How to fix Australian rugby

Geoff Parkes on The Roar, July 3 hit the nail on the head: “It’s all about coaching the coaches“.

Unquestionably rugby in Australia had its Golden Era in 1990 to 2005. In this period the trophy cabinet at the office of the ARU, now called RA was full. Two Rugby World Cups, the Bledisloe Cup and ranked as Number 1 in the world.

This success didn’t just happen. It was the work of the ARU Board who following on from the defeat of the Wallabies by Tonga in 1973 decided something had to be done.

The ARU decided to appoint a National Coaching Director. After exhaustive research, analysis, countless interviews former Wallaby, Dick Marks was appointed and in 1974 began work. This was around the time Bill Freeman in New Zealand was criss-crossing the country.

Dick Marks, supported by the President of NSW and subsequently ARU President, Peter Crittle began to research what was happening world wide with rugby coaching.

Rugby coaching was in its infancy, New Zealand were taking some steps, England through Bristol University were investigating programs but Wales were leading the world. International Ray Walliams was running the Welsh program and after some discussion Williams and his family were invited to Australia for a month.

From this experience Marks and Crittle were able to develop a skeleton of a program for Australia. By utilising all of Australia’s top coaching talent, running workshops and seminars eventually a National Coaching Manual was published.

This manual was the basis for a rugby coaching program to coach the coaches – Australia-wide. Over time and with the financial support of Rothmans and the intellectual property and facilities of the Australian Institute of Sport, (AIS) seminars and workshops were run, supported by State bodies whenever and wherever required.

Coaches were accredited according to their skill levels and the long haul of rebuilding Australian Rugby began.

In the late 70s and through the 80s and 90s progress was slow but steady. It takes time, patience and funding to build a base of skilled coaches who in turn can develop a base of skilled players.

Gradually the Wallaby success rate grew and slowly Australia was being acknowledged as a serious Rugby nation. Some coaches who came through this program were Bob Dwyer, Alan Jones, Rod Macqueen and Eddie Jones was a player and coached by Bob Dwyer.

It is significant to note in the World Cup-winning team in 1991 coached by Dwyer there were eight AIS graduates, in Rod Macqueen’s 1999 World Cup winning team there were 20 AIS graduates out of the 30 squad members and thirteen in the run on fifteen.

Bob Dwyer is quoted as saying “we won two World Cups, runner up in another two, a mammoth achievement by any standard, put it down to the vision, drive and determination of Dick Marks”. Dick Marks, Peter Crittle, David Clark from the AIS and and the coach the coaches program.

Sadly this program was discontinued by John O’Neill then Chairman of the ARU in 1995 and the ARU embarked on a program of poaching expensive rugby league players and so began the decline of Australian rugby.

As Geoff Parkes has written, to get Australian rugby successful again we need a large base of skilled coaches developing a larger base of skilled players.