Roar Rookie
Joined December 2014
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Rugby fan, occasional old boys game but my main focus is on my kids and their sport.
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Where to for professional rugby in Australia? The Wallabies are out of the World Cup, our Super Rugby sides can’t compete against the Kiwis…
The much anticipated Super Rugby Pacific has been announced with five Australian teams, five from New Zealand, Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika. This is…
Yet again we find ourselves talking about challenges in rugby. Is anyone feeling some sense of deja vu? Super Rugby Trans-Tasman has Australian teams…
A social media storm erupted this week over video footage of an 11-year-old rugby player being told he could not play in the Sydney…
If the ARU is in financial strife, why aren't they implementing a strategic plan to cash in on the popularity of rugby sevens? There…
I'm a rugby fan. I grew up playing the game. My kids play and I help out where I can at my local rugby…
A mindless DJ is exactly what we do now and is not what I’m advocating. Why aren’t ground announcers hyping the crowd? The set piece is a key point of difference for our game and yet it’s neglected.
It's time to upsize Super Rugby and celebrate our differences
Not sure, but if you include all the overseas players and Rugby 7s on top of the Super rugby squads there is a lot of potential depth.
The out-of-the-box strategy to boost rugby depth in Australia
It’s true that rugby has grown too complex. Steve Hansen (again) recently criticized the Lions v Boks series and spoke to the same issue. I’m a former prop and that was terrible Rugby.
We should adopt a process that every new rule sees two rules abolished. Something to streamline and simplify the game and open it up for fast running rugby.
The out-of-the-box strategy to boost rugby depth in Australia
I didn’t see that one but I don’t think Rugby Australia has the coin for a takeover!
The out-of-the-box strategy to boost rugby depth in Australia
I can’t claim the headline, editors updated that one for me.
There are many players who have the skill for 9 or 10.
Cleary, Luaui, Walker, Reynolds… I could go on. Extremely talented halves with world-class passing and kicking games. They could easily translate that game into rugby.
Damien Cook would be an amazing rugby scrum half.
Props and locks are much less likely, no Brad Thorn’s around today
The out-of-the-box strategy to boost rugby depth in Australia
The Junior base for league is shrinking faster than rugby. Participation is falling and TV viewing is also on the slide.
The upside for the NRL is to strengthen the foundations – less kids playing won’t sustain a 17 team NRL competition over the medium to longer term.
The out-of-the-box strategy to boost rugby depth in Australia
The assessment process is conducted by specially trained Level 2 coaches looking at a range of factors for kids too small or too big.
Size for age: Is it fair to have an 11-year-old playing in an older league?
This is not BS nor is it about pointing out differences – it is about player safety. I would be more than happy if my child was told up an age group. It would be good for his social development and maturity mixing with older kids.
It is only in recent years that anyone has spoken about the impact of concussion. Every single contact sport globally is looking at concussion and how to improve player safety. Why should junior rugby be any different because last I checked it was a contact sport?
Size for age: Is it fair to have an 11-year-old playing in an older league?
Gatesy, you are right. This is the ideal competition for someone to bankroll outside of the ARU. There are plenty of smaller Sevens competitions but this idea requires financial backing which grassroots might not have.
The turnaround in the fortunes of Sydney’s Shute Shield in 3 short years is evidence that passion for rugby exists but the current approach at professional level isn’t working.
Can a domestic sevens competition help the cash-strapped ARU?
Rugby at the professional level is a business Noodles, and because of that focus the grassroots get neglected. What I am suggesting is a way that will provide value to the business-end of rugby AND also reward clubs building juniors, will reward refs and administrators and help grow community and family involvement. Why? Because everyone will see the clubs, players, refs, administrators and can easily and simply reach out to learn how. Everyone wins
The simple, forward-thinking way we can empower rugby's grassroots
Thanks Marko, the bones may already exist but there is nothing bringing this all together in a way which reduces administrative burden for time poor volunteers plus delivers insights and data to administrators from club to district to State to ARU level. You noted 3 links to 3 different tools. There is an opportunity to rebuild these different tools to deliver significantly more value for all involved in rugby.
The simple, forward-thinking way we can empower rugby's grassroots
I’m definitely not supporting the current ARU administration. I noted this as a potential opportunity for an incoming ARU CEO. There was minimal engagement with Sydney clubs about the Bledisloe and yet by comparison there is a grassroots fundraising opportunity with tickets to the Barbarians. It shows what is possible.
The simple, forward-thinking way we can empower rugby's grassroots
You said it yourself – our teams don’t win. Why?
Are we selecting the right players?
Are we making it a must attend event for up and coming players and spectators?
The answers are no. We need to do something different
It's time to upsize Super Rugby and celebrate our differences