There’s been so much talk of late about the stunning difference between the states of rugby on either side of the ditch.
The Wallabies’ recent Bledisloe Cup disasters have seen such choice phrases as “Australia is third in the world, first being New Zealand and second being daylight”, and the rather poignant “Maybe they’re just better than us?”.
With so much form centered around the top flight team, it’s only a matter of time before the conversation trickles down to the provincial competition and then further to the district grounds and grassroots rugby in this country.
Everyone knows where the blame lies for our abhorrent displays against the Kiwis; it’s a shame none of them seem to agree.
The fact is this current Wallaby team is not as good as the All Blacks. But we’ve been good in the past – the first country to win two World Cups – and we will be good again.
Provincially the Super Rugby comp is sound, and as a heathen outsider from the southern states I can’t speak for those at the grassroots level, but what I do know is there will always be those with deep enough pockets to play the game played in heaven.
All of that said, I can think of a few ways the powers that be can improve union’s position in this country. The first being invigorate the supporter bases from the non-rugby states.
My reasoning of course has a back story.
As the dust settled over the scoreless loss to the All Blacks recently, I stayed glued to the media circus waiting to see if any great snippets of news or controversy would emerge.
What I got was a series of soul-searching questions and some very astute observations from some who are becoming disillusioned with the game’s governance and its direction. One popular opinion that emerged was that the administration seemed to lack direction, with no common purpose.
Now being a self-confessed southern heathen obsessed with aerial ping pong, I do not pretend to know the truth in this statement. However, I can offer a possible solution, and that is to give the code a goal.
The AFL has been single-minded and bullish in its attitude towards expansion. Two new teams in foreign sporting lands is testament to that, but more important than physical expansion for the code is the expansion of influence.
The AFL seems less concerned with having a team on every corner than having the sport in the forefront of everyone’s mind. If the way to the wallets of punters is through their hearts, the AFL is on the right track to remain the country’s highest earning league.
If the ARU needs a direction, needs a goal, if you will, they should start by following the AFL model.
Before the flame war begins I do not mean expansion – the conference system is fantastic, and the current distribution of teams is spot on. I mean an expansion of the mind and heart, give the game to the masses who otherwise miss out. And I would start by having a regional round.
Now this is not an easy thing to do with an international competition and further compounded by the conference nature of the comp, but the round can ‘float’ through the fixture, that is can be made flexible to change and be moved easily to suit all competitors.
The round would involve teams playing a little further afield than they’re used to, but with the intent of exhibiting the game to otherwise deprived audiences.
Have the Rebels play in Adelaide, maybe wearing a red strip to commemorate proceedings. Have the Waratahs play in regional NSW, possibly against the Brumbies. Have the Reds in Cairns or Townsville, and the Force in Broome.
Yes, I am suggesting we add to the already heavy travel load. Yes, I am asking for ‘away home’ games that most sports fans hate, and, yes, I am saying the ARU should look to the AFL for guidance. Southern arrogance, I know.
But doing this would reap benefits, not in the least tapping the strong grassroots supporter base in places like regional NSW, North Queensland and Adelaide, and possibly even unearthing one in far north WA.
And it might even prove to be a vehicle for expanding the game that little bit more, thus giving the Wallabies more support in the long run.
It doesn’t need to be big, but if the game needs a direction then send it in the right one, and that’s getting more support.
Losses come and go, the sporting public can be merciless, but such a mission of goodwill could help provide the needed direction.
clipper
Guest
Good ideas, Damo. After all, they are the NSW Waratahs, not the Sydney Waratahs. One slight problem is that the majority of Kiwis and Saffas live in the capital cities and therefore there may not be as greater an interest in those games in the outlying areas. But they're still seeing international Rugby, so maybe that may negate that point.
Billy Bob
Guest
Great post Damo. Btw I used to call myself 'Damo' on this site but there are now too many of us. I have been arguing for the Tahs to do a travelling circus for some time now. Games all over the state would be great for all, except the current venue arrangements and the comfort zone of participants. But the Tahs need to get out of Moore Park badly. And I would argue that 20K in Newcastle is better than 15K in Sydney. All the positives: - passionate grateful crowds, not the one that turns up at Moore Park. - more people around the state/sport market see and/or hear about the game - the players meet the farmers and miners and townsfolk who also love the game - the complacency of Moore Park is banished by the product not being there. - the stadiums will cost less - when the game returns to Moore park periodically the crowd might show more interest. (an aside - a competition that measures the decibels generated by each crowd on a per capita basis could be used as a bargaining chip for revisiting a town) Australian rugby is not only losing international competitiveness. It is also invisible to its own people. Every measure to increase its visibility must be taken. Even an AFL fan can see that. Thanks Damo.
Damo
Roar Guru
I agree when it comes to the Force and Rebels, but i also wonder if theres an opportunity for inter state membership here? Perhpas in a couple of years when both clubs are (hopefully) better established? Special, half price memberships for, say, the Rebels in SA (include free admision to Adelaide games, maybe a package deal for games in Melbourne, fan pak etc) and a similar deal with the Force in Broome, or Darwin, or whever else we can send them to play?
Wilson
Guest
Garth the Force & Brumbies are already doing what they can with one of their pre-season matches up in Darwin. Did the other Australian Super Teams hit the road to help develop the game too? Does anyone know? It is hard for the Force to do too much in season without drastically disadvantaging their members and themselves with travel. No-where else in WA are there suitable facilities for rugby to be played in all of WA. Unlike on the east coast where many rectanglar grounds are present for rugby & league. Even f the Tahs were playing in Gosford it is only a 1.5hours drive down the road. So many options that turn games into a weekend road trip rather than isolating their members and fans.
