It has to be a record. Not even three days after Australia was announced as the host of not one but two Rugby World Cups, talk had turned to the NRL talent Australian rugby might splash cash on for the 2027 edition.
Perhaps Rugby Australia was caught on the hop by the media when it waded into the debate last week. However, it really it shouldn’t have been given the events of two decades ago.
For those too young to remember, a looming 2003 Rugby World Cup at home saw the governing body raid Australia’s dominant rugby code for a handful of its most marketable figures. Within a few years those plundered players had fled back from whence they came.
Meanwhile, Australia’s neglected scrum was a laughing stock, cultural issues had infected the team and the Wallabies were in the midst of a two-decade slump.
You may think Rugby Australia’s investment in big-bucks NRL talent to date has been worthwhile, a colossal waste of money or a bit of both. However, it should’ve been clear that for many committed players and supporters who’ve stoically continued to support rugby through its low period, this was a touchy subject. Certainly a wiser approach would’ve been to avoid it during a week that should’ve been reserved for celebrating the winning RWC bids.
Nevertheless, the prospect of some financial breathing space courtesy of a golden decade of rugby – with a British and Irish Lions tour in 2025, Brisbane Olympics in 2032 and the two RWCs in between – is surely welcome. Even after paying off heavy debts and sensibly stashing some away for a rainy day, there should be money to spend, but on what?
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Start at the beginning
A common concern in recent years has been a perceived failure to engage with public schools and increasing competition for hearts and minds in traditional rugby schools. Changing student demographics means the once great rugby powerhouse of Sydney Boys High School hasn’t produced a Wallaby since Chris Whitaker in the 1990s, while Queensland rugby stronghold Nudgee College is forming an alliance with a new NRL club.
Of course things may not be as grim as they sometimes sound. The production line at Brisbane State High continues to churn out internationals of the quality of Samu Kerevi and Charlotte Caslick, and there are encouraging stories of rugby breaking new ground.
Who can forget Geoff Parkes’s article for The Roar about Mr Orange’s rugby program at Melbourne’s Fountain Gate Secondary College? What’s not in question is that every child should have the opportunity to experience rugby – especially hard-to-reach kids, because they may need rugby most – and that Australia’s leading clubs, Super squads and national teams need the best of them.
Investing in initiatives that engage with non-traditional rugby schools, revitalise rugby in faltering strongholds and optimise successful schools and junior programs have to be a priority.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Girls, girls, girls!
In a difficult decade for rugby in Australia, the Wallabies’ stirring run to the 2015 RWC final was a bright light in the gloom. However, the glowing beacon was our champion women’s rugby sevens team, which won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Women’s rugby is simmering nicely in Australia, but there’s a sense that it could explode with a little more investment. After a hiccup at the Tokyo Olympics, player renewal has seen the sevens women crowned world series champions this season, an achievement deserving of far greater accolades than it received.
There’s no reason to think that the Super W teams and Wallaroos can’t make similar strides with more time to devote to core and advanced skills. Genuine semi-professional programs with strength and conditioning and health and medical support to rival the men’s programs – along with a plan to progress to full professionalism by 2029 – is a reasonable expectation.
For those curmudgeons who resent women’s rugby, you’re welcome to remain in the last century while the rest of us embrace the exciting opportunities that will come with integrating women fully into our sport.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
A-okay
Confirmation of the Australia A program, which will see a team participate in the Pacific Nations Cup in July, came while this piece was in the works – great timing and a tremendous initiative.
In the past, for those on the fringe of Wallabies selection, the options following the conclusion of Super Rugby have been limited to club rugby or a short-term contract overseas. While many welcome the opportunity to reconnect with their clubs, it’s not ideal for the development of players such as Andy Muirhead, Feleti Kaitu’u or Will Harris should they miss out on the Wallabies squad.
An Australia A program gives encouragement and elite opportunities to coaches too. However, Rugby Australia needs to raid the piggy bank to establish the A program in the long term, to ensure the benefit is ongoing. While they’re at it, why not explore the potential of a more substantial and structured A program for our Super Rugby teams?
Ill-timed injuries this season, most especially at the Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds, have exposed the lack of depth in our squads. An A program that helps squad members step up with confidence could be the missing link that assists Australian Super Rugby teams to be more consistently competitive.
Even more Super
The little gem that was Super AU was borne of the pandemic and proved a surprise hit. Who can forget 40,000 screaming spectators at Ballymore for the finale of the 2021 vintage? In the absence of the eight-team National Rugby Championship (NRC) – which suffered from a lack of support, tribalism and marketing – Rugby Australia could do worse than invest in a late-year Super Rugby AU tournament as a prelude to Super Rugby Pacific.
It would have access to existing cohorts of Super Rugby players with the opportunity to draft ambitious club stars for a closer look. The supporter base is inbuilt too, which overcomes a key drawback of the NRC.
