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Geoff is a Melbourne based sports fanatic and writer, who started contributing to The Roar in 2012, originally under the pen name Allanthus. His first book, A World in Conflict; the Global Battle For Rugby Supremacy was released in Dec 2017 to critical acclaim. For details on the book visit www.geoffparkes.com Meanwhile, his twin goals of achieving a single figure golf handicap and owning a fast racehorse remain tantalisingly out of reach.
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I’m not attacking any poster, Jimmy. I’ve written about the intense stress that is being placed on many good people who have given and are giving an enormous amount to Australian rugby, who are being treated disrespectfully, and James’ response is to have crack at one of those people for ‘deflecting’ and ‘blaming’. It is appalling and I’d be happy to put him in front of some of those people and see how he managed those conversations face to face.
As for the rest of it, you say it yourself… “the DOCA comes across as” I realise it makes me unpopular amongst many posters, but the reality is so many opinions have been informed by news articles that are themselves full of half-truths, and a single report from the administrator.
This way forward is simple. If there really is a case for insolvent trading, ASIC will prosecute that. If RA cuts the Rebels the matter will go to court and all the facts will come to light. If RA keeps the Rebels then there will be a reason for that. Everything else is speculation.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
I assume you mean the administrator TH, as opposed to auditor?
No, the administrator is interested in determining if the business can operate moving forward, or if it should be liquidated, and in the process, securing the best outcome for creditors.
Whatever assurances might have been made and relied upon prior to his appointment are of interest, but aren’t the administrators responsibility.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Strong post, SD.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
The point I’m trying to make Andy is that there was a reason the ATO didn’t call time on their debt long before they did. It’s nonsense to suggest that this situation was allowed to develop and worsen without assurances being made by the funding body, and those assurances being relied upon.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
You highlight a key issue in your reply, Charlie.
Why don’t we see more of option c) ?
I’ve got no doubt, in this case, we would have seen the TMO use the extra wriggle room and deny the try.
That said, I’m all for the ref making more decisions and lessening the use of the TMO, and I’d hate to see us get like cricket where the umpires don’t even make clear run-out calls, and send everything upstairs.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Really good point about the substitutions nroko.
We do seem to make this process way more officious, formal and slow than what it could potentially be.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Just to be clear Derek, I’m not accusing RA of lying or anything improper.
What I am saying is that, 1. what is in the public domain is not the whole story, with respect to the nature of the relationship between the franchises and the governing body and how this feeds into the financial situation, and 2. staff deserve to be treated with far more transparency and respect than what is currently happening
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Mal is ‘the voice of grass roots rugby’. All the way from Woollahra…
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Brumbies seem like a real ‘mindset’ team at the moment Dusty. Up and about one week, muddling around the next.
Not to take anything away from the Drua, who I thought played really well, and who were very unlucky to take nothing out of the game.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
I’ve been to the Singapore stadium and, sorry to disagree muzzo, but I reckon it’s a soulless, concrete pit, and an awful place for rugby. Not to mention the ridiculous price for beer – worse than for our stadiums.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
You and I try not paying taxes for 6 years and see how long we get away with that, Andy…
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
That’s right, Phil. There would have been a few different scenarios all war-gamed and prepared, ready to go at short notice.
The difference with this one is that various people in NZ are saying that this is what has been agreed to.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Fair call, Charlie. I can see how the AR thought it was grounded.
But I’m not sure what the point of the TMO is, if they aren’t able to amend such decisions.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Great comment on the Womens 7’s final last night, RT. The quality of the match was outstanding and an absolute credit to both teams. (shame the same couldn’t be said about the commentary)
That looked really bad for Madison Ashby – it would be awful for her to miss the Olympics.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
“Rugby in NZ seems fairly secure in terms of its administration and in the public consciousness as the provincial and national sport.”
That’s actually far from the case, BB.
There’s a mighty stoush going on at the moment over governance and management of the game, and an overarching sense that things are heading in the wrong direction.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Why do you insist you know what the motives of the consortium are, Phil?
Why do you and others disregard the possibility that the debt may not have been accrued by the Rebels in isolation, but that the Rebels may have been managed/operated on the basis of undertakings made by RA?
None of which makes RA the ‘baddies’ btw. But it does provide a different/broader context, for anyone open to that.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
“For some reason many Roarers seem oblivious to the human element and can’t wait to stick the boot in every chance they get”
People jumping to conclusions based on limited public information is one thing, DGS.
Sticking it to staff members who are doing a manful job without any support from above, and who are under severe stress is next level, and speaks to true character.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Appalling post, James.
If you think Kevin Foote and the Rebels staff should be grateful for the way they have been treated in the VA period, you are woefully wide of the mark. Clearly, you are too “relaxed and comfortable” in your own world to grasp the reality for others.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
There’s a few aspects to that, TH.
The administrator has raised the prospect of the Rebels trading insolvent since 2018. That’s an (informed) view but not a statement of fact. Happy to take ASIC’s view on the matter.
There’s also the matter of a business supposedly insolvent in 2018, still trading 6 years ago. Why didn’t they run out of cash and fold long before now? Were they not so insolvent after all? Or were there undertakings made by RA to enable the trading situation to be managed on an ongoing basis?
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Miller has had a pretty tough time of it Coker, but I thought he was excellent on Saturday.
Tactically astute for the conditions and really got his kicking game working.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
You (and many others) are making a few assumptions Side, about how the situation got to this point and where the responsibilities for that lie.
The irony is that if this matter does go to court, all of that detail will come out. And don’t be surprised for that to highlight the dangers of passing judgment without knowing the full facts. Alternatively, if there does happen to be a negotiated solution which avoids court, that would tell a story of its own.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Well said, Riccardo.
And yes, I’m looking forward to seeing more of Havili at 10. Definitely worth persevering with at this stage.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
Once the AR said he saw the ball grounded, the TMO was always in a tough position, mz. Even so, he did have the opportunity to rule based on what everybody else could see – that the ball never touched the ground.
They’re very lucky that the Reds won regardless…
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’
I think what potentially shifts the dial is if/when there is peer reviewed research from new tech data (whether that be mouthguard receptors or other devices) that confirms any links.
It’s a minefield for lawyers to sort through but I’d imagine that even if there is informed consent, sports will still have to work to minimise harm. In this scenario, even if it’s ‘play on’ for anyone who wants to, my guess is that we’d still be looking at some major modifications around safety.
Unless, as Harry has suggested is a possibility, our society accepts full-on gladiator-style, to-the-death types of sport/entertainment.
But… that’s obviously speculative and still a long way off. I remain an advocate for rugby’s administrators to get ahead of the curve on safety – not for legal reasons, but to genuinely improve player outcomes.
The Wrap: Rebels young gun rockets out of Wallabies contention, and why Samipeni Finau's 'brutal' hit on Edmed was fair game
Jacko mate, look up the word ‘comprehension’ and give it a crack.
What I said in the article is that it has been reported by multiple sources in NZ that an 11-team comp has been agreed to. It’s in print, it was on a NZ rugby podcast last week, and I have been told the same by people from within NZ franchises that this is what they have had this fed down to them from NZ Rugby.
It’s not about ‘proof’, I’m not saying that this is definitely what’s going to happen – I’m just stating what is on public record for people who may not have heard it already.
The Wrap: Rugby Australia gaslights Rebels staff and why ‘I Can’t Go For That’