The Australian rugby union has copped a fair bit of criticism for the widening gap between professional and amateur rugby and as its CEO, Bill Pulver has been in the firing line.
However, the problem is not an easy one to solve, as there are different forces at work.
From an historical point of view, I note that Pulver’s appointment was effective as from first February 2014.
His first major problem was money – or more precisely – lack of money. So he has expended a major portion of his energies in attempting to rein in costs and get the ARU’s house in order – and to rescue it from a position of imminent insolvency.
This has been no easy task, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following challenges he faced when taking up the job as CEO.
• That of broadening rugby’s appeal. People are quick to state that rugby should be on free-to-air to increase its exposure. But you do not have to have a degree in economics to understand that if the free-to-air networks are either uninterested or not interested enough to outbid fox for the television rights then those rights will go to the highest bidder.
• The lure of lucrative overseas player contracts for the professional rugby players.
• The underperforming Super Rugby franchises. Note the 2013 Results: Waratahs ninth, Rebels 12th and Force 13th.
I have no doubt that Pulver is sincere when he expresses his support for grassroots rugby. The problem for him has been he has not had the money to be able to do much to support it in a tangible way. However, his commitment to establishing a third tier in the form of the NRC has largely been successful.
That is not to say that there isn’t some work to be done on branding, team selections, marketing and so on.
The good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel with the latest broadcasting deal expected to result in a significant increase in revenue for the ARU. The falling Australian dollar is also helpful given that negotiations are done in US dollars. This deal should see the ARU sail into calmer waters financially from 2016 onwards.
Since Pulver’s appointment, the ARU has taken a top down approach to solving its financial woes, because realistically, this was the only option it had. With money being generated at national and Super Rugby level and none at the grassroots level, what other option did Pulver have?
Having said that, it will soon be time for the ARU to seriously address the issue of grassroots rugby and look at the problems from the bottom up as there is a distinct feeling of disenchantment in the air, exacerbated by the participation levy imposed at the grassroots level.
It seems to me that one way the ARU could start to bring disaffected rugby supporters back to the fold is by:
1. Revisiting the issue of financial grants paid direct from the ARU to amateur rugby clubs or to a body purely representing the interests of the amateur clubs so as to remove any potential conflicts of interest.
2. Engaging meaningfully with grassroots on the issue of financial sustainability. The problem amateur clubs have is that often they only play 8-9 home games in each season so their capacity for revenue generation is limited if they are relying on rugby home games alone.
Perhaps if we introduced a ‘sevens summer’ rugby season, clubs could get an additional revenue stream for little additional cost, and sevens rugby could be strengthened across Australia.
However, have 4x 20-minute quarters, i.e. each quarter has 10 minutes per half and two minutes break. i.e. 80 minutes of sevens with eight minutes of breaks rather than 14 minutes of sevens with one minute break.
Still have seven players from each side on the field, but instead of 12 players per squad, have 24. Play men’s and women’s so the day is meaningful.
Have divisions if it is popular enough or player numbers warrant it. Currently the game is only 14 minutes long so you are hardly going to get supporters coming along to watch one club play another without some changes.
3. Introducing an alternative participation levy – but on the professional players and Super Rugby franchises rather than the grassroots. In short, a uniform clause in every Super Rugby or ARU contract that provides for a ‘development fee’, which is a uniform percentage of the player’s Super Rugby and/or ARU contract and is paid to the club from which the player came.
After all, it is rather ironic that the amateur clubs which have spent so much time developing the player receive absolutely nothing in the event that player secures a professional contract. As it currently stands the professional player benefits, the Johnny come lately player agent benefits but not the amateur rugby club from which the player came.
4. Introducing meaningful professional and amateur player and supporter interaction along the lines suggested by Andrew Logan in his article on The Roar. I recently read an interesting quote from Muhammad Ali who said “The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.”
