Rugby Administration - Please Rant here

[The Honey Badger]

Rant away and whinge all you like about how badly our administrators are running the game,

I am sick of other threads morphing into what this this thread should be

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Looks like everyone's happy with the administration.
Mods - you can close this thread: all is well

 

[fatprop]

For context, any rant can't really be about the Super sides playing shit, they don't sign the coaches or the player. If they were all competing in fornt of sell out crowds we wouldn't be in this mess

 

[fatprop]

So first rant, they expanded too quickly, we have too many uncompetitive sides and something needs to be done

 

[Leo86]

ARU game plan- lets centralise all the state unions...

Things get rocky

ARU- lets fuck over the first franchise to sign an alliance, then the other states definitely will want to get on board

 

[lou75]

When Billy P was appointed CEO of ARU back in 2013, he had a window of opportunity to sweep a broom through the place, discover the problems, put his hand up for a one off generous government assistance package (like the Soccers guys did) but he did pretty much nothing.
When Patsy Clyne came aboard the ARU in 2015 , he had a window of opportunity...get rid of the idiots who had signed over the Rebels for $6million in payments to the buyers and start afresh, but he did nothing. They have enjoyed going to games, sitting in the chairman's lounges and receiving copious hospitality with their fingers crossed that all would work out. Well here's the reality, the CEO is supposed to steer the ship and if he doesn't then the Chairman is supposed to replace him and get someone who can do the job.

 

[blues recovery]

God I love your work !!

 

[Pfitzy]

Critical issue facing the ARU right now is they effectively asked for a fifth team, knowing they really couldn't support it.

Its like Subbies here in Sydney expecting everyone to just have stable numbers every single year, and just add a team whenever they're promoted up a Division.

But its a bigger issue with the ARU because they had no fucking business case beyond "Uncle Rupes gives us more money this way!" and thought quantity = quality.

Now they're going to have so many lawyers up their ass it'll be like a GPS head boys reunion, and the silly ***ts have nobody to blame but themselves.

The Betoota Advocate say it best (though watch out - their site is hacked to fuck these days):

http://www.betootaadvocate.com/spor...zmat-suits-in-first-ever-public-school-visit/

 

[moa999]

I'm led to believe the board and management have spent all their time obsessing over the shade of mahogany furnishings and the colour of the sisal carpet for their new edifice for the last few years (as well as the size of their office).

Next year all their time will be spent bringing every minor who's who through such offices.

They might start caring about Australian rugby again in 2019

 

[brokendown]

righto-the bottom team in Aus has just beaten the top team;the other team in the firing line is still in 2nd spot in the conference---so does not the problem not lie with the so called weaker sides-but with the so called top sides?

 

[Twoilms]

righto-the bottom team in Aus has just beaten the top team;the other team in the firing line is still in 2nd spot in the conference---so does not the problem not lie with the so called weaker sides-but with the so called top sides?

Yeah, if the Brumbies, Reds and Tahs all challenged regularly and were in the finals every year we could carry two shit teams. They don't though. They chronically underperform. The Tahs in particular, it's basically their club motto.

 

[I like to watch]

When Billy P was appointed CEO of ARU back in 2013, he had a window of opportunity to sweep a broom through the place, discover the problems, put his hand up for a one off generous government assistance package (like the Soccers guys did) but he did pretty much nothing.
When Patsy Clyne came aboard the ARU in 2015 , he had a window of opportunity.get rid of the idiots who had signed over the Rebels for $6million in payments to the buyers and start afresh, but he did nothing. They have enjoyed going to games, sitting in the chairman's lounges and receiving copious hospitality with their fingers crossed that all would work out. Well here's the reality, the CEO is supposed to steer the ship and if he doesn't then the Chairman is supposed to replace him and get someone who can do the job.

You can't just sack the CEO.
He signed an agreement with the ARU.
They can't just ignore signed agreements when it suits them can they

 

[lou75]

You can't just sack the CEO.
He signed an agreement with the ARU.
They can't just ignore signed agreements when it suits them can they

And when that employment contract ends, you don't give him another one, you shake hands and say good bye.

Although I love your double meaning, cos the ARU don't necessarily stand by their contracts with franchisees do they?

 

[Kenny Powers]

My take on Bill Pulver

* very wealthy man prior to taking on the role of CEO, doesn't need the money that comes with CEO role and I believe no intention of forging an ongoing career in sports administration (eg David Gallop)

* having the role of CEO is more of indulgence for him or a boyhood dream

* Greg Growden use to talk of an ARU official he call 'the Fan', apparently couldn't get him out Wallaby change rooms, I suspect this was Pulver

* He likes getting dressed up in full playing kit. It's just weird what other CEO out there plays dress up other than Richard Branson. Good cause but what other sporting CEO in Australia would do this, as in dress up?

* A few years back when Castrol were the sponsors of The Rugby Championship, they did a promo and were going to take some around a racetrack in a V8 car. It should have been a player, but instead Pulver went for the ride. CEO's don't make the