The recent floggings of Australian Super Rugby teams by the polished New Zealand outfits re-invites the perennial idea that rugby union is not popular enough in Australia to compete with league, AFL and cricket.
Whilst there are plenty of enthusiastic rugger-loving Australians as documented on The Roar, the same national pride and interest about the Wallabies in comparison to the baggy green, league derbies and AFL is nowhere near as passionate since 2003. Given how proud and competitive Australia is as a leading sporting nation, after cricket, rugby union is the second sport Australians can boast and look forward to competing with other rival nations such as NZ, England and South Africa.
This surely should be an incentive for more citizens to be interested in an international game. The perceived lack of interest comes from a number of factors, but perhaps socio-economic and schooling are the most glaring of issues. England and Australia share some similarity in the fact that rugby union is associated with big public schools and a game manipulated by the wealthy and big business. The RFU and RA are constantly slated for being too out of touch with the working man.
The big difference is that England Rugby only competes with cricket and football for popularity, and there are countless public schools that develop and have an interest in the game of rugby. In Australia, the best rugby players are often scouted by NRL and AFL outfits. The wage competition in Australia is at a sheer disadvantage with centralised contracts being far modest in comparison to lavish salaries in the NRL and AFL.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Public schools across the world
A well-documented example of class and elitism in rugby is documented in the histories of all leading Tier 1 nations. In New Zealand and South Africa, rugby is a religion but there is a perfect pyramid scheme of large private schools like Grey College and Kings College developing teenagers in preparation for elite rugby.
The quality of coaching and resources in these schools means that most Kiwis and South Africans are well-prepped for third-tier (NPC rugby and Currie Cup) rugby step-ups being a small bridge. Despite this, in New Zealand particularly, the game is played in most schools which assimilates into youngsters heading into club rugby too.
South Africa post-apartheid is also welcoming and encouraging more black Africans into the game through school scholarships and a strong grassroots core. For many white South Africans and Afrikaaners, the love of rugby will never be lost with them cherishing the Springboks and viewing rugby as a national game of South Africa. For all the racial and classist complications for rugby with New Zealand and SA, they have managed (politics aside) to make rugby a more inclusive game in their countries — New Zealand has achieved this partly through endorsing and embracing Maori, native and Pasifika cultures around rugby and national identity, while SA post-apartheid has gradually improved race relations and non-white inclusion in the game.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Whilst New Zealand and SA have rugby as a national game, in England, rugby is associated as a game of the middle-upper class much like in Australia. In 2015, 21 of England’s World Cup squad attended private schools. Much of Twickenham’s (non-existent) atmosphere is heralded of old boys and their families with deep influence in business, politics and other corporate lifestyles in the country.
Australian stadiums may not be filled with these types of fans, but looking at their recent squads for Rugby Championships and the World Cup, most are dominated by GPS schools and other Sydney schools, the areas where rugby is popular at the school level is met with an abundance of cash-strapped league clubs ready to lure leading union schoolboys.
Therefore, the combination of rugby in Australia mainly being confined to public schools (sources say 16-35 per cent of the student population attend fee-paying schools) and the inability of rugby to financially compete with NRL and league means that while there may be vowing interest in bettering the Wallabies, it is a tougher system to produce a sustainably competitive Australian outfit.
Some may say that given how minor rugby is in comparison to other sports down under, it is perhaps an accomplishment that the Wallabies can regularly match and beat the All Blacks and South Africa despite not having much success in the Bledisloe for 18 years.
What can be done?
Like it or not, rugby does have a glaring class issue, none so more apparent in England and Australia. However, the reform is not just limited to grassroots and schooling, which is the first thing to revamp. Queensland and NSW will have enough appetite for rugby with GPS, Shute Shield and other grade club competitions proving popular among locals.
However, South Australia (AFL haven) and Western Australia (genuine grassroots success with Force and plenty of British/South African expats) must be targeted in a manner different to the failed Melbourne Rebels project.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Investing in these communities should be nurtured with bettering the elite coaching scheme in these areas and Super Rugby franchises — another big difference between the Kiwis and Aussies in Super Rugby and Test level is the kicking game and scrummaging — Australia has enough talent to create a classy team but for me these areas of detail are lacking. Once competent coaches are in place and this is properly developed from Test to club and schoolboy level, then the quality of a smaller playing pool can be maximised.