As it is with life, so it is with rugby. Rugby’s base is in the amateur clubs and it is easy to forget where you came from, when you are young, wealthy and playing in rarefied atmosphere. You can be forgiven for forgetting that one day the lights will go out and you will grow old like everyone else and return to the ranks of the great unwashed.
It has been sometimes said derogatively that the older generation are ‘old school’ as if they have nothing to offer. Each new generation is somehow the ‘enlightened ones’ and there are indeed examples of tremendous progress throughout history in all facets of life made as a consequence of youthful innovation, new ideas and creative action.
However, there are also timeless truths that should never be ignored. Service to others is good for your soul, as we tend to learn as we get older. When we are young we can often lose sight of this so it is incumbent on the older generation and those in control to uphold such principles.
The concept of giving back should be front and centre in all aspects of our game – not just at the amateur end.
Billy Bob
Guest
Brilliant Gatesy, you are not the only one to suggest a gathering of this kind, but you have articulated the idea very well. Let's design the Game. Let's have something to do to influence the direction of the code, other than bash keyboards, or man the BBQ tent at junior games. We need to demonstrate numbers and debate in open forums. New ways, to structure, promote, grow and fund the game. And it could be done in the context of a rugby festival, sevens or Goldies, or ELV experiments. A hybrid demo? Not that it would be about rule changes. It would be about cultural transformation in OZ Rugby.
Marlins Tragic
Guest
I'll be in that, I run a conference business so can help with logistics :)
Sam
Guest
Gatesy if you happen to revisit this pls contact me nationalrugbycship@gmail.com
Sam
Guest
Gatesy we need to chat. Not sure if Im allowed to post email addresses in here? Eds? [mods. Yes, It's an open forum]
Marlins Tragic
Guest
Fair point, totally forgot about the older age groups in Jnr RL that play on Sundays.
NaBUru38
Guest
Romania and Georgia have combined teams (București Wolves and Tbilisi Caucasians). They play at the European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition versus Italian Eccellenza clubs.
concerned supporter
Guest
The U/16,U/17,U/17 + Seniors Penrith Junior Rugby League are ALL played on Sunday. The U/6 - U15 are all played on Saturday. There is a VOID in junior rugby for 15YO - 18 YO. There is no pathway established for these important age groups to colts or grade rugby. An example, in Penrith JRL U/16 (playing on Sunday) there are 3 Divisions, 22 Teams. St Clair(2),Windsor (2),Hawks City,Penrith Waratahs,Doonside,Pcyc Mt Druitt, Minchinbury (2) Quakers Hill, Brothers (2),Emu Plains JRFC (2), Glenmore Park,Blacktown Workers (2), Blacktown City,St Marys,Lower Mountains and Coylton Mt Druitt. Surely some of these juniors could be encouraged to Rugby. Then again being thrashed every week is not a good look,and I am not critical of Penrith Rugby, I know that they are hard working. They URGENTLY need concessions from the ARU & NSWRU similar to GWS AFLMaybe having Israel Folau, David Dennis, Kurtley Beale and others allied to Penrith would be a start.Money, thinking K Hunt $750K would be a massive bonus.
Marlins Tragic
Guest
Rubbish, there are plenty of teams out in Western Sydney that islander boys can & do play in: Penrith RSL Blacktown Harlequins Western Raptors Blue Mountians Liverpool Hawksberry Valley All those teams play in the Sunday comps & that's part of the problem, they are very religious & Sunday is a church day, the numbers drop as a result of that. RLC is played on sat, so does not effect church.
AndyS
Guest
IMO it was the attempt to become professional. When the game was amateur everyone played at different levels but were all ultimately in the same boat. As soon as the club tried to be something they were never intended or structured for, the top team absorbed all the money that used to flow down into the grassroots. And as you say, they then started to see the lower levels as a drag on the club rather than the foundation that underpinned the whole structure.
Wozza
Guest
pjm, I'm assuming you went to school as well. I went to a league school but there was an initiative to get more schools playing rugby by setting up a state wide competition, starting as round robin at district level with the district winners playing knockout. It greatly increased participation amongst schools like mine. The competitions have always been there. Getting schools involved hasn't been so successful and should be looked at.
