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The Roar

Allan Eskdale

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Joined December 2021

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Clubs love restraints of trade, it controls player wages. It lasts as long as it takes for one player to take a stand. Well that was in the old days before player unions …

RA chief's radical draft plan to revive Super Rugby, including Wallabies free to play for NZ clubs

Worse I think. Each new crop of marketing people who seem to know nothing about rugby setting the current state as a benchmark.

Apart from the Twiggy impetus I think WA and Victoria have had to build from the ground up as a matter of survival. That focuses the mind and action.

Mates coming back from the Golden Oldies were very impressed with the vibrancy in the local competitions. A lot further advanced than 40 years ago.

How will Super Rugby Pacific be run in 2024 and why do we still know nothing about it?

That is lucky Brett, the only things coming out of Fort Fumble are thought bubbles and private briefings for journalists.

Without NZ Rugby the Drua would have remained a thought bubble. There is zero capability to plan and execute. A draft? An illegal restraint of trade. What is the point of having “business people” on the board if they don’t know the basics?

How will Super Rugby Pacific be run in 2024 and why do we still know nothing about it?

😂 I was thinking about a deadlock within RA that the Chairman has now been able to move past and announce his latest mad scheme to improve Australian Rugby without Rugby Australia having to do anything themselves.

The idea of an independent body is laughable. Similar to SANZAAR, once a centralised body to negotiate rights was no longer required, there should have been no need to have some separate corporate shell managing the competition.

RA had a rugby committee (AM/PW/DH) and it would make sense just to form a sub-committee with three Kiwis. I suppose the beauty of having a meaningless independent body is that you have someone else to blame. That works even better if it hasn’t been set up yet.

How will Super Rugby Pacific be run in 2024 and why do we still know nothing about it?

I think they do try and spread the coaches and players around so that the pathways are optimised. It would certainly be more practical than in Australia because there are so many differences around the implications of moving to different cities and franchises here.

RA chief's radical draft plan to revive Super Rugby, including Wallabies free to play for NZ clubs

A draft is an illegal restraint of trade. Refer both Hill and Tutty. I don’t think the AFL draft is legal either but it works for them and nobody rocks the boat. The news reporting often suggests that more experienced higher value players end up where they want to go. I don’t think Rugby is big enough across Australia, and the player pool deep enough, to work the same.

RA chief's radical draft plan to revive Super Rugby, including Wallabies free to play for NZ clubs

Mack Hansen had a dreadful run with injuries and may not have had any takers. Off the top of my head, four games in there seasons. I remember at the time it was certainly less than the 9 games he played in his first season leading up to his Irish selection.

RA chief's radical draft plan to revive Super Rugby, including Wallabies free to play for NZ clubs

Sorry Keith, I really do not understand your point. I am sure there are big lessons to be learned on engagement, recruitment, coaching and development etc. So far we only appear to have imported deafening music at games.

If you think my point was that there should be no marketing, then you missed my point. RA has no concept of what their target market is, or how to reach it.

RA chief's radical draft plan to revive Super Rugby, including Wallabies free to play for NZ clubs

The larger market argument has been used to attack the arrogant big brother attitude of NZ and justifying why Australia is an equal partner. A little bit too tongue in cheek from me probably.

As Piru intimates, Australia just has no interest in promoting the game, and no idea how to, anyway.

Look at the Super Round. Nobody, probably including the Promoter, really made much effort to promote it. All the profits are locked in for home teams, the Unions and the Promoter when the deal was struck with the Government.

Take the Waratahs. It was Fiji’s home game so they were even less interested. Same as the Crusaders game in Wollongong a couple of years ago. Super Round needs to be a celebration, like the Sydney 7s should be. A priceless opportunity to get Waratah fans together as if they were a club.

Same applies with all away games, they have zero interest in Waratah fans who travel, or live outside of NSW.

I don’t agree with the Twiggy argument. He wanted control over the funds which is fair enough, but then it is not funding for the game. Mind you, I would not be handing $50m of my money to RA either!!!

As an aside, I highly recommend taking atrip to Victoria if it is on again next year. Provided they shut down that %$#&^* deafening music between games and plays. If I want to listen to music I prefer it to be my choice, on a decent sound system, and not drowning out thinking and talking about the rugby.

How will Super Rugby Pacific be run in 2024 and why do we still know nothing about it?

A bit too early in the morning to try and read an article mostly written between the lines.

Given the latest article with the Chairman’s “vision” for Super Rugby I can guess at one reason for the delay. Apparently now resolved.

Somebody still has to explain to me why you can argue that your own potential market is much bigger than NZ, so you want to lock in a 50/50 share in revenue for 7 years. Absolutely zero belief that RA can grow the revenue in the game in Australia.

At the same time, desperate to hand over a percentage of the revenue in perpetuity in return for a lump sum to be used to repay debt and splash on professional players.

How will Super Rugby Pacific be run in 2024 and why do we still know nothing about it?