Wilson
Guest
You have every right to be dark that they pulled out and for no valid reason. The facts were the same when they made the commitment to when they pulled out. The damage is done in the eyes of some, when the opportunity to good was right there. Well done to the Force for stepping up and doing the right thing by the Adelaide locals.
TC
Guest
It's a good point about memberships. You can't have single games strung across many cities/towns while you're trying to sell memberships. The AFL only get away with it because it's mostly Melbourne clubs playing home games outside of Melbourne, so the AFL offers members of those clubs a chance to get into an away game played in Melbourne to make up for it, but that's difficult in Super Rugby. However, a possible solution is, say, if the Waratahs played three games in Newcastle, for arguments sake, then they could introduce five game memberships for those Sydney based fans who only want to watch the Sydney home games, while selling 3 game memberships into Newcastle. That's certainly an option. TC
hog
Guest
Good post Damo, Food for thought as well but i have to agree with rob9, the force and rebels need to concentrate on growing their own market, that's why an arc is so important allowing expansion into growing areas, a problem teams like the waratahs have is membership they must be able to offer their paid supporters the maximum product hence the reluctance to go outside Sydney, catch 22.
Rob9
Guest
I think Australian rugby has done a job in terms of growing the game in new frontiers in this country. 2 out of 5 professional teams being based in non-traditional areas is a testament to this. I think what they need to focus on now is the areas where the majority of the games fans and players hail from eg. QLD and NSW. More professional teams in decent sized heartland markets such as the Gold Coast, Newcastle and western Sydney. Taking games to the bush is something that the NRL are taking a serious look at now that the coffers are full. I have my doubts as to how effective this concept is in pushing the game ahead. Firstly teams like the Force and Rebels need to focus on their immediate market because they still have a long way to go in growing their supporter base before they start taking home games elsewhere. For the teams in heartlands, they could take games to other regional centres but as I said above, I’d rather see permanent teams based in the large non-capital cities. Spending money on establishing such teams will see a serious return on investment as these communities get to see elite rugby regularly and they can build a serious affiliation with their hometown team as opposed to the capital city team that comes for the odd visit here and there. In other more regional centres than your Gold Coasts and Newcastles’, I think the money is better spent on more development officers on the ground to spread the gospel. Get players out more regularly for clinics and meeting kids at schools and local clubs. It’s this sort of hands on approach that’s going to make a real difference. Taking games out to these places just diminishes the income that they generate for their unions and does nothing for continuing to develop their immediate supporter base (impacts on memberships too). The effect it has on these other communities is limited and I think there are more effective ways to go about building rugby up in regional centres/the bush.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Damo, I'm fully on board with the idea. From the Waratahs perspective when they are getting only about 13,000 against some of the sides with less crowd drawing power - it just makes sense for them to hit the regional areas. Get up to Newcastle, down to the Gong they should be able to do this every season. They could then add one of the likes of Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga etc to the schedule to that they hit these regional centres every other year. The Tahs are doing more pre-season work in these areas but I fully agree they should take at least a match per season out to these areas. (I'm basically thinking three regional matches during each season, one Newcastle, one Wollongong and one regional NSW). They will need to re-negotiate their contracts with the SFS and Stadium Australia but given about half the home games are poorly attended they should be able to grow their crowd attendances by taking the matches to these areas and hopefully winning more fans in the process.
Damo
Roar Guru
So perhaps the ARU doesn't even need to follow an AFL example as much as an NZ example! You guys are obviously doing something right, so theres nothing wrong with following the plans of the world champs
garth
Guest
On this (NZ) side of the ditch, the 'Canes are the best at this with some games played in New Plymouth (Taranaki), Palmerston North (Manawatu) & Napier (Hawkes Bay). The Chiefs also schedules a game or two in either Tauranga or Rotorua, both in the Bay of Plenty. The Highlanders has one (very poorly promoted!) game in Invercargill (Southland). The Blues don't bother as most of their support is in Auckland City proper, while the Crusaders only played outside of Christchurch because of the earthquakes. I realise the distances in OZ are MUCH greater, but prising the State rep. teams out of the main cities from time to time would do wonders for the game. Even pre-season games can & should be played outside the main venue(s), ie: Highlanders in Queenstown or the Hurricanes in a farm paddock/rural rugby ground with temporary stands near the Tui Brewery at Mangatainoka (it's a sell-out every year).
Damo
Roar Guru
Blue Blood, I'm a really rare breed- a South Australian who baracks for a Melbourne club! I've barracked for the Rebels since inception (although from afar) and i was gutted when they pulled out of coming here. I think they really have missed a real opportunity to engage with Adelaides Rguby Community which is larger than most people think!
Blue Blood
Guest
Have the Rebels play in Adelaide, maybe wearing a red strip to commemorate proceedings. Have the Waratahs play in regional NSW, possibly against the Brumbies. Have the Reds in Cairns or Townsville, and the Force in Broome. The Rebels had an agreement with Adelaide this year to play an exhibition game against an Afelaide 22 in return for Adelaide support of the Rebels. A great idea. Except that the Rebels got cold feet about travelling during the mid year break and pulled out of the commitment. Adelaide then reached out to the Force to see if they would slot in where the Rebels had vaccated. The Force welcomed the opportunity and a large team captained by Matt Hodgson jumped on a plan for some match fitness and some rugby goodwill with a neighbouring state capital. They also too additional players to help bolster the local team and had a great, if one sided score wise, game that was well supported by the locals and their media. So I agree that this can work. But I also think that all clubs need to be committed to it, Rebels I'm looking at you with that comment.