I’ve thought about this long and hard and I reckon I could write a PhD thesis on what’s wrong with Australian rugby (I just might, you never know).
But for now, let’s try and deal with some of the issues here.
I have been involved with rugby at nearly all levels my whole life. I love the game whole-heartedly and am dismayed at the way it is now the ‘fourth’ code in Australia.
Our on-field results are not anywhere near where they used to be and there is a fundamental reason for it.
The lingering issue for me in terms of what is troubling Australian rugby is that there is little to no incentive for young Australian players to persist with the game if they are not immediately picked up by a Super Rugby franchise.
There is also a genuine inadequacy that exists between the franchises.
Why are the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force treated differently to the three other franchises? I don’t buy into the argument trotted out that they are start-up franchises and don’t have the natural drawing power of the older, more traditional franchises.
The Western Force will be entering their ninth season in the Super Rugby competition next year and the Melbourne Rebels their fourth.
Prior to July 2012, the ARU policy was that the Waratahs, Reds, Brumbies and Force were given the ability to recruit two foreign players or one marquee and one developing foreign player.
Yet the decision was made for the 2013 season (and seemingly beyond) for Australia’s second youngest franchises to be given special dispensation.
They will now be allowed to have “either two developing foreign players and a marquee foreign player, or three developing foreign players.”
The Melbourne Rebels are a whole other kettle of fish. They are allowed up to ten foreign players. That’s right, ten!
Ten people playing for an Australian team that potentially aren’t Australian.
Absolutely ludicrous.
Now it is true in the 2014 season they will be down to six, four in 2015 and then they will fall into line with other Aussie franchises in 2016, but it’s still ludicrous.
From what the signings over the last year or two indicate (and definitely heading into next season) it seems the ’emerging’ Australian franchises are looking overseas before in their own backyard and that is just plain wrong.
The Western Force have made it pretty clear that they will look west before they look east for their recruiting. Same goes for the Rebels – except for the fact they are looking at ITM Cup players in New Zealand.
Why aren’t we developing players who are going to represent Australia? Do we really think these players, talented though they may be, are going to wake up every morning desperately seeking to do every single thing they can to play for Australia?
Are they going to be willing to bleed for the green and gold of this country? There is no way in hell South African and New Zealand under 20 representatives (as an example) are going to want to do this.
Why aren’t we picking the best players from the Shute Shield (NSW) and Premier Rugby (Queensland)?
Why aren’t we developing the club talent in the states of Victoria and Western Australia, so we can attract and keep local talent?
Why aren’t we ensuring the very best of our Australian schoolboys and under 20s are continued to be given opportunities, as opposed to drafting in overseas people?
I sat here and tried to write a list of people over the last few years we’ve lost to overseas clubs due to not being picked up (or let go for that matter) by Super Rugby Franchises.
It was an extensive exercise.
These are the ones I know of, being the absolute rugby tragic that I am. This though wouldn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the issue.
What about the players who dominate at the club level and are not given opportunities or if they are, it may be a one-off game or a couple of games to prove their worth.
If they then don’t prove their worth immediately, they are consigned to the waste paper bin of professional rugby in Australia.
Justin Harrison coaches Narbonne in France, joined by players Josh Valentine, Julian Huxley and Jono Jenkins.
Salesi Ma’afu – Northampton
Ben Seymour – ITM Cup
Alfie Mafi – Brive
Dean Mumm – Captain of Exeter
Mitch Lees – London Welsh
Damian Fitzpatrick – Lyon
Adam D’Arcy – Bristol
Henry Vanderglas, Peter Kimlin, Ben Hand and Dan Palmer – Grenoble
Leroy Houston – Bath
Julian Salvi – Leicester
Jake Ball – Scarlets in the RaboDirect Pro 12
David Lyons, Francis Fainifo and Richard Kingi – Stade Francais
Brock James – Clermont
Steve Mafi – Leicester
Ben Jacobs – London Wasps
Lotu Taukeiaho – Stade Aurillacois
Ole Avei, Cameron Treloar, Poutasi Luafutu – Bordeaux Top 14
In Japan: Tom Hockings, Gene Fairbanks, Mark Gerrard, Richard Brown, Cam Shepherd, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tim Bennets, Craig Wing… the list goes on.
