The Australian women’s sevens team deserves more recognition
We should provide the Australian women’s sevens team with some serious recognition. They are one of the best national teams Australia has, consistently demonstrating…
Join The Roar
Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors.
Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account
When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address
By joining The Roar you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions
Login and get Roaring
Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account
When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address
Roar Pro
Joined January 2017
21.8k
Views
25
Published
1.2k
Comments
Long term 'glass half full' rugby fan - Wallabies, Wallaroos, Tahs, Marlins + 7s
Published
Comments
We should provide the Australian women’s sevens team with some serious recognition. They are one of the best national teams Australia has, consistently demonstrating…
After 950-plus days of no games, a win over Fijiana and a loss to Japan may seem okay. But in reality the loss to…
After the excitement of the weekend’s Super Rugby, then the performance of the Aussie sevens women in Langford, Canada, I just had to pen…
You would think I am Catholic and draw inspiration from St Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes, with my continued ramblings on rugby…
How can we review the Super W season? In simple terms, the Fijiana Drua came and turned the competition on its head. Most importantly,…
As Brett McKay noted this week it is timely to have a reminder of the good in rugby, so why not add to the…
Sure, there is the rumble again in the Super Rugby Pacific between the Brumbies and the Reds, but we had that the other week…
Sure, the women’s Super W competition does not get much recognition or have a profile. Sure, the A-League Women, AFLW and NRLW are all…
Everyone can relax. This will be the last rugby sevens article for a while. But it is long. What did we get from Dubai,…
We now move from Malaga, the birth place of Pablo Picasso, to the city of Seville, which legend has it was built by Hercules…
Many of us would really prefer to be in the south of Spain enjoying tapas, the sounds of flamenco and some rugby. Instead, it…
The rugby season finished on near a perfect note, with the Aussie sevens women taking out back-to-back Dubai tournaments and the men runner-up to…
Congratulations must go to Rugby Australia for sending both teams to Dubai. It would have been easy to put it in the too-hard basket…
The Australian men’s sevens program has gone through and continues to go through more upheaval than the women’s program ahead of the Dubai sevens,…
The UK spring tour is done, dusted and enjoyed, with naturally much discussion coming from it. Now the Super Rugby Pacific squads have been…
November must be a utopian month for rugby. Last weekend there were 12 men’s Test matches and six women’s Test matches. And it is…
While social media is rarely indicative of the broader community’s view, it was good to see the response from newbies watching rugby sevens for…
The loss to the French inevitably reignites the never ending rugby debate as to why Australia is not doing better. Rugby in Australia in…
Sure, the Wallabies team has been announced. Sure, the weekend included umpteen Tests involving Romania, USA, England, Tonga, Ireland, Canada, the British and Irish…
Like the Super Rugby teams, both the men’s and women’s Australian sevens teams are not as big, physical or as fast across the park…
Final reply – That data was from co founder of Siren Sport, they do produce similar for national teams that includes the 7s. Also the ABC re womens sport is very soccer/AFLW centric.
Rugby AU can’t really muscle up against AFLW/NRLW nor it seems is it able to influence the major media outlets agenda when it comes to women’s rugby. But the issue they have missed is at grass roots, developing and supporting on social media champions of the sport those that have a genuine interest in rugby be it journalist/ non journalists. AFLW/NRLW/Soccer all have their champions who push their women’s sport constantly. Also if you look at any of the women’s sports websites there maybe rugby section but no recent content. Rugby AU are just not in it.
The Wrap: Finals footy arrives two weeks early as Blues and Brumbies slug it out in Canberra
This is where the money does become an issue, players in the Shute Shield can’t afford to move interstate for the Super W. As a consequence Tahs get stronger with some players playing down the road at the Brumbies.
The Wrap: Finals footy arrives two weeks early as Blues and Brumbies slug it out in Canberra
Muzzo, I know what you are trying to imply, I just don’t agree.
Sure there were a couple less tournaments, but Covid impacted a lot of sports, some players couldn’t play in the Australian tennis open. Is Nadal’s Aust Open less because Novak didn’t play?
World Rugby did change the rules for NZ and Fiji where it was best 4 or5 results out of the 6 tournaments. Also the schedule did change but it also provided a great opportunity for Spain to hold 2 tournaments which is great for Spain.
Anyway it doesn’t matter, we will just go back and forth & never agree – which is fine.
The Wrap: Finals footy arrives two weeks early as Blues and Brumbies slug it out in Canberra
Am guessing the Pac 4 series next month will provide a guide for expectations. I can’t imagine Australia being competitive for a few years. After this World Cup there will be a big turnover of players.
