‘Rugby in Australia is dead’, ‘Another nail in the coffin’ – I’m sick of this tired old trope.
I’ll declare that I’m a proud Kiwi, so it may seem odd that I have a vested interest in the success of Australian rugby – I may even be on the receiving end of a crooked look from my family. But I have to be honest – the future of rugby in Australia is bright.
That’s not to put the blinkers on and ignore that there are problems with governance and a general malaise about the quagmire that is ‘Super’ Rugby, but the outlook of rugby union can be looked at two ways. You can wither wail and gnash teeth regarding the perceived imminent downfall, or you can unclench your jaw for a moment and look at some of the things we have to look forward to.
Here are just a few!
The Australian Schoolboys
A drought-breaking win against New Zealand Schools – and in New Zealand no less – after stoutly defending against a Kiwi side that controlled 90 per cent possession and territory for most of the game says a lot about the attitude of the group and bodes well for the future.
Rugby grassroots
The grassroots of Australian rugby is stronger than ever. I had the pleasure of attending the recent Randwick versus Argentina game at Coogee Oval. What a wonderful spectacle that was despite the score. There were people hanging from the rafters and a fantastic atmosphere that warmed the heart of this old rugby tragic.
This is a microcosm of how well the Shute Shield is progressing. The level is getting better every year and crowd numbers are on the rise. This is proof that people love the game – they are looking for an outlet, which the Shute Shield is providing nicely.
The Rugby World Cup
Australia being poised to throw their hat in the ring to host the 2027 World Cup could provide a timely boost to players and administrators alike. It would galvanise the game and get people excited about hosting the third-biggest global sporting competition in the world despite the relative angst in Australia regarding ratings and attendance at the highest level. Rugby is fast becoming a true global sport and Australia would do well to back the Wallabies and welcome the world in 2027.
Developing players
The era of big-money contracts to cross-code players is over. While that may be a fiscal reality, the benefit is the focus has now shifted to the youth and there’s a greater emphasis on coaching to ensure the basics are better executed. Judging by the display of the Schoolboys this week, it’s bearing fruit already.
There’s plenty to be excited about in the next phase of rugby in Australia. I have seen 100s of articles dissecting the problems and professing doom and gloom, but one thing that always gets left out is the passion for the game. Attending a Waratahs game recently and speaking to a proud father with his daughter keenly watching on, I will never forget what he said to me: “The love of the game is here and that’s all that matters”.
Let’s go, Australia! Just don’t beat the All Blacks.
Kimbowhitewalker
Guest
Nsw nsw nsw nsw !
Tony
Guest
Wise Old Elf..Might Shock you if you checked where most Wallabies were born..Any Problems with DHP or Pocock? Or just the Island Heritage Boys
Dan Gray
Guest
Great insight John. I agree there’s a lot to like about the future of Australian rugby. To foster this, Rugby Australia needs to promote young talent to the national system/Wallabies and back them as the future backbone of our team. A great start would be getting Jordan Petaia into the mix at the World Cup and giving him lots of minutes. Give the up and coming jnr Wallabies something to aspire to
Wise Old Elf
Guest
Any Australian born players coming through? If World Rugby turned around and said, you can only play for the country you were born we'd be like Canada or at best an Italy.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Very good observations. We do have good mixture of talent. We lack skills , pace , coaching, a sensible selection process and administration. At grass roots Rugby is looking good , ignored but looking good. There are some handy big boys out here in the bush.
BLACKTOWN
Roar Rookie
Need more Australian born players
Hoy
Roar Guru
I think we have a bright future... if our coaching improves. Look, seriously, for the last 20 years, we have had really bad coaching as a general rule, at provincial and national level... McQueen retired, then Jones killed that team within 9 months, but was saved by Mortlock's intercept, then Connolly took over about 10 years too late as a caretaker, then Deans, who had solid results, but un-inspiring play by the end, then Link didn't get a great crack, and I think that is a terrible shame, because he had a bit of brains, then now... That is just national level. Not even the starting on the issues we have with our Super rugby coaches... boy of boy. So I think the minute RA centralizes, sorts our coaching, and really develops the good youth we have, I think rugby in Aus has a great future.
