It could be argued that in these crazy coronavirus times, Rugby Australia has a lot more to lose than just a few games of Super Rugby.
It seems like an eternity ago, but it was only last Saturday night that SANZAAR suspended the competition “for the foreseeable future”.
The suspension is due to last for a minimum of two weeks after the New Zealand Government demanded that all returning travellers were required to self-isolate for 14 days. Three Kiwi teams – the Highlanders, Chiefs and Crusaders – need to satisfy this two-week quarantine period after returning from overseas games last weekend.
SANZAAR boss Andy Marinos has stated that if Super Rugby didn’t resume within five weeks, it will be scrapped for 2020 due to scheduling constraints in the second half of the year.
The chances of Super Rugby restarting as a five-nation competition through any rejigging of the regular-season schedule seems as likely as Joe Marler leading a no-touch social-distancing coronavirus ad campaign.
So what’s the next best result?
There’s already been talk from NZ Rugby, Rugby Australia and the South African Rugby Union about holding domestic competitions, with the potential for each national winner to battle in an abbreviated finals series to come up with a Super Rugby champion.
The end of June would be the cut-off for any Super Rugby final as Test matches are due to be held for many nations on July 4 (the Super Rugby final is currently scheduled for Saturday, June 20). It’s been floated that any domestic competition might run over ten to 12 weeks.
In Australia, community rugby has been put on hold until the start of May.
But while grassroots rugby is suspended, it feels like the professional game will return sooner.
Raelene Castle and Rugby Australia would’ve observed that the NRL, AFL and A-League are all powering through the Coronavirus crisis, albeit with significant compromises – the biggest being playing games in empty stadiums. That’s a considerable financial hit for each code.
The NRL is even soaping its Steedens. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The three codes are taking exceptional precautions to mitigate the risk of spreading the Coronavirus, but there’s no doubt that their call to move forward with their seasons is financially motivated. And perhaps more specifically, their decisions are driven by the TV dollar.
If they halted their seasons, the financial hit would be crippling and likely to send some clubs spearing towards bankruptcy. Broadcast revenue has become the lifeblood for each sport. Fox Sports and the free-to-air broadcasters are desperate for footy content. In close association, other commercial partners such as club sponsors rely on the broadcast exposure to justify their spend.
So given the three other footy codes are still on, Rugby Australia will be keen to get their players back on the paddock. They’ve got their game to spruik for a new broadcast deal, right? The game in Australia would face financial ruin if they prolong this period without any elite rugby on TV.
They can’t afford to sit idle and let the other codes continue. Rugby in Australia is struggling in a big way as it is, so to sit on the sidelines for much longer would be crazy. Mind you, to emphasise that these are incredibly whacky times, it’s been reported that the Western Force have been part of discussions regarding an upcoming Australian domestic competition.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
Or is the keep-‘em-on-the-park philosophy crazier? Are the risks of playing on too great? Are the AFL, NRL and A-League too cavalier and underestimating the power of the virus and the risk they could help spread it?
The crisis has developed so rapidly over the past ten days, and the speculation is so rife – from school closures to complete lock-downs – that perhaps Castle and RA should take a step back and wait a few more weeks before announcing any new competition formats.
Rugby could show that they’re a game with a greater collective conscience than other sports; a sport that puts community health and well-being above financial motivations; a code that has a broader perspective than having a winner and a loser after 80 minutes.
The health of Australians is the most important factor in all this, right? Not blindly satiating our appetite for sport.
Take into account the poorly timed comments from Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys a few days ago, calling for taxpayer money to prop up the NRL amid the Coronavirus crisis. With the health system bracing for unprecedented pressures and industries forecasting tens of thousands of job losses, the call for a handout was a big mistake and painted him and the NRL as selfish and insensitive.
It’s a reminder not to charge down the corridor, kick the door down and fire off your demands. Castle will hopefully proceed more judiciously if RA needs government assistance.
(AAP Image/Daniel Munoz)
Australia’s Super Rugby clubs and most rugby fans will be hoping that a domestic competition will be announced over the coming days, although Castle concedes there’s a risk that one positive Coronavirus test could still shut down any local competition (as yet, no Super Rugby player has tested positive).