Sure, players like George Smith, Rocky Elsom and Matt Giteau might be players you expect to lose over time, but is the time approaching where we have to start asking some serious questions as to why Australian Rugby continues to let so much talent go to waste overseas (where they can’t be picked from!) when it’s right under our noses.
My view is a pretty one simple. One international player only per franchise.
This might be an overly simplistic answer and it probably is, but I am going to try and address a few of these issues in coming posts…
chris
Guest
A few years ago my wife and I could name every player in the aussie team but when super rugby came along and they decided to show the the matches on pay tv only we lost touch. The free to air coverage of nrl, arl and soccer help keeps the game alive but the rugger powers that be wanted the money, hard to develop something that doesn't have the coverage of other sports.
Common Sense from the west
Guest
Yes! thankyou for that response! I was going mad at the stupidity I was reading and was preparing myself for an awfully long rebuttal, but, dear sir, you beat me to the punch! I also think its worth mentioning that perhaps another reason why its taken the force 10 odd years to start producing its own talent is because of John O'Neil's farcical closing of our academy (Just as we were beginning to see the fruits might i add). Thank goodness that Pulver saw what a death knell this was for west ozzie rugby and threw his support back to opening it up!
Luvthisgame
Guest
Ahh the bleatings from the rugby heartland - firstly you have made a number of poor assumptions especially re the 2014 Force squad. it needs to be noted that the local numbers in professional ranks have incresed again. Dane HP is back from a sojourn in France and is topping up his account in Japan prior to heading to Perth next year. Zacc Holmes is back from the Brumbies, Keiran Longbottom is local, Kyle Godwin is local, Luke Burton from this years Australian U20s has signed and there will a number of others contracted prior to the season starting in addition to Ryan Louwrens, who whilst born in SA has been playing club rugby in Perth for 4 years. There are a number real issues that you do not address outside of this "no development for local players" misconception. 1. Shute Shield players rarely can step it up to the next level - whilst it is currently the top tier of club rugby in Australia along with the Queensland comp, there is still a massive gap that most premier grade players cant bridge. This also applies to the National School boys comp and U20s. When you take any of these players and tell them that they have to put in a year or two of full time training for next to no money to get to the next level, 99% will drop out after the first two months. We are not talking about two evening sessions a week and a game on Saturday, this is full time. It means sacrifice. Limited partying, limited drinking, no burgers and being constantly shattered. I am speaking from experience as player at this level and I can tell you that it is not all beer and skittles. I have seen 20 or 30 guys over the past two years have a crack and then decide that whilst super talented, the whole commitment thing is not for them. You have no idea on the number of players at all of the Super Rugby academies that pack up and go home after being given the opportunity. Don't knock the "other franchises" until you check the facts. In addition, being told by your colts coach or your mum or your uncle who once played for Sydney Uni thirds, that you are a rock star means squat. 2. The mercenary mentality - your rattle of this list of players who are now playing overseas. Its true.. there they are but in reality.. why are they there? It is not that they did not get a crack in Aus.. most of the ones mentioned have a Super Cap or two but either could not get a regular spot or have realised that they will never make the Wallabies so its time to cash in. Good on them I say. Its a short enough career anyway but how many of the guys mentioned are, if brought back, going to be the savior of rugby here or even of a single franchise.. very few I would think. When a young guy is offered A$50k for a season, everyone is impressed. When the same guy is offered 5 times that to play in the UK or France.. whats he to do? Money talks and there is bugger all in Aus. 3. Numbers Game - How many real professional spots are up for grabs in Aus? Its about 150. It is a tiny number. I am not talking Sydney boot money and prem payments for ring ins, I am talking about those that are paid full time. Whine all you want about locals not getting a crack but unless you are in the top 150 on merit then you are buggerd. 4. No place like home - The Force have been hamstrung by Aussie talent popping over and then missing Mum. Not everyone wants to live West but I can tell you, give a young Saffa a chance and he will take it with both hands. Maybe those national wanabees just don't realise an opportunity that they have been given. All in all it takes heart, commitment and an unwavering desire to reach the level of professional rugby. Skill is often not enough and I think you will find that few of the young talents you see playing colts will have that courage to take the next step for more that a couple of months. I only managed it because my family supported me financially and personally for years. not many have that kind of support.
