Looking outside its traditional nurseries has enabled Australian rugby to claw itself up from near the bottom of the school spots participation charts.
In a tumultuous year on and off the field, the Game On program for six to 12-year-olds provides some much-needed good news.
Participation numbers have rocketed up 112 per cent over the last two years, with girls making up 46 per cent of the 56,000-plus kids signed up.
Behind the rise is the non-contact Game On program, which concentrates on skills like evasion and running into space, passing backwards and filling space in defence.
Prior to the implementation of the program in 2015, rugby was struggling in the crowded and competitive battle to win the sporting hearts and minds of kids.
“We we were sitting at number 28 of 32 sports that were in sporting schools, we were quite shocked that we were so low down the pecking order,” Rugby Australia’s Cameron Tradell told AAP.
Rugby has since moved into the top 10.
Prior to Game On, Tradell said the approach to junior rugby had consisted of “a mosaic of different programs and products, where this is a more formalised approach.”
The sport’s governing body realised it need to broaden their junior base beyond traditional nurseries such as private schools. Many government schools now run Game On.
“We were talking to the old people people that we always had, we weren’t really building a conversation with new people and how we might engage new people,” Tradell said.
“We made some different fundamental changes to how we communicate the message, but also rejigged our activities so that they were really more fun focused than skills outcome focused.”‘
Tradell acknowledged the code faced the challenge of keeping youngsters in the sport once the physical contact element was introduced.
“It is a challenge because the physical contact will be a barrier for some people, but it’s also something that we shouldn’t shy away from, because it is a key part of our game,” he said.
RobC
Roar Guru
Caught up on a bit, In Brief. Maybe not enough? But it seems to me Twiggy is pointing at Clyne as the bogeyman because he's the chairman: - The decision is almost unanimous. - The dissenting voice is the WA rep Stooke, which is expected. - Thus, as I see it - its beyond Clyne. Its everyone including him
In brief
Guest
That's akin to saying that even if found with a smoking gun and matching DNA you are innocent if no one saw you pull the trigger.
In Brief
Guest
This is a really good start because it gets rugby back in the conversation, regardless of have rubbery the stats may be. Hopefully a few Gilberts get tossed around as well. AFL and soccer will always be at the top of the tree but rugby should be on the next tier down in terms of participation. This type of initiative along with the NRC were a long time coming. People should remember that rugby has had pretty good growth in WA and Vic in recent years so there are some positive signs.
In Brief
Guest
That's like asking.. well I won't say. You would need to go back over the entire Western Force culling process to fully understand why people feel so betrayed by this man. Reading the senate hearing minutes on Hansard might be a start.
RobC
Roar Guru
Gday Bakkies, not 100% sure. I think (guess) Try is direct to students. Game is via teachers. btw, got a Q for you. I havent been in touch re Rugby much lately. Im only posting a few more cause I was on leave. Saw your comments re Clyne. Youre (among others) not fond of him Can you share more about the issues? Is it mainly about the WA cull. Or other things?
Bakkies
Guest
Rob what's the difference between GameOn and previous schools programs like Try Rugby?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I'd say we would just be starting to see the results of it now.
RobC
Roar Guru
Would be a lot better now, imo Train
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yep. Imagine where we could be now if JON or Flowers had implemented this.
RobC
Roar Guru
A move in the right direction. But a long way to go.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It's almost like they've just copied what works elsewhere...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Why would it have "forced" another option? You are under the assumption that the other parties would just agree to forgo what they fought for, and do what suited the ARU. If it compromised 2016 Super Rugby in any way, we would have been toast. If it changed the TV Rights value in any way, we would have been toast. Whilst I see the negatives of the format, doesn't it provide more content in SA time zones that better suits Euro broadcasters too? Actually we don't know the Rebels were "aided". It's implied without ever explaining how they were "aided" in transferring a licence between Imperium and the VRU were the funding which enabled it was provided by Rebels/VRU backers.
Muzzo
Guest
That has been Australian rugby's biggest problem over the years, that they have virtually ignored the public schools. AR, needs to make further step's into this market, as this is where League, along with their annual pilgrimage's to NZ by their scouts, have the upper hand in securing what talent is available. Grass roots, & this is where it begins, virtually. Start promoting the game, more extensively, than what has been happening over quite a few years. That is one of the reason's that NZ has the drop on Australia, in rugby.
Mike
Guest
The Game On initiative is a 5 week school participation program. It looks and sounds a lot like the AFL's Auskick - and we know how accurate their 'participation' numbers are.
PeterK
Roar Guru
what format could have been worse? Veto would have forced a better option in some form , at the worst no change and no expansion, would have been better. We also know the optics and associated PR with the force exit is terrible, being caught out in lies, the aiding of rebels in transferring the license to ensure force was the one axed i.e the public perception of unfairness.
Sydneysider
Guest
Looks like plenty of double counting from all the sports and also plenty of "participation" figures which aren't exactly registered players.
soapit
Guest
id like to know the 27 ahead of them. newcombeball?
simmo
Guest
Yeah but 28 out of 32? How does this happen? I really want to believe this but all major sports report in rubbery figures...how do we know this jump is current?
Train Without A Station
Guest
But that’s also on the assumption that not agreeing to the format wouldn’t have seen us worse off, without having any reason to actually assume that. Remember that format was to enable specific requirements some partners wanted. Veto doesn’t necessarily create an alternative agreeable format. What we do actually know he has done poorly is the lack of a plan to minimise the impact of cutting the Force. Regardless, Pulver’s successor will inherit the organisation in a better position than Pulver did in many ways. But there’s still the real threat that 2019 could send the game broke, and the uncertainty of the test season from 2020 onward.
John R
Roar Guru
Good point re: NRC. The Force scrapping will be his enduring legacy though.