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Hugh_96

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Joined January 2017

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Long term 'glass half full' rugby fan - Wallabies, Wallaroos, Tahs, Marlins + 7s

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For those interested 2 of the women’s games times have changed
All Australian matches will be live and free in Australia via the World Rugby YouTube and World Rugby Sevens Facebook page.

WOMEN’S FIXTURES
Friday 21st January – Australia v Belgium (8:50 pm)
Saturday 22nd January – Australia v Ireland (5:35 am)
Saturday 22nd January – Australia v Spain (8:50 pm)

MEN’S FIXTURES
Friday 21st January – Australia v Germany (10:28 pm)
Saturday 22nd January – Australia v Japan (3:12 am)
Saturday 22nd January – Australia v Ireland (10:33 pm)

Paella, sangria, flamenco and rugby sevens

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Rugby
 
6d

Sort of agree, by default rugby in Oz needs NSW doing well, even if you hate Sydney & NSW.
Now my glass is always more than half full when it comes to the Tahs, just not sure the glass is frothing yet.
Who’s under the pump? I would add Paul Doorn & the Tahs Board/ management/admin
Anyway ‘Hope springs eternal’
Also always loved that Paul Keating line

Super Rugby Radar: Only way is up as Hooper and Coleman have Tahs fans frothing

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Rugby
 
3d

I think you have got it spot on Super Rugby isn’t working, most changes are just tinkering/ bandaid solutions, not really addressing the problem. No doubt being financial broke makes the options more difficult.
The challenge is most people (probably including Rugby AU etc) seem to recognise the issue but just cannot step up and make the big decisions. So it goes in the too hard basket and nothing really changes or improves.

Why Super Rugby is broken and how Australia must shift the focus to save domestic game

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Rugby
 
4d

Assumed it was a loss of Comms people and not a conscious decision not to leverage the women 7s players. What is irritating is that these young players are also very articulate. Missed opportunities that you can’t get back.
Anyway I’m going to keep plugging away.

Paella, sangria, flamenco and rugby sevens

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Rugby
 
6d

As I have said before it does my head that RA don’t market the 7s players, it is a no brainer.
At least do it now between the end of the Spring tour and start of Super Rugby.

Paella, sangria, flamenco and rugby sevens

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Rugby
 
6d

Just want to raise the profile of the 7s teams/ players by writing about them when I can. 7s is not a popular topic (nor women’s rugby) but you just have to wear people down or bore them to tears.

Dom du Toit really, really stepped up. She has been in the program for around 5 years now. I wasn’t a big fan but changed my mind after her performances in the 2 Dubai tournaments. I think she has matured but also a lot of the senior players have gone – she is now a big dog & has to be a leader & she is doing that. So kudos to her.

Paella, sangria, flamenco and rugby sevens

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Rugby
 
6d

The Fijiana are going to cause a lot of grief for teams in the years to come.
Hopefully a 15s team can be added in due course to the Super W comp too.

Paella, sangria, flamenco and rugby sevens

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Rugby
 
6d

If the RA perspective is they don’t have the time to promote 7s or its not a priority then that’s disappointing & while I mightn’t agree with it I can accept that is their position & move on.
Until then they should be doing more.
Apart from the women’s results, the fact the women have a unique First Nations jersey, are the first national women’s team to wear one and it is based on an aboriginal story called the Seven Sisters – could there be a greater opportunity of a story to provide the media.
Have heard Caslick on a podcast whilst her answers were measured she indicated it is a bit annoying and an opportunity has been missed re recognition.
Anyway will still promote both the men’s & women’s teams.

Paella, sangria, flamenco and rugby sevens

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Rugby
 
6d

Very much agree, couldn’t get a better time (No NZ or Fiji) to test the depth without Williams. Unfortunately Byers is also out have hoped she may step into Williams role. The women’s team is still susceptible to highly physical teams (USA/ France) and when behind find it difficult to swing the momentum. And yes, the men are in the same boat.
Just looking forward to seeing them in action.

Paella, sangria, flamenco and rugby sevens

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Rugby
 
6d

Bobby – Agree viewership times are a challenge and it all depends on your level of interest. I’m probably an outlier, I enjoy watching 7s & 15s rugby being played all over the world and also local colts playing down the road.
For information if interested, you can catch up with the Australian games on youtube, so at a preferable time could watch 2 women’s & 2 men’s games with half a dozen beers.

Paella, sangria, flamenco and rugby sevens

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Rugby
 
6d

What I don’t understand is Rugby AU has some good news stories with the 7s program and doesn’t leverage it. In a crowded sports landscape you need to be pushing out good news stories but Rugby AU doesn’t. I know they lost their Head of Comms so maybe they are a bit under resourced and don’t have the expertise.
Anyway will keep pushing them.

Paella, sangria, flamenco and rugby sevens

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Rugby
 
6d

Thanks, a really interesting article. Also provides a bit of context as to having 2 World Series tournaments in Spain.
Whilst I have no idea, it seems it would be better develop a competition without Sth Africa, as you say there are more disadvantages to have them than advantages to have them.
Good luck to both Portugal and Spain. Neither needs another reason to visit but a bit of rugby might influence the time of year I visit.

