As a rugby union fan who has a love and passion for the game, I have never seen a year like this in Australian rugby.
A year where the sport in Australia has been exposed for all to see, and bashed from pillar to post in many sections of the media and certainly by frustrated fans.
The concern is not so much the Wallabies in my view; our Wallabies actually have a very good record.
The Wallabies are the finished product, not the start of development to reach that level. And it’s the other levels that are the worry.
The under-20 team, our Super Rugby teams, schoolboy rugby systems and junior clubs. The whole top-down model needs remodelling and reforming. And there can be no room for sentiment.
I very firmly agree with the ARU governance review, especially recommendation 13; that ARU be acknowledged as the keeper of the code in Australia, from the grassroots to the elite level.
In New Zealand, the New Zealand Rugby Union is the driver and gatekeeper of rugby, having very close alignment with its Super Rugby sides, and a centralizing contract system. The ARU need the same opportunity to implement strategies like this in their top-down model, at all levels of the game.
This should start at schoolboy level. The ARU should look at the rugby league path, where the NRL clubs are central to elite junior development, not the schools.
SG Ball (under 18) and Harold Matthews (under 16) have been outstanding elite junior competitions in developing NRL senior talent. They are teams run by the NRL clubs, and provide elite semi-professional training environments, and high-level competition.
If the CAS/GPS/ISA system resist change and don’t start merging their associations or integrating the competitions to create a higher standard, then the ARU should look at its junior competition options.
A national schools championship would be good too. It would be achievable to have a national Sevens school boys and girls championship, to find the best school Sevens team in the country.
Presently, our four year cycle goals are winning the Rugby World Cup and Olympic gold in men’s and women’s Sevens. However as more countries are investing in rugby, winning these events will become increasingly difficult to achieve.
To win these events we all have to work as one, with our national teams’ interests the number one priority. Make no mistake, global rugby is booming, and developing new markets in some big countries too.
USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Russia, are all getting much better and investing big time in the sport of rugby.
Last week England announced a strategic plan, with big money being spent too. One of the strategic goals the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the following:
“New investment of over £1 million to deliver more than 6,500 newly qualified referees and coaches. Staging master classes for over 5,000 existing coaches and referees along with a focus on young people bringing in 5,000 additional club volunteers.”
It’s these types of strategies that are needed in the Australian rugby system.
So reality is this. It’s 2012, global rugby is booming and advancing. Australian rugby must get with the times and advance, or be left behind.
The ARU are doing their best and need all the support they can get going forward. And sacrifices have to be made.
Much as Test cricket is soon to see the advent of day/night Tests, the traditionalist or vocal minority will just have to deal with it and evolve. If we keep doing the same thing, standards will drop thing and our results will decline at all levels.
We never want another year like 2012, so we have to do whatever it takes to stay globally competitive. There can be no room for sentiment and key stakeholders should support the ARU in going forward.
SkinnyKid
Guest
Sheek, and who is going to fund this? We've tried it once and lost millions. But I think your point is valid. The Melbourne and Perth club comps are actually very good now so mixing local players with some ringers is not an issue.
sheek
Roar Guru
Johnno, This might put me at odds with some Roarers, but it's time to ditch the Super Rugby. Those especially aggrieved would argue it is a necessary revenue-raiser. We have the Rugby Championship involving Australia, New Zealand, South Africa & Argentina. We don't need SR as well. A mate of mine has constantly argued we should ditch SR & now I agree with him. He's also fond of quoting Dave Brockhoff, "don't dilute the whiskey." In other words, the five SR franchises in Australia has spread the talent too thin. While I can agree with him on scrapping the SR, we need to develop the game in other states & other cities. New Zealand has its NPC/ITMC, South Africa has its Currie Cup & Argentina has its Zona Campeonato. It's time for Australia to resurrect the ARC. How the ARC is structured is open to debate. I now suggest a 12 team comp to put up against AFL, NRL & A-League. An Australian comp for Australian fans. Four of the teams must be Canberra, melbourne, Perth & Newcastle. the remaining eight can be split between Sydney & brisbane either 6-2 or 5-3. Furthermore, whether we have iconic teams like Sydney Randwick, Sydney Eastwood, Sydney Parramatta & Brisbane Brothers is another matter for debate. But scrap the SR & introduce an ARC. It must happen!
amband
Guest
Good points re juniors and schools. ARU are doing what they want, not doing their best for the game. Who cares about the " our four year cycle goals are winning the Rugby World Cup and Olympic gold in men’s and women’s Sevens." usual nonsense. Just get the game going at junior level in and at State schools too. Then rest shall follow
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Good article Johnno and addresses most of the basic points we are missing. We need to pay attention to the Wallabies but where the next Wallabies are coming from is a big issue. Many youngsters see there future as a pro sportsperson and we need to tap into that across many sports looking for raw talent to feed into the system BUT not until the system addressses some of its issues. The academies are not supplying youngsters with speed and skill, they are preparing them with too much weight via muscle and problems with ligaments and knees. Something needs to be done, young players need time to build strength in these areas rather than treat them like recruits for the 1st World War!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
No Jiggles we know it doesn't S&N in Sydney but it is a very important nursery and if a 1/3rd of your player pool is coming from a mess then it affects everyone. I do see it on the mend and there is focus on it from a lot of good people. Chieka is almost as important as Hawker to this end. It is club rugby(not subbies) that needs serious attention.
Skills and Techniques
Guest
Absolutely J2. More school comps nor altered school comps.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
The doom and gloom is there because Rugby in Sydney is a mess, and Sydney rugby fans think the game starts and ends in Sydney.
CB
Guest
'Has there been a year like this in Aussie rugby?' basically just turned into another rant about schoolboy rugby.
Johnson
Guest
Rugby is growing. Junior participation has never been higher in QLD, Vic and WA. Super rugby crowds where up 7%. We are doing ok, why all the doom and gloom?
Justin2
Guest
This obsession people have with wanting to tamper with very successful schools comps is ridiculous. What is needed is more comps in other school and juniors.
p.Tah
Guest
+1
tc
Guest
I've been watching the show Code Red and I have to admit if that is the blueprint for the future of rugby in Australia ,then rugby is in good hands without a doubt . I look at Aussie rugby and I don't see it in some kind of death throws like some try to portray ,but it is in a period of growth pangs ,and just has to be navigated through by the ARU ,but people have to realise these things take time. One thing that seems to be happening is that rugby seems to be decentralising out of Sydney and is gaining a more national footprint which brings its own set of problems ,but remember thses are good problems.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
'So Sydney centric when the majority of the top talent is developed in QLD.' I agree with the first part if not the second part.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
"If the CAS/GPS/ISA system resist change and don’t start merging their associations or integrating the competitions to create a higher standard, then the ARU should look at its junior competition options." This is what is wrong with Australian Rugby. So Sydney centric when the majority of the top talent is developed in QLD.