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Use Sevens rugby to help fund juniors

Roar Guru
14th November, 2012
6

The re-introduction of Sevens Rugby to the Olympics has created a wonderful opportunity for the ARU to promote Rugby in schools Australia wide, especially in primary cchools where the game is well suited to be played by both young boys and girls.

In my region, on the Central Coast, we have struggled to get playing numbers in the 10 to 14-year old age group.

This is evident at representative carnivals, which start at Under 12, where our teams struggle to complete.

This year our Under 13 rep side was chosen from a total pool of 90 players, in comparison Sydney clubs chose from a pool of around 400.

To further facilitate the uptake of the Sevens opportunity and address junior playing numbers, is it time for the ARU to take the next step into commercialism and offer a challenge cup with cash payments for the winning schools?

For example a ‘Schools Sevens Cup’ could be introduced for promoting Sevens Rugby in primary schools in each state – where the winning school picks up a cheque for say $25,000 for boys and another $25,000 for girls, with $10,000 for runners up and $5,000 for making the semis – a total of $90,000 per state (money that could come directly from sponsors and be cost neutral to the ARU).

All schools are in need of extra funds, this would present such an opportunity while introducing kids the fun of playing Sevens Rugby.

The ARU has adeptly introduced a user pay model which caters well to the Rugby faithful but does little to introduce the game to the uninitiated. This would take the game to new markets while addressing Rugby’s weakest point – its juniors.

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