Wozza
Guest
Shute Shield also shot itself in the foot to some extent. When I played there were 6 grades and 4 grades of Colts. Now I think it's 4 and 3. The lower grade players were the heart and soul of the clubs. They were the ones who manned the can bars (and drank most of the product) collected for the injured players fund, sold raffle tickets, manned the clubhouse after matches reducing costs not to mention boosting match day crowds and match day revenue potential. For some reason the SS managers thought their product might look slicker by cutting of the excess. How wrong they were.
AndyS
Guest
I agree with you regarding an excess of patience, but am a little surprised it is you making the point. We have indeed wasted far too much for far too long on systems that were never going to adequately support a modern professional game. Changes should have been made long ago, but steps have at least finally been taken. There may be some adjustments required, but mostly it is going to take a little time to see if it can arrest the slide.
nerval
Guest
Sean Fagan, this country's leading rugby historian, long since disabused the likes of Spiro of such notions. Rugby league had already superseded union in popularity before the outbreak of war. No matter how many times this is said, it gets ignored. The quote from Yoda is simply false: "Train without a station,the only reason league got a greater foothold was because it was the only code to carry on playing through the First World War." You're right about the Queensland RU but Fagan has also shown how there were union competitions that continued - but stopped playing for points. The other thing to note is that rugby league wasn't born in Australia, but England. And that sport lost many people to the war. Finally, it doesn't matter.
yoda
Guest
No myth nerval,fact,queensland didnt reform as a union till 1929,such was the loss of their top players during the great war,leagues top players were lets say encouraged to stay at home during this period hence league was the only code to remain playing,this is cited today as the reason league took a grip
concerned supporter
Guest
Agree, watched K Hunt play tonight, very average performance, His $750 would be much better spent being distributed to clubs. The first half of tonight's game was forgettable. Dean Mumm scoring a try, he is almost as ineffectual as James Horwill.
yoda
Guest
Its no myth nerval its true,queensland didnt reform as a union untill 1929,the majority top line union players at that time were killed in the great war,most of the top line league players were lets say encouraged to stay at home,this is fact u cant deny this
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
TWAS Your solution buy $750k hunts who can't play the game. Rather than develop clubs and increasing the player base. No one respects the exclusivity and back room deals of the wallabies. The amigos can't play but because of good managers they continually get huge sums.
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
Patience ? Rugby will be an afterthought and be long gone if we become anymore patient. NRC is a complete joke and myth.
onside
Guest
"There’s only one condition. You need to play it first." Great article.Loved reading it. But for the game to consolidate, let alone expand, the above immutable caveat needs modification. Imagine if you will, your being appointed as CEO of Rugby Inc. after a successful background in a totally unrelated field. But your management and leadership skills are impeccable. Rugby is a consumer product. It's main competitors are all other football codes,inc League, Soccer, Australian Rules. Your initial aims are 1.to re engage the thousands of people who have played rugby and no longer attend games at any level, and 2.Introduce other new people to rugby. If as CEO you appease the bolted on true believers, 'game played in Heaven', all that, you will be out of a job within twelve months, because rugby as a consumer product is a sick puppy, that's no longer competitive. Two things must happen. 1.The game of Rugby must be simplified , made easier to understand and watch, in order to attract a broader market. You do not know how to do this because consumer sport is not your background,so the task is given to senior management and marketing executives . All you know is that for Rugby to expand, and have much broader appeal, it must be simplified. 2.The Game must give greater value for money. Statistics show the ball is actually in play for about 50 % of the game,often less! . Rugby's main competitors offer a better deal, AFL 100%, and Soccer 100%. (not sure about League).Your point is that people pay to watch a game of rugby that is supposed to last 80 minutes, and if they are lucky the ball might be in play for half that. This includes the Rugby World Cup !.Not good.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yep. ARU was formed in 1949. To begin with, Australian rugby was actually administered out of Twickenham.