Rugby Australia chairman Cameron Clyne and CEO Raelene Castle have made recent comments about their desire for the media to talk more about the good things going on in rugby and less about Rugby Australia’s corporate woes.
Rugby Australia has been the author of its own misfortune in that regard over the last five years. There have been some terrible decisions made, which have been terribly managed in public. However, with the World Cup out of the way and the Israel Folau matter resolved, those problems are hopefully drawing to a conclusion.
This is great, because following rugby is supposed to be entertaining for the fans, who find sports pages full of tales of woe about Australian rugby’s off-field problems depressing and boring. Many things have needed to be said about the way rugby has been run, but it is time for the media to play its part in starting a new chapter in our game.
The media needs to be mindful that if constant boring and negative off-field content contributes to fans switching off rugby, the rugby media will be helping to destroy the game that they rely on for stories. For an enthusiastic amateur like myself, that would be a shame, because I enjoy writing about rugby for its own sake. But for those who make a crust out of this gig, a decline in rugby will ultimately harm their careers.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Rugby Australia chooses a new president in April and there is constant speculation in the media about whether Castle will survive what has happened. That was highlighted in her interview after the Folau mediation, when journalists aggressively questioned her about whether she thought she would be sacked, as well as one arguing on public interest grounds that she should disclose the confidential settlement with Folau.
It’s time for those journalists to give those sorts of questions a rest. The public interest when it comes to rugby lovers is that going forward, our teams are successful and that we all enjoy the beautiful game.
After the last five years of drama, I give zero damns about whether Raelene Castle stays or somebody else becomes CEO and I care even less about being kept up to date on the opinion of everybody who has one on the issue.
There are no guarantees as to whether any prospective replacement for Castle will do a better job post 2020 and fans are in no real position to influence decision-makers on the matter anyway.
So how about we all commit to grinding our axes in private and concentrate on writing and talking about the rugby?
There is some amazing rugby to look forward to in 2020. Highlights include the Sydney Sevens coming up in February, which will build the anticipation towards the women’s gold medal defence at next year’s Olympics.
We also have an outstanding batch of young men from this year’s under-20s team coming through into Super Rugby and hopefully the Wallabies, who will be mentored by a new coach in Dave Rennie with a track record of success. I can’t wait to see whether Rennie can make the NZRU regret their indecisiveness about appointing a new All Blacks coach.
Season 2020 is the year that rugby journos should make a new year’s resolution to play their part in making the next decade the new ’90s for Aussie rugby.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
the problem is that the Rugby media are a team of Back Slappers where nothing is wrong and it's all rosy. An incompetent board have had no scrutiny as a result and look now at our near death situation. We need critical commentators like the League. We need honesty. Too many players are picked for the Wallabies and state teams who are not our best.
Peter Breckenridge
Roar Guru
I agree with your opinion. I saw this on RA's web site. It is the sort of thing RA should be trumpeting. https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/12/07/bush-beat-riley We have 2 people that have kids with Autism at our club. This is exactly what RA need at the moment. Oh and you will have to copy and paste the link.
Pat
Guest
Beni, Youtube the confrontation between mark chopper read and alan jones from the 90s.... Trust me
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Fair enough
sheek
Roar Guru
Kanggas2, As you should know, good people can do bad things; & apparently bad people can do good things. Whatever you think of Jones personally, he is the only radio talkback host I know of going to the outback & conversing with people, & finding out first-hand what is happening with the drought. No other radio talkback host is doing this (again, as far as I'm aware), & very few pollies, both federally & various state, are making any effort. For such an apparently hated man, he is actually doing a lot of good.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
My reply went somewhere My welfare job is a real way to help others , not just publicity radio stunts I don’t like him , because of his many horrible things he has said about people
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
I work in welfare and help many , Jones talks drivel and attacks people , and gets paid to attack people .
sheek
Roar Guru
Kanggas2, You're being rather disingenuous. Alan Jones is just one person. How can he possibly be expected to cover the entire rural outback of Australia????? Easy to put the man down if you want to.....
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
I’m out in the drought affected area . No signs on jones here . No help forthcoming ata all You’re egging it up about how much good he is doing , but of course are entitled to your opinion.
Ex force fan
Guest
Poor decisions and leadership from the current CEO. This article summarises the situation: https://www.espn.com.au/cricket/story/_/id/28216222/csa-receives-strong-criticism-former-president-major-sponsor
plxmn
Roar Rookie
Robinson does seem fair. Greg Growden, on the other hand, does seem to like finding “dirt” in rugby. Never quite knew what his angle was.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Yes, I saw Smith’s article, it was characteristically fair and measured. He and Jim Tucker are the mainstream rugby journos that I have the most time for.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Fair enough Rhys. In case you haven’t seen it there was a good article by Wayne Smith in the Australian yesterday defending Castle and restoring some balance. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/raelene-castle-key-to-cutprice-3m-deal-for-exiled-israel-folau/news-story/afb95bb7d6262d83b014cc0fd8cce356
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Thanks Davej, Journalists and their editors do have a choice about what stories get written and published, there are plenty of stories that don’t see the light of day. Do while I agree that they can’t and shouldn’t entirely avoid stories like the Folau one, I don’t agree that they are obliged to publish every insane utterance by Folau or Jones, nor every unsubstantiated rumour on the case. It is a matter of judgement and balance. Sport is the great weekly escape for many Australians so apart from the quality and accuracy issues you correctly raise, I tend to this the balance should weigh a bit more towards positive stories or if we aren’t winning, at least stories that are informative and entertaining. That might mean letting stories about off field matters that would warrant close scrutiny in a more serious endeavour, slide just a bit for the sake of keeping the fun rolling. I don’t think that is being sycophantic.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Canno was also a “loose Cannon”. Remember when he was forced to apologise against PDV. Guys like him aren’t going to last. Because when you go as hard as they do at people, when you get it wrong, you’ve got potential slander claims or comments you need to apologise for.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I haven’t focused on old journalists. I’ve specifically focused on Spiro and David Lord. The two I said who haven’t adapted.
Purdo
Roar Rookie
Craigo: Why are you visiting and participating on this site? The game is not boring.
sheek
Roar Guru
Runaway train, Not only the virtuous one, but the faux shocked one. "Me? Really, me? Nooooo".....
sheek
Roar Guru
Beni Iniesta, Ahhhh, confirmation bias confirmed. Ironically, you would think Jones to be against Folau. But he has put his sexually aside to support Folau's right to freedom of speech & religious expression. Jones also loves Tony Abbott. A long time ago when Jones was coaching Kings 1st XV, our Catholic school visited them. We heard Jones telling his team at the corner of the change sheds before the match started: "Get stuck into these Catholic pr*cks". Or words to that effect. I guess Jones has changed some of his views over time, as we're all entitled to do, & it's sensible as we become wiser in the world. Jones is just about the only radio jock going out to the country & listening & supporting farmers in their plight. They see him as their champion because they believe no one else is listening to their story & despair. Jones is flawed, like all of us. He is certainly not evil, despite what his detractors might think. But hey, we live in this world whereby, if you think like me, you're right. And if you don't, you're obviously wrong. Even Jones is guilty of this trait sometimes. But Jones does more good than most people, especially his many detractors.
Beachie
Roar Rookie
I agree completely, its very fashionable to bag people irrespective whether they had any influence in the situation that is being debated. Bill Pulver doesn't get a mention but he has a lot to answer for. On top of that everyone knows that Alan Jones hates women, what chance does Ms Castle has?????