Roar Guru
Joined May 2016
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Far be it from me to pretend to be an expert on the subject, but I feel coaching is kept out of the spotlight…
Highlander, stop telling people NZR own the license for the Drua, you are conflating their power to grant the license with ownership, and it is misleading people: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=774111493951749&id=111716696857902
The Wrap: Crusaders send a message to Rugby Australia to embrace excellence, not turn away from it
What evidence do you have that NZR have/had ownership of the license for the Drua?
It was/is owned by an entity called Counter Ruck Pte Ltd, which is controlled by the Fijian Rugby Union. NZR have veto power to grant that license, it doesn’t mean they own it.
51% of that controlling power will be transferred to the Fijian Government, by December of this year, once they’ve ponied up the cash.
The Wrap: Crusaders send a message to Rugby Australia to embrace excellence, not turn away from it
Regardless of who they play, they will achieve their high performance goals.
The real question is how do they fund it? Right now it’s essentially government backing, as systematically it’s impossible for the team to be a self sustaining entity (funding being broadcast, sponsorship, gate takings), their economy just does not stack up to pay the players what they are worth, and likely never will.
Gate and broadcast are not viable options, sponsorship can help bridge the gap, and right now the bulk of that is coming from DFAT in Australia – even via ANZ: https://www.anz.com.au/content/dam/anzcomau/documents/pdf/aboutus/wcmmigration/dfat-white-paper-2017.pdf
'Hamish has thrown a hand grenade' - Turinui backs RA 'tribalism' but Horan fears impact of cutting ties with NZ
The Fijian Rugby Union has effective control of Counter Ruck Pte Ltd, with the Fiji government currently investing to take 51% ownership / effective control? I can’t see anything to do with NZR having ownership at all?
Apart from them having veto power to grant them a license?
'Hamish has thrown a hand grenade' - Turinui backs RA 'tribalism' but Horan fears impact of cutting ties with NZ
The Drua are funded by the Federal Government of Australia, as part of essentially a geopolitical strategy to strengthen cultural ties in the Pacific and retain soft power in the region for Australia and it’s allies.
https://ministers.dfat.gov.au/minister/zed-seselja/media-release/australia-backs-fijian-drua-rugby-dreams
The new minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong is on record saying that they need to further drive the ties that bind, being chiefly rugby and religion (as we cannot compete with China on $’s), so I suspect that in addition to the Drua we might see some additional pro rugby teams funded by the Feds and based in the Pacific. Similar to Moana Pasifika with another West Indies style team based in Samoa or Tonga.
I had conversations years ago with Raelene Castle when SCOMO first announced the ‘Pacific Step Up’ DFAT strategy, and she confirmed as much (funding directed towards rugby to strengthen cultural ties), as well as going beyond teams/players, but potentially working on Stadia, improving broadcast standards etc.
Which is all just a really conceited long winded way of saying that Fiji are with the Aussies.
Rugby News: RA threatens to quit Super Rugby, Skelton 'hurt' by England tour snub, Ella feted as Cook Cup name axed
Medrano leaving the Force – and WA climate would def support a move West though.
The only other player that could chew up that much salary cap at the Brums would be Samu Kerevi?
Rugby News: Brumbies fight Ikitau red, Latu closer to Tahs 'redemption', generous George Smith's vodka gift
AAA has a herniated disc in his neck – needs to manage his minutes as best as possible. Tupou already saying he’s playing too many minutes – and again ‘rumblings of disquiet’.
Obviously a massive long shot, but not beyond the realms of possibility – and arguably going to the Brumbies is the BEST thing for his development (evidenced by their track record of bringing players through etc.), if the Irish strategy is to stack Leinster as ‘Ireland A’ – maybe Rugby Australia don’t mind a similar strategy with the Brumbies? Let NSW and QLD free up space to bring their well stocked junior playing bases through their systems.
Just a bit of speculation anyway.
Rugby News: Brumbies fight Ikitau red, Latu closer to Tahs 'redemption', generous George Smith's vodka gift
If rumours are to be believed – and let’s be very clear, these are just allegations at this point.
Unrest at the Reds = Tupou to the Brumbies.
Rugby News: Brumbies fight Ikitau red, Latu closer to Tahs 'redemption', generous George Smith's vodka gift
Hey Jez – I’ve seen comments from McLennan saying that they would invest the windfall into an endowment fund – and the proceeds from the endowment would be distributed to the grassroots each year.
Similar concept to what we were originally meant to do with all the cash we had in the war chest after hosting the World Cup (invest the lot, and the ~8% it earns each year gets taken out and invested in the game).
Instead AUS had a bit too much swagger and decided to compete with NRL and start poaching their players at top dollar. Eventually blowing the entire fund.
Source on the above is from the Australian’s podcast series on the demise of AUS rugby.
NZR and RA must ensure the trans-Tasman partnership doesn’t become terminal
Worth a workshop!
Do it on a yacht trip from Sydney to Brisbane for Bledisloe or what have ya – regardless of lockdown.
