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Been all over the world, see many sports played, but none compare to rugby.
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Given this recent evolvement it makes the comments of Marinos and Rennie during the week seem a bit of an overreaction.
FIXTURES REVEALED: Queensland to host four weeks of rugby heaven as TRC locked in
Far out these are a bunch of sensitive lads.
'Bloody angry', 'incredibly disappointing': Rennie furious, Marinos makes staggering claim about NZR CEO
This article got me thinking about the possibility of a Brumbies+Rebels merge. So I did a quick run through of what the 2022 lineup would look like for a merged team and to be honest, it’s a strong team.
1. James Slipper
2. Jordan Uelese
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Matt Philip
5. Darcy Swain
6. Rob Leota
7. Richard Hardwick
8. Rob Valetini
9. Nic White
10. Noah Lolesio
11. Tom Wright
12. Reece Hodge
13. Len Ikitau
14. Andrew Kellaway
15. Tom Banks
Bench: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Pone Fa’amausili, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Matt To’omua, 23. Solomone Kata
Simone, Murihead, Fainga’a, Orr, Wells and Magnay are in the reserves.
Retract or expand: Where to for rugby in Australia?
I’d love to go back to a 3 team model for super rugby but that ship has probably long sailed. Certainly the brass at RA are staunchly committed to 5 teams. I suppose that’s TV rights related.
I can’t see any reinvigoration of NRC/ARC being beneficial, those models have been tried and have never produced. I know some people will argue that we never gave it a proper go but the big issue was fan engagement. It’s a lot to expect of a fan base to start cheering for a team that didn’t exist last year or might not exist next year i.e. the Stars/Rays/Rams. I guess there is some merit to having NSW/QLD Country teams but they would ultimately detract from the brumbies/tahs/reds existing fan base.
Retract or expand: Where to for rugby in Australia?
That is simply not the case.
The super rugby teams are marketable, the existence of the Stan/Nine contract attests to this. Beyond that, it is well reported that the SR AU comp saw an increase in viewers. SR TT didn’t do as well.
Not being able find a streaming partner overseas isn’t really any indicator. Very few people watch SR other than the countries that have been involved. That’s certainly not a key part of the revenue model.
Saying RA is broke is incorrect. Accordingly to there last financial reporting they were solvent. They did have a considerable amount of debt but there was no indication of default on these loans. Jobkeeper payments are also not an indicator of insolvency given many of Australia largest companies received such financial relief.
RA is not insolvent, however, it’s business model is not great. Insolvent entities don’t tend to talking about equity sales in the $100mils. Though it remains to be seen how that will end up.
We certainly need some fundamental root and branch changes that is for sure but removing the protections we have to insulate our own local game is not one of them. Open eligibility will only further rot the entire tree.
Why changing Giteau Law would be hazardous to Australian rugby
That’s definitely correct but Cotton serves an example of a floodgates argument. At this stage we have joe cotton (or a few like him) leaving us under the current rules and likely never coming back. However, if the rules change there will be a lot more instances of people leaving and never coming back. This will leave the domestic game in disrepair.
It comes down to what we are willing to give up for the hope that the wallabies will do better.
Whereas the reality is that even if we could pick overseas players this is not going make us better than the ABs or the boks. It’s not going to make us favourites for the RWC 2023. Sure we might be more competitive but what really does that mean when we still lose.
A mild potential improvement on our national team in not worth undermining the health of domestic game. What will we do when our super rugby teams are no longer marketable? Sure we can rely on the wallabies but this won’t see our already slender tv rights deals increase.
Why changing Giteau Law would be hazardous to Australian rugby
You’re right that domestic selection rules do not prevent juniors leaving. The Japanese capped aussies are a good example of this.
However, opening up the selection policy will provide more motivation to young players and foreign recruiters as he proverbial “pull of the wallabies jersey” is no longer an issue. Young players and their agents will realise that they can have their cake and eat it too. My concern is that when they get going overseas they will realise the wallabies “cake” is not the one the want to be eating and we won’t see them again.
A solution may be to put a crap load of Aussie eligible players overseas on RA top up contracts to keep them under our umbrella. Even if we won’t select them. Downside is that will get pretty costly very quickly.
Why changing Giteau Law would be hazardous to Australian rugby
Yeah but what if you’re Australian raised and schooled, Fijian born and living and playing in Kyoto, Japan?
Who gets you alligence?
Why changing Giteau Law would be hazardous to Australian rugby
While I share your perspective to some degree, it is a bit naive. Young Aussie talent plucked straight out of our junior elite development systems won’t return home just because they are true blue Aussie. They are going to go after the best deal for them. If that’s playing for England, Wales or Fiji then that’s Australia’s loss.
