Australian Rugby / RA
- Thread starter Dave Beat
- Start date
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John Eales (66)
look up the address of Rugby Australia HQ
Bullrush
John Hipwell (52)
Moore Park?
Sorry - I don't get it. Things here just seem overly complicated. Even the school rugby system is confusing to me with Catholic Schools in one comp and other schools in another comp, club teams etc....it's so hard to follow.
When it was 'explained' to me, it made me very glad we live in Canberra! LOL
Derpus
George Gregan (70)
Because our shit is fucked, duh. The whole premise of Australian rugby for the preceding 100 years of amateurism was that you'd make some good business connections playing a bit of rugby. If you are actually good at it? bonus.
And now you want healthy and efficient corporate structures and a clear development pathway?
We have no professional rugby culture in Australia. The participation numbers are propped up by amateurs playing club rugby who are basically all just middle age dudes who can't be fucked running back 10m every tackle.
Dctarget
John Eales (66)
The people that run NSW rugby either run Rugby Australia or are pretty closely aligned.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but from memory...
The governance structure outlined in RA's constitution gives NSW and Qld main voting rights.
Bullrush
John Hipwell (52)
OK - so their allegiances are with NSW first before Australia? eg. the fear of building and creating a strong, exciting NRC is that it will detract from the Shute Shield?
KOB1987
Rod McCall (65)
I think it's they get 2 votes and the other unions get 1. Or something like that. Given the participation numbers that part is probably fair enough. It's what goes on outside the boardroom that causes all the problems.
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John Eales (66)
Yup. Or they genuinely think that last time Aus rugby was on top all our Wallabies came from two clubs in NSW and QLD so we should replicate the '90s and club rugby will save Aus rugby.. Ignoring any of the other 1000 things that have changed since.
There's very little that they actually get to vote on though. Rugby Australia is largely run by its board and CEO.
I think it's more that rugby in Australia is a collection of different organisations at every level. Rugby Australia don't control what the state unions do. NSWRU doesn't control what the Shute Shield does. Neither NSWRU for RA control what junior rugby in Sydney does.
Given the game relies on volunteers particularly at the lower levels it is hard to try and take away that power to control the various levels because you would have to replace it with paid employees.
LeCheese
Peter Johnson (47)
Case in point: Phil Waugh, the epitome of NSW rugby elite, and his recent comments dismissing a second-tier comp and promoting club rugby
Highlander35
Andrew Slack (58)
I want it. I want it to be too big, too ambitious, too filled with haves and have nots.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
That's right. There are many vested interests in the game in this country and not many of them align with the interests of the game in general.
Bullrush
John Hipwell (52)
I heard something very similar to this, regarding Waugh, earlier in the week when talking to someone I know who used to be very connected with Brumby rugby...you said it nicer though LOL
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
As somebody who grew up loving my local rugby club, then playing for them, then supporting them in cash and in kind, I wonder what will take our place? Of course nothing and nobody is irreplaceable, with enough money it must be possible to engineer a new national competition. And I would be happy to support a team I suppose. I supported the Central Coast Rays.
How much is enough? Could the proponents please give us some ballpark estimates? And where would the money come from?
How much is enough? Could the proponents please give us some ballpark estimates? And where would the money come from?
KOB1987
Rod McCall (65)
Put it this way, if I had Twiggy's money, as a fairly passionate supporter I'd throw up $100m to get a professional domestic comp up and running. 8 clubs x $10m and $20m into the pot for the promotion, administration of the comp, etc. It would come with Ts & Cs of course which would no doubt be the sticking point. If they couldn't make it work with $100m I'd then walk away.
I mean, it's not like there are any models for countries to centralise rugby admin / coaching / S&C / competition structures and get positive results at all levels.
Apart from NZ, Wales, Ireland....
I actually sympathise with RA to a degree, as it must be a living hell trying to have a sensible discussion with some of the major players in NSW (esp) and Qld. I have been told as much by a couple of people who would know pretty well.
That does not absolve them from trying better though!
Apart from NZ, Wales, Ireland....
I actually sympathise with RA to a degree, as it must be a living hell trying to have a sensible discussion with some of the major players in NSW (esp) and Qld. I have been told as much by a couple of people who would know pretty well.
That does not absolve them from trying better though!
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
In these countries rugby is a dominant winter sport, and AFAIK the admin etc has been centralised for a long time. But the question is not, is this a good idea? Of course it is a good idea. The question is, how to achieve it in a country where rugby is the fourth most popular "football"? Ane where the strength of the game is in NSW and QLD?
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
Or the 6 SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) franchises running their 'B' teams vs a rep squad from each of Sydney and Brisbane. Round robin for 7 games plus finals. Run in the post season between September-December. And do something a little different in actually market the damn thing.