The ARU must make rugby a game for all

I thought our player base was similar?

It was only a few years ago that rugby union commentators stopped making those comments on air.

And it's a crap character-less ground in a wasteland with no pubs or restaurants. I live in the NW of Sydney and I hate going there too

Agree with your points RK - there is a chance to take advantage of the situation, but don't think much will come of it. The powers to be haven't moved much out of their safe havens and have missed the opportunity to move out to the Western Suburbs where there is a significant PI population. Of course, due to the demographics out there, it is league territory, but as the WSW showed, inroads can and have been made if only you take the chance. The worry now is that the AFL are moving in the same circles in Sydney and will erode the base, although the AFL could also be accused of not moving into other demographic areas, but at least they're giving it a go - unfortunately the ARU don't have their war chest to take advantage of Sydney becoming a competitive market and all code city.

I think, Brendon, that this is more to do with the demographic nature of Sydney. Swans fans are in the same boat - reluctant to make the trip to Homebush, as both groups' fans are mostly in the east and north and it is a pain to get out there.

Pulver go and get David Gallop or Sheek in.

Pfffftt. If they've got enough kids to form a team.

There's no better example of the elitism that infects the ARU than the aforementioned Junior Gold Cup. The concept was fantastic. The fact it costs close to $1k for one of our local kids to play is rough, but it's barely dearer than state titles, and it's way cheaper than school state titles. The concept was that CLUB players would be selected, to broaden the pool of talent receiving that higher level of development and coaching. It was set up this way because First XV players are inevitably prevented from playing club Rugby by their schools, and gave an incentive for either GPS players to strengthen the club comp, or for club players to go hard and earn rep call ups they might not receive when competing against players from elite schools (for various reasons, not always related to their skill levels). But the fact that the Sydney GPS bullied the ARU and worked through the old boys' networks to have that requirement REMOVED only TWO WEEKS before the inaugural competition shows that there's no concern for the growth of the game amongst those who run the game at the top level, whose kids largely attend the 'Rugby' schools (Schools which generally have no concern for Rugby other than how it fits their elite competitions - they certainly don't support club land), and would otherwise have been 'disadvantaged' by not being eligible for further high level coaching that they're already receiving in their schools.

Ricketty, this article was clearly meant to be a debate starter - the ones that we have to have, but it's early days, mate and there isn't much flesh on the bones. The "suits" will all go on their Christmas break and I'm guessing that it will all be business as usual in January and February. Here is a prediction - the biggest news in Rugby over the next month will be Burgess going back to the NRL, or may be Sonny Bill deciding to give the NRL another shot. Let's face it, they couldn't even make any headway with the NRC. A huge chance missed - all they had to do was postpone the final by one week and we would still be watching Rugby this coming weekend, with a boost provided by the RWC - and the NRC would do the rest, because it has been such a breath of fresh air for the game. The NRC has the ability to break the schools / academies nexus and make it possible for talent to come out of the clubs. Notice how the NRL and AFL went quiet for a week or two, let Rugby have its moment in the spotlight? Next week, back to business as usual. What worries me, also, is that now Michael Cheika is suddenly the saviour of Australian Rugby and they will probably use him as the "masthead" for all that the vested interests want to achieve. I trust that he is his own man and restricts himself to his brief and doesn't get caught up in all the politics. He put together a great coaching team and I sincerely hope that he keeps them all for the next foreseeable period, which is hopefully beyond the next World Cup. Lots to talk about - let's all have a great Christmas break and concentrate on the Cricket, or Jarryd Hayne, or something else.

Agree Pulver seems to be more of the same, but Gallop has done nothing at soccer either. Rugby needs a real visionary, that somehow breaks it from that middle class cage it has built itself.

What about AFL? He would be a real chance there with that height.

Its in the pipe and slippers mode. It has real potential, but it is too elitist. You get the feeling a lot of the rugby brigade like it that way too. 'The right crowd, and no over-crowding.'

Nice piece Rickety and agree with you. However I have little if any faith in the ARU to carry out any task that requires rolling up the sleeves.

'Knees, You could not be more right. I can hear the back slapping from Northshore Bill and his cronies from here. How can the game progress when - NSW Schools barely acknowledges NSW Juniors, - the NSW Rugby Union was broken in two a couple of years ago so it could be sold off as a franchise forgetting the hardwork, blood and broken bones of those that represented the state, - the Australian leg of the world Rugby 7's is coming to Sydney rather than it being on its missionary calling in developing Rugby states, - state based club competitions get next to no funding despite providing huge sums through junior affiliation fees - Sydney Uni' continues to corner the school leaving talent with complete immunity from the NSWJRU or ARU to the detriment of the game - major matches are not accessible to the "Rugby family' because the tickets are sold to corporates at exorbitant prices... I could go on. After the success of the World Cup and the possibility of increased player numbers or at least the potential for a higher profile, we should be making changes for the better - not GPS schools, elite junior players or a tiny minority of administrators. There is nothing better than watching a club match with your mates in the afternoon after your son scored a try in the morning. Promote that Bill.

This... Gallop is one of the best administrators in sport and shows that even the CEOs of league manage to code hop successfully.

What on earth does that mean?

I agree with this article but it won't happen. You only have to look at comments here, on facebook etc from Waratahs and Wallabies fans about having to travel all the way out west to Homebush for matches. How ghastly! Having to go out all 15kms west of the CBD and mingle with the peasants!

It's curious to note that all major countries have a weak domestic set-up that utterly fails to make the most of their playing talent.

Hence why they are working to increase the number of schools playing the game - KPM's point is not that they have suddenly increased the number of test ready players but that they are working to expand the base from which to choose from.