Anyone who knows me also knows that I never criticise without offering solutions.
I posted elsewhere on The Roar that I thought the NRL should either buy rugby union or consider a merger.
The real benefit for rugby league would be greater international exposure and for rugby union would be stability. For both it would put to rest the argument of which winter sport is the largest – One Rugby or AFL.
The idea of the National Rugby League (NRL) purchasing or merging with Rugby Australia to become One Rugby is a significant proposition with potential benefits and challenges. Here are my 10 reasons why such a move could be advantageous for both codes.
1: By merging with Rugby Australia, the NRL and RA can consolidate resources, administrative staff, and marketing efforts, leading to more efficient operations. Only the very best people will be employed across the merged entity.
2: With a broader portfolio of rugby competitions under its umbrella, the new entity will be able to negotiate even better broadcast deals, ticketing revenue, sponsorships, merchandise agreements and betting arrangements thereby increasing revenue streams.
Coordinating the schedules of rugby league and rugby union competitions would minimize overlap and maximize the availability of top-tier rugby matches throughout the year. This would help avoid fixture clashes and ensure a more consistent viewing experience for fans.
3. A merger would create a more cohesive player development pathway from grassroots to professional levels, streamlining talent identification. Pooling resources for player development programmes would lead to a more robust talent pipeline for both rugby league and rugby union. Shared expertise and infrastructure would benefit both sports. It would be a nightmare for AFL.
Code hopper Joseph Suaalii. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
4. By offering a diverse range of rugby experiences, from rugby league to rugby union, the combined organisation would attract a broader fan base. This would lead to increased attendance at matches, higher television ratings, and greater overall engagement with the sports.
5. A single governing body for both rugby league and rugby union in Australia would streamline decision-making processes and improve overall governance. This would lead to greater accountability and transparency within the sport.
6. A larger organisation would have more bargaining power in negotiations with government bodies, sponsors, and other stakeholders, potentially influencing policy decisions and securing funding for rugby league and rugby union development.
7. A unified rugby organisation would present a more cohesive front in international competitions, such as the Rugby World Cup and Rugby League World Cup. This would enhance Australia’s standing on the global rugby stage and increase opportunities for success.
Australia are reigning Rugby League World Cup champions. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
8. Bringing together the NRL and RA under a single umbrella would foster a sense of unity and collaboration within the Australian rugby community. By working together towards common goals, the sport as a whole could thrive and flourish in the years to come. The NRL and RA would be able cross-promote their respective competitions and events, leveraging each other’s platforms to reach new audiences and grow the overall rugby community in Australia.
9. Instead of competing for resources and attention, a merger would reduce rivalry between NRL and RA, allowing both codes to thrive in a more collaborative environment. A merger would ensure that the rugby codes would stay ahead of AFL, no matter the metrics.
10. By consolidating operations and maximizing revenue streams, the combined organisation would achieve greater financial stability and sustainability in the long term. This would provide a more secure foundation for investing in community development and infrastructure projects.
While there are undoubtedly potential benefits, it’s crucial to acknowledge the complexities and challenges involved in such a merger, including governance structures, cultural differences between the codes, and potential resistance from stakeholders. Any decision to pursue such a path would require careful consideration and negotiation to ensure the best outcomes for Australian Rugby League and Rugby Australia as a whole.
William W
Roar Rookie
Why would League in Australia want anything to do with a broke and boring game called Rugba YAWNion?
Rosie
Roar Rookie
Yes agree AFL is like a plague of locusts swarming across the states of NSW & QLD throwing endless money in an attempt to convince people to play the game. This is also fuelled in QLD by the mass exodus of Victorians heading North and building junior participation by insisting their kids play AFL. The NRL is playing catch up there is no doubt about that, however, they are catching up at light speed. If the Super League war never happened, and the NRL didn’t have incompetence at the helm in the past it would be far in front of all other codes by now. I give credit to the AFL for having a solid strategic plan that they have not wavered from and stability at the top has also strengthened their vision.
Digger_Smolkan
Roar Rookie
AFL used to have an Origin. If withered and died from lack of fan interest.
