A lot has been said and written about Australian rugby of late, and very little of it has been positive.
Suggestions the code is dying, headlines being dominated by the Western Force getting the bullet, and, of course, the Wallabies’ poor showing in the opening Bledisloe Cup match, are just a sample of the negative press that rugby has received recently.
Thankfully though, there’s also been some rare optimism over the last few weeks.
The Sydney Shute final was a wonderful display of rugby watched by an estimated 20,000-strong crowd at North Sydney Oval. The same day, the Wallabies bounced back from their lacklustre showing a week earlier with a truly gutsy performance against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
Both events were enough to put some pride back into the rugby community, and Mark Twain couldn’t have said it better if he hollered that reports of the code’s death had been greatly exaggerated.
If nothing else, it showed there are plenty of people in Australia who want rugby to not just survive, but thrive.
When you talk to said people, almost all agree that the future success of the code lies in grassroots rugby, and that the lack of resources and support given to this part of the game is the biggest issue facing the game.
It’s a nice soundbite, and undoubtedly true. Yet, what does ‘grassroots’ actually mean?
Many will tell you that this refers to club rugby – possibly the Shute Shield in Sydney or Queensland Premier Rugby. Others believe it’s actually Colts (under-20s) or Australian schoolboys level. There is even often the suggestion that suburban rugby is the real grassroots of the game.
Yet there is one organisation in Sydney that has been quietly piloting a unique, meaningful and year-round model that focuses on much younger individuals than those mentioned above. Specifically, primary school kids, during the critical out of school hours (OOSH) time period, on site, right before and immediately after classes.
Play Rugby Australia partners with schools, OOSH centres and other youth after school organisations to use the game of flag rugby to teach kids positive life skills via a sports-based youth development approach.
This particular model is a novel way to connect with children and is a truly grassroots strategy for elite sports. Yet from reports, it’s an area not being targeted and could complement the work being done by the NSWRU through the ‘Game On’ program.
Around Australia, thousands and thousands of children attend OOSH programs every morning and afternoon. So, with the right structure, funding, training and execution, these kids could actually be playing rugby and developing important social skills. A dramatic increase in the number of children playing the game would unquestionably help rugby at every level, all the way up to the Wallabies.
I’ve dedicated my life and a 20-year career to passing on my passion for sport – and love of teaching positive life skills – to children in three different countries.
I also had a successful career as a halfback, playing first grade for Norths in Sydney, along with earning representative selections for NSW under-21s and Australian Universities.
I closed out my career playing semi-professionally in the United States, captaining New York Athletic Club and leading them to two national championships. I also received an invitation to the USA A Eagles squad.
While in New York, I met the founder of Play Rugby USA, Mark Griffin, who had launched a grassroots social change model – Rugby For Good – with a vision to create “A Better World Through Rugby”.
We embarked on a journey in 2006 to grow rugby in the most unlikely of places. As of 2014, the program had reached 350 schools.
This helped form a very successful collaboration with the New York City Department of Education, and the partnership positively impacted thousands of children’s lives, primarily in disadvantaged communities like the Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn.
From here, there was no turning back. We went on to start chapters in Los Angeles, Washington DC, and San Francisco.
Last year, after hearing and reading about some of the challenges facing Australian rugby, I wondered if the business model could translate to Australia. So I returned home and began piloting the before/after school methodology in a number of schools in Sydney.
The program and participation numbers have slowly grown, and after one year, I officially launched Play Rugby Australia.
Though all levels of rugby in Australia need some attention and funding, one could argue that it’s at the level where Play Rugby Australia is active that the ARU could truly invest in.
‘Grassroots’ has become a catch-all phrase when people are talking about anything below the elite level, yet there is nothing more grassroots than primary school kids. Nurture at this level, and we’ll be able to watch the game thrive, not just survive.
Sure, it’s a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. But maybe this approach could be just the answer to solving many of rugby’s hardships.
Christian Mayo is the Founder of Play Rugby Australia. To read about the Rugby For Good program and the efforts of Play Rugby Australia, head to www.playrugbyaustralia.com.au.
Concernicus
Guest
A lot of good points here, but simply putting development programs all over the place won't solve problems that are grounded in structure and psychology. There's no loyalty to unions because there's no alignment from Junior rugby all the way up to the Wallabies. Rugby in this country will never thrive if there isn;t a very clear path to the top level at every other level of the game. Every school and club needs to be aligned to an overarching union which is responsible for identifying and developing players within that union. AFL do it, NRL do it, NZRU does it, SARU does it, the RFU does it, the NFL does it, the NBA does it - when will the ARU board stop hiring businessmen who have no qualifications or experience in running a sports organisation?! Pulver put all the emphasis on the professional level and every other level of the game has suffered and player development is at a standstill as a result, at a time where the most important thing to do was to focus on how to completely redesign Australian Rugby's approach to player development. Invest in the little guys and the big boys will take care of themselves. Look at NZ and England's structures - everything is aligned from the first time you step on a rugby field. You know who you play for, what they're part of and what steps you need to achieve to get to the top and no matter what age group, the highest representative levels carry the same name, logo and affiliation as professional level. It sticks in your mind and it builds desire and loyalty. It's really not overly complicated, it just needs to be thought out and done properly.
