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My introduction to Rugby was by my Dad who signed me up for the Dee Why Lions Under 5's back in 1970 and then playing Junior Rugby during my High School Years and early Grade Rugby in Regional NSW before moving back to Sydney in 1988 to play for a District club for 3 years before injury put a stop to my playing days. Resuming my affair with Rugby via my two sons playing for their school and a village club during their High School years. I was committee member, Vice President, and Club President on my boy's High School's Rugby Club over an 8 year period.
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Great article Bruce.
I fail to understand why SRU, NSWRU & RA have spectacularly failed to invest in the clubs from Western Sydney (Parramatta, West Harbour, Penrith & Eastwood)!! The potential in this area to grow the game is immense and there should be a strategy to invest in the game by targeting school-age kids by a few simple steps:
1) Focused recruiting campaign for both Schools and Village clubs in Western Sydney!
2) No registration fees with medical insurance included (for Rugby playing Schools & Village Clubs)
3) Free shorts & socks (& Jerseys if not supplied by the clubs)
4) Train coaches up to an acceptable level (at no cost to the clubs)
5) Have Wallaby & Waratah’s players adopt a school where they devote, say 40 hours per season to promote the game at the nominated shool! Activities to include some coaching clinics and promotional activities for the school/ village club
The Penrith Emus are building a future in western Sydney
I did nominate Brett Papworth, in my second last paragraph! Only a few years ago, Papworth predicted the mess the game now finds itself in, as well as tabling a plan to redress the disconnection with Grassroots rugby!
Who should take the helm at Rugby Australia?
Thanks, TWAS & Geoff for your considered responses, they are sincerely appreciated. My reply in kind to each point:
i) The Israel Folau issue: So there was a triple the number of missteps for this lack of commercial acumen displayed by RA:
a) the loss of the Salteri family’s sponsorship and
b) RA didn’t include in Folau’s contract a precisely worded clause that strictly limited Folau’s social media comments (on past form) – it is obvious that the reported social media comment clause was poorly defined, otherwise, RA would have not proceeded to a quick resolution via a payout to Folau
c) and finally the subsequent multi million payout !
ii) Stephen Larkham’s sacking as Assistant coach to Michael Cheika, and subsequent contract payout
TWAS – I agree that Castle didn’t sack Larkham however she should be held responsible for the subsequent actions she took, which includes:
– Castle sought legal advice against Larkham for acting in bad faith, then recognising that the governing body didn’t have a leg to stand on, reshuffled Larkham throughout the RA business, which RA inadvertently included a trip with his family to Hong Kong and Singapore!
Which properly run business pays for overseas holidays for an employee’s family?
– RA mistakenly included a one-year termination clause in Larkham’s contract, rather than a standard three-month termination period!
It is reported that Larkham was on a deal worth between $400,000 and $500,000 each year. The year-long termination clause was previously included in Cheika’s contract, but ended up in Larkham’s because of poor and inadequate governance from management who forgot to change it from 12 months back to 3 months before Larkham received the paperwork.
iii) RA revealed a $9.4 million deficit for the 2019 Financial Year
TWAS – If as your point is stated that ” Unions lose money every RWC year. This is because RA loses at least 4 home tests as well as the TV revenue for June tests, a shortened Rugby Championship, and loses EOTY tests”, proves my point that Castle failed in her duty as CEO! Any properly run business should change its cost profile in anticipation of declining revenues for the subsequent period. In my option the failure of the CEO & the Board to make this adjustment is incredibly careless and negligent in running a commercial operation!
iv) Failure to have a set of signed off Accounts ready for the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Accounts for the 2019 Financial year can be signed off by auditors because they are a factual statement of financial performance for that Financial Year up to December 31st 2019, pre-COVID 19! I don’t see the NRL or the AFL who are all facing the same predicament using this excuse! I see this event as another indicator of a poorly run and governed organisation, and the Board should shoulder some of the blame!
