Despite a surprising, almost phoenix-like effort to get to the World Cup final, where are the overtures of support that one would normally expect with an Australian team reaching the pinnacle of a world sport?
Do we see the big screens rolled out for public viewing, creating atmosphere and a sense of community in this modern, splintered society?
Where are the buildings adorned in gold, giving our players the sense that those at home are all behind them and instilling a greater sense of importance?
Where is the effort to engage everyone on the ‘stronger as one’ motto that the ARU decided was a galvanising marketing slogan?
Nowhere.
I haven’t seen a Wallabies flag, a gold banner or even an errant kangaroo with boxing gloves in Sydney this week. Take it back twelve months and the promotion of the Socceroos and the FIFA World Cup was everywhere to be seen.
The FFA did a marvellous job and despite our team not having much of a chance in another ‘Pool of Death’ we all knew the support was there.
The water-cooler chat was in abundance and everyone bandied around the team as the press jumped on anything remotely associated with the World Cup. Jerseys were bought, balls were kicked (ahem) and Ange Postecoglou became a household name.
Earlier this year I attempted to buy a Wallabies jersey for my overgrown four-year-old nephew. What followed had me gobsmacked by the incompetency of the ARU marketing department.
You cannot buy a Wallabies jersey size six. Anywhere. Period. Not even from the manufacturer after you sweet-talk the phone operator for 15 minutes that could have been better spent looking at Insta-babes.
However they do make a kids’ size four and size eight jersey. Excuse me? What age do kids start playing rugby may you ask? That’s right, five or six! I wonder which year is your best opportunity to grab these potential fans for life? Perhaps a World Cup year – i.e. now?
So, I ended up paying $90 for a size six used jersey from the 2007 World Cup. Desperate measures I know, but the kid could be the next Tim Horan, David Pocock or David Campese! To make matters worse, I can pop down the local sport store and buy an All Blacks size six immediately. Do I hear a harrumph?
So as it stands, the ARU seems to have the attitude of ‘Well if we win it’s job done’.
If we don’t win, then what?
We hope that the team keeps winning games at a fair percentage and maybe the sevens team gets a medal at the Rio Olympics? These events hardly rate alongside a World Cup final. Do we ever want to extend our game beyond the private school and financial sponsor crowd?
This is a world-class event that is being given amateur-level promotion. Our team and our code deserve better.
Bondy
Guest
HP I agree both the ARU & FFA price their apparel far to high close to $200 for a Jersey, I assume they then think Australians are non loyal where they're pricing themselves out of the market .
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
This seems to be an issue throughout Australian rugby. When the Melbourne Rebels were first launched I wanted to get myself a jersey from that inaugural season, but baulked at the $150 asking price. One quick google search later and I found one for half the price (including shipping) from a UK website. Ideally I would've liked to support the club financially by buying direct from them, but it's bloody hard to justify spending that much when it's so easy to save yourself $75 by buying from the UK. It's not as if the UK is a particularly cheap place to buy sporting goods from either.
the french
Roar Rookie
I was at rebel sport on the week end and could only find a couple of sizes of the wallabies jumper a cap and a beany hanging around in the middle of the NRL section. The window was dressed up with soccer stuff amd all the best gondolas were taken by... NFL and NBA merchandise with the bigger presence given to the NFL. Scary that american teams get more exposure than a national team the day before the final but at the same time, their stuff is wearable.... As opposed to a $180 wallabies jumper that looks like a 1 day cricket top.
rock
Roar Rookie
Well, it mightn;t be, but it's well up there and based on the table in this link http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/30326825 which is an assessment done by a heap of experts, and the Rugby World Cup come only behind the Olympics & Football World Cup. Also a few stats just to compare the cricket v rugby world cup. 2015 Cricket World Cup generated an AU$1.1 billion economic impact, had a tournament attendance of 1.2m & over the tournament was watched by approx 1.56 billion people. 2015 Rugby World Cup is estimated to generate a £1.75-£2.2 bullion economic impact, will have a tournament attendance of over 2.4m & obviously the last not confirmed (although it's population broadcast reach for most matches was upwards of 4.5 billion and considering the 2011 edition had over 4 billion total viewers I'd say it'll beat the CWC). As for it being the fastest geowing sport in the US, it may be thrown around, but it's actually confirmed, here you go http://www.thespectrum.com/story/sports/2014/11/10/rugby-continues-americas-fastest-growing-sport/18830397/. Now no one is saying it is going to take over the big 3 in America, but if it can continue to grow and tap into that behemoth market, it would add some significant exposure to the sport.
rock
Roar Rookie
What types that? I see you conveniently left out this whole paragraph to have a crack, "In Aus, RU is lagging, definitely not helped by the current management, and won’t change anytime soon which will only hinder union here. They’re really just lucky that union is prospering worldwide and sevens is helping that cause, because at the moment that’s what is filling the ARU coffers in regards to tv rights." So, I've said that RU in Australia is struggling and won't change with the current management approach, the only reason MONEY is coming in is because RU is prospering in other countries and helped by sevens. Sounds like someone just wanted to have another crack and not base anything on what I ACTUALLY said.
