Suggesting Alan Jones should be the next Wallabies coach was bold enough, but an unrepentant Queensland rugby boss Peter Lewis has not only repeated his shock call – he’s upped the ante.
The QRU chairman unloaded on all things rugby, suggesting:
– a Pacific Islander team be added to the Super 14,
– the creation of a rugby union-league hybrid game and;
– the Wallabies coaching job become part-time with support staff dramatically cut.
“Let’s think big and differently, that’s what I am on about,” Lewis said in Brisbane.
He called for the International Rugby Board to financially back a Pacific hybrid team’s entry into the southern hemisphere tournament to provide much-needed entertainment.
“If the IRB with its hundreds of millions of pounds can’t find five million bucks to underwrite probably what would be the most exciting team in the competition, we’ve got something wrong,” he said.
“They (Pacific Islanders) can’t play here because we can’t have other nationalities playing in the Super 14, so treat them as a hybrid team.
“Let’s get them in here. The entertainment value would be magnificent – and that’s the business we are in, entertainment.”
And Lewis hinted that the QRU could help play a major role in a Pacific team’s inclusion.
He suggested that the team could use a revamped Ballymore as a base.
The federal government announced in June it would provide $25 million towards a Ballymore re-development which would include elite training facilities and an athletes village.
Lewis said watching a free flowing Fiji at the World Cup convinced him that a proposed overhaul of rugby was paramount.
“Fiji was a revelation and enjoyable. We just don’t see it in the big games,” he said.
“For the IRB the buck is squarely on their table. C’mon guys, you need to do something and soon – the World Cup final was proof in my view.”
And Lewis expanded on Australian rugby boss John O’Neill’s suggestion that union could learn something from its 13-a-side cousin.
“I have just finished O’Neill’s book where at one point he suggests the IRB throw its war chest at reuniting the two codes – what a brilliant idea,” he said.
“What leaguies will never have is the opportunity to travel the world and play in a genuine World Cup.
“If you put the two games together and pick the best out of both, what a magnificent game it would be.”
But wait there’s more – Lewis also reckoned the Wallabies coaching gig should be part-time in a nod toward Alan Jones’ huge media commitments.
“It’s a not a full-time job in that it is a 52 week a year job – that’s crazy,” he said.
“You analyse things so much you end up killing it. I think we are stifling the creativity out of the game.”
And coaching support staff should be cut dramatically, he said.
“(Alan) Jones won the (1984) Grand Slam with two (staff). Alec Evans and himself, that needs to be revisited again a bit – the Campese flair is coached out of them,” Lewis said.
“I think we need to loosen up a bit.”
Lewis’ serious demeanour only broke down when asked what the QRU board thought of his Jones call.
“To be frank I’ve had lots of phone calls this morning but none from my board – maybe they are not speaking to me,” he laughed.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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