NSW Waratahs CEO Andrew Hore is looking for Australian Super Rugby squads to be given a greater say in the running of Australian rugby.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Hore said the ARU should stop looking to the Wallabies as their only source of profit, saying the country’s Super Rugby sides could provide a welcome windfall for rugby in Australia – but only if they are given more say in the way the game is administered.
“I think our union is still looking at it as international rugby being the be-all and end-all, where I think the rest of the world has moved on a bit in their mentality,” Hore said.
“They know we can get money in to feed our game through professional rugby and also through the international game. I think there’s an opportunity there for us to collaborate far more effectively and look at our governance model – we’ve said this quite openly – to make sure that we can continue to grow the competition.”
Hore’s comments come ahead of a ten-year review into Super Rugby being finalised, the date of which is set for next month.
Under the current governance model, the ARU provides funding to each Super Rugby club thanks to the income generated by the organisation’s broadcast deal. The clubs, however, are not given any kind of position on the SANZAAR executive committee.
Instead, it is up to SANZAAR’s four member nations, whose chairmen are on the executive committee, to make decisions on behalf of their provincial sides.
Hore, who ran Welsh club the Ospreys before taking charge of the Waratahs, said SANZAAR and the ARU should look to Europeans leagues like England’s Premiership, France’s Top 14 and the Pro12, which covers provincial rugby in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.
“In France, the clubs basically run the competition and the union stays out of their affairs and vice versa. In England it’s closer, they have a pretty solid commercial agreement between the two parties and although the relationship is tense, by and large it works,” he said.
“The Pro12 are a little bit different again. On their board they have one club/provincial representative, representing the provinces or regions of the country, and they have one union representative. Between the parties, they’re able to figure out what is what.”
England’s Premiership has seen a surge in their salary cap in the past four years, and European broadcasters pay a premium price for the rights to southern hemisphere competitions like Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship.
And while Super Rugby clubs across Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are all struggling financially, Hore believes they will be able to match the fiscal fortunes of their European counterparts.
“We’re not that far off the money at the moment, with regard to the number of games played and the revenue we generate, but the simple fact is they have a lot more content over there and they’re working a lot closer together with the unions.”
NaBUru38
Guest
Actually, the French and English clubs ignore everything about the respective national teams. Were it for the French clubs, there would be no test matches at all.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
The NRC is cost neutral for the ARU.
GoldenDave
Guest
In its current state? No. And there lies the problem. If the Wallabies brand doesn't improve in value, more Super Rugby players will see overseas as a genuine option, further depleting Australia's talent pool and diminishing the standard of rugby played at International and Super Rugby levels by Australian teams. In fact, we are already seeing this. 2016 results for Aussie teams at both levels have been well below the required standard.
Sircoolalot
Guest
This. It isn't about Super rugby vs SANZAR/ARU, its about developing Super Rugby so it can become a profit driver for itself as well as the unions instead of a " necessary" expense to develop player's for the national side
levelheaded
Guest
No idea what Mr Hore just said...it was high level garbage...trying to get headline I feel. Exactly what with 5 teams in Australia does Mr Hore think he can make a big dent like France and the UK - where they have a multitude of Clubs and of course regular content. Face it, it's a dream and this one aint going to come true - you cannot build critical mass with 5 Clubs and just over a handful of games being played once every say 3 weeks - it just isn't interesting enough. Mr Hore I implore you to share what the TV revenue by Club is received in the UK and France verses Australia and do a comparison with the number of Clubs it is shared with in their markets - please don't count us all for fools. I reckon we have to stop trying to be something we are not in Rugby. Do the simple stuff brilliantly, care for your customers, local Rugby, build great structures to support the professional side and let the doing shine...not your career ambitions...
Rebellion
Guest
They're onto something here Red Kev - Dean Mumm should be captain and Midget Boy Hoops can take an even greater role in destroying the jersey. If the Waratahs take full control they might be able to convince Palu to come out of retirement then we will have a decent chance of not qualifying for the next RWC.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
What I took from this isn't so much about Super Rugby running the ARU but developing the commercial and competition side of Super Rugby as a whole as a means of developing greater value and thus returns for both the franchises and the ARU. Currently, Super Rugby is viewed more as a development pathway for the respective national teams. Which has impeded the commercial growth of the competition. That does need to change. Super Rugby is a premium Rugby product that lacks the appropriate marketing to match and thus falls short of its potential value. While there is and will remain to be value in the international SANZAAR and their member Unions are letting their product down by not developing SR to it's potential. Hore is talking about developing the competition beyond its current postion. And I agree. Super Rugby should run it's own affairs and board. Part of this would be paying a licencing or sanctioing fee to their respective Unions who will also hold a seat. This way it can concentrate on doing what is best for the competition and the Unions can use the monies derived from the international game for development purposes.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The only way cliub rugby can really make money for the governing body is through the TV deal. The reason Australina rugby is not broke and brought back their money losing national competition is becaise pay TV competition in the UK means that Australian got extra money from Europe, IN Australia rugby has been a walkover for Foxtel. Foxtel has a monopoly but rugby would be better off taking a lot less money from free to air, than giving in to Foxtel where they have brought in more teams and got less money per team. They have either got to get some free to air simulcast of home matches or get a lot more money to be exclusive. AFL has a deal where they can make sure that every home team is viewed in its own state. This results in AFL states having the lowest rates for Foxtel subscriptions and FOxtel still pay them a fortune for their pay TV coverage.RUgby on the other hand gives FOxtel everything and has marganilised itself for a fraction of the money, while NSW and QLD lead the country in pay TV subscriptions, OF course that also has to do with the NRL deal as well.
Ozrugbynut
Guest
Super clubs have no business with sanzar. Focus on your dismal form first. Too many voices in the chorus. Let every stakeholder focus on their role and we can start pulling together.
Sircoolalot
Guest
The NZ model relies almost solely on the Allblacks brand and it's legacy to keep players though. Can the Wallabies realistically offer the same?
Sircoolalot
Guest
Hes exactly right. Professional rugby needs to be taken more seriously in the southern hemisphere and used as a profit driver. The international game has taken too much of a priority and as a consequence of inevitable market forces it cannot continue to sustain all levels of rugby.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Exactly, Big Steve. Build your finances up Andrew Hore and then tell us how you are going to help NSW rugby (city and country), including club rugby.
GoldenDave
Guest
Beware of those who are hungry for more power. Australian Rugby already has too many of these types at the top. Comparing Australian Rugby Landscape to the European Rugby landscape is like comparing apples and oranges. I for one would like to see a centralized commission that is responsible for all levels of rugby in Australia. The NZ model seems to work well. Perhaps we should be looking closer to home?
Big Steve
Guest
There would be some benefit in the clubs having more influence on SANZAR decisions. Unfortunately, none of the Super Rugby clubs seem to be able to manage their own clubs so cant see how they would do better with the even more responsibility.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Tend to agree, RK. Not too long before you hear rumblings of a "coup"..!
Go the Wannabe's
Guest
And while we're at it, can we make the ARU board representative of all the people who play rugby, not just ex-test players and big end of town business people? Where's the board rep for public schools? country areas? clubland? and so on........ Yes, another disgruntled fan.
Red Kev
Guest
Yeah that's what we're missing! More control to the Waratahs! HA!