At the school level, it is easy to say that more schools should be encouraged to play union instead of/alongside League. Perhaps schools could coach both if possible to field a team or even launch skill sessions and workshops for League players to be able to adapt into union strategies. More importantly, the NRC needs to be bettered quality-wise or scrapped — the way I see it is a radical suggestion for Super Rugby.
Privatisation of club franchises should be allowed to bring the money at the top of the Rugby AU and into elite club and grassroots levels to allow clubs to boost their budgets for training/coaching resources, overseas player recruitments and to allow academies into schoolboy levels. Whilst this may not commercially be popular than the NRL/AFL/Big Bash, a breath of fresh air would be installed with big name drafts and a lack of financial dependence on RA.
Furthermore, there would be less of a player drain to Japan, France and the UK with more cash to be made in Australia. Like NZ’s inclusion and cultural relationship with the Maori and Pacific Islander population, there is a market for Australia to do the same.
Some of its best Wallabies have come from Pacific Island and Indigenous heritage. A franchise club embracing the Indigenous areas or culture would be a boost for the social values that rugby has. Australia benefits in all facets of the world from a multi-racial and multi-ethnic population.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Hoy, Is rugby union elitist? Yes, it is relative to rugby league, cricket, soccer & football. So, it's a matter of relativity. The answer is a resounding "yes" when compared to the other sports.
Steve Winter
Roar Rookie
Just thinking NSW for a moment, there seems to be a ruling group who hanker for the amateur days when the best in the GPS comp could wear sky blue with a few pros to toughen up the team. Though the second half of that equation seems to have been forgotten in 2021. Only once in 25 years has NSW won super rugby and it took a coach recruiting a team based on professionalism. Frankly, if the amateur administrators leave the Waratahs alone, fine by me as a spectator. If they insist on their boys being on the team, well … we know how that goes. And for goodness sake, can we please recruit some players the next tier down from the State of Origin Penrith boys? What suburb players … and selections aren’t racially based either.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I think it depends A LOT on what you want to call elitist... are private school boys elitist? No... plainly. Are all rugby players lawyers and bankers, driving expensive cars, and having leather patches on their elbows? No... yet that is the pervading thought isn't it? Yet you rock up to club games and a hefty % of players are tradies... hardly elitist.
Hoy
Roar Guru
And that is where a massive problem in in Rugby... HUGE self interest at all levels... The Schools get great mileage out of them, knowing they are probably not going to stay in the game, but it doesn't worry the school, they had a crack at some superficial premiership for a year or two with the kid...
Hoy
Roar Guru
What I hear, a LOT, is that League clubs pick the kids up, and offer scholarships through the more professional environment of GPS schools, but they are signed to league clubs through the whole thing... Blokes like Ponga, were never Union's at all really... Still suprised Union didn't throw everything at him, even when he came off contract at the 'boys.
Randy
Roar Rookie
more of those meat pies sold at games and less cucumber sandwiches i say!
Jak
Guest
Yes it is, and it is disappearing up its own date. The sooner the better i say. Rugby needs a complete reset in Australia. Out with the pale, stale, male. Unfortunately this wont happen as most rugby supporters are pale, stale and male.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Talk to your/a club Tim. I know there are a load of ways to support mine - from a charitable foundation that focus on increasing participation in juniors. Through to a variety of memberships (or depending how much you are thinking even sponsorship) to support the senior club. Membership is usually the simplest and most direct way to stump up.
Tim Schuster
Roar Rookie
Spot on. How many Pacific Islanders are running the game via board participation...at any level. NIL. Unacceptable.
Tim Schuster
Roar Rookie
I am wondering if concerned rugby fans could stump up the cash to support a shute shield club in Western Sydney. As long as the governance was setup right I'd stump up some dosh.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yep. She played for the Aberdeen team over here.