It’s fair that Castle should want to get Australia’s professional rugby players back on the park, even if it’s almost certain games will be played inside empty stadiums. There’s money pressures for a game that’s copped plenty of financial hits recently.
But there’s also a decent case for rugby in Australia to represent itself as a game with a conscience; a game that’s willing to shut down longer for the greater good. Is it too much to expect RA to wait another month to see how safe it is to restart rugby or even wait until the internationals in July?
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
The worst case is 8.6 million in the USA.
Mark.
Guest
You post YouTube links yet criticise other people’s sources? Have a lie down, kiddo.
numpty
Roar Rookie
https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/14/is-the-sun-causing-global-warming/
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Numpty: haven't looked at it since the hot spot search was on. I'll get back to you after some digging around.
piru
Roar Rookie
You have completely ignore my point that this impacts treatment of other medical issues as hospitals become overloaded. Don’t waste your time, TWAS SMI isn’t listening, he’s just waiting for his chance to repeat the same thing again. This is why I don’t engage him anymore, it’s just too exhausting. They say never argue with an idiot, they’ll drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
numpty
Roar Rookie
No, nothing to do with the hotspot SMI. What I am saying is that IF the observed warming were due to the sun, we would be seeing different trends in the data then we are. Therefore, the sun is not causing the rise in temp. Only increased greenhouse gases explain the trend of a warming lower atmosphere and cooling upper atmosphere/less heat escaping to space. Satellites have actually measured the decreased radiation at the specific wavelength CO2 absorbs. Hope this explains it.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Numpty: thanks for your reasoned reply. I take issue with part of your post. " If warming were due to the sun, the upper atmosphere would also be warming. It is in fact cooling. This is because more CO2 in the lower atmosphere traps more heat close to earth. No other factor outside volcanoes (very easy to measure) leaves this fingerprint." I think you are referring to the 'hot spot'? That has not appeared in satellite records the last time I looked about 2 years ago. "Satellites also show this similar effect – less radiation (heat) is leaving earth." My files on Satellite data from 2013 show that more heat was being lost to the atmosphere due to the warming. Has this changed since then?
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Purdo: just read a couple of reports on catastrophic ice loss in Greenland and Antarctica. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51846468 https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/greenland-antarctica-melting-six-times-faster-than-in-the-1990s The reality when compared to the total ice mass results in a loss in Greenland 0.005% per annum over the period 1992-2018 and results in a close to zero straight line. Similarly in the Antarctic is 0.0003% of the Antarctic ice mass per year. A result so close to zero over that period it could be lost in the noise. It is scientific reports like these without comparison to total ice mass that makes me question this science.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Purdo: No I am not trying to say that. All I am pointing out is that it has happened in recent history when CO2 was not the culprit. So who's to say this is not the same?
Purdo
Roar Rookie
SMI: The fact that scientists were predicting catastrophic collapse of glaciers in 1939 does not mean they are not collapsing at great rates today. This can be seen in videos showing it actually happening now. Tourists can see it happening at the NZ glaciers. Are you just trying to suggest that alarmists in 1939 were wrong, so they are wrong today?
