The Penrith rugby club was immediately axed from the Shute Shield this week, without even being given the option to finish the season and then perhaps revert to another competition.
A more mean spirited act could not have been more contrived, which can only reflect the total disdain win which Penrith rugby – after 27 years in the Shute Shield – is held.
Rugby administration in NSW resembles the fiefdom of eras of times gone past. The Rugby AU is control of all juniors, there is the Waratah franchise. The Brumbies control southern NSW up to Liverpool.
Sydney Rugby controls Sydney and somehow NSW Country overlaps and manages the rest. Six organisations managing the one asset!
Collectively the combined fiefdoms comprising NSW rugby Administration have ignored Western Sydney – the biggest rugby nursery in Australia and home of Kurtley Beale! And while other codes have poured their resources in Western Sydney, Rugby AU has cried poor.
Paul Culley’s dissection of the Rugby AU balance sheet has shown just how well the Rugby AU looks after itself at the expense of just about everything else.
Penrith rugby existence has been one of marginalisation and no doubt travelling west of Parramatta has grated on the eastern suburb and north shore fiefdoms that control the game.
The player resource pool was not under its control and was underfunded by Rugby AU. An amazing marketing opportunity was lost when Israel Folau joined the Waratahs – now Israel will never play a Shute Shield match. Just imagine the marketing benefits if Israel had aligned with Penrith (instead of with the ultimate player cherry pickers – Sydney Uni).
It can only be hoped that Twiggy Forrest reads this article and establishes a Western Sydney franchise for his competition, as it is clear that those in charge of rugby right now are not interested.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It’s regressing in other places too
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
FIFO work crueler the Gold Coast competition around the GFC and it’s never fully recovered
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
While certainly number of errors have been made, a big contributor is the decline in sports participation in many of the demographics that have been the historical playing base. Society as a whole is less active for a number of reasons.
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
A sad indictment, illustrates what complacency and worse will come. Why is it that is expanding around the world and regressing in Australia? The administrators need to get the head above the parapet and see that the world is leaving them behind.. Changes are afoot with the Olympics etc... if they don't start fixing at the grass roots will become a dead vine.
concerned supporter
Guest
TWAS, The only person who agrees with your views is Cameron Clyne.
rebel
Guest
Rugby isn't as strong as it used to be in the services. A lot of the area comps no longer exist mainly due to more deployments since the early 2000s. League has also become more prominant.
Train without a station
Guest
No. He accuses me of not being a rugby person for not sharing his views. FYI. I’m a current player. I’m on my club’s committee. I’ll tell you one view that our club doesn’t have, is that we should be receiving direct financial support from the National Union. Our entire focus is supporting ourselves.
Bakkies
Guest
'Richmond and surrounding areas would be good Rugby areas' Yeah you would think given the history there with the armed services.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
There you go - it is not a level playing field.
clipper
Guest
A sad situation, but illustrates what complacency and worse will do. Knowing that Rugby had the East and North demographics and that league will always be a working class game, they did nothing to nurture the Western suburbs which had a huge and growing PI population. While league has the biggest presence out there, they could've made a few inroads, but chose to keep to the fortress knowing it would not be impregnated by league, but were blindsided when AFL started making inroads. The AFL, in Sydney, is very much a middle class game, but they have taken the steps of trying to expand into working class areas, while although not going that well, have at least managed to get a average crowd around NRL standards. They stole the march on Rugby while gaining entry to some strongholds. To make matters worse, Rugby has now, it seems, given up any semblance of interest or support out there. Richmond and surrounding areas would be good Rugby areas, wonder why they weren't tackled.
