Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver joined us on The Roar for an hour today to answer all your questions on the game in Australia.
READ MORE:
» The Roar’s burning questions for ARU CEO Bill Pulver
» Bill Pulver answers your burning rugby questions
» SPIRO: The ARU Gospel according to Bill Pulver
Following Brett McKay’s article last week on the state of rugby union in Australia, we provided Bill with some questions, which he answered in his article on The Roar yesterday.
Here are just a couple of Bill’s responses from today to get you started. Scroll through the comments for the rest!
TembaVJ:
Will there be a cap on the ticket prices clubs my charge for the NRC, are there plans to keep it low and get people to the games?
BP: The decision on ticket prices for NRC games will be the responsibility of the teams involved. However, the organiser’s are eager to promote attendance to these games and therefore we expect pricing to be very affordable.
Nicholas Wilson
Hi Bill, are you able to tell us anything about plans to explore online streaming/subscription options in future broadcasting deals?
BP: “The current broadcast agreement with Fox Sports, gives them exclusive rights over all media platforms, including digital.
The next SANZAR broadcast agreement will be for the period 2016-2020 and while we do expect the digital component of this to be far more significant, in our negotiations, it’s premature to predict the final outcome.
Suffice to say, that from the perspective of the ARU, we’ll be looking for a far greater influence from digital media during this next contract period.”
Eddard:
Hi Bill, thanks for doing this. I’d like to ask what is the long term vision for super rugby (or the 2nd tier)? What do you think the competition will look like in 10 years (in terms of number of teams, new markets, conference structure etc)?
BP: “For the period of 2016-2020, we do envisage in the expansion of the number of teams from 15 to 18, with the involvement of Argentina, a sixth South African team and one other to be determined by SANZAR.
While this is not been resolved at a SANZAR level at this stage, further expansion would be up for consideration over the next ten years or so.
In short, we would like Super Rugby to remain the most pre-eminent provincial Rugby competition in the world.”
Tom
Being a country boy recently moving to Canberra to study and joining a Premier Div team this year, I’ve noticed a massive shift in talent within my club and the opposition. It highlighted to me the poor development opportunities back hom. Do you intend to spend any time or money on improving the development pathways for country players and will the NRC help improve the quality of club players in the country, whether they are junior or senior? Proof of a lack of ‘standard’ comes in the number of players in junior age groups from NSW country that are then selected for NSW.
BP: Tom, good question, thank you.
There is a great Rugby community in our country areas that are currently feeling a little dis-engaged with the game.
The player development pathway we are putting in place is attempting to address this problem.
It starts with the Junior Gold Cup program for under 15s and under 17s, that caters for 48 teams from around the country to participate in this competition from February until April.
It then goes to the Schoolboys level and under 20s level, which provides for participation by country teams.
And now with the launch of the National Rugby Championship, I’m delighted to say that we’ll have a NSW Country team and a Queensland Country team as part of our efforts to re-engage with the country community.
We will also have some exciting news soon about the Wallabies engaging with country communities in the lead-up to the first Bledisloe Test.
READ MORE:
» The Roar’s burning questions for ARU CEO Bill Pulver
» Bill Pulver answers your burning rugby questions
» SPIRO: The ARU Gospel according to Bill Pulver
Bill Pulver was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Australian Rugby Union (ARU) in February 2013. Throughout his career, he has lived and worked in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia across a diverse range of industries including media, research, internet, sports marketing and linguistics.
Mr Pulver holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales.
bear
Guest
In Qld the reds got sick of waiting for the ARU to do something so they have created the Rookie to Red program. I believe this is highly successful and competes with the Auskick program.
James Dowling
Roar Rookie
Hi bill, I live in the central west of NSW and am excited about the prospect of having our area represented in the NRC (country Eagles). Which towns can expect to host their home games? And how is the ARU going to ensure that country NSW is going to be represented by players from the bush?
RobC
Roar Guru
Your argument has merit, Bondy. But I thought the names you called Pulver was inappriopriate for this forum. re cost/viewer etc, wasn't a reply to your comment. It was an unrelated observation after reading the article.
Bondy
Guest
Rob C Did he need to degrade and thats what he's done another Australian representative national team in making his points and I say no,his comments were amateurish and grossly offensive. Do you feel its appropriate for the CEO of a major sporting organisation to suggest that another representative sport is largely uneventful and uncompetitive Internationally grossly irresponsible for a supposed professional. I respect your right of reply but I'm not concerned as to how much it costs to watch AFL Union or any other sport.
RobC
Roar Guru
The comment re Pulver is inappropriate and harsh. re the article. Some things I noticed: - Cost/viewer for AFL: $1.76 - Cost/viewer for NRL: $1.85 - Cost/viewer for Football: $2.38 (using Oz only games) - Cost/viewer for Union: $1.44 (using Oz only games) If Union followed Football benchmarks (international appeal): Australia comp should be c$41M. Maybe more, if you follow Pulver's argument. If Union followed AFL/NRL benchmarks (limited international appeal): Australia comp should be c$30M The main diff is AFL,NRL,FFA: can nego rights themselves: - As a result they have multiple broadcasters. - ARU is forced to nego via SANZAR, who seems to be happy with a single locked-in broadcaster - Total comp $83M/year. If that's right, Oz currently gets around 30% (not 22%). Without a strong national domestic comp, that's the only oxygen Rugby gets Looks like SANZAR needs to convince Fox its a wise to allow non-exclusivity. It is an investment to create more subscribers in future - at least for growth markets for the 3As (Australia, Asia, Argentina). A similar thing is available for Heineken Cup, where France and Spain have FTA options. Other countries like UK is ESPN/Fox only. Maybe also a clause to review rates, country split mid-term.