The Wrap: Unravelling Australian rugby’s unholy war
Hi Mark,
A very interesting and salient topic. Here is my two bobs worth:
Peter Wiggs – keep him on the board, we don’t need another CEO from Mosman!
Daniel Herbert – Could play, but I don’t know enough about his background outside of his playing days. I would be interested to understand the work Daniel has been doing for Grassroots Rugby recently!
Nick Farr-Jones – His questionable departure from NSW Rugby disqualifies him from the top job!
Phil Kearns – A huge conflict of interest being a Fox Sports employee disqualifies him from the top job!
Todd Greenberg – No understanding of the unique culture of the game a little grassroots connections. Reportedly poor stakeholder management at the end of his NRL tenure!
David Gallop – So wrong on many fronts!
James Sutherland – James bought in Pat Howard as CA’s High-Performance Manager. Let me guess, as RA CEO he will probably hire Merv Hughes as the Wallabies high-performance Manager – please!!
Here is one name that should be seriously considered – BRETT PAPWORTH! Has played at the highest level and understands the grassroots of the game, is widely respected, and importantly has a well-considered and viable plan for the game! I cannot believe his name is not in the mix!
Who should take the helm at Rugby Australia?
Hi Geoff,
Thanks for your contribution to this crucial topic. However, I totally disagree with your statement that the execution of a CEO who committed no capital offense?
Castle committed a number of “capital” offenses and demonstrated significant lack of commercial acumen and a lack of cultural alignment on key issues which turned out to be material to RA:
• The mishandling of the Israel Folau issue and subsequent multimillion-dollar settlement
• Stephen Larkham’s sacking as Assistant coach to Michael Cheika, and subsequent contract payout
• RA revealed a $9.4 million deficit for the 2019 Financial Year
• Failure to have a set of signed off Accounts ready for the Annual General Meeting (AGM). I am utterly astounded at this failure in basic corporate governance.
If I was to classify myself in the “camps” that you defined in your article I would point to the ” people across the rugby community frustrated and angry at Australia’s continued lack of success at Test and Super Rugby level and I add, the disconnection and RA’s lack of investment Grassroots rugby!
Geoff, Castle is the first in a line of RA Executives that should consider their position!
The Wrap: Unravelling Australian rugby’s unholy war
Another great article Spiro, I agree all Australian Super Rugby players need to be physically and mentally stronger. Also, Dave Rennie & the Super franchises need to change the culture and adopt a no d***head policy. Ego’s need to be checked, players need to think and play as a team member, not a player who is out to enrich themselves; e.g. by hogging the ball instead of passing to a player in a better position or needlessly putting up a box kick. From an outsider, my perception is some of the Aussie players live in an artificial bubble and lack grounding and humility and the real appreciation of the opportunity presented to them!
Rennie's Wallabies need success from Australia's Super Rugby teams
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/116723578/rugby-world-cup-australia-slide-below-japan-in-world-rankings
The Wrap: Australian rugby’s strange parallel universe
Geoff, thanks for your contribution. The appointment of Dave Rennie as Wallabies Coach is not going to be some panacea that solves the rest of Rugby’s problems in Australia. Ralene Castle’s greater willingness to try to bring people from all levels of the game together than have previous administrators has also not demonstrated any improvement in Rugby, from my perspective. Also, I wholeheartedly agree that Rugby Australia involving itself in social issues best left to other parties to manage. Also, I don’t see how anyone can defend any organisation that has spent over $700 million dollars over the past few years and finds itself nearly insolvent! Granted the board contains some illustrious past Wallaby players however, our track record and ranking below Japan proves the game needs a revolution from the ground up. I cant see how supporting the current management and structure of RA is going to solve the current problems we face in Rugby. Albert Einstein once stated “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”!
The Wrap: Australian rugby’s strange parallel universe
That’s what I have always admired about Kiwi’s, they are well-balanced individuals – they carry a chip on each shoulder!
Critics keep coming for NZ Rugby over proposed breakaway comp