concerned supporter
Guest
Big Dog, You are kidding, Andrew Hore said "Rugby breeds better people than Rugby League" Elitism at its best.He said it shortly after the cocaine bust on S. Kenny-Dowall, well before the latest K.Hunt charge. Here is the link to the Daily Telegraph Article on 13 May 2017, for you to read, "http://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/andrew-hore-waratahs-rugby-league-v-rugby-union/1n2tbju5dngzl1dmqs6zujk7t4. OR "Waratahs boss Andrew Hore has taken a stab at rugby league and insists rugby union players are bred to be better people through their juniors system. The NRL has hogged the headlines for all the wrong reasons over the past week with a worrying number of cocaine scandals and the reputation of its players has come under heavy scrutiny. In light of the recent drama, Hore argues that rugby provides a better pathway for children. “If you want your kids to be happy, and be good people, there’s a higher probability of achieving that through rugby and the opportunities that come through rugby,” Hore told The Daily Telegraph. “You don’t have to be an elite player to gain those opportunities because it is an international sport.“The value sets in rugby, the people that are involved in the game, and the expectations of the behaviours of those people in the game make it a great sport to be involved in.” A lack of success and low ratings have contributed to a disastrous year for Australian rugby, but Hore still believes the sport has more to offer than its rival codes. We know we haven’t got the same amount of money as the other sports, but what we do have is a history of growing great people, and giving them opportunity,” he said. And the other thing rugby’s got is that it’s global. “A kid could grow up and be a pretty ordinary rugby player, but that young man might also get in with a good peer group, goes to school, gets an education, puts his headshield, mouthguard and boots in a bag, flies over to London, jumps in a lower grade footy club there, meets a guy who works in a bank, and before you know it, earning millions. “That’s the beauty of this sport.''
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Hey Big Dog. I can understand that a KPI was created and not achieved. I am questioning the notion of killing of a club after 4 rounds. What wisdom is there in doing this? Why not give them notice of termination for the end of season and then let them be the master of their own destiny. The collateral damage in the district by this short sighted strategy could not have been greater!
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
TWAS - so CS calls you on being an apologist for the ARU and your reply questions his intelligence. Who is playing the man now? The hypocrisy is stunning!
Celtic334
Guest
I don't mind Jones giving it to the ARU but he picks unjustified targets such as the Giteau rule. The only player good enough with over 60 caps overseas to play for Aus is TPN. Players are leaving because of money, not the rule, if it was the rule the players would stick around for their 60 caps.
Big Dog
Guest
Again, you have totally misunderstood Hore’s comments as “elitism”. ““Higher probability of acheiving (sic) being GOOD PEOPLE through rugby” So people like S. Kenny-Dowall would be better if they played Rugby? Better than K Hunt?” Did Hore say anything about Kenny-Dowall or Hunt? No, he didn’t. This is merely your erroneous interpretation of the inference behind his words. You draw a very long bow with your comments. As for your assertion that “Drug takers & drug dealers also play rugby union”, I reckon they probably might - the odds are pretty good, a lot of young men play the game. But Hore said nothing about drug users or drug dealers, did he? So I’m not sure what your comment has to do with anything. Your distaste for Hore and the NSWRU drives your comments but to call Hore’s statement “elitist” is simply wrong and disingenuous, at best.
Bakkies
Guest
I don't agree with him on the NRC. He is one man the RA is scared of particularly after he destroyed de Clyne on his show.
Bakkies
Guest
Goes as far north as Condoblin.
rebel
Roar Guru
Mix of some good and some bad ponts. Pretty much proves how difficult it is with so many different opinions.
concerned supporter
Guest
Powerful words by Alan Jones.Will it shake up the RA hierarchy? My opinion is that Raelene is only a puppet of Clyne & Co. The code of silence coming from RA, NSWRU & FOSUFC reminds me of Freemasonry.
concerned supporter
Guest
Big Dog, You say "How, exactly, do Hore’s comments resemble “elitism”? " Are you serious? There should be no need to point out the obvious, but, " “higher probability of acheiving being GOOD PEOPLE through rugby." So people like S. Kenny- Dowall would be better if they played Rugby? Better than K. Hunt? Don't know whether or not you are a member of a SS club or not, but about 10 or so years ago I attended a pre Grand Final function.At this pre Grand Final function, the club received and read out 3 best wishes telegrams from former players who could not attend the function as they were all in Silverwater on drug charges. Drug takers & drug dealers also play rugby union.