I used to love saying that Hamish and Andy run rugby. If I had to choose just one of them to go …

Rugby will not survive as long as it is a marketing play thing. Positive media clicks might be how sponsors think but it is a dubious KPI to assess and judge sponsorship of sport. All exposure is not automatically good exposure but it seems to me this is judged to be a means of proving that the game is attractive to pump up its PE value. Almost as essential as appearing profitable.

The draft is not legal, and survives in the AFL by tacit agreement of all parties. I hope this is not the fire that is generating the Gil Mcloughlin smoke.

RA chief's radical draft plan to revive Super Rugby, including Wallabies free to play for NZ clubs

Clause 7 of the Constitution. No rights to attend at board meetings. Can speak, not vote, at general meetings.

Revealed: Why Rugby Australia boss resigned four months out from World Cup as replacement emerges

PE is the process of nailing a coffin shut with a living RA inside, and putting it in the ground. After a certain number of years the $ run out and RA dies. Finally, we can restructure the game and pronounce that RA is dead, and long live rugby.

Maybe Marinos figured the secret out, and all movie watchers know what happens next.

Revealed: Why Rugby Australia boss resigned four months out from World Cup as replacement emerges

As I wrote a while back, there is no accountability of the RA board of directors to anybody. That certainly has proved to be the bedrock of longevity. They also have pretty much total control over who is nominated and elected as a new director.

Certainly my concern with Marinos’ appointment was that as SR CEO he had one foot in the tent, and could probably be relied upon not to rock the boat. I was frankly sceptical about the unimpressive achievements of SANZAAR so was inclined to think that the main attraction was his ability to do what he was told.

I only repeat all of that to underline the serious issue that there is some possibility of appointing an existing director as CEO.

Rugby would be well served by an experienced CEO with ties to community rugby rather than somebody who has been primarily engaged with professional rugby. Sadly that sort of person will not be employed, or if so, will not last long.

On the $8m surplus, anyone else a bit confused because they did not feel they observed such a profitable business in action?

Revealed: Why Rugby Australia boss resigned four months out from World Cup as replacement emerges

Strategy?

The only way this could ever be successful is getting a pot load of money from somewhere and paying even higher salaries to more players. Notwithstanding that we are already paying above what is affordable, or even represents value for the number of spectators and viewers paying to watch those same players.

This is the same problem that has plagued Australian rugby since 1995. All wisdom and knowledge is centralised at Moore Park and everything must be controlled by them.

A change in circumstances was forced upon them, yes. The response that this means the rules shelved, need to be reinstituted and then reviewed by our “high performance panel” (Marinos, Waugh and Herbert; the most qualified and independent three people in Australia, really?).

I have long held the similar view that we need to keep our best players in the country, albeit with a proviso that younger emerging players might benefit from playing overseas. 2021 changed my mind and confirmed the following:

– we don’t have enough players taking up the sport
– we don’t have systems and coaches to teach skills and develop junior players
– we don’t have systems and coaches to teach skills and develop adult players so they are ready to play at the lowest professional level
– we pick players at the next professional level with potential, and then try and teach them skills and get them fit so they can learn to play and compete at that level
– we don’t have enough good players to play at a professional level to standards that will generate enough income to pay them

From an Australian rugby perspective:
– we can pick players from overseas and they will perform, if there is sufficient opportunity for team preparation
– the player drain will increase unless we increase player salaries significantly
– open slather on selections might work in a RWC year but that totally eliminates the disincentive to moving overseas
– we probably cannot afford a Wallaby team which wins only at the RWC but is ordinary for the rest of the time

What is hilarious is that we stripped rugby knowledge out of the board and management of RA. We compensate by having a side agreement with RUPA, not part of the constitution, that insists that there will be two professional era Wallabies on the RA board. Apart from the fact that RUPA is already a strong negotiating stakeholder for players, it is not clear whether the ex-Wallabies are nominated by RUPA, or there must be enough of them encouraged (by who?) to apply.

Either way it is hard to see their role as being independent. With two members of the high performance panel being ex professional Wallabies, and the third being a globe trotting professional, an outcome leading to higher salaries for players cannot be unexpected.

The NZ PE deal ended up being one the players could not refuse. The original proposal did preserve the position of players. The revenue % share will be linked to the gross commercial revenues, not the net share received by NZRU. It was still rejected by players, although I did prefer their model of offering the deal by the public market to investors.

Now, NZRU has clearly flagged that PE monies will be applied to elite players to keep them in NZ. At the least it will mean some sort of ‘marquee top-up’ over and above the current % share, and I would not be surprised if there is some compensation for any COVID pay cuts. All of this would be by side agreement and discussion, and it is not feasible to reallocate the current % share towards elite players.

In addition under the new proposal, NZRU and NZRPA will get 7.5% each of future income earned by the Silverlake future global opportunities venture. That is the real killer for me. Just like the English Premiership the upfront greed delivers a nasty back end surprise.

Silverlake will have 85% of future global and technology investment opportunities with NZR getting 15% for their rugby and sporting input. Sorry, but I do not see how that is not selling all of your blue sky.

