Australian rugby/RA

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I'd say that's about right for the SS. Helps when you have 4 different sides in 1st/2nd Grade and a belter of a day albeit windy. Rats also have a great crowd of Hillbillies.

 

[Red Runner]

Tough to give a crowd number for GF as the crowd ebs and flows through the day. For instance there were a bunch of wests and easts supporters there for colts 1 who would have left right after that game.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

It was a fantastic turn out for the SS grand final. The atmosphere would have been great.

 

[PhilClinton]

Any sources on Shute Shield and Hospital Cup GF crowds?

My guess just from TV is around 15k at Leichardt and 6k at Ballymore

The Ballymore grandstand was a sellout, not sure how many seats it has now?

And then I reckon maybe another 1500 floating around the hill and other areas.

EDIT - new grandstand holds 3010 seats. So, I reckon probably closer to 4,500 at the venue when the 1st grade game started.

Apparently, Ballymore max capacity is now 6,000 and there seemed to be plenty of places to sit and stand and there were still tickets available on the day.

 

[Rob42]

This is one of the times where the fragmentation of Australian rugby really frustrates me. Having the club rugby GFs on a weekend where there's no Wallaby match is perfect for some cross-promotion - really promote Wallabies attending the GFs etc, but of course, Rugby Australia doesn't work well with NSW Rugby, who don't work well with the Sydney RU, so it would be practically impossible for everyone to work together on something like that.

 

[Alex Sharpe]

This is one of the times where the fragmentation of Australian rugby really frustrates me. Having the club rugby GFs on a weekend where there's no Wallaby match is perfect for some cross-promotion - really promote Wallabies attending the GFs etc, but of course, Rugby Australia doesn't work well with NSW Rugby, who don't work well with the Sydney RU, so it would be practically impossible for everyone to work together on something like that.

The players knew the Grand Finals were on. Nothing stopping them heading down for a look.

Ben Donaldson was at the Colts GF, while I saw Luke Reimer getting amongst it with the Rats. There were others as well.

 

[Strewthcobber]

This is one of the times where the fragmentation of Australian rugby really frustrates me. Having the club rugby GFs on a weekend where there's no Wallaby match is perfect for some cross-promotion - really promote Wallabies attending the GFs etc, but of course, Rugby Australia doesn't work well with NSW Rugby, who don't work well with the Sydney RU, so it would be practically impossible for everyone to work together on something like that.

Wallabies are in Townsville aren't they?

 

[Wilson]

The players knew the Grand Finals were on. Nothing stopping them heading down for a look.

Ben Donaldson was at the Colts GF, while I saw Luke Reimer getting amongst it with the Rats. There were others as well.

Pretty sure the wallabies squad members were all in camp in Townsville already

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

The squad is in far north qld trying to win the RC.

Plenty of players and faces were floating around. Players posting on social media is more effective tbh and guys like Blyth were posting about Bond in the HC.

 

[Slim 293]

Ryan Lonergan did play for Vikings on Saturday, but it was the grand final for the country's premier club competition so understandable...

 

[Adam84]

Ryan Lonergan did play for Vikings on Saturday

Squad assembled in Townsville on Sunday.. Josh Flook played for Brothers, looks like those outside the likely matchday 23 were allowed to play

 

[Rob42]

Yeah, I get that there were a good number of pro players at the GFs, but I think promoting that ahead of time would be helpful to show to casual supporters the spectrum of Australian rugby. The club GF days are a great advertisement for the sport, showcase them to those extra viewers who are just tuning in, or tuning back in, because the Wallabies are interesting again. Maybe even, shock horror, have a few Wallabies leave camp for a day.

 

[Rob42]

Squad assembled in Townsville on Sunday.. Josh Flook played for Brothers, looks like those outside the likely matchday 23 were allowed to play

No problem then...only need to get RA, NSW Rugby, and SRU to talk. Ah well, it was a good idea for a moment.

 

[Slim 293]

In hindsight I would've also released Ikitau and Tom Hooper back to Vikings on Saturday to, erm... put a spotlight on club rugby, or something.

 

[Adam84]

RA officially debt free after paying off the $63million PEP loan last week

Rugby Australia has wiped its debt and is planning to accelerate the creation of an investment fund after the success of this year’s British and Irish Lions Tour provided enough financial headroom to run operations through to the 2027 World Cup.

The governing body owed $63.5 million to Pacific Equity Partners as part of an $80 million loan provided in 2023 when rugby union was in deep financial turmoil. RA chief executive Phil Waugh and chief financial officer Richard Gardham said they had paid off the last of the debt and cancelled the agreement last Friday.

Rugby Australia is debt free, turns eye to future fund

The success of this year’s British and Irish Lions Tour has provided it enough financial headroom to run operations through to the 2027 World Cup.

www.afr.com

 

[Major Tom]

RA officially debt free after paying off the $63million PEP loan last week

Rugby Australia is debt free, turns eye to future fund

The success of this year’s British and Irish Lions Tour has provided it enough financial headroom to run operations through to the 2027 World Cup.

www.afr.com

“Accelerate the creation of an investment fund”
Different to the Rugby Future Fund?

 

[Wilson]

“Accelerate the creation of an investment fund”
Different to the Rugby Future Fund?

Yeah, it sounds like it's a separate entity. Details are slim but this would be an RA specific future fund (rather than the ARF's one that is for private investors) similar to what the AOC setup after the Sydney Olympics:

The idea of an investment fund was first floated by former chairman Hamish McLennan in 2022, and the plan was to inject $100 million from the 2027 Rugby World Cup profits into a vehicle that could be used to invest in the future of the sport.
This type of fund was established by the Australian Olympic Committee using capital from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The last time RA hosted a World Cup – in 2003 – it received a $44 million windfall. Former chief executive John O’Neill wanted to invest the money in a future fund, but it never eventuated because of disagreements over how the money should be used.

 

[The Red Baron]

Yeah, I get that there were a good number of pro players at the GFs, but I think promoting that ahead of time would be helpful to show to casual supporters the spectrum of Australian rugby. The club GF days are a great advertisement for the sport, showcase them to those extra viewers who are just tuning in, or tuning back in, because the Wallabies are interesting again. Maybe even, shock horror, have a few Wallabies leave camp for a day.

Townsville had their grand final over the weekend as well for all grades, the wallabies showed up there. That's just as important as showing up to an already well supported Shute Shield or QPR grand final, as it does wonders for engagement in the regions.