Digger_Smolkan
Roar Rookie
NRL plus Rugby Australia = NRL with lots of debt it doesn't need and (once the small core of talented players are skimmed off) a whole bunch of donkeys on inflated wages. NRL without Rugby Australia = NRL without any debt hindering their next expansion push, which they may recruit the decent Rugby Union players for anyway.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Income = Licencing 486m, Operations and Events 190m, Rest about 25m. What was the $1.3b the NRL owe to the NRL clubs at the start of 2023 which reduced by $330m in 2023. So going off the accounts NRL looks like it is not a professional league but a governing body. Can you advise what income the Australian Rugby League Commission makes or year or is it all part of the $701m a year. From what I can tell the ARL and NRL are one company so then if you are comparing it to Union then compare the income of the French Union, T14, ProD2 and National. I think you will find its more than the NRL. Still waiting to see the income of the NRL clubs themselves are. Does the income RA include all the state unions aswell, for example in 2022 NSW State union earned about $14m is that in addition to the RA income. Anyway I'm sure he Vegas trip will be the next step in League taking over the World like Union has already done.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Then again you could add the bums on seats to the TV audience (whilst removing the Origin Series from the mix, that is an entirely differnt beast to the NRL) to see the real winner and I'm betting it isn't Rugby League and I'm a RL fan and care little about the AFL. You just can't deny they have done a better job of appealing to the fan base to get off their arses and go to games.
Ed Gein
Roar Rookie
All good Pete. You keep enjoying your rugby. Take your entire family to the next Rebels v Brumbies game and you might double the massive crowd of 4000 they got at last week's match. Cheers big fella.
Peter
Roar Rookie
So sorry Champ, Did you want me to compare it to the other top 30 Rugby Nations ? Australia is the only nation on that list where Rugby League is a the stronger of the the two codes. Samuel Johnson understood that “Patriotism is the last refuge of the the scoundrel.” I am sure that you are not one of those types but hey, It’s a big world out there Champ. I’d suggest you explore it sometime only I am concerned that you will get lost in it. Judging from your reply you seem a little lost already in a world of your own.
Ed Gein
Roar Rookie
How bad is rugby going when the best Pete can do is compare rugby league in Oz to South African rugby? No one in Oz cares about how many registered players there are in South Africa champ. That number could be a trillion and isn’t going to improve ratings, interest, crowds, or get more money into Oz Rugby. Couldn’t even get 15,000 to the Reds v Waratahs last week. Put a fork in Oz rugby, it’s done/
Megeng
Roar Rookie
Well the codes split in 1895 over money, so why not? Plenty of dollars under the bridge since then.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Yes. Every generation tries to shock the one that came before it. And is Usually successful.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
When I played at WASPS in the UK in 1980 we had a 10 that was a Punk. He spent ten minutes removing his razor blades and safety pins from his ears and nose. When he walked through the clubhouse, the older cravat and monocule wearers who say- “ Never, Never in my days have I ever seen anything like this “ He could play. Nothing changes- everything stays the same.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
It’s probably the only hope for Australian rugby now.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
You are a Kiwi?
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Absolutely.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
One company can only expand at another's expense too.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
we beat them in league already
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Because code wars are not a thing. Every code rightly works on growing its own game, not on how to nobble others. Any attempt would simply expose the insecurity and weakness of the aggressive code.
Nat
Roar Guru
Everything you need to know is in this report. https://www.nrl.com/about-us/annual-reports/
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Not really, I'm trying to work out how an organisation that earns so much in broadcast deals, has big attendances and sponsorships yet can only pay about $12m in wages. Easy to say the NRL and it's teams are earning loads but is it really because things don't add up. Each NRL team is getting $21m from the NRL plus surely atleast another $5-10m from other sources. While not as much as the top French teams I can't understand where all the money is going. Its not going on wages and it doesn't look like the teams are racking up massive profits so where is it going. Where is each NRL team spending their $20m after wages. AFL only give about $11m to clubs unless you are Gold Coast or Greater Sydney then you get $25m. So AFL clubs get half the funding from AFL that NRL teams get from NRL yet AFL has a higher wage cap. All this shows to me is the Union teams in and outside of Oz are doing amazing work to own stadiums and pay wages and run grassroots compared to NRL and AFL. One there is something in the figures you are leaving out.