I recently proposed one way forward as a competition focussing on the Pacific Rim where significant economic potential for rugby lies, and NZ and Australia are at the centre. Does Silverlake automatically become the automatic 85% owner of the NZ share?

It is about the dumbest deal anyone could make, and they promised community rugby $30m for selling its assets built over 150 years. I would laugh, but I know who is next.

RA's strategy to replace Giteau Law for eligibility puts pressure on Rennie, RWC hopefuls

I agree with the first two sentences but note that with a strategy that allows for proper preparation and integration (2) falls away.

I think any endorsement of “RA weighing things up” being evidence of sound decision making is your weak point.

RA's strategy to replace Giteau Law for eligibility puts pressure on Rennie, RWC hopefuls

That is the problem I think TWAS, international windows are more of a European solution. They play in the same competitions and there is continuity in the international team. The lesson from 2021 was that the optimum solution is preparation like Cooper and Kerevi, not 2 tests to settle in so that you can play OK in the third.

Beale gets it, barring the stellar handful, as things stand, local players will still have an edge over those ones overseas.

RA's strategy to replace Giteau Law for eligibility puts pressure on Rennie, RWC hopefuls

That is part of the problem TWAS, decisive action is needed to tailor and negotiate solutions as part of a strategy. The use of “strategy” in the headline is fake news of the most cynical kind.

RA's strategy to replace Giteau Law for eligibility puts pressure on Rennie, RWC hopefuls

They will be a lot better than 2021 Nick. In the TT there was a big improvement in defence and I certainly thought they were very threatening with the ball in hand. Plus the returning players, although it is a shame some good quality players like Rodda shied away.

Given the conditions last night’s performance was outstanding. Since 2016 they could not have played so much rugby without dropping the ball every fifth movement, no matter how dry the ground. I think there is a lot of improvement to come this season although tight five depth may sink us in the end.

I am looking forward to today’s game and think Fiji should lose, for much the same reason as you identify I guess. I am still interested in whether they reduce their mistakes and the Brumbies absorb the physical test.

Are the Waratahs the real deal in 2022?

If there has been one repetitive lesson over the last ten years, it is that we have never been better conditioned as the Kiwis, at either Super or Test level. My first thought was that the players don’t have what it takes.

My second thought at half time was “how may of them are glad of the hard work now”.

My third thought was unprintable but was reflective of the gratitude the Reds should be feeling for BT.

My 4th thought; there is a lot of improvement left in the Waratahs, fulfilling the promise showed in the 2021TT. Depth in the tight five will be an issue, although good prospects should be keener to sign up in the next few years. We will see tonight whether Rodda will have any regrets.

The battle of brawn and brains between Tongan Thor and young bull Bell shapes as one for the ages

😂 I was going to say something similar about the docks in Marseille.

The battle of brawn and brains between Tongan Thor and young bull Bell shapes as one for the ages

It is tough to evaluate last week’s game given the Drua are new to the competition etc.

Many were disappointed by the lack of razzle dazzle but the substitute of just attempting to run over the top of the Waratahs was a test for the home side.

I was impressed that they played to a standstill meeting the physical challenge and still repelled a lot of the Drua attack in the closing stages.

If the Waratahs show up well tonight against the Reds I would suggest the Drua are going to make life uncomfortable for the Australian sides if they get some parity in the set piece.

Are the Waratahs the real deal in 2022?

Dempsey gone, and last week that attitude appears to have disappeared too. With the reports of Reds players unhappy with being trained too hard you might find the problem followed you over the border. Should be an awesome match.

‘The stench will wash away’: Waratahs hope fairweather fans show up

Sorry Brett, for the late response.

“Laying out the product” would be “we think this competition is worth $X because these are the expected viewer numbers, they represent this sort of market segment etc, and here is our detailed plan around how we will increase the viewer numbers over the life of the contract.”

That is a thousand miles from “pick a competition and tell us what you think it is worth”. Castle was just desperate because RA had overseen the implosion of the value of its offerings since 2015 while needing an increase in revenue to cover its blown out costs.

I agree on the collaboration issue. As I have repeatedly written recently the broadcaster and RA are joined at the hip. TV numbers will drive match attendance and match attendance will drive TV viewers. I have seen nothing in memory indicating that either are working together to advance their mutual goals.

That will be driven by the original negotiations and clearly RA are not smart administrators identifying the value and how it can be increased. AFL and NRL are much more in sync with the broadcasters’ needs and how their game serves them. In soccer there is some sort of collaborative benchmarking where the value of the broadcast contract increases.

There is huge upside in revenues just by doing the basics better.

The great unknown: Will Super Rugby Pacific give the game the stability it craves?

😂 he won’t even have to feed the horse.

I think he is a great player, but my thoughts on his contract are along the lines of the second paragraph.

The staggering part was the last paragraph. What an epic fail for professional rugby administration in Australia.

'That would be massive': Slipper sets sights on fourth World Cup, and Wallabies caps record, after new deal

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