Magic sponge
Guest
Just watering down your strong base in Sydney and brizzy , for what purpose
Hamish
Guest
Yes, but that carrot sandwich is a multi million dollar industry.
Batdown
Guest
Excellent comment HT, the current structure the ARU is using to develop the game is incredibly flawed.
Yunel
Guest
Because the NRL and AFL are about as stimulating as carrot sandwiches. Aussie domestic sport is just junk all round.
Bayxxx
Guest
Justin Harrison coaches Narbonne in France, joined by players Josh Valentine, Julian Huxley and Jono Jenkins. Racing Club Narbonne also have: Daniel Halengahu, Tyrone Smith Sean Foley Ted Postal Saia Fekitoa Lei Tomiki A couple of young Australians in the Academy (Alex Holmes) Dewet Roos (Southern Districts) was there last year, and Julian Huxley has now retired..... Chris Thomson (Melbourne Rebels) was there the year before.....
Hard Truth
Guest
Because that situation does not foster and develop the market share Aus rugby is attempting to gain in non traditional market places of VIC and WA.
Magic sponge
Guest
Why have the rebels and force if it is just made up of overseas players just let Sa and NZ have an extra team each
Hamish
Guest
It is simply the package. Whether its at the stadium or on TV the product being delivered just isn't exciting nor stimulating. Why on earth would I pick up a box of beers, head home and watch that when I there is NRL and AFL also? That might sound very simple, but solve that and I think you've solved the problem with Australian rugby.
Hard Truth
Guest
this is a great article, you have great ideas but unfortunately this idealistic view that Australia has enough talent in NSW,QLD and some rare gems in Vic and WA just isn't true. Without a professional domestic tier Australian players lack the up skilling that is made possible by playing at a higher level than Shute shield, or the premier league. NZ and SA both have a domestic professional tier thus their talent compared to ours looks so much more exciting and further along their development. You have players like Ardie Savea that at 19 is already a professionally contracted player at Wellington at ITM cup level or Demetri Catrakilis (20) who is already contracted to W.P in the currie cup. At a vital time in the development these players are getting a higher exposure and development compared to our 19 year olds who play in academies or Shute shield. Australia has a unique situation with sport, the market here is hugely diverse and possibly (apart from the US or the UK) the most competitive market in the world. Rebels and Force don't have the feeder leagues to even have comparable talent to that of the Saders or Bulls. This is the reason for the FDP. to just scrap this system is going to weaken an already weak teams just based on there markets. I agree that this system needs to be abolished, but a phased out system as an Under 23 league or the professional domestic league system is introduced. Other wise AUS will continue to rely on the spillover talent of NZ and SA team and the likes the rebels and force will remain cellar dwellers for the rest of their time in the competition. The issue is not in the ability in AUS but it is in the system and structures we use.
Rodknee
Guest
BRING BACK SAMO, again
Rodknee
Guest
Force have been allowed like 5 FDP (foreign development players) Basically players that cant make the the 5 super rugby teams over there. A joke, would rather go with a young up and coming aussie but Force believe that cant work
bluebull cw
Guest
6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its a per year scenario maybe? Every year they can sign 2 development players to 3 year contracts? Or how does it works? 1-ebrsohn 2-marcel brache 3-wp prop 4-steenkamp 5 and 6?
peterlala
Guest
ST, very interesting article. Look forward to you next analysis.
If the Force are only allowed a maximum of three, how come they will have six South Africans in their squad next year?