Early on in my time with The Roar, I was guilty of writing pieces that were ‘comment chasers’; pieces designed to do little else than generate debate.
While stimulating healthy debate is a good thing, the articles in question weren’t fantastic, and the conversation that resulted – though lengthy and sometimes robust – lacked intelligence, objectivity and nuance.
There was nothing healthy about the debate I started; it was simply ammunition for a code war, which is a surefire way to get people talking.
Initiating a code war was a cheap trick that left me feeling a little dirty, and I didn’t really enjoy the practice. Whether it was ego or immaturity that was the cause, I’m still not sure, but I swore to myself that I would never do it again.
Rest assured, therefore, that the following piece is not a provocative attack on rugby union, nor is it designed to annoy the rah-rah crowd into such hysteria that The Roar’s servers melt under the weight of comments.
Rather, this is an honest opinion: I fear for the future of rugby union in this country.
Some rugby fans will no doubt believe this to be a cheap shot from a rugby league writer. However, I love rugby and always have. I consider league and union equals in my heart.
Most of my friends played grade footy, and Norths Rugby Club has been a major part of my life, to the point that I proudly wear my 2016 Shute Shield Premiership hat most weekends. In fact, my best friend probably won’t speak to me for a month after he reads this.
So trust me when I say that I love rugby, this isn’t a cheap shot, and I’m not chasing comments from angry Roarers.
However, rugby is in big trouble in this country, and I was persuaded to write this by the amount of rugby fans that have their heads stuck in the sand.
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There are a number of reasons why rugby isn’t trending in the right direction in Australia at present, and though they may hurt to read, they’re not sensationalistic claims.
Starting with Super Rugby, and it doesn’t help the code that Australia’s franchises are struggling to bother the ‘win’ column at present. It seems the only time an Australian team does win, it’s because they’re playing an Australian team. The lack of elite-level depth is clearly evident when it’s stretched across five teams.
There’s talk of Australia losing a Super Rugby club in the upcoming SANZAAR restructure of the competition, which is never a good look.
You could even argue that we should lose two teams if you’re using ‘quality’ as a criterion.
The addition of two new franchises – the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels – was meant to increase the number of quality players via more professional opportunities, as well as grow the game in new regions. I’m not sure either objective has been achieved.
My mate Brett McKay won’t like me repeating this, but it’s true: with its conference system, even the Super Rugby competition itself is confusing. To the point of being of a deterrent to the casual fan. If you don’t really understand how it works, it’s hard to get ‘into’ it.
Meanwhile, when it comes to internationals, no matter how impressive the Wallabies play against other countries, the vast majority of the nation still judges them against the all mighty All Blacks, and little else. So, considering Australia’s appalling record versus New Zealand over the last decade, the team is considered second-rate by many, and therefore not worthy of their eyeballs.
Success always brings back some promiscuous fans, yet winning may not even be enough to overcome rugby’s harshest reality. Specifically, that the game is perceived as boring.
Such an assessment is obviously subjective, after all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Rugby advocates will claim there is little wrong with the game itself; just the way it’s currently being played in Australia. Truly loyal fans probably won’t even admit that.
However, ‘rusted on’ fans are not what drive a game’s growth, for they will always be there. What does ensure a game is headed in the right direction is the recruiting of new fans, or converting back some lapsed ones.
Given the product Australian rugby is presently serving up, recruitment and conversion is a tough sell. Whether you deride the sport as boring, or simply acknowledge the lack of talent is having an impact on the quality of play, the fact remains that rugby union is currently an inferior product to its competitors.
The key word to analyse in that sentence is ‘currently’. All sports experience some lows, so are we simply witnessing the ebb to the flow in Australian rugby, and the game will bounce back again soon?
Sadly, that is extremely optimistic.
There are few signs that this downward trend will abate soon. Which begs the question, what is the future for rugby?
It’s not going anywhere internationally. It remains the number one game in New Zealand, is a large part of the fabric of South Africa, goes from strength-to-strength in Europe, and it’s growing in other parts of the world.
Yet in Australia, the news may be a little starker.
Given the success of rugby elsewhere around the globe, World Rugby is under no pressure to make rule changes to make the game more attractive simply to suit the Australian market.
However, those other markets don’t have to contend with AFL, and rugby league is not a large threat. Yet in Australia, both those codes are behemoths compared to union. That means that young talent, sponsorships, TV deals, new regions, and fans, are all fought over, with rugby losing the fight.
The AFL is even making serious inroads into that most sacred of rugby union strongholds: the Sydney GPS system. It was once almost the exclusive nursery of rugby’s future, but now it’s just another battleground for recruiting athletic youngsters.