numpty
Roar Rookie
SMI: I say this with respect, but the pts you have listed show a lack of understanding of the evidence present. Many of your pts seem stuck on the use of 'uncertain' computer modelling. But, predictive computer modelling was not used to 'prove' the existence of mans impact on the climate, it was used once proven (by other means) to show what will happen if we do/do not act (ie to help govt make policy decisions). Human's contribution to CO2 in the atmosphere is grounded in very much proven processes with real life collected data. 1) when we burn fossil fuels, a different carbon isotope is emitted into the atmosphere (C13). As we have added more CO2 to the atmosphere, you can see the ratio of the natural carbon isotope (C12) and the fossil fuel isotope change. 2) If warming were due to the sun, the upper atmosphere would also be warming. It is in fact cooling. This is because more CO2 in the lower atmosphere traps more heat close to earth. No other factor outside volcanoes (very easy to measure) leaves this fingerprint. 3) Satellites also show this similar effect - less radiation (heat) is leaving earth. 4) increased greenhouse effect should lead to nights warming quicker than days - this has also been proven to be true. 5) oxygen levels in the atmosphere are also decreasing due to the increased carbon being emitted which bonds with oxygen (to create CO2). 6) Those models you rubbish have actually proven to predict the rises we are seeing quite well - and they do indeed take into account natural variability - even down to the effect of these like phytoplankton blooms and methane escaping from lakes. https://skepticalscience.com/human-fingerprint-in-global-warming.html Lastly, how people carry on (or otherwise) should not influence your ability to make conclusions based on data. I do not like how plenty of people act re climate change but that doesn't mean it isn't happening - separate the two.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Purdo: Thanks for your reply. I see your point of view. Just a couple of points. People protest in their own countries. This is a global issue and protests in China against CO2 would be interesting. Why wouldn't activists protest against them, why they accept this if it is a globally critical situation, why only against the western world? Warming real or nott. Real but not at the level reported due to data adjustments cooling the past. accepted the conclusions No I don't accept it. The temp in USA was warmer in the late 30's during dust bowl and massive ice loss in the Arctic, so what caused that? There was hardly a lot of CO2 around compared to today. https://www.climatedepot.com/2016/10/27/flashback-1939-greenlands-glaciers-face-the-possibility-of-catastrophic-collapse/ And this one from 1922. https://www.heraldextra.com/news/opinion/editorial/arctic-ocean-getting-warm-seals-vanish-and-icebergs-melt/article_68b494df-8d83-59dd-8ef4-9004a2453db4.html
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
How very 14 of you. Castle is demonstrably incompetent in this and her previous role. Borrow a dictionary and a simple instruction sheet.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
PaulD you are wrong. I am prepared to accept that none of us are infallible. https://faculty.chemistry.harvard.edu/files/dudley-herschbach/files/einstein_student_new_0.pdf Don't tell me, Harvard is the pay of big oil!
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Hey Realist, Nope I can't work it out. You've been consistent in your comments that there were no offers made to RA. So, based on the material provided, I can't see how RA could lock in a deal when there were no deals. If you could clarify that would be great
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
get better soon bro. yours in neutral solidarity
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
When that happens fair enough and he is a good tackler, however I would like to see more dominant tackles from him. He is also not as strong over the ball as one would wish. That said, Hooper is a damn good 7 and I won't be complaining if he continues for the Wallabies. Cheers
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Guest
A Report from Melbourne, today 21 March, from A Local Rugby Enthusiast. As many people know, Foxtel's in-depth sustainable commitment to growing the game across Australia in partnership with Rugby Australia, involves broadcasting free to air rugby games in new or developing markets. Such broadcasting arrangements are crucial to ensure growth. The cliff-like falling off in English cricket player numbers and age-group cohorts is directly linked to cricket switching from free-to-air to behind the satellite TV firewall. Here in Melbourne the gift is bestowed once a week, Sunday mornings 8am on Channel 10's little cousin 10 Bold. Sure, it is just one match, and the match selected for the day appears to have zip-all to do with whether or not Melbourne has a team (hint: starts with an 'R') or where the team is in the rankings, although the Waratahs do feature a lot. Anyway you are guaranteed a match involving an Australian Conference team from the Australian mainland, even if another match held on the Friday or Saturday was obviously the game of the round. (NZ Conference, anyone?) After the turmoil of last week, what with Victoria having declared a State of Emergency, panic buying under way, and Super Rugby on hold and the abandoned for 2020, it was with considerable relief that I saw the familiar Super Rugby text in place in the Guide in the recorder. "Great", I thought, "maybe someone clever has decided to btoadcast the game of the round, for previous rounds. Time to see the Stormers or Chiefs in action!". Imagine my delight today to discover that 10 Bold was indeed playing repeats. Imagine my horror at learning the repeats are not of good rugby games, but of Star Trek: the Next Generation. The oval-shaped ball does not feature in ST:TNG. Even the moons, planets and suns are round.
Mattress
Roar Rookie
Oh well, we’ll just ignore the evidence and advice from the experts and just go with what you say then. I’m sure everything will work out.
Double Agent
Guest
A 7's tackle doesn't have to be dominant. A legs chop that brings a runner to ground quickly allowing the 2nd man to make the steal.