Bondy
Guest
SH With NFL your being delivered that game for a reason it'll never be played professionally in our region and that's why we receive coverage of it. The media's role is to get people consuming the sport (NFL) through tv and on line, a sport everybody knows will never become professional in Australia ,protecting certain sports and obviously hiding others .
Sore head
Guest
We live in Western Australia and Rugby Union and League coverage is a non event, the American NRL is getting more coverage here. Come on media more content is required in Western Australia for Rugby Union and League we do not need to follow Jarrod Hayes.
Cros
Guest
Think the ARU achieved what they could with their marketing dollar, limited though it may be. More damaging is the luke warm response the Wallabies have enjoyed by much of the Australian media. They continue to protect their interests in AFL and League, at the expense of Football and Rugby. I believe it will eventually change, simply because the world is becoming more globalised, and these world games simply have the marketing power to eventually dominate the Australian sporting scene. At present some short sightedness by a few media moguls in Australia is maintaining the status quo. They will not be able to hold back the floodgates. Resistance will be futile!
Bondy
Guest
Crickets only a sport played within the Commonwealth there are more Nations throughout the Commonwealth that dont play Cricket than do and its not part of the Commonwealth Games let alone Olympics ,what relevance is there with tv viewing figures on the Sub Continent if your sports only played within the Commonwealth ...
Bondy
Guest
What's the point of playing sport if you cant represent your Country at it ? ...
kevin dustby
Guest
ok Bondy, we should only concentrate on sports that other counties play? why? so we can measure ourselves and get bragging rights? do we need to play other sports so we "look good" globally? should we all just become the same monoculture?
kevin dustby
Guest
on a serious note, its not the 3rd biggest sporting event in the world. thats is something that is said by the RWC organisers ( you cant tell me the cricket world cup is smaller - the populations of india,pakistan and bangladesh is close to 2 billion). as for the fastest growing sport, that is something that is thrown around about many sports- its pretty much non existent in the USA. the RWC is not even on regular TV and must be purchased for $42 a game
smell the fear
Guest
ok, one of those types. it doesnt matter if the wallabies win the RWC, nothing is going to change, there is still not enough interest in super rugby and if they put it on FTA it would fail. stop holding onto the idea that your sport is going to grow in this country
smell the fear
Guest
ok, one of those types. it doesnt matter if the wallabies win the RWC, nothing is going to change, there is still not enough interest in super rugby and if they put it on FTA it would fail. stop holding onto the idea that your sport is going to grow in this country
Bakkies
Guest
Even Super Rugby jersey prices are exorbitant. $160 a pop is ridiculous of an adult jersey. Test jerseys in Ireland sell for about €70 which is about $100 no surprise that Irish Rugby supporters flock to buy the merchandise. Even wear it when their team isn't playing.
Bakkies
Guest
I think that's always been the case in terms of prize money. Nothing to do with Pulver.
Bondy
Guest
I agree hopefully articles like these should spark all concerned into action . Although it has to be said we're deeply entrenched or entwined with domestic tidily wink sports here in Australia that dont bare any reflection as to who we are as Australians Internationally and that is a major hindrance for the major International sports .
rock
Guest
I don't think any RU supporter would argue it is the main sport, fact is Football is king pretty much worldwide. Will RU ever overtake football, no way, but it is expanding quite quickly in some very populated countries. It is the fastest growing sport in the US, and just continues to grow in places like Argentina and Japan to name a couple. Thing is, the media are a fickle bunch and when there is no self-interest, then they won't give it much coverage, hence what's happened since all the northern hemisphere teams bowed out. In Aus, RU is lagging, definately not helped by the current management, and won't change anytime soon which will only hinder union here. They're really just lucky that union is prospering worldwide and sevens is helping that cause, because at the moment that's what is filling the ARU coffers in regards to tv rights. I love fiddlesticks digs over the last few days about the union fans and the WC, I think there may be a little jealousy that his beloved league (which I still enjoy to watch as well) can't pull the numbers this WC has, 2.4mil in attendance, 100's of millions watched on the tv (Japan got over 20mil viewers for some of there pool games!!). Just enjoy the 3rd biggest sporting event in the world, no point in hating!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
This is only marginally related to the thread, but I just read a very nice tweet from Alessandro Del Piero: Che giornata oggi! What a day today! #RugbyWorldCupFinal e #DerbyDellaMole #JuveTorino
wardad
Guest
My kids wanted to get me an ABs jersey to wear around [ I have a signed one that I only wear to ABs games ] but they were sold out ,plentay of wallabies jumpers left though .So me kids bought us a signed limited edition ABs legends pic ,Cully ,Fitzy , McCaw Jonah and Pine-tree ! they were snapped up in a day the few they had but the similar wallabies thingy ? Still there . Shopping to day did not see a waalaby jumper anywhere plenty of ABs jumpers though .Not good for rugby here in Oz now is it ? Not a sign anywhere ,but maybe its all gone on bets and the like . Youe wallabies deserved better for sure .