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Wallaroos players have lashed Rugby Australia for inequities between the women’s and men’s national programs, claiming their team have been lied to.
Current Test players took to social media to share a statement, saying it’s time for the governing body to invest properly in the women’s game and referenced the success of the Matildas, who finished fourth in the soccer World Cup.
The post came after one of the Wallabies’ partners shared a TikTok revealing her luxurious final night at the Sydney InterContinental.
The premise being that Rugby Australia flew partners to Sydney and put them up a five star hotel, while the Wallaroos and, indeed, women’s XV-a-side rugby is not yet fully professional.
Several Wallaroos players shared Instagram stories expressing their anger, saying: “The Wallabies paid for flights, their stays, and their meals at a five-star hotel in Sydney. Eddie [Jones] has more than six coaches in his program – the Wallaroos head coach [Jay Tregonning] isn’t even full time. The Matildas have shown the world’s hunger for elite female sport. The man in charge of Australian Rugby needs to step up and make some changes, before history remembers him as a villain, not a saviour.”
One player added: “Do Better Rugby Australia. More support to be a Wag than a national female Athlete. Must be nice.”
No expense has been spared in the Wallabies preparation for next month’s Rugby World Cup in France, with multiple training camps and a trip to Arnhem Land before their departure to Paris.
Test backrower Grace Hamilton was one of the players to post the statement, which claimed her team, which recently played two Pacific Four matches in Canada, always flew economy while their male counterparts were in business class.
Hamilton recently joined the Sydney Roosters NRLW side.
The Australia Wallaroos (Photo by Andrea Cardin – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
The statement said RA told players there was no money for full-time playing contracts and criticised the amount paid to recruit league star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
It also pointed out that their coach, school teacher Jay Tregonning, wasn’t full-time yet Wallabies coach Eddie Jones had multiple assistants.
“You told us flying anything beyond economy was too costly, then you flew the Wallabies business class on a trip shorter than ours,” the Wallaroos said in the statement posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“You told us full-time contracts are in the pipeline, that there wasn’t enough money to keep the men in the game let alone us then you paid $5 million for an NRL player.
“You said our program will go professional and our coach will be full-time. How many coaches has Eddie taken to the World Cup?
“You continually say we don’t have enough resources and yet we all saw the World Cup send-off for the Wallabies.”
With Australia set to host the women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029, the Wallaroos demanded RA invest properly in their team and development pathways.
“It’s time for the chairman, board and CEO to prioritise the future of Australia women’s rugby and allocate adequate resources,” they tweeted.
“The future of our game hangs in the balance. It’s your move Rugby Australia.”
Rugby Australia have yet to comment.
AAP with staff writers
© AAP
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