Last week when the Melbourne Rebels announced that their players would receive payment for the upcoming 2022 season, it was a first for Australia’s Super W competition.
To date, women across the country that have been competing in the Super W have been unpaid, juggling elite sporting commitments with familial responsibilities, university and work.
This was forcing players to make decisions about choosing to train rather than work, having significant impact on their ability to be at their best on the field.
For the Rebels, this was not an acceptable approach so the club has decided to lead, rather than wait for action from government or from the governing body.
According to coach Alana Thomas, the conversations to bring this ground-breaking moment to life have been happening for some time now.
To date, the team has been playing under the banner of ‘Rugby Victoria’. But this year Thomas and her leadership team knew there would be a transition to play under the ‘Melbourne Rebels’ banner.
“I remember talking to the leadership team about what this was going to mean and their focus was on making it one club and creating a club atmosphere that includes men and women,” says Thomas.
“There was also an emphasis on our women’s team and making it professional; there was focus on trying to lead and not waiting for someone else to make the decision about professionalising the women’s game.
“After that discussion, some of our players were sceptical as it is a conversation they have heard before, but to have it publicly announced at our Melbourne Rebels awards night and seeing people and sponsors so interested in helping was a big step forward.”
While assisting players to compete at an elite level and minimising any chance of them living with financial insecurity is vitally important to continue to grow women’s rugby, it is only one part of the story for the Rebels.
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Along with payment, the team will also have full access to revamped high-performance facilities, doubleheader clashes across the 2022 season and also see the team come under the leadership of GM of rugby, Nick Stiles.
“One of my philosophies as a coach is that for an athlete to perform at their best we have to look at the whole athlete,” explains Thomas.
“If athletes are going to perform on the field, they need to feel supported in their personal lives too.
“So often in women’s sport we talk about professionalisation and focus on pay in particular; but there is so much more support being offered to us now in terms of the new facility and the assistance of analysts and support staff.
“To make sure the athletes have this at their fingertips and can tap into it is a massive step forward.”
Over the last five years, Australia has seen tremendous strides in women’s sport. But when it comes to rugby, particularly the XV version of the game, there is still plenty of work to do.
At the moment the Rebels are the only club which will be paying their players in 2022 – this needs to change to ensure that athletes can compete at an elite level without worrying about severe financial insecurity, but also to ensure that women and girls see rugby union as a viable option rather than choosing sports where there are paid opportunities to play.
Thomas’ hope is that the leadership shown by the Rebels will push other clubs to do the same and consider what paying their players would look like.
“It takes just one club to be the leader,” says Thomas.
“Women’s sport has grown so much in the last couple of years and it is so important for rugby union to be part of that, too.
“We have some catching up to do, so hopefully other franchises will take notice of what we are doing and see it as an opportunity to grow the game and its brand.
“I am hoping this is a groundbreaking moment and it becomes the norm and everyone else follows suit.”
But for Thomas, the hope is that this is only the beginning of the Rebels’ journey.
“We should be striving to make this a career path so that when a young girl comes to the Rebels, she knows that she can be contracted and then potentially have other opportunities post-career, too,” the coach says.
“This should be a professional career and one in which people can set themselves up for life.”
Iain
Guest
As a Rebels fan [who unfortunately now lives WAY out in the country] I'm rapt by this news. If all clubs follow this lead it can only improve the standard of the women's game. I follow the Exeter Chiefs Women via You Tube and the standard of rugby is good. Interestingly you see a fair few international players in the UK comp so it's clearly a point of attraction.
Terry Polious
Roar Rookie
We signed up to League tag mate, they were really excited to have her. Rugby clubs refused to even return a call or email.
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
I do a lot of things but don't expect to be paid for it. Sometimes you just do things in life for the reward of enjoyment. Maybe I'm old fashioned.
