The commitment to junior rugby from the Waratahs and ARU in NSW has turned a full circle.
In the past this often strident critic bemoaned that the Tahs lived in a self-created eastern Sydney cocoon and junior rugby (especially in regional NSW) was virtually being ignored – and there was a level of truth in this.
Certainly it characterised the years prior to Michael Cheika when the Tahs and ARU Junior Development Team were not exactly embracing a joint junior rugby engagement strategy.
Roll forward to late 2012/2013, the Tahs – ably assisted by a small but professional and passionate team of ARU development officers – have engaged the NSW community on an unprecedented level.
This year, thus far, the Tahs have visited kids for clinics and meet-the-players sessions at Sylvania, Chatswood, Penrith, Parramatta, Manly, Armidale, Hunter, Ryde, Newport, Coogee, Merrylands, Byron Bay amongst others.
Indeed Michael Cheika, Dave Dennis and Wycliff Palu joined the often overlooked Penrith Rugby Club for their 2013 season opening night!
More recently kids from Avoca Beach Rugby, Kiama Rugby and Bowral Rugby formed the run on guard-of-honour for the Waratahs vs Brumbies match at ANZ Stadium. Below is a quote from one of fathers present:
“The Tah man was very entertaining and involved the boys on the night. He selected one of the younger boys and had him dancing on the field which was displayed on the big screen.”
“The boys were provided with Waratah flags to wave announcing the arrival of the Tah’s. Although the boys were clearly supporting the Tahs, the arrival of the Brumbies really excited them as a number of the players high fived the boys as they ran through the guard of honour.
“Next the Tahs ran through the guard, with the boys waving their flags like crazy, it was a great sight.
“Just the look on the boys faces leaving the field after being so close to the players highlighted the importance of the night for me in cementing rugby at its ground roots.
“It’s nights like these that the boys remember for a very long time.”
The Waratahs are conducting an open training session on June 12 at Allianz Stadium between 3.00-5.00pm.
Three days later, two qualifying primary schools will play off for the State Primary Schools Championship, which will precede the Waratahs vs British and Irish Lions game on June 15 at Allianz Stadium.
Rugby players from Avoca Beach Rugby, Kiama Rugby and Bowral Rugby form a guard of honour at the Waratahs-Brumbies game. (Image: Murray Richards).
Young Waratahs fans at the Waratahs-Brumbies game. (Image: Murray Richards).
Young rugby players at the Waratahs-Brumbies game. (Image: Murray Richards).
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Cheers Chivas
robhen
Guest
I can reveal a similar incident a few years back...a friend of friend's sons had a similar night and were photographed with Phil Waugh and Rocky Elsom. I was so impressed with what the NSW players did I was almost going to ring up and compliment the team.
Bakkies
Guest
Chieka probably picked up on the engagement that the Leinster branch and players have with their community, clubs and schools. Rugby had a D4 stigma to it in Leinster (Dublin's equivalent of the eastern suburbs) and now is gone province wide. Leinster have grown their season ticket base and their academy is very strong.
Chivas
Guest
Great article and great posts. More good news stories please.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Hey WB do you and Yikes work for the same boss?
Malo
Guest
How about including the clubs, many of the clubs supporters and players have zero interest in the waratahs. If they have lost the faithful rugby will die a quick death. Most of mates all brought up on rugby hardly talk about the tahs but talk about the lions and rugby league. Tahs have isolated the broad base of fans by targeting and focusing on the rich corporate types. No change has happened really.
Billy Bob
Guest
Brilliant Johnno! Go west young men. Forget the gate takings what a packed crowd that would be, assuming the Eels or Parra Council allow it to happen. It would do two things - create a real tribal atmosphere in a smaller stadium - exposé the game to an untapped market in western Sydney I' live in the east but I'd go to that one.
GWS
Guest
Gladly take my boys to cheer on the brums
GWS
Guest
Tokenism from the tahs not you
Nicko
Guest
Montero - not to create an argument, but sorry mate your comment is incredibly defeatist. Would you rather NSW copped a slow death and accepted its fate, or tried to arrest the decline and turn things around? Seems a waste of a huge opportunity if we follow your line of thinking.
Johnno
Guest
if the Tahs VS Brumbies next year is in west sydney, have it at Parra stadium, that will engage fans and young fans more.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Montero, you are a ray of sunshine aren't you. The Waratahs are coming off a low base and steps are being made to rectify that. The house has crumbled significantly over the years due to poor leadeship / business practice & on field product. It will take time to rebuild. The Reds have over 30,000 members which is magnificent. Not many Clubs / Priovinces in World Rugby can boast those numbers. The Brumbies have rebounded nicely under Jake White while the Force and Rebels ( while still plenty of work to do ) are lifting there on field performances. The Force attract strong crowds regardless of performance. The Australian Super teams have lifted there level of play significantly this season. To say the game is at it's lowest point is laughable. Sure there is plenty not being or that could be done but where is your proof the game is at it's lowest point ? Levelheaded, Lions ticket sales are completely irrelevant to the poor crowd attendances for the Tahs this season. Allen is the CEO and while he delivered a profit ( well done ) he carrys the can for the crowd numbers as it's his job to put bums on seats, is it not ? The CEO is responsible for generating all commercial revenue and season ticket sales & memberships fall square in his portfolio. I've also been involved running a Club purely for the love of my club. I realise how much work goes into it however at the professional level it's comparing apples with oranges. The Waratahs like any business need to grow the brand. They are making progress granted but I want to see a lot more being done particularly in Sydney's West which seems to be a taboo subject in Rugby.
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
We are for that very reason. There are concerted efforts been made now (perhaps later than preferred) to push things back in the right direction. For those of us who've been waiting for this to happen, it's a genuine step in the right direction.
levelheaded
Guest
Great article, very interesting, however to blame Administrators for poor crowds - I find all this stuff a joke. One of my mates runs a Club and it is always easy to crack at administration, not the players, and macro issues - how about 100,000 tickets being sold to Lions games this year - maybe that has an impact? Who support and proactively encourages community work - the administration! Who pays the salaries.....didn't this bloke deliver profits when there haven't been profits, what's your real point here? Sounds like just another cheap shot I reckon, do you know him, sounds like this all didn't happen by chance?
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Sorry Montero don't agree - it has hit rock bottom in NSW and is now on the way up thanks to the Tahs re-connecting to the Rugby Community including the ARU junior dev team!
Montero
Roar Rookie
Why are we patting people on the back here? Rugby has never been in a lower state in this country.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Great stuff Delphy, love reading / hearing that stuff. Good on the Highlanders players for doing that. It doesn't take a lot for the players to do it and it means the world to the kids. I really admire the Force supporters, you / they are as loyal as the day is long no matter how the team is going, love the passion, take note Tahs supporters !
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Delphy - a wise man once said "you will hear many words in your life and not remember one - however you will never forget how someone made you feel". Rightly or wrongly the stars of the game have a massive impact on kids ..... it is up to them to make sure that that impact is positive - in every way.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Me too WB - Jason Allen has done little to prove himself thus far ....
Worlds Biggest
Guest
dullards, couldn't have put it any better myself Rickety. I'm still not convinced of the current Tahs executive leadership team. They appear to have a stronger board in place and obviously Cheika has made a huge difference. However what has Jason Allen & Co been doing to address the poor crowd attendances this season ?