A new future for Spanish rugby

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Rugby
 
1w

Agree re Waratahs fans going to Rebels games, with work I have stayed in Melb on a Friday to watch the Tahs, would’ve caught up with other Tahs supporters, gone to a pub pre game. As I have said before I just think the Tahs have cut staff numbers so significantly they just don’t have the expertise or resources to do anything – which is understandable.

The Roar Rugby Project Part 6: Tiers or Tears? Competition structures for professional rugby

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Rugby
 
2w

It drives me mad the lack of promotion – although my feeling is the Tahs for financial reasons just don’t have the resources or staff expertise these days.

The Roar Rugby Project Part 6: Tiers or Tears? Competition structures for professional rugby

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Rugby
 
2w

The Tahs are seen as more Sydney than NSW, we need a few more country lads – also an issue is there are lots of fans of other teams who have moved to Sydney usually for work.

The Roar Rugby Project Part 6: Tiers or Tears? Competition structures for professional rugby

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Rugby
 
2w

It isn’t an either/or issue – yes they have to put back, do presentation nights etc but the clubs & Rugby AU need to raise the profiles of the players to get the kids on board. I’m astounded how my boys know the names & details of so many NFL/ NBA or EPL players – often from playing fantasy football.

The Roar Rugby Project Part 6: Tiers or Tears? Competition structures for professional rugby

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Rugby
 
2w

Completely agree the referee or umpire in sport is the most thankless task.
From refereeing/ umpiring perspective it is a challenge when you haven’t played the sport, you just don’t have the feel for the game. My boys played lots of sports I often ended up refereeing or umpiring sports I had never played, at times it felt like I had all the theoretical expertise but just not the practical experience.
But at least they had a ref/ump.

The three types of rugby referees and why they're all always right

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Rugby
 
1w

Another terrific article. A couple of general comments – unfortunately due to the poor transition to professionalism rugby will be unable to compete with AFL/NRL as a domestic code. Sydney is a tough place for sport, it likes winners, it will never have the tribalism of AFL. In saying that it still has a significant place in the sporting landscape.
There is a need of a tier below Super Rugby, in what format I have no idea. Whilst sustainability is important you can look at the Sheffield Shield which makes no money for Cricket Aust but it is viewed as critical to the development & pathway for the player pipeline.

Agree re raising player profiles – don’t know about interstate but Tahs management and Rugby AU PR/ Comms is so underwhelming – kids want stars that they can identify with & know who they are. Rugby does not do anything consistently to address this. It just maybe Tahs/Rugby AU just don’t have the expertise to leverage their stories via the main stream media and social media. Maybe they don’t have the $$$ to buy that expertise on a professional level but am pretty sure they could do something via social media. Importantly need to work out which players have some personality too.

The Roar Rugby Project Part 6: Tiers or Tears? Competition structures for professional rugby

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Rugby
 
2w

Luckily the NRL/ NRLW is only on the east coast, so could go into some form of tournament camp – do have concerns for Super W & the Western Force team. Last year they had to pull out of the comp half way through.

Leadership needed ahead of NRLW season commencement

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League
 
3w

Had it on the TV yesterday, agree not the biggest but still seriously big waves. One of the skis came a cropper & washed up on to the beach.

Why Michael Hooper should have been World Rugby's player of the year

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Rugby
 
Dec

Long time Hooper fan, based just on the subjective gut feel of watching him play, pleased to see some stats seem to align with my non scientific biased gut feel.

Thanks for all the articles this year – always a quality read.

Why Michael Hooper should have been World Rugby's player of the year

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Rugby
 
Dec

No problem – not the first list to be struck off as a Sea Eagles fan & it certainly won’t be the last.

What Australian rugby needs in 2022 with a Super return and progress in the Rennie revolution

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Rugby
 
Dec

As a Tahs supporter whether they are worth watching or not, I guess I will still be watching, just hope 2022 is better than 2021. As for the villain part, well I’m also a long time Sea Eagles supporter so villain/ team every dislikes goes with the territory.
I also really, really hope the administration/ management at Tahs, Wallabies, Wallaroos sort their ‘stuff’ out.

What Australian rugby needs in 2022 with a Super return and progress in the Rennie revolution

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Rugby
 
Dec

Cheers Geoff – its been a very interesting year & pretty sure 2022 will be just as interesting.
Time for a few weeks of rugby detox.

The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021

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Rugby
 
Dec

Very much agree. I think Walshy is a bit of a favourite at Rugby AU, was a bit surprised when he took over from Andy Friend also. My guess is that politics is still a bit entrenched at RA, with no evidence it maybe a bit of not what you know but who you know.
Actually feel for Mananti. He must be mighty ‘annoyed’, finally got a team which is his (&a bit of size on the edges with Levi, Dick & Hayes) as opposed to still being Rio based.

RA director of rugby Johnson departs, national Sevens coaches swap jobs

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Rugby
 
Dec
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