With the AFL and NRL’s war chests full – thanks largely to lucrative TV deals – and strategic plans in place to grow their respective games, they will continue to place immense pressure on the ARU, whose financial cupboard is bare.
So…
The quality of play isn’t great. The results are poor. The crown jewel, the Super Rugby competition, is confusing. We’re probably going to lose a franchise. The average fan thinks the game is boring. Grassroots development is a major concern. Competitors – armed with money and plans – are encroaching. The ARU isn’t swimming in cash. There isn’t a revenue-spinning Lions tour or World Cup hosting on the horizon.
I could on, and discuss things like the infighting and disconnect with clubs, but you get the picture.
All in all, I’m struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I sincerely hope someone can tell me I’m being melodramatic, and give me cause to be more optimistic.
My genuine fear is that Australian rugby – as we know it – is on death’s door. Should that be the case, it’s a massive shame.
robert
Guest
you Geezes type to much
robert
Guest
you spelt "Barbie" wrong it's spelt barbeque
robert
Guest
GET HER OUT'A HERE
robert
Guest
I DIDN'T ASK FOR YOUR OPINION RYANrobert
Guest
get him out' a here
Becks
Guest
Ive come across this as googling about an issue I have as we run a Junior Rugby Union club. Rugby union is not progressive in its behavior towards juniors. The only way to grow the sport from a grassroots level is to encourage participation. Rugby league NSW made a ruling that all registered kids get at least half a game. Rugby Union refuses to support this sticking with the survival of the fittest mentality. Kids in league keep playing as they get a chance to run around on a wkd even if they are not the next big thing. Rugby Unions attitude leads to the not so great kuds being benched, lose interest and quitting. Most union clubs have such low participation that there is no more than one team grade. Then come late teens there is no team left anymore as only the star kids are being supported, not songoid kids quit, team sizes increase, team disolves, only other option is league.
ajg
Guest
its depressing but i agree with all of this I loved going to watch the waratahs but havent been this season cos its just so draining to be gouged in the wallet to then sit in a half empty stadium with over priced beer and watch turgid play
Fullback48
Guest
Ryan, All of your comments are accurate. I blame all the Coaches, starting with Cheika, and downwards from there. If a player turns up to training and shows some Campese flair, the coaches have been training it out of him for the last 10 years. It is too risky, it is unstructured. All the 5 Aussie Super sides play such boring structured rugby, the Brumbies being the worst. This type of coaching filters down through the clubs of years. What happened to the adventurious type of back play we had under the Horans, the Ella's & Co. It has been coached out of them. Cheika's style of coaching belongs in rugby league, all aggression, niggle, sledging and no flair. Bring back Rod McQueen, or someone who thinks like him.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Some pretty stark numbers on rugby participation rates here: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/soccer-roars-rugby-is-disappearing-heres-how-many-australians-are-playing-each-sport-2017-3
Beny Iniesta
Guest
Nah, just merge with the NRL and forget about World Rugby. Win. Win.
buster
Guest
Just read where the Babarians gave the Wallabies the flick from the game at Twickenham on Nov. 4, and are playing the All Blacks instead. When the Barbarians think you can't play entertaining rugby, time for plan..... D ?
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Hey coach, Thanks for reading and for your comment, I appreciate it. Your assertion that I sensationalised things I will refute strongly. Apart from the headline – which I didn’t write – and a narrative around death/dying, I don’t feel things were sensationalised at all. However, that is not to absolve myself from the headline (which I have no problem with) or the narrative. You go into great detail yourself about the problems rugby is facing, which somewhat validate the assumption that it’s in trouble. I would therefore conclude that if something’s in trouble, it’s danger of dying. That may be being dramatic to some, but it’s it doesn’t make untrue. However if you believe the piece was written with a ‘popularist’ angle, then I would actually agree 100%. It was never my intention to write a strategic dossier in “business problem” language, because I think The Roar would be the wrong forum for such a piece, and the audience limited. Additionally, I don’t feel I’m in a position to correctly and fully diagnose the problem - and provide a solution - because I don’t have all the information to make conclusions. The intent was to ask rugby fans if the belief that rugby is dying was something they agree/disagree with, while also asking for reasons to be optimistic. The responses I received have been fantastic, and if you have the time, you should go through and read a lot of them. Many take the article for exactly what it was, and then discuss their own opinions on the actual problem, along with some solutions. It’s been encouraging and enlightening in that regard. I think a proper debate/discussion has been conducted, so would therefore disagree with you again on that point. As for grassroots rugby, and the ARU’s involvement, it is indeed a problem. However, I know that plans are underfoot to formally and strategically address this problem. But I’m not in a position to discuss this, as it would be a breach of confidentiality, and a friendship. I would love rugby to – colloquially – “turn things around”, and sincerely hope it does, because I enjoy the game. But I reiterate that if certain elements believe there is nothing wrong, then nothing will be done, and things will get worse. Should things get worse, I don’t believe it is sensationalistic to say that rugby – as we know – will die. Cheers Ryan
Brian R
Guest
Big melon. You hit on the head. We on the Gold Coast had recently had The Chiefs visit out great Club and the Team of young and older guys were awesome,mixing with the younger club members ,they even cooked the barbie. What happened weeks after,we had more chief supporters than ever unbelievable. What disappointing is that The Reds have never been to the Coast ever to what I can remember. We also had two or three senior club players make country squads and we're better than the players that made country. We soon realised it's not what you know,it's who you know. Grass roots needs looking after for sure.