Redsfan1
Guest
Kiwis used to have a dig and needle Aussie rugby which in hindsight was maybe a sign of respect. Now they just feel sorry for us and actually are offering advice (maybe because the Bledisloe Cup could end in the next decade). To me that's all the indication you need to take out of this article on the future of Aussie rugby.
Garry
Guest
Congratulations to players and management. That news made my day. Hopefully the league scouts can be kept away enough to bring through some of those blokes through. Once again, beers to you.
Paul
Roar Rookie
John, thanks for taking the time to write up your thoughts and publishing an article. I think you're right about the future of the game.
Gank
Guest
Nice one, mate.
Dave Hickman
Guest
I enjoyed reading this piece - makes a nice change from the usual articles I'm reading lately which are all too doom & gloom. A good dose of positivity may just be what this game needs to get kick-started imho.
OJ
Roar Rookie
We certainly have a good bunch of players now but we need an intelligent Australian coach and the Tahs not to insist their second rate players get a spot. Dempsey is worth sticking with as is Gordon and Latu. Kepu too if he wasn’t retiring. Swinton could be a keeper too as could HJH in time.
Simoc
Guest
The biggest plus is Cheika will soon be gone. The guy is an embarrassment to Australia and World Rugby. With grubs like him disappearing off the screen things will soon improve.
OJ
Roar Rookie
That is often the feeling near a peak
P2R2
Roar Rookie
Yes - RA will stuff it up...Aussie Rugby with too Nzerswould never happen in NZ
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Schoolboy’s, the u20’s earlier in the year too. Plus the Rodda’s, Petaia’s, etc that are still young and logging miles in Super Rugby already. The stock is strong. Here’s hoping we don’t stuff it up.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Hang on, a positive story about Aus rugby? How did this get past the editor? The usual posters here are just staring at their screens wondering how the hell to respond. But seriously, you're right about the grassroots, with one big caveat. The traditional rugby parts of the country are as passionate as ever, but I don't think the 15-a-side game is growing its base. We still rely heavily on private schools and the PI community.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Well, if you spoke to the father of a girl at the rugby and got the all clear then that’s good enough for me. I was worried about declining attendances at SR and test matches, the abolition of the Force, the dwindling fan base of the Rebels, the poor quality of Australian SR teams, the slide of the Wallabies in world rankings, the losses to NZ, SAF, Argentina, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and the lack of development of Test players or any discernible progress in our game plan or skills. But since a bloke told you at the footy that he loved footy, then that’s all I need to hear. Rugby may have fallen behind AFL, League and soccer but as long as that guy at the rugby still likes rugby then the other stuff doesn’t matter. Have you ever thought that maybe those of us seeing a massive slide in rugby in the last few years might actually love rugby too? Maybe we care about the welfare of our game and think calling out problems is preferable to sycophancy? Maybe if Cheika hadn’t been given carte blanche on selections until recently, we’d have developed a better attack by now instead of running Cheika’s 2013 Waratahs redux for 5 years? Maybe the goodwill generated by McQueen’s Brumbies and Wallabies would not have been entirely squandered if the Wallabies were the national team instead of a Waratahs development squad and retirement home. If we don’t all cheer for Cheika’s failure parade please don’t imply that we don’t love Australian rugby. The titanic is going down and you’re telling us to think about those parts of the ship that don’t have a hole. I hope that guy had a nice day at the rugby with his daughter. Personally, I don’t really take my daughter to the rugby anymore.
Jim
Guest
The future of the US is great. The economy is strong The most lethal military the world has ever seen Innovation occurs everyday in a multitude of industries and sectors More Nobel Prize winners than any other country Unemployment has hit a 50 year low but you just cant help feel that underneath it all something is wrong and it just isnt working the way it should be. Yes, everything may turn out well but there is this nagging feeling that everything seems dis functional and the words you are hearing do not match the reality of what you are seeing