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Joined March 2022
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The rugby system in Australia is broken. The lack of investment by the ARU over the last 20 years in grass roots rugby and the focus on super/international rugby has hamstrung rugby. This podcast (see link) explored how we got to where we are now. There are some great points made in it. I have two boys who are 8 & 11 who have been playing rugby in Vic for 6 & 5 years respectively. Vic Rugby/ARU/RA have done nothing to help develop or engage with them. It’s always passionate parents who have kept rugby alive. Last year we finally had two rebels players booked to come to the club on a training night … and they cancelled late on the night. The kids were devastated! How many players have we lost to league? We need to invest in the grass roots and develop the talent to stand a chance! I think a Super Rugby AU competition to be run after the Super Rugby Pacific would help. Aussie derbies that fans can buy into.
Ex-Wallaby lashes 'disgusting negativity' after Knuckles' 'bloody disaster' rant on Eddie
Have any of you listened to this podcast from the Australian? It is very insightful and explains why we are in the current situation …
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-breakdown/id1554973779
The impossible decision Rugby Australia must make now
I’m a Rebels fan so am a bit biased but is reducing the number of teams REALLY going to help? The ARU/RA focused on Super Rugby and International rugby and didn’t develop the next generation of players which is why we have a lack of depth.
We need players to play and reducing the number of teams doesn’t help that. So here’s my thoughts on what we could do:
1. Have something like the ARC/NRC for players to develop, grow and learn before they come up to Super Rugby.
2. Try and reduce the drain of players to RL (a lot of NRL players started out in RU).
3. Engage and invest in the grass roots like AFL did. The more players the greater the likelihood of finding and developing future Wallabies.
4. Educate players to make better decisions. I can’t count the number of times I’ve pulled what little hair I have left when the Rebels didn’t close out games by making poor strategic choices. This is something that needs to be thought through BEFORE you step on the field.
5. Better coaches. Look at the number of Aussie coaches working abroad!
6. Improved fitness and player welfare. Using the Rebels as an example again, at the start of almost every season we have a greatly reduced team because of injuries. We can’t win if the players aren’t fit.
7. Better engagement between RU and the clubs to help with the above and to ensure that players are developed for their most suitable positions and in the positions most needed by the Wallabies.
8. Focus on support play. All the NZ teams in particular are very good at this. It keeps the ball alive, stretches defenses and leads to tries.
The impossible decision Rugby Australia must make now
I’m a Rebels supporter with two boys aged 9 & 11. They’re just starting their 6th & 7th years of playing. In that time, only last year did any of the Rebels players come to our club. In 2022 two players were due to come down to our training. All the kids wore their Rebels gear and then they cancelled 1/2 hour before they were due to arrive. The kids were devastated!
We need a club in Melbourne but the Rebels, Rugby Vic & RA need to engage better with the community.
Also, with most games at 7:30pm on Friday nights it is hard to take kids to games. More afternoon games would make that easier.
'All fun would disappear' - as critics 'dance on Rebels’ grave', for a club and its fans a precipice looms