Given Australia has now officially been granted the World Cup hosting rights for the men’s 2027 Rugby World Cup and the women’s 2029 Rugby World Cup, it’s interesting to discuss what may occur for the other winter codes in Australia.
Let’s start with the women. There are clearly fantastic athletes across both codes who have strengths that can be benefits in union and league.
What I love about women’s sport in general is the overall mentality to succeed. The appetite to be the best and evolve is something special globally across all sports.
The one thing that will hurt rugby league for women’s sport will be the desire to play in front of a truly global audience.
The Aussie women’s sevens team is already synonymous with gold and is a full-time professional environment, which is only on par with the women’s cricket team in summer sports.
Look at what a home final of cricket meant for the team.
If any athlete performing in the NRL is earmarked or enticed, they will most certainly take the opportunity. The 2029 women’s World Cup will be immense in Australia.
(Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
The 15s game has struggled on the women’s side of the ledger, but there are already plenty that have played both.
In addition, there are Commonwealth and Olympic gold medals on offer. Fourteen games a year of NRL against ten years of high profile, globally watched rugby union is surely an itch most athletes will want to scratch.
As for the men’s World Cup in 2027, it’s a different beast again.
The NRL and AFL codes virtually own the media on the eastern and other states respectively, or more precisely, the media own them.
But with the men’s Rugby World Cup on offer in 2027, it will certainly have kids looking at an option that they previously wouldn’t have.
Back in 2002 on the previously thriving and now defunct The Footy Show, Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin put lots of boots into rugby union.
Then in 2003, he blasted rugby union for not having enough tickets for the general public as they’d all been sold.
After his rant, almost every rugby league fan flocked to the grounds to witness an epic tournament.
I don’t believe there are any stand-out NRL stars to come across to rugby union the same as Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers and Lote Tuqiri in the early 2000s, but there will be plenty interested.
(Photo by Getty Images)
The biggest issue facing the NRL is the youth. If you are a talented player across the 13- and 15-man codes at a young age, you are currently enticed to go for the NRL.
Why can you blame them? It’s all over the screens on free-to-air TV and they want to emulate their idols. There are 16 teams (soon to be 17) and they can earn a starting contract of $200,000 out of school. Wow.
What 2027 means is that a young prospect can choose NRL or a potential Commonwealth Games medal, Olympic Games medal, a Lions victory and a home World Cup with a home Olympic Games gold in 2032.
In between, each athlete could earn sabbaticals in Japan or Europe of approximately $1,000,000 should Rugby Australia introduce them.
So what does this mean for the NRL?
In short, probably not a hell of a lot in the short term. Based on the occasional comments from my NRL brethren, I would assume that rugby union is in its place down the bottom of the winter codes.
But it will create interest. The youth will jump on board.
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G money
Roar Rookie
So true. Ironically, its the Sydney club teams with most to gain.. Details can be sorted later but top of RA's agenda should be to untether with NZ permanently
piru
Roar Rookie
That's just what sport costs now. I just $300 odd for my 5 year old to play soccer - they don't even have refs so no idea where the money goes. What are league fees like for kids, I can't imagine they are much less?
piru
Roar Rookie
They don't need to separate completely, but they absolutely do need an internal national competition. Unfortunately we are not allowed one, because a couple of clubs in Sydney would be sad.
piru
Roar Rookie
Ah yes, all those commonwealth countries like Japan, USA, France, Italy, Argentina, Georgia.
piru
Roar Rookie
Come on now, you expect us to believe you have mates?
Randy
Roar Rookie
hahaha this dude is foaming at the mouth
Randy
Roar Rookie
calm down Eric, you sound like you're about to punch your laptop screen....
Nat
Roar Guru
Just two factsy? Tell me, what are the average crowds for Victory or rebels compared to the Storm? Oops. Sorry my cultured friend, cheap shot. Here’s an easier one. Compare those a League and SR AU attendance figures to Super league in England? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA - Oops. It must really hurt that all my mates watch a real game. If you had a mate that would be 2 of you watching. A little suburban sport that spends more in a month in Australia than the two world games do in a season. Keep singing it loud though factsy. Don’t sugar coat it and don’t disappear just because you’re wrong. Keep coming champion, you are hilarious.
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
Frankly delusional. This event is 5 years hence. The Rugby League in the meantime will be developing from strength to strength - as it has done for the past several years, whilst union has atrophied.. Most of Australia is disinterested in rugby union - that is a simple fact. I have two grandsons at Shore - they both avidly follow the Seaeagles. The money is in rugby league, and the best athletes and talented footaballers will always follow the money - as gthey are doing now. The travel and prestige BS with rugby union is now just that - B.S. my grand-kids have already travelled to Europe, Asia and America. That trope has long been lost to the union desperates.
JVGO
Guest
It's not League that has infiltrated the traditional Union demographic in the East and North Shore. It's AFL. Kids in Mosman and Rose Bay are not playing League. They're playing AFL.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Wrong. You're the fool. I've watched plenty of rugby, albeit from the early 2000s when internationals were enjoyable. It's been in decline ever since. It exists just for private school clowns and nothing else. What's the local comp called this year? Seems to have a new name every 6 months.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I was in the Riverina quite a few years back and played both. Union has expaned on 20 years ago. League has gone the other way. We used to Groups 9, 20, 13 and 17. 9. Southern Inland (old Riverina) had 10 clubs now 14 these includer mens, women's and juniors. Rugby is going better in some are as than league.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Grasping at straws. Not surprising seeing as rugby is dead in Australia. Your comments stink of desperation. Enjoying Magic Round at Suncorp? Sold out club football probably hasn't happened in yawnion in 20 years. Catch the ball, kick it away straight away. Spend 15 minutes packing a scrum. Spend another 20 minutes gaining 3 metres. Kick it away again.
Igor Oligarchov
Guest
Just like the ALP gets a fair go on media in Sydney. ;)
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
1. Playing games on their devices. 2. There are plenty of fine people in Rugby League. 3. Seek professional help for your Rugby League phobia.
Eric
Guest
Can I have that in English please Tim?
ALF
Guest
Rugby is on life support in Australia, this will keep the machine on for a few more years.
Eric
Guest
My attention was on the all in brawl at the Mungoball. Bogan central. Atleast Western Sydney's crime rate goes down for a weekend. Then my attention was on Cam Munsters interview after the game last night when he said "Penrith had 60% of the ball we only had 30"... hahaha do you have to be a violent bogan with no brains to be associated with Rugby League? Is this why it's so popular outside the housing commission heartlands of Qld and parts of NSW?
Eric
Guest
Mungoball doesn't attract kids so where are they all going Tim?? Who'd let their kid anywhere near a Mungoball field with the people it attracts?
Eric
Guest
You and your mates aren't the most cultured Nat are you? Atleast you know the goings on in Qld and parts of NSW where Rugby League is followed. It's all that matters