And thanks again, had never considered that angle,.
Operation McMahon: How Aussie rugby can keep its cattle
Really like this idea, and reckon it’s got legs.
There’s already been some chat (on Stan I think? or maybe it was a podcast) that there’s already been a natural market shift, where players are no longer heading overseas in their twilight years – but are now going early/mid career and then coming back to Super Rugby to push for Wallabies.
This type of contract would keep those guys – in the tent, so to speak – and still give them all of the benefits of doing a couple of OE years (like every other Aussie does).
To get player buy in, I reckon you’d need to give the player some options to extend (e.g. if they genuinely love it over there, and potentially want to convert eligibility – then all rights to them), just so we’re not giving cause for concern to restraints of trade.
Ultimately I reckon this mechanism would work as a means of retaining connection – not necessarily controlling the player, and putting demands that they return.
That should open up more fringe types to signing on I reckon.
Anyway – great article, thanks man.
Operation McMahon: How Aussie rugby can keep its cattle
I’d be well on-board with that. Bring them into the family!
Ignore the Castle commotion and enjoy the rugby
Phil Kearns hasn’t worked for Investec in ten years.
Roll up, folks, it's time for another round of rugby broadcast negotiations by media
I had had similar thought in the pass (NBA League Pass).
And read an article on it last year. The capital investment required to set up that streaming platform is apparently massive. Far greater than RA could afford.
And I’m guessing far greater than the SANZAAR bloc can afford to develop as well.
It’s shame though.
Maybe RugbyPass (an NZ owned company) can come in as a partner. They’ve already got the tech all ready to go.
Ignore the Castle commotion and enjoy the rugby
I’ve seen $400m bandied about from Sky.
Not a bad pay day.
Whatever happens next, the Brave Blossoms have changed Japanese rugby forever
Thanks Nick,
definitely some good stock to pick from. It’s crazy to think that Coleman was first picked not too long ago. Rodda is the man though, reckon he’ll be a future Wallabies captain.
Latu’s throwing has really improved too, which obviously helps.
Wallabies (lineout) rising: Rugby World Cup quarter-final hope against England
That’s new information to me, thank you Andy. I don’t have the time right now, but I’ll have a good read of that.
The only possible justification is those fees are in lieu of them bringing in any broadcast revenue, but that’s pure speculation
Cheers
Whatever happens next, the Brave Blossoms have changed Japanese rugby forever
The JRFU dug the Sunwolves grave by not underwriting their operational costs.
SANZAAR (quite rightly in my opinion) were not willing to foot the bill either. So something had to give.
If SANZAAR isn’t willing to underwrite the Force, why would they be willing to do that for the Sunwolves? That’d be a proper kick in the teeth wouldn’t it?
Whatever happens next, the Brave Blossoms have changed Japanese rugby forever
He has done well. Mick Byrne had been coaching the lineout up until the end of last year, and it’s been really clear the difference Raiwalui has made in that space.
They need Laurie Fisher on payroll to coach the breakdown. I believe he spent some time in camp advising on the attacking rolling maul, but he has a lot to offer, and is true blue as they come, which people seem to like.
Wallabies (lineout) rising: Rugby World Cup quarter-final hope against England
Hi Nick,
can you discern any changes to the linout this year, since Simon Raiwalui took over coaching it?
https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/rugby-world-cup/the-four-crunch-decisions-the-wallabies-must-settle-on-for-world-cup-opener-against-fiji/news-story/a078c3d6d48167e5a6ea3035e164582d
“But there are other factors at play with regards to the lineout, including a change in who is coaching it with Simon Raiwalui taking over the responsibilities, a change in how the Wallabies approach the lineout, and the greater experience in the second-rowers and at hooker.”
Wallabies (lineout) rising: Rugby World Cup quarter-final hope against England
That is your prerogative sir.
The Wrap: Japan’s Blossoms do rugby and their people proud
Raelene Castle is a naturalised Australian. She got her citizenship in May this year.
The Wrap: Japan’s Blossoms do rugby and their people proud
I’ve held a similar theory for a while, re: attitude.
You’ve got the big city boys from Sydney / Brisbane etc, used to the trappings that big city life offers.
Compared to living in Dunedin, Christchurch, Hamilton, even Wellington, a lot of the those players are from the Naki.
And their team based in a cosmopolitan center, Auckland, are a basket case, like our teams.
Anyway, the theory is, good old boys who are used to hard yakka on their parents farm in ChCh are more attuned to putting in the hard work, and being humble and all that carry on.
The Wrap: Japan’s Blossoms do rugby and their people proud
Another key piece of information that has been missed, is that Raiwalui took over coaching the lineout from Mick Byrnes, and it has paid tangible dividends.
It’s a shame he isn’t given more credit.
Georgia rate Wallabies pack among finest
To be fair, the NSW Gov also gave Rugby Australia $20m to build their centre of excellence/headquarters at Moore Park https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/11/29/nsw-headquarters-allianz
The Wrap: Crusaders send a message to Rugby Australia to embrace excellence, not turn away from it