Micko
Roar Rookie
HK? Hong Kong?
Lara
Guest
Look at your base, how big is it, can it grow, is the mix right, has it grown......looking at the past 25 years, the answer it bloody obvious n still nothing from the ones who control the game.
Hell YES!
Guest
Why is this even a discussion. I thought the rugger brigade delighted in the fact they were all superior to the rest of us?
Dave
Guest
Aw poor Jeb, don’t get triggered champ, we’re just having a conversation :laughing: :laughing: If I’ve been horrible to you I apologise, I really hope I haven’t hurt your feelings - is that enough empathy or do you think I need more training? Not going to even address your points, splitting hairs with terminology to twist arguments just shows you have nothing of value to add Back to your safe place Jeb
Popavalium Andropoff
Guest
I keep saying this - put a Super Rugby team in Western Sydney. The west of Sydney is arguably more rugby friendly than the east - how many Polynesian blokes are there in Point Piper?
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
Unders, I'm sure you knew when you wrote this article that it would be provocative. And yes, I went to a private rugby mad private school, or what the English call a public school. And I played club rugby. Very badly actually, but enthusiastically. Well, just badly. It's true that I used to often recognise players on the opposite side as having come from other private schools. And the crowd under the main grandstand after the main game at Ballymore was mostly ex-GPS schools people. That was a long time ago. I'm in my 70s now. But I think things have changed. I think it is true that the principal pathway to higher rugby representation is through attendance at a rugby playing school. But I've wondered for quite a while whether the way Rugby Australia administers the code is a contributor to elitism too. What I mean by this is that rugby receives little proactive advertisement. The media is full of RL or AFL, but rugby receives scant attention and RA seems to be very happy about this. Sure, major games are announced in the media. But try to find something about club games. It's almost as though the existing faithful are expected to know what's on and where to go using an instinct as yet unknown to science. In my opinion, this imbues the game with an element of elitism. The recent move to place some matches on free to air TV is a great move. Hiding behind a pay TV curtain was always stupid. RL and the AFL has had top matches on TV for years and have benefited from it. And finally, the laws. The laws of RU are more complicated than those for RL. In my view, this contributes to elitism. If you were a newcomer to both codes, which one would you instinctively choose? The easiest one to understand. Now that's not elitism. It's commonsense.
Jeb
Guest
Hey mate, don't be so fragile. Well since you asked for it, I'll enlighten you as you don't seem to get nuance... empathy training is where right wing groups (eg Liberal party, rugby types) send their lot to become less goddamn awful. In other words - it's rugby culture itself that's a turnoff to many Australians. Not all rugby fans are unlikeable but a disproportionate amount seem to be...could be the elitism but I'm only guessing. Could be something to do with calling people's opinion 'brain dead'. A little off topic but just for the record - having accountability for your actions and having empathy aren't mutually exclusive. Saying one is more fashionable than the other is like saying red is much more fashionable than triangles. But we digress. So to address your points about why people choose League over Union... firstly I'd note that you originally implied that people don't feel like they can play Union... a little different to not choosing to play it but we digress. 1) League is anything but easy to play. I think you may mean that the rules are simpler. In my opinion this is generally a good thing. In much the same way I rate guitars over pipe organs. But that's just me. 2) There is more money is league sure... because more people like it. Thanks scoop. 3) So it's about visibility now (not awareness as you originally said). So you're saying that it's popular because it's popular... well how can you argue with that insight
AndyS
Guest
Without a well thought through structure, with clear plans and specific safeguards in place, it will consume the sport.
Dave
Guest
Go on Jeb, enlighten me. What empathy is needed? Pretty simple, you want to play the sport go play it, if you don’t best of luck to you. Having empathy is more fashionable than asking people to have personal accountability for their actions People choose league over union mainly for 3 main reasons 1) The rules are simpler, it’s just easier to play 2) why play park footy and pay $100’s of dollars in rego fees when you can go play park League and get paid to do so 3) it is visibility - it’s the front of peoples minds, NRL is in the news everyday, most games are live on free to air. Not your brain dead “PeOPle KnOW UNiOn EXistS…”