- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
In the first quarter of 2023, Rugby Australia is set to follow the lead of New Zealand Rugby and ink their own private equity deal.
While RA might yet decide to continue to borrow money, with the belief the game will get a second wind through the impending ‘Golden Decade’, a PE deal would bring between $100-$200 million through the front office.
With a further $100m expected to be generated from hosting the British and Irish Lions in 2025 and the men’s World Cup in 2027, RA has the opportunity to give the game a second chance.
There will be many mouths to feed, but the first thing RA should do is spend as much as $10m on 100 development officers.
RA must get the best rugby minds in the country – ranging from Dick Marks to Rod Kafer, Scott Wisemantel to Morgan Turinui – and set about the task of teaching the fundamentals of rugby to coaches and development officers across the country.
Rugby needs to expand, and RA must nourish the grassroots of the game and get it into public schools.
The Classic Wallabies program, which is being run by Turinui, has been running for years and does a phenomenal job in taking the game around the country.
(Photo by Ian Jacobs/MB Media/Getty Images)
RA must follow the lead of Auskick and get the game beyond the private schools and into all schools. Balls and hats go a long way in getting the game greater exposure.
RA chairman Hamish McLennan recognises this. It was one of the first things he said over coffee earlier in the year.
There are other action areas too. Competitions like the Waratah Shield must be resurrected. Women’s rugby should be a priority, but simply by exposing the game to more at children at school will do ample to lift the game’s presence.
While a third tier of rugby competition is necessary, RA, together with the five Super Rugby franchises, will be well served by tours.
The reintroduction of the Australia A program has been a huge boost for the game because the Wallabies’ fringe players have been exposed to another six matches.
The governing body does have a question to ask about which players they will target, but more exposure to mainstream media, including News Corp, is essential.
While rugby fans like to blame News Corp for the game’s failings, it is time for them to look in the mirror.
News Corp lost interest in the game for the poor administration of the game, which contributed to millions being wasted and young talent choosing other sports. They lost interest in the game because the wider public did.
They lost interest because the Wallabies, as well as their Super Rugby franchises, struggled for consistency and silverware.
It should be noted that News Corp and Fox Sports attempted to buy the rugby rights – and were furious when they missed out on them.
Nonetheless, rugby fans must stop feeling sorry for themselves and looking for others to blame.
Strong analysis, which adds to the debate should be encouraged, whatever platform it comes from.
Rugby must embrace the adage that any publicity is good publicity.
I’m excited about joining The Roar and hope to bring a strong news element to the coverage. I want to complement the fine work that Brett McKay, Harry Jones, Geoff Parkes and Nick Bishop – and many more besides – have done to make the website what it is today.
I also hope to bring readers closer to the players around Australia.
There is much to celebrate and be excited about in our game’s present and future.
Australia’s men’s and women’s sevens teams are the World Series champions while the Wallabies could still yet shock many at next year’s World Cup.
Australia will host the women’s World Cup in 2029 too, and the governing body got a strong kick-up the backside about what will be required for the Wallaroos to go deep in the competition.
Rugby remains a national game. The Wallabies brand is strong while Australia’s women’s sevens side has been the envy of women’s sport across the country and indeed the world.
While two decades of inconsistency and a failure to win the Bledisloe Cup have seen fans waver and question the direction of the game, international rugby is stronger than ever.
Australians will get a reminder of that, particularly when Lions fans, deprived last year because of COVID-19, travel Down Under.
Rugby has faced a bumpy ride over the past two decades in Australia. There remains hope that the game can head in a new prosperous direction.
I look forward to adding to the rugby debate.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.