A good example is Joe Cotton. I can remember seeing him play in the Shute shield and he was a monster. Born in the England but spent most his life in Brisbane. Reds Academy, Waratahs Academy and Aus U20s. Now he’s off to Bristol Bears. If he’s good enough he’s going have the choice between England and Australia. England will reap what Australia sowed.
Why changing Giteau Law would be hazardous to Australian rugby
My concern is what about securing young talent. The removal of the giteau law could see a raw talent fresh out of our u20s system getting signed in Japan. Fast forward a few years and all of a sudden this player is eligible to play for the brave blossoms and shuns Australia.
Or let’s rewind (circa 2016-2018), hypothetically, a young fresh Naisarani or Naivalu are killing it in SR only to be snapped up by French clubs. The RWC rolls around in 2019 and they throw their hats in for Fiji (because they didn’t spend enough time in Australia to become eligible for the wallabies). Same principle could apply to Tupou and Tonga.
Or let’s say the next Michael Hooper is poached by an English team still holding aspirations of pulling on the green and gold but come World Cup time he sees that the wallabies are still 6th and the English are 2nd then suddenly realises he has a English grandparent and there you go. Eddie Jones licking his lips.
The open selection policy may sound good but it just opens the door for the best players to leave without any promise or assurance that they will come back to play for Australia.
Why changing Giteau Law would be hazardous to Australian rugby
COVID-19 probably has a lot to do with it but I can’t remember a time where the direction of rugby is Australia has been so unclear.
Removing Giteau Law becomes “we are just having a look”. The rev up regarding Aussie Seven before the olympics has turned to a review and potentially scaling back sevens to a part-time setup.
I suppose “we are committed to 5 teams” could also turn to “we are committed to 4..3…2…Waratahs”
'We're not heading to open slather': RA chair moves to cool Giteau Law hype
Beyond the fact that there are not really any players who will make a long term difference, scrapping of the Giteau Law will end in them cutting Aus super rugby teams. Force first, then the rebels (or perhaps a rebels/brums merger)
Some squads are already pretty thin on talent going into 2022. Competing with international clubs for good players is going to leave domestic rugby in a very bad way.
Further, I’ve seen a few comments in various articles and some commentary from SBW about how having players overseas will reduce the player salary burden on rugby in Australia who can then divert these funds to grassroots. That is a fallacy, RA will still need to have players playing for international clubs on their payroll if they want to have any chance of them coming back and playing for the Wallabies.
Will scrapping Giteau’s Law fix the problems we saw last Saturday?
Probably worth pointing out that the 88 players listed in the SMH article includes players capped for other countries, pledged allegiance to another country, have retired or are on the verge of retiring.
Notwithstanding that, I can only think of two players that would walk back into the starting XV: Arnold and Skelton.
Kerevi, Latu and McMahon are maybes because I don’t really see them as a significant upgrade from the incumbent.
It’s my understanding that the Wallabies can pick two players from overseas now anyway.
Would bringing back Wallabies from overseas actually make a difference?
The definition of high tackle doesn’t even apply so the framework is redundant. First point of contact was Harrison’s shoulder on Vaa’i chest followed by the incidental head clash.
Not you mention that the decision is inconsistent with the head contact (see link) as the incident does not fall into the Law 9.
https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugby/document/2021/03/10/e597c9c8-e852-4e19-875f-18e02e7f7e24/Head_Contact_Process_EN_v1.pdf
'That's dead set wrong': Everyone gobsmacked as Chief cops farcical yellow card
I’m seeing some reports in French media and even some Australian media that the French tour of Australia in July will be cancelled. Is this likely to happen?
Get your questions in for Issue 15 of Coach's Corner
Teaming up with Clive Palmer and the Australian Christian Lobby… if there is one thing these guys all have in common it’s spending a crap load of money and still losing.
Israel Folau set to announce rugby league future
Wait what….?
Wouldn't it be nice: Rugby AU gets new jersey sponsor for Wallabies and Wallaroos
Michael Cheika is back in Australian rugby - as a commentator
Yeah pretty sure people not watching them is problem #1. Not sure the “if you don’t like it, don’t watch it” logic applies. They need all the fews they can get. Thank goodness the women’s game is getting more views.
Wallabies take hit for rugby pay relief
Yeah thanks Bobby… all the best with your brain parasite buddy…
And not sure that $10k is a fair amount. After those two draws last year. I feel like I should be getting paid to watch them.
Wallabies take hit for rugby pay relief
It seems that the demise of the Rebels is a foregone conclusion no matter what the suits are saying. Hope this time Rugby Australia will let in die with some dignity rather than repeat the Western Force slow motion car crash.
CONFIRMED: Rebels fall into voluntary administration as Rugby Australia seeks 'sustainable and successful future'