Fionn
Guest
Drongo, look at our results in the Olympics in 2000, 04, 08, 12, 16 and see what it tells you. We have definitely declined. Tennis, rugby, cricket, soccer (peaked in 06), swimming, cycling and a whole host of others we have declined in. It's great, however, that may of our womens teams have improved, and I hope that they continue to do so. It doesn't change the fact that we have nonetheless declined overall. Also pretty despicable insinuation that I only care and follow male sport. Very mature.
Johnno
Guest
exactly Bakkies and well laid out and for all the reasons mentioned I think a merger should happen. unfortunately the GPS despite being tax payer funded won't budge much it seems...
Sterling
Guest
Greg, Your suggestion is fine if your goal is to make the current playing numbers as competitive as possible. But aiming to up the participation numbers by introducing rugby to junior school kids will be much more beneficial for Aus Rugby in the long term. If you want more cream, you need more milk
Sterling
Guest
Because a lot of them will.
Drongo
Guest
Declined? Your joking. Overall, we have improved. There are many sports played you know, outside of rugby and cricket. You do realise that 1/2 of the population without testicles count as well? I just watch the Matilda's defeat Brazil at football. They are ranked 6th in the world. In a sport every country in the world tries to succeed at.
Bakkies
Guest
Johnno, the GPS schools can play the CAS schools in actual competition. There is also the South African interschools model where the likes of Grey College from Bloemfontein travel down to Paarls Boy High and have a sports day (not just Rugby). Funded by old boys, tv rights and sponsors (like most schoolboys Rugby these days). Festivals are also run in the school holidays. Sydney schools can travel to Canberra to play Eddies, Grammar and Marist then there are the likes of Terrace, Nudgee, BGS and Marist Ashgrove up in Brisbane. 'How do they fund it and who paid for it? They are not short of $ or support so I don’t understand the question.' The question is pretty obvious. - They only play five competition games a year (yes a paltry five). So what is the actual need for it. - GPS schools still receive tax payer funding despite being private
Bakkies
Guest
Are you stuck in you the 60s? People will still move to other parts of their country or overseas to play Rugby.
double agent
Guest
That's because the schools are overwhelmingly attended by students from parts of the world that don't play rugby and were getting flogged. They still play just in a lower grade.
Fionn
Guest
Drongo, Australia's results have declined in virtually every sport over the past 10-15 years, it isn't like we are struggling at rugby and fantastic at the other sports we've traditionally been good at.
Drongo
Guest
You still don't get it, do you. GPS schools exist for the benefit of the families that pay to attend them, not for your dreams of rugby domination. They are doing an excellent job, performing well above the rest in education outcomes and also giving opportunities in multiple sports and other extracurricular activities, hence the huge demand for places in what are very expensive schools. NZ is rugby centric and no, I definitely don't want us to become like that. For example, how is NZ doing in the world's most popular sport? They are ranked somewhere below 100 put of about 120. A pathetic joke, really where their national team is about as good as one of our better amateur club sides. There is a lot more to life than rugby. GPS schools understand that and spread their resources across many areas, with the main focus on education outcomes. That is why they get my $$$$$.
Johnno
Guest
sydney grammar/sydney boys high
Johnno
Guest
well said Bakkies
Johnno
Guest
Well maybe we should be like NZ in the private schools and make it our whole existence to be no 1 in the world, how badly do you want it, obviously not badly enough as NZ, don't complain then if NZ is more dominant at rugby. And in NZ the boys still get an education, and boys don't care about an outdated 100 year competition they just want higher playing standards as do parents it's the power hungry school boards that are resisting change.. Waverley college should of been playing scot's college for the sydney title this year, instead they were in separate associations so we never saw such a great game..
double agent
Guest
I'd say grassroots is all the competitions mentioned on here. It's everything below professional standard. From kids comps to Saturday arvo suburban and country rugby. We just need more players to take up the game and stick with it. If one out of a thousand players goes on to being excellent we just need more thousands. But I'd like to see the other 999s thoroughly enjoy playing the game. As far as getting new players to join I don't think the administrators do much. AFL is all over the primary schools while RU is invisible. SR is only on Foxtel. Wallabies are lucky to get half a page on game day in the papers compared to 10 pages devoted to NRL. Obviously a dominant Wallaby team could change a lot of that but I'm not holding my breath. It's definitely very worrying.
Drongo
Guest
Ok, my coffee smells great this morning. Don't really understand the issue with a chamber? How do they fund it and who paid for it? They are not short of $ or support so I don't understand the question. No schools have pulled out of Queensland GPS rugby. This years competition was very competitive in every age group. Player safety is an issue in all age group rugby competitions, not just GPS. Goes with the nature of the game and the size of some boys. Not really anyone fault. Always has been like that.
Taylorman
Guest
Thats great, hopefully one day they wont have to order from the overseas sweat shops then.
double agent
Guest
Good post piru.
double agent
Guest
True.
double agent
Guest
What schools have pulled out of the GPS comp due to player safety?