Would provincial coaches be prepared to start preseason earlier to accommodate Super Rugby AU as a reward for all the hours sweating through gym sessions and on-field drills? It would certainly provide more meaningful game time, give players a chance to shine while the Wallabies are away on spring tour and offer rugby nuts a last taste of nirvana before the long, empty weeks of summer begin.
Sharing the story
Rugby Australia’s marketing pigeon has had a busy time of late. From launching the England series to confirming a brace of Rugby World Cups and announcing a succession of player re-signings, there’s been no shortage of good news. As a consequence, the mood in and around rugby in Australia has improved dramatically.
But there’s still something missing. Much of the activity has been around the ‘what’, but there’s still a gap when it comes to the ‘why’, especially the ‘why everyone should care’.
Something many of us would like to see is a vision for the future, an image of what the Australian rugby landscape could look like in ten, 20 or even 50 years. For mine, the willy-waving at other codes is juvenile, tedious and entirely unnecessary.
Is it hopelessly idealistic to believe that Australian rugby simply needs to be the best version of itself? If that means rugby thrives as an exciting and welcoming boutique sport, all well and good. Small can be beautiful.
There’s a sensational story to share with or without RWCs about the unique qualities of our game, the people who play it and its international profile. Too often those stories don’t resonate as they should. Expert media and communications can identify the narratives that will bring Australian rugby’s vision to life for today’s rugby supporters and, most importantly, for those still to come.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Be a little more open minded JC, I've a few Dragons players that would fantastic out of the red V and in pretty much any other jersey. Make a good offer and we could even throw in a coach.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
You’re a hard one to please KnC. I’m guessing you want people to support rugby, then go and kick (I get it) someone who actually put and continues to put, their own money into a club to keep it going and promote the game through Asia and the Pacific when the ARU didn’t want to know anything about it. Thanks for supporting the game and all those who love it.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the reply PL. Congratulations on wedding. Hope you have many wonderful and happy years ahead. Mrs Far Less Busted’s Dad was indeed on the Mersey and in fact in it. He and two other boys fell from the top spa, survived, but spent six weeks in hospital under observation because the river was so polluted in those days. Sir John Masefield was a little ahead of my father-in-law. His poem, “Silver Gulls” was read at his service. Did you know that Sir John gifted an amount of money so that Conway would continue and the “Silver Gulls” would have somewhere to return? Typical government decision to close Conway though. When he retired my FiL was Port Master Q’ld. Other boys who were there during his time include Benny Hill and Dick Emery. Yes, Conway prepared its men for many and varied opportunities in life. Mrs FLB hopes Conway was teaching swimming by the time you got there. They didn’t in her Dad’s time so he was lucky to survive the first torpedoing, let alone the following two. She’s also asked me to say thank you. It’s comforting to know there are still Conway men out there. Her dad was so proud of Conway and the men it produced. For eight years it was his family. Best of luck to the Force. They are my second team as I have a younger brother who has been on the coaching staff on two separate occasions now. Have a lovely weekend. BF
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Hi BF, On my honeymoon up in wonderful Shark Bay so only got back to the accomodation after good day out. Your father-in-law would have been on the Conway when it was on the Mersey in Liverpool before the war as it had to be shifted to the Menia Straights between Wales mainland and Anglesey because of the bombing by the Germans. In those times living onboard the ship was very different to my time as they were in very cramped spaces, sleeping on hammocks that were slung every evening and put away every morning so the space cauld be used for other purposes. The ship was a 3 masted ship of the line, of Corvette Class, 92 guns, 4,375 long tons and 65m on tbe gun deck with 2 decks I believe. There was one tale, (that was true) that a bounty was paid for every rat brought to the duty officer. The boys worked out how to recycle the rat many times. When the rat was brought to the duty officer, he would enter it into the log book with the name of the Cadet against the entry for payment of the bounty then throw the dead rat out the window. Some other cadets would hang down near the water line off ropes further aft and quietly scoop the rat up. It would be then dried and a day later represented as a new rat by a different Cadet to a different duty officer (they changed every day). There is a book called New Chums by John Masefield who was a cadet, QB (quarter boy, as the course at that time was 2 years split into 4 quarters). He also became poet laureate. In my time we were totally shore based as the ship had been wrecked in the swellies between the Robert Stevenson railway bridge and the Menia Road Suspension Bridge by Thomas Telford when being towed to Liverpool for refitting and the current was too strong for the tugs. You only went through on slack tide because, the current coming from Carnarvon in the south along the Menia Straights and that coming around the outside of Anglesey and flowing from the north into the swellies had to be judged. There ate at times a waterfall of a metre between the two streams will occur. A power boat use to take a line of sailing boats through the swellies each Saturday in summer to sail against the locals starting at Menia Bridge or further north at Beaunaris. Wonderful times sailing when the sun was shining but bitterly cold if raining Colder than dailing om Perth in the middle of winter. I applaud your trying to get rugby included in a state school and understand your frustration when it ended Well done though. Cheers
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
7s could work tho.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Maybe, but if you rotate the all stars home games around the SS and QPR grounds you might get buy in from clubland if you play in on club land turf. Imagine 6-7000 at Rats watching them play the Brums or Reds.