Agree very much money is important but an the issue for young players will be the kudos and recognition of the players in the other codes.
A positive will be all Shute Shield teams having a women’s team next year, except it probably just makes the Tahs that much better.
The Wrap: Finals footy arrives two weeks early as Blues and Brumbies slug it out in Canberra
Muzzo, don’t quite follow the point of your comment. If the point is the Black Fern 7s haven’t been around so titles/ tournaments are unquestionable that doesn’t make sense in a sport context. Does that mean in any sport where a top player/teams doesn’t compete/ can’t compete then the tournament is of less value? All you can do is play is in front of you.
The Wrap: Finals footy arrives two weeks early as Blues and Brumbies slug it out in Canberra
Enjoyed both the Tahs and Brums games – close games, gets the heart going (although to be honest the enjoyment was probably increased by the Tahs win).
You really got my dander up referring to the AFLW pay deal & women’s rugby – completely agree rugby is going to inevitably lose talent, just have to accept that. Have changed my perspective a bit. I recognise Rugby AU does not have the money, so what is needed is just some clear communication of what they are doing. At the moment it all sounds like mission statements and waffle. Secondly, Rugby AU have Australia’s only F/T professional national footy team, 7s women, who are also highly successful, cant understand why there isn’t more promotion of them to fly rugby’s flag in Australia’s sporting landscape.
The Wrap: Finals footy arrives two weeks early as Blues and Brumbies slug it out in Canberra
Terrific article. I know he got a got of hard time, no doubt put into the Wallabies too early but that wasn’t his fault. Have to say I was always a supporter (but he was a Tah so I had no choice.) He has a great personality you can’t but not like a country lad. Every interview is a cracker. Good to see him back. Will add something to the team on and off the field.
Exclusive: Ned Hanigan on how Japan changed him, Wallabies ambition, dealing with doubters and his 'surreal' Tahs return
Mary, you really triggered a few people with that old Rugby v League code war reference.
Re Tonegato and Pelite I think they just wanted a change after 8+ yrs, a bit of a normal life again and play some part time footy. The 7s program was first & the only F/T professional footy program, im sure there is an ongoing need to assess the mental& physical demands on the players. Emma Tonegato in the last 3 or so years in the 7s program had some tough injuries. Vani Pelite was in the 7s program from 17yrs old, not surprised she needed a change.
‘Absolutely nothing to worry about’: League shouldn’t fear union’s player raids
BD, re the Olympics, I can’t remember the criteria but a sport has to be played in minimum of X countries around the world by men and women. Plus there needs to be some form of World Championships competition which Rugby meets with the World Rugby 7s World Series tournaments played by both men & women.
‘Absolutely nothing to worry about’: League shouldn’t fear union’s player raids
Adam, just adding my 2 cents worth, it all depends what is meant by being taken less seriously.
There is no doubt the priority has been Wallabies/ Super Rugby, I imagine if RA had the money they would have invested in women’s rugby. In regards to the women’s 7s I think that a lot, if not the majority of the funding for women 7s comes from the government, could be wrong but $4M rings a bell in the last year. Also my understanding the women are not paid the same as men, all new players to the either program are paid the same, after that those with more experience/ skill get paid more.
‘Absolutely nothing to worry about’: League shouldn’t fear union’s player raids
I think the code war/ poaching League players is more a comment for the media, jags a headline for a few days – it is still 5 years away. Also the only players they may try and get will be back 3 which it is reasonably easy to transition, rugby is too different to bring in forwards or halves.
The bigger issue is the loss of rugby players from the Super W to the NRLW, currently it is a no brainer. More players will head to NRLW after this year’s Rugby World Cup.
In time women’s rugby will become more like the men’s rugby, where the pinnacle is the Wallaroos. Each year the Wallaroos have the Pacific 4 Series, the WXV tournament V top 3 of the 6 Nations, also play NZ and maybe 2 Tests against Japan or Fiji. In addition there will the opportunity for individuals to play in the UK or French competition. For example the current USA squad of 28 , 20 of them play in the UK club competition. In addition in due course there will some of Super W v Aupiki trans Tasman playoff. So I would go & play NRLW for a year or 2 then head to rugby.