Coach
Guest
The 'analysis' presented appear to sensationalise and feed the voracious popularist media but not actually frame a problem or indeed postulate how it may be solved. A job not even half done. While there are some assumptions here to investigate there is little objective logic based analysis to suggest a definitive problem statement which could be suppported by the conclusion that Rugby in Australia is or may be dead. Your assertion that Rugby is an inferior product is based on what KPI? Brand profitability or marketability? Before we equated the quality of a sport to How much money it made administrators and agents,we enjoyed the game and indeed any game because of the pure enjoyment of playing or watching sport. Bemoan this travesty if you will, but not that the game is dead because of market share. So to the issues you identify, great admiration of the space but what of a proper problem definition and a posit of a solution to contemplate so to really progress a proper debate. Discussion. Rugby has issues, and indeed I would contend that responsibility for it happening and to solve it lies squarely in the administrators hands. They by their role are the delegates who should take the role of custodian of the game to heart. At grassroots level, the kids and adults that play are playing a game at the height of world popularity. The laws and style of play is entertaining to watch and indeed play. It is a game of tactical prowess, uncompromising contact and power, and yet has the elegance of grande theatre. What is not to love about the game? The unfortunate issue is that from the grass roots through to the professional ranks the link is broken. The pathways from junior to elite player is unclear, impacted by a lack of connection between the ARU, its member unions, clubs and schools to be cohesive in generating the momentum necessary captivate the public attention. The adage of community rugby is crucial to success but how can community clubs compete with AFL and League when the ARU and its member unions do little to galvanise resources to support grassroots development? Both AFL and League have invested heavily in this community reach, yet when the ARU want to do it they cast the net too narrow and then charge the public for the introduction with each level of administration taking its cut. Problem posit. Administrators I offer are looking at the wrong bottom line. It is not money, it is participation that it the currency of sporting success. The dollars come from participation, you have to be prepared to give to the people to receive their support and players. As to cutting a super rugby team, well that is a symptom not the disease. How does reducing the opportunity for Aussies to play elite rugby make rugby better? This is a short term solution to a long term issue. Remember just a few years ago the administrators and public called for super rugby expansion because there was not enough opportunity. So a lack of success is enough for us to fold? Our forefathers and ANZACs would turn I. Their graves hearing current generation displaying such a lack of fight. The NRC is a great idea and one that needs time to nurture the next group of elite players. Yet how long before the knives come out for this? Yet a clear unambiguous pathway from club junior through to wallaby is what we must establish and nurture. The lack of strategic patience, transparency of the plan, and strong leadership to build cohesive organisation I would offer is a key contributor to the codes issues. Have a look at the other codes, how they have set strategies, defined goals and have unified leadership, surely this is something not to spy with envy but to embrace and emulate. Put the lawyers and marketers in their job and appoint a proper leader to drive reform in the ARU. Conclusion. Above is but one posit of what is wrong and strategically what actions could be taken to address the problem in a pragmatic and structured way. It may not be emotive and sensational, but should we not solve the problem rather than wax lyrical and admire it?
Nico'larse
Guest
Your loss Kaks...because you have missed some truly brilliant games in that period. Administratively, the game is a mess alright. But there is nothing boring about the way the Kiwi sides play.
Zero Gain
Guest
The important thing is there are over 1200 players in SEQld from U12 to U20 playing NPL and all paying between $2000 and $3000 per year and competing for those places because the program and coaching is so good. Where is the rugby equivalent?