Double Agent
Guest
It's often suggested on here that we should get Rugby back into public schools and I agree. It would be great. But it's never gunna happen! Those days are gone. The system is barely interested in any sport let alone Rugby.
Kick n Clsp
Guest
JC, Well not very well in Perth then,as there has been no Improvements in the FARCE or local Rugby.
Kick n Clap
Guest
JC , And what about rest of the 95% “Borefest”? I think you guys should really have “good look at yourselves” and start targeting your own doorstep with Crowd Attendances & actual new Viewers to STAN, more than having a dig at RL once again. It is without doubt this year that NRL is kicking the goals with FULL stadiums and record breaking TV audiences, which will only be multiplied by The State of Origin. We’ve then got the GF and then the Rugby League Cup over in England later in the year, so our Rugby calendar is looking pretty full for us guys. Go the Brumbies. A great warm up act for the Raiders????
Kick n Clap
Guest
Well Crazy, You guys have to try to win a something in WA,as SuperRugby looks a bit far fetched? What about the re- introduction of Lord Twig ‘s GGR and the Farce going into that comp? “Any takers?”
T Bradley
Roar Rookie
Thx Geoff, that’s exactly what I mean. Apologies if these discussions have been had before but that sounds great. Clubbies get to play with good players. The odd wallaby returning from injury may play a game. Plus us wallaby fans get to still enjoy rugby wins whilst the ABs give it to us
Started at 11 Finished at 1
Roar Rookie
I don't think the average punter would turn up. That is why making it an event would have to be the strategy (don't use whoever organised Super Round). If you had a double header at a suburban ground and sold cheap beers on the sidelines you should be able to get a bunch of uni students turn up. Similarly if you brought rugby to regional centers like Wagga or Dubbo you might get some more local fans turning up.
AndyS
Guest
There was no pro teams when the Brumbies were created, the three teams went professional simultaneously at the start of S12. That is actually my point...had they not, NSW and Q'ld might have taken some on as wider squad players, but the rest would have remained amateur club players and probably been living in NSW or Q'ld in the hope of being picked up later. If they then tried to introduce the Brumbies a few years later, there would have actually been nothing left in Canberra...their best would be gone, getting them back would have created resentment from the two established teams, the rest brought in to make up numbers would be desperately trying to play catch-up on professional standards, and all while being pitched out against the likes of the Blues and Crusaders in their prime. It would have looked a lot like the Force, and there is a good chance Melbourne would have been the more likely location when looking at expanding an already professional comp, not an amateur one going professional. I certainly think you could completely discount any possibility of flags in 2000 and 2004 too.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
That's it, mate. It's all in the timing. Super Rugby from the start of the year, club rugby as per normal, and then when both are finished, a national domestic 2nd tier comp which features the best club players plus the squad guys and non-internationals from the SR squads. Pretty close to what the NRC was. I don't think club rugby needs messing with.
JC
Roar Rookie
Wednesdays is usually the players' day off but apart from that mid-week sounds like it ha some merits. Would you get fans to turn up? I'm not sure. I do think that reserve teams aligned with the current Super teams would have stronger fan buy-in than the NRC (which was excellent for development, BTW).
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day Poco Loco. I have a couple of points for you. Firstly, my late father-in-law was a Conway man, but much before your time. Graduated as a 17 yo in 1939 and went straight into service at the outbreak of WW II. His stories of life on Conway were of a tough life, sent there as a 9 yo and allowed home for short periods twice a year. He went on to be the shallow water expert for the Chindits in Burma. For a short period of time in the 90s, I was able to run a rugby course in a State High School in Brisbane. There was no competition that we were a part of, so I organised for “friendlies” against as many private schools as I could. I must say that Nudgee was very helpful in that they agreed to be our first game of the year, and their first trial, for as long as I was able to keep the course running. Unfortunately, poor health on my part and the arrival of a Principal who was more of a soccer man, ended the course, although I understand it has been resurrected as a 7s program. But you’re right, in State Schools it is reliant on interested teachers and support from Principals as there’s no money to help out.
JC
Roar Rookie
Not intending to take Super players entirely away from their clubs, really just to have reserve teams playing concurrently with Super Rugby for that higher-level game time. It already happens in a brief and informal way -- at least the Brumby Runners and Waratahs As played a game earlier this year. There's still plenty of time when Super Rugby wraps up for players to return to their clubs, minus the Test/Aus A squads. Fully agree that Super players helping to upskill and mentor club teammates is important.
JC
Roar Rookie
Is schools rugby streamed currently?
JC
Roar Rookie
One reason the first expansion team was in Canberra was that it was producing a cluster of very good players -- not enough to make a pro team on their own but something to work from. Certainly wouldn't go into it lightly, though.
JC
Roar Rookie
Good point -- send the fatties, tall skinnies and short skinnies to rugby. We love them all! :stoked: In fact, the 'all shapes and sizes' mantra should be at the forefront when we promote rugby in schools.