Bondy
Guest
Pulver This is a true dog act a true dog act you fuc^n dog degrading another national team a true dog act from a desperate and filthy man.. (http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/aru-boss-bill-pulver-hopeful-of-securing-similar-broadcast-deal-to-ffas-40-million/story-fndpt9s1-1226874865294).
Sean cuffe
Guest
Bill there has been plenty of resentment towards your surcharge of $200 per junior team after a successful lions tour rugby coffers should have been filled, rugby now is the most expensive junior sport, do you plan on this grassroots surcharge approach in future and what is your long term strategy to support struggling junior clubs that can't even afford a foxtel subscription?
RobC
Roar Guru
Too bad I missed the Q&A window. Kudos to Bill Pulver. I don't recall many administrators come out and respond to questions - that is a great sign. What's not a great sign: - $$$: WBs have lost to ABs (who have a overall win rate of 86%). So, linking $ viability w/the bledisloe wins seems dangerously irrational, and unsustainable. I'm wondering how a sound minded administration can rely on such a "hail mary"? -re schools: looks like there's no plan for new school recruitment. Sounds like a white flag to other codes? Doesn't this mean opportunity lost re best players but also coaches, administrators? Other areas of interest: -re the role of the old clubs: looks a feeder system for NRC, no prospect of playing at national level. Which means (i) clubs will be perpetually poor (ii) only state / national teams will be $ maker, perpetuating the current scenario. (iii) Oz Rugby continues to have a high risk, imbalanced portfolio. NRC teams may be the third financial leg. But its too closely designed as Currie/ITM comps which is more a 'gap filling tournament', as opposed to building a rabid fan base. We shall see -Governance and leadership sustainability. Seems every new CEO, heralds a totally new strategy and direction. I'm hoping Bill and the board has a succession plan in mind, and strategy/plan to match. Wondering if/when we will see this? And if the fan base will buy into it - and start voting with their support and wallets In any case, I think ARU is starting to getting quick wins out of the way. As Spiro mentioned in a sep article, the intensified competition will make Oz Rugby much better. Good luck ARU!
Bakkies
Guest
There you go. Super Rugby is just a training ground competition for the national team.
Bakkies
Guest
How are the going to police it?
Eddard
Guest
Patrick, I'm just trying not to lose my head in all this. Rugby is in a perilous position...and winter is coming!
Johnno
Guest
I can't believe Woodward couldn't crack a super rugby roster in NZ. He is a quality player, hard to believe, same with Peter Betham. im convinced Woodward is as good a player as Zack Guildford, and Sean Maitland.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Eddard you should make sure all your comments contain regal metaphors. It's only befitting of your name.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Hey Doug, I think they keep a pretty close eye on us over here. All the people I spoke to while I was in ARU HQ seemed to know the site well. I think everyone could read the comments of The Roar more closely though. I learn a heap from everything that's written here.
Johnno
Guest
Australians are to polite nos lol, Europe is a far more vocal culture where people rip in. It's a bloodbath compared to OZ, with regards to etiqutte. nos agreed, he dodged my import questions lol. But he did anwser one from "Tahmania which was basically the same question. He said teams can sign a few but made it very clear super rugby was a driver to develop potential wallabies, so locals basically come first, in other words the wallabies comes first. Oh well. But i believe for revenue, you bring in crowds, tv ratings, more money comes in, and that means more money to develop future wallabies not less.Oh well. But the ARU if a marquee import really wanted to come here eg SBW, they would let him in, the big money's in Europe nos, and only going to get bigger.
The Bush
Roar Guru
No it won't. I didn't happen before Rugby League was invented and it'll never happen after. New Zealand has always been, and probably always will be, better at rugby than us.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Start praying a few hail marys cause this bloke doesn't have a clue and rugby is heading the sameway as its sponsor .Unfortunately rugby is doomed apart from the world cup and internationals.
Rambo
Guest
Hi Bill, Is this not corruption? http://www.rugbyrefs.com/showthread.php?15387-Bryce-Lawrence-Interview listen from 5min 45sec Note where he says he was influenced by rugby administrators and other people to ref the way he normally would not.
atlas
Guest
Woodward was hardly a poach; 2012 his professional rugby was the ITM Cup for Wellington on NZ$15-18,000 for that three month 'season'. He had no employment offer from any of the NZ franchises for 2013. How could he turn down a 2yr Super contract of around 200k per year, when otherwise 2013 offered nothing but a repeat of 2012. It's a pro era, with pro players. Good on him - and who is to say he ever makes the grade for the Wallabies? At present he is simply doing his job/career.
killaku
Guest
Totally agree Johan,23 million people and they poach Woodward who does not care about Aussie as long as he can play test rugby.I don't like watching NZ vrs NZ.Prefer NZ and SA till Aussie starts finding some players out of those millions rather than our comp