Harry
Guest
Good article. Sadly I totally agree with you. I think by reducing the number of teams will improve the playing standard of the Australian sides. However - my biggest frustration with rugby - is the number of penalties in every game. It is just killing the code. If we have any chance of surviving we need to reduce the number of times the whistle is being blown. And now it is just accepted that refs go looking for penalties. Refer to the penalty awarded to the Crusaders against the reds with 30 secs to go. Forwards packs now celebrate penalties from scrums more than they celebrate tries. Unfortunately I don't know the solution - but it must be stopped. Watch a rugby League state of Origin game - the games are lucky to have 5 penalties in a game. Compare this to the game between the Reds and the Force - the ref blew 14 penalties in the first half! That's a penalty every 171 seconds - or 1 penalty every 3 mins. It's killing our game. I've grown up with Rugby, played it till I was too old. I don't watch League as it's too boring. But I am certainly getting bored with Rugby and rarely watch a super 15 game or test these days.
Mathew Stealer
Guest
Doubles you sound like a real winner! I think you will find once they hit 12 Football (fairyball) participation increases to atleast 3:1 as Football to the 3 other codes..
Jaybes
Roar Rookie
I tend to agree with your article and I am the same where I love League and Union in equal parts for different reasons. I have worked professionally in Union, League and the AFL plus have been involved in grassroots at both League and Rugby and currently involved in Rugby in Brisbane at a grass roots level. There are so many variables to the problems it is hard to define as each issue feeds each other like a snowball but equally so, the solutions are there and each solution will underpin the next. The first key is to stop making comparisons to League and AFL, they are completely different in culture, offering and future. They do not have the global appeal to equal their domestic strength. Take select pieces from their operations but don't make comparisons - Rugby needs to work through it's own identity which is it's strength. To me it is best to focus on the bottom and how that can drive the top (the underpinning snowball!). The basics are that if you invest in the grassroots, you will grow the elite. The ARU have gone on record in saying that the strength of the Wallabies and the investment in them will underpin the entire game. Can't really argue with that, it is a reasonable strategy and certainly has rationale. The problem is that the results are not forthcoming, hence the model is broken. The Wallabies made the RWC final and in my opinion, without two key injuries early would have gone close to winning. Problem is, this desired result on the field, did not translate off the field. The success of this campaign did not attract new record sponsorship, public interest and engagement and was seemingly a passing interest in a National team we all feel differing levels of fondness for. A result like this should have resulted in rabid passion which attracts fans which in turns attracts corporate interest - fans equal sponsors, not the other way around - note the order. So, it is reasonable to say that there is a disconnect with attracting new, casual and promiscuous fans and that the rusted on die hard's are not engaged as deeply as they should (note crowd figures & TV ratings). Club Rugby in the metro's is strong. The decline in participation is driven by declining numbers in the regions. My club and the competition we are in, despite a dilution of available talent due to "Academy" programs has never been stronger - revenue, support, goodwill has not been better in decades. However, like many have already stated, hardly anyone would buy a ticket to a Wallaby game, definitely not a Reds game and the TV interest is flighty. So the disconnect to the very core of the support base is undeniable. No money is directly distributed to grassroots - and be clear, Pulver was correct in saying that it would be pissed up against the wall, he is correct. His option to that is where it was poor, he could have easily said we will offer you grants based on a strict criteria (capital works, employ a qualified & ratified coach, GM, Partnership manager etc etc) but instead he gauged the very heart of the hand that feeds his elite program - additional fee's from Grassroots rego to invest at the top end. That is as bad as it gets. So we ask you to pay more to play, we are not offering you more and then we are going to ask you to buy memberships, merchandise and tickets to continue to invest at the top end. I know there is grass roots investment but it is through programs, not direct. The money is then spent on the Under 20's state comp! What is the cost versus return? Clearly not equitable - our Super results dictate that. Surely a kid who is 20 or under and talented would learn an equal amount about playing if he was in the Premier Club system. I'm sure he would learn more about life and himself by being exposed to playing the tough edge rugby that is grade football. He would be exposed as a fraud earlier in the Grade system and would have a better chance of being turned around by playing among men, not peers. In turn, the standard of the competition would be elevated, crowds would enjoy the product more and it would find it's way to free to air TV. Check the stats, the Shute Shield coverage out rates the Super Rugby most weeks. More talent more often would raise the standards again. This in turn would raise goodwill towards the ARU support and when the over dramatic marketing campaigns come out asking us to buy tickets and memberships, we would start to feel a slightly increased (and patiently optimistic) obligation to support. Scrap the U 20 state comp, scrap the NRC, scrap the most costly team (The Brumbie's unfortunately) invest in Premier Clubs direct, regional engagement programs, the Aus U20's, the womens comps and the Wallabies'and do it now!!!!!
DOUBLES
Guest
But new Zealanders can`t play rugby league as they ( WARRIORS) would have won a premiership by now? ? What is it 22 years? They need more Quality Aussies in their team to be anygood..