Ten months after David Nucifora “challenged” his former national union to move towards a centralised system, The Roar can reveal Rugby Australia is preparing to announce an agreement in principle to work together with the five Super Rugby franchises to become more aligned.
For the past decade, centralisation has become a buzzword in Australian rugby after New Zealand Rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union have reaped the benefits of moving to a centralised model.
It’s something Nucifora tried to usher through a decade ago, but failed to gain enough support from the states.
“I had my go at it,” Nucifora told The Roar last November.
“I tried to do my best to put in place certain things that I thought would work and there were other people that had different views.”
Australian rugby’s loss has been Ireland’s gain, with the Emerald Isle heading into the World Cup on top spot of World Rugby’s rankings.
While Andy Farrell’s men have an almighty tough task ahead of them, with Ireland to face Scotland, South Africa and Tonga in their pool before a likely match-up with either France or New Zealand in the quarter-finals, their consistency over the past five years has shown their strength.
In stark contrast, the plucky Wallabies have plummeted down the World Rugby rankings and been well outside the top two since their stunning run to the World Cup final in 2015.
Nucifora has all along encouraged Rugby Australia to adapt their model to become more centralised.
“I do. I do. My challenge to them back there is it is doable, it is achievable, they can do it. They’ve just got to start making some hard choices,” he said.
“I’m not saying for a moment that it would be identical to what we do here, but I think they definitely do because one of the rewards from it is financial efficiency.
“I think they’re desperately in need of that and then it becomes operational and performance orientated as well.”
Ever since Hamish McLennan walked through the doors at Moore Park, the RA chairman has sought to change the system.
(Photo by Oisin Keniry – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
While he previously wanted constitutional change, McLennan and new RA chief executive Phil Waugh are pushing the benefits of centralisation once again.
As one source said, “It’s an agreement to work together on a massive reform that will start to look at things like centralisation. That’s all.”
What that entails is yet to be ironed out, but the proposed position includes high-performance alignment regarding contracting and key coaching positions as well as strength and conditioning.
Waugh, it is understood, is also hoping to push other versions of centralisation including around the business.
“It’s a key platform of Waughy coming into play,” one rugby figure said.
“He’s taken it beyond players and high performance to which other parts of the business would be better off from being run from a holistic perspective.”
Some Super Rugby franchises however are not completely sold on the commercial aspects of the proposed plans.
Another source said, “We’re on a journey”.
No timeline is set in stone yet, but it’s thought it could still take another two years before some of the principles agreed to come into effect.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Another thought bubble announcement. There has been obviously no consultation to date. At least in 2013 they could announce that Queensland can run the back office operations for the other states. Presumably this is what Waugh means by "around the business". Very hard to make this succeed without complete buy in upfront. Even if forced upon them some franchises will be waiting for mistakes to happen. Again accountability for player and coaching development left with the existing SR franchises and unions. Australia's biggest area of failure, but no change, I guess leaving the hard part with someone else makes sense at least. While there is merit in influencing player and coaching movements, straight out direction is a potential problem. Lets see how that plays out with players when that happens. It will probably mean a general rise in salary cap, or top ups will be required. Or players will head overseas.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Nope, sorry. Never going to fly. Thanks for trying! :happy:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“Finding a way to get the” states, clubs, coaches, CEOs, “to play nicely with their friends is a tough gig “
Cannonball
Roar Rookie
Thanks for clarifying
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Was it not a case that they could focus most of their money on the heartland and let the rest of the country fend for itself.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Better not look at DN success with Ireland women, wooden spoon champions and missed the last WC. Centralization doesn't fix the coach selection or the women's game or finding money they don't have.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I am not sure how central Ireland is. Munster and Ulster have had to come up with their own pipeline for producing players as they don't have the private schools numbers of Leinster. Main issue seems to be moving players but even then players like Max Deegan stayed but Cian Prendergast moved. Yes the Union can play hard ball over money but its still up to the provinces to do their own stuff. Will a Sydney player move to Melbourne just because its now centralised.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Certainly from the 70s the Marks national coaching programme was a game changer which was discontinued by JON in the 90s.
numpty
Roar Rookie
This should be encouraged and if RA can get it over the line then I'd tip my hat to them. But, the actual substance and detail here sounds very thin and straight out of an episode of utopia. This sounds like a preproposal to inform the scoping project that will go to the committee to make a non binding decision on the best way forward to design the policy framework in a timeframe as yet to be determined by the working group.
Cannonball
Roar Rookie
Was it centralised? I thought that it has always been this way.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
At least what's being discussed is the correct principle. Let's see what comes of it.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
The whoke of SRP should be restarted along the lines of IPL cricket. A company like CVC or even Twiggy, should go above the unions and set up a league of franchises across Asia and Pacific region, based on a strong business plan, (South China Tigers??? The money would be there). The league would then contract players and put a price on them. Franchises would bid for players keeping to a salary cap. Maybe franchises from Japan would also work. The players would be eligible to play for any franchise without penalty, as the international windows would not interfere with the league. This would mean more money woyld be in the league, keeping the best players playing in region. It would also mean the unions would gave more money for developing the game.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
The middle tier needs to be between club and Super level. It needs players who are striving and driven to go much further, who believe they have what it takes - not just filling in their 20's playing club rugby. Many players out of the NRC went on to get Super contracts, or alternatively realised they just weren't good enough for the next level and went back and enjoyed their club rugby.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
If the great clearout is to amount to anything, there needs to be structural change accompanying it or it's just another dynasty of players brought in and, eventually, failing.
James584
Roar Rookie
Not sold in the idea of ‘centralisation’. Competition is the best way to get better quality. Central control is anti-competition. It could be very, very bad. A proper, open competition with free player movement and each franchise competing with each other franchise is the best way to go for long term quality improvement. Some controls can be applied, as control is applied to all entities competing in any ‘free’ market. Other competitions show the best way to do that.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ Seems to me to be a classic case of a tactical leak of no real substance to generate some alternate rugby coverage and divert attention from Wallaroos’ stories.” Cortez, ya reckon?!? Like this?:- Too much kumbaya, not enough victory, Then 0 to 4 looks like even less victory, Possession is Dead, then undead again, Then Hoops n Coops’ oops, Then shiny new youth policy with Nard and JOC, PID now means ‘playmaking is dead’ easy for rookies, Then 2027 is so 2023, Then uppercuts and other ‘positivities’ Then Hamish’s 1000 percent, absolutely, maybe, one day Then Wallaroos wishes for WAG per diems Then Shag goes full ocker………what a shocker Change the lead, change the story. And it’s only Tuesday.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
That's right. Australia had a decades long period of centralisation when it had unparalleled success and now it's in a decades long period of decentralisation which has been a period of sustained decline. Might be time for a new cycle.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Oz, reconcile or perish.
Adsie
Roar Rookie
Have a Kit Kat Ken. You’re head must be full of negative vibes. Time to have a deep breath and stop posting on every thread. It’s getting old and tiring. I’m trying to get an understanding of the broader rugby community, not just what you think.
Mike88
Roar Rookie
Spot on Oz. There's far too much vested interest and demarcation in Australia rugby administration that is counter productive to overall success.