you dont want a salary cap, thats fine, but know that you'll get an uncompetitive competition, an unstable competition, or both.
Ryan
Guest
I think the evidence is I can't remember the last time we lost a player we wanted to keep other than Rocky and Vicks and that was some time ago. The reality is the ARU are very good at finding ways to hold onto players they want to keep.
Ryan
Guest
Yeah but he would have needed to continue living in Canberra. At least for SR season.
aussieinnz
Guest
Johno, Regarding your comparisons with Soccer and opening game up. Do you think Soccer would be in a better state in Aus now if they had adopted rugby like restrictons on players going overseas? To the contrary it seems to me that because local players have been able to devleop their game overseas this has greatly imporoved the strength of the national team over the years. The national leauge also is also a vastly improved with the introdiuction of overseas players and locals being able to earn a living and develop thier game. What is the problem?
mania
Guest
bit harsh on the kangaroos clipper. i agree that the source of my national pride is the fact that the AB's come from lil ol NZ yet have consistently been amonst the best on the world stage. this kiwi's take very seriously hence why all the mums dads coaches and suporters give so much time to grassroots. your opinion of the kangaroo's is possibly correct but for me they are the best of the best.
PeterK
Guest
why cant players have private sponsorship? why cant the franchises have private sponsorship? and neither be included in the new salary cap?
Ben S
Roar Guru
It's very much the professional debate; caps v money. If you go to Europe and then return to Super rugby, as McAlister and Elsom did, you're likely to be playing non-stop rugby for a long, long time, which probably isn't very good over the long-term. If Frans Steyn plays in the 3N he will played a lot of rugby in recent seasons. Oddly, some players can cope, i.e. Gareth Delve, Rudi Wulf and Gary Botha, and others can't. Also, like you note further down, sometimes a cultural change refreshes a player.
Tim
Guest
Let's open up the Super 15 in terms of having no international player restrictions if you are from the SANZAR nations, including Argentina. Yes it may not generate bigger salaries or player payments but it would spice the competition up a bit. You could have Kurltey playing for the Sharks, Morne Styen, The Beast, Sony Bill playing for the Force etc. Then you could bring in some of the Argentinians to play Contemponi lining up at Fly Half for the tahs for instance, it is a joke that Australia has a 2 internationals per squad. Something else that could be looked at is player transfers between the European clubs and SANZAR clubs which could open up other sponsorship deals and expose players to different types of Rugby. Lets look outside the square to keep these players and stop looking at it on a monetary basis. P.S Dean Mumm is not a massive loss, he is what has been wrong with Australian rugby for the past decade he only occasionally shows heart when it suits him and not all the time.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Tory, Actually, no. http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/attendances?year=2011&t=A&h=A&s=T 7.13 million people through the turnstiles. Thats a *lot* of sixpences. The ARU, on the other hand, had $21.2m - total - in sponsorships http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/world-cup-is-bleeding-aru-dry/story-e6frg7o6-1226320755260
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I've always thought the garryowen was an under-rated defensive kick in union, as it buys time for the defense, and does not give the offensive time space to attack from.
Tory Smith
Guest
I think more so than the supporters who pay for the player it's the big Nike logo he wears on his boots, or maybe the muesli bar he sells through his TV ads.
p.Tah
Guest
They're actually doing a pretty decent job. It could always been done better but the ARU 'contracts' about 750 kids between the ages 14 -18. If they are good, the ARU will more than likey keep them. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/aru-strikes-it-rich-with-young-stars-20110611-1fy1i.html
p.Tah
Guest
Touché :) May be we need more box kicks and up and unders. They're usually contested.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Tory Smith, And the barracker who pays his sixpence at the gate is the one who funds the pounds and pounds Dr Grace gets for his batting. Rugby union's problem is not enough sixpences.
p.Tah
Guest
I agree tc. Good post. Thankfully that's what SANZAR is a planning on doing. That's what the conference system brings us. Tokyo will be in the Australian conference the next time we expand. You can put your house on it!