JAMES G HASLAM
Guest
Congrats to the Melb Rebels bringing women's rugby into the fold. The AFL has been very smart to have its AFLW teams be part of the top level clubs. This decision is validated by the clubs who originally distained the idea of women's footy clamoring for a place after only 5 years. With League sputtering with its women's comp/exhibition, Union has a chance to capitalize, and one might say, do something right this century.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Hi Mary, My understanding is that the SR teams are providing teams for a SRW comp involving NZ like SR mens does. I believe NZ teams are paying their players too. You only need to look at the French and English Womens teams in Union to see what paying players does for the quality of player coming thru and the major improvements in team cohesion etc.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Which of the dwarfs is it? :silly: :silly:
Dave
Guest
Not looking very hard, plenty of options in the area
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
This will attract the best gals from all over to Melbs and that will kickstart the growth of the gals game. Other teams will have to play catchup to the vics!
Ex force fan
Guest
This is a huge step with some risks. Where is the money coming from? Will men and woman be paid the same eg tennis? So many questions with the potential to raise issues for other forms of the game. It is a step in the right direction just not sure that the Rebels can afford it, especially considering equal pay considerations.
jeznez
Roar Guru
G'day Terry, I'm not sure there is a lot of school girl rugby in the private schools either. I'd suggest club is the way to go. http://twobluesrugby.com.au/juniors/ Link above has the junior clubs for western sydney/penrith districts.
robbo999
Roar Rookie
Thanks Mary. As a foundation Rebels member I'm delighted that they have taken this initiative. Im not sure how much they will be paid but they do have enough funding yo make this announcement. However they are appealing for supporters to chip in what they can to the pool. See like on the articles on this in the Rebels web site. I will certainly get down to the first joint training session this Saturday at Moorabbin RC from 08.30.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Apologies Doc, it was meant in a jocular manner.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Doc, this Melbourne. There will be no Branding and or Advertising or at least not enough to spark the general public's interest. We hardly know whats going on with the Rebels team with who and when they playing. We have Internationals here, that if you weren't a keen rugby follower, it would come and go without even knowing it. There are light years for Union between the marketing of AFL, Soccer, Basketball, Cricket and League. Good on ya girls, I wish them every success.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Terry it's a great point. If your daughter is keen on rugby but is struggling to find somewhere to play shoot me an email at ladieswholeague@gmail.com and I will see if I can help.
Toa Joe
Roar Rookie
Mate get her in League Tag, my daughter plays it here at Penrith and absolutely loves it. Multiple grades so if she is just beginning they will really look after her.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Nice personal attack
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
It depends on your objectives I guess. At the end of the day though any investment must be subject to the returns it brings. That return might be direct revenue. It might be linked to branding. It might be both. The point I'm trying to make is answering Bobby's question. Which I did.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Not a simple question. The crowds aren’t big at this stage. This year Super W was a condensed version over a couple of weekends in Coffs Harbour, I think there were spectator restrictions & Sydney people couldn’t travel to the regions. The usual home/away Super W spectator numbers vary depending on when it is a stand alone or a double header with the men’s game. Pretty sure all the Super W games are on Stan. They televise all the NZ women provincial rugby & recently televised most of the UK/European women’s Tests – which were very good.
Terry Polious
Roar Rookie
Good article Mary, genuinely surprised that Super W girls don't get any money at all. Interested to know if you have heard if Rugby has a strategy for recruiting girls outside of the private Schools? My daughter plays cricket and Football at the moment but wants to try some Rugby next year, but because she goes to a public school in western Sydney it looks like league tag is a much easier option, are they not looking at kids outside Sydney private Schools ? Because I can't even speak to anyone about finding her a club.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Mary – completely agree, the whole viewer/ revenue argument is currently not relevant. In business you have to make an initial investment before you get revenue & a ROI. In due course you can then review the investment. English Rugby invested - you just have to see the viewer numbers now in the UK for the English international games. They are also now starting to put Premiership club games on the BBC as well. Don’t listen to Doc, he is always grumpy. I’m not sure if he is ever happy.