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Opinion

The out-of-the-box strategy to boost rugby depth in Australia

Roar Rookie
30th August, 2021
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Roar Rookie
30th August, 2021
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The much anticipated Super Rugby Pacific has been announced with five Australian teams, five from New Zealand, Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika.

This is great news for Australian rugby fans with fast, skilful rugby in convenient time zones all while adding in the best Pacific Island players.

And yet, Australian Super Rugby sides continue to under-deliver. There has been a lot of chatter about the Waratahs’ woes and whether Australian rugby has the depth for five teams. Steve Hansen kindly suggested Australia drop back to three teams, and others have voiced similar sentiments.

So if Australian rugby does not have the depth, why not and what can we do about it?

There is a code which is growing exponentially and poses a threat to both rugby union and rugby league. AFL continues to expand with GPS schools throwing up AFL posts and junior clubs proliferating across the rugby heartlands of Sydney and Brisbane.

AFL have known for many years that to get future fans and viewers, you must have local people playing the game.

Isaac Heeney celebrates a goal

Rugby league junior Isaac Heeney. (James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

If AFL is a threat to both rugby union and rugby league, what can the two codes do about it? I’m suggesting something akin to treason, burn in hell kind of blasphemy – they need to join forces!

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Whoa, hang on, these two codes have gone hammer and tong for a century ever since Dally Messenger decided to get paid for his troubles and step across to rugby league.

The two rugby codes need each other. Junior participation rates are on the slide, junior clubs are folding and the number of schools playing either rugby code is on the decline as well. Despite all those challenges, there are nine NRL teams in Sydney plus eleven Shute Shield teams (sorry Penrith).

There are dozens of lower level rugby and rugby league clubs participating in competitions as well.

Joseph Suaalii created controversy this year debuting for the Roosters after a tussle between Souths, the Roosters and Australian rugby. Suaalii is the latest in a long list of players who have played at the highest levels of school boy rugby and converted to rugby league.

Angus Crichton, Adam Douehii, Luke Keary, Cooper Cronk, Tyson Frizzell, Jared Warea-Hargreaves, Kalyn Ponga.. the list goes on and on.

Joseph Suaalii of the Roosters

Joseph Suaalii of the Roosters (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

There is an opportunity for these once sworn enemies to find common ground. They play on the same sized pitch, and there is a combined history.

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What is the ARL Commission and Rugby Australia teamed up? Fostered the development of junior players, provided opportunities for skill development and clear pathways.

Pooled junior scouts and development officers, encouraged kids to play both codes in junior clubs and schools, recognised local junior rugby and league clubs who team up. There are countless opportunities and as you harvest the opportunities you also find cash savings for both games.

Each code is spending on many common areas so why not join forces and spend less for a greater impact?

There are on-field opportunities of course. By coming together, rugby could field the best possible squads leading into tournaments including the Rugby World Cup and Olympic Games. The benefits for players would be flexibility across codes to play and opportunities for international paydays in the twilight of their careers.

There is another major reason this is important. Rugby Australia needs five competitive Super Rugby teams. The NRL is poised to expand by one team in Brisbane. There will be 22 professional teams across rugby and rugby league by 2022. By comparison the AFL has 18 teams.

The rugby codes need to attract, retain and grow their foundations. They need to focus on skill development and engagement at junior level.

By working together, the two rugby codes have a chance to stem the losses to AFL. They can build a stronger foundation, greater skills and a viewing base with appreciation for both codes so they can cheer for teams competing in the rugby competitions locally and internationally. This is a left field idea but the more you think about it the more it could work.

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I hope Hamish McLennan and Peter V’landys take the time to consider it. Both seem focused on growing their games but may find that growth sometimes comes from partnerships and shared value.

The AFL is spending big on junior participation and rugby and rugby league are being left behind. The time for is ripe for the rugby codes to come together.

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