‘Absolutely nothing to worry about’: League shouldn’t fear union’s player raids
Agree the women’s rugby game has been stunted by lack of $$$, pretty sure it isnt intentional they just have not got any money. Also agree Folau was an exceptional athlete but lacked footy smarts and was lazy, especially when you compare him to Koroibete. And lastly yep Walker was a gem
‘Absolutely nothing to worry about’: League shouldn’t fear union’s player raids
I was part of that squash playing in the 80s/90s – not many squash centres around these days – actually can’t think of any locally
The Wrap: The light at the end of Australian rugby’s tunnel isn’t an oncoming train after all
My favourite group is the ‘rugby is dead’ group – they always pop on social media with that comment, I always wonder why they bother & if it is dead why comment.
Agree addressing women’s rugby is an ‘urgent necessity’, Not just from a players playing perspective but just as importantly building the future rugby fan base & engaging the mothers of future players.
With the NRC, the old adage ‘We can’t afford it’ v ‘We cant afford not having it’
The Wrap: The light at the end of Australian rugby’s tunnel isn’t an oncoming train after all
No doubt there will be heated discussion as to where the final is held. Whilst I would prefer it in a rectangular ground in Sydney it is more important to me that the Wallabies perform at a high level and make the Final, irrespective of where. That is my 1 wish.
'This is the day negativity stops' - but now the battle for who hosts the final starts
For the men not sure too much will change with the announcement of the World Cup, the bottom line is that there will always be more opportunities with NRL & AFL as they have more teams. But will the World Cup will provide some profile that rugby doesn’t currently have.
However the women’s World Cup announcement could make a difference when combined with the other developments in the women’s game. Once the Wallaroos/ Super W start to get some remuneration, plus the Wallaroos play annually Canada, USA, NZ as part of the WXV comp & start to tour the UK, maybe if Super W plays against Aupiki in due course, then women may consider rugby over AFLW/NRLW. The 7s program is elite and a great gig but they only have 16 players
What will a decade of global rugby union showpieces mean for the NRL?
Muzzo, the Black Ferns will be very different under Wayne Smith, a great challenge for him too. Will be interested to see how the Black Ferns handle the pressure of a home World Cup. I’m sure they will be better than when on the UK tour last year.
I remember the Australian women’s cricket team talking, post World Cup, about the pressure of a home World Cup, then getting to the final with 80K at the MCG.
Can imagine in NZ where rugby is the No 1 sport will be a real test for the players and coaching staff, the NZ women’s cricket team felt the pressure at this year’s cricket World Cup.
From an Oz perspective, we have no expectations, may not even get out of the Pool.
More improvement to come: The key takeaways from the return of the Wallaroos
Bobby, I don’t think you meant to reply to me as I don’t have a daughter.
Not sure why the need for the descriptors ’embarrassing’ and ‘woeful’ in reference to the Wallaroos, not really necessary but thanks anyway for commenting
More improvement to come: The key takeaways from the return of the Wallaroos
Yep some tougher games to come. Next up NZ who after the UK tour will be looking to make a statement. At least the women got a chance to have a game.
More improvement to come: The key takeaways from the return of the Wallaroos
I think Bobby is just stirring the pot to get a riled up reaction, which he isn’t getting so that will probably annoy him.
More improvement to come: The key takeaways from the return of the Wallaroos
That is an interesting perspective, although I don’t agree but I guess everyone can have a different opinion.
More improvement to come: The key takeaways from the return of the Wallaroos
Whilst disappointing to lose, maybe a positive is that they now know how much work they have to do over the coming weeks and months to try to be competitive at the World Cup.
More improvement to come: The key takeaways from the return of the Wallaroos
Disappointing result, Wallaroos had the possession and opportunities to get the points but were thwarted by the Japanese. In some ways it is expected, Japan have developed since 2019 and the Wallaroos haven’t had the opportunity to do so. Probably need to lower our expectations of the team.
REACTION: 'She'll be filthy' - Wallaroos stunned by Japan after late penalty miss
Muzzo, I had to add my 2 cents here. Rugby AU will progress a PE opportunity after formal confirmation that the men’s and women’s World Cup bids have been accepted. Once that occurs the value of Rugby AU will increase significantly, the PE % investment will be worth more $$$$ to Rugby AU.
Also being pedantic ABs sponsor no longer AIG but French billionaire ALTRAD & Wallabies is no longer Qantas but Cadbury.
Rugby sevens: Australian rugby’s gem continues to shine
You missed my point. Initially because teams were unable to attend in Dubai, WR changed the rules in the hope those teams would return for the Spain leg ie would then play 4 of the 6. Unfortunately they were unable to return.
The Wrap: Finals footy arrives two weeks early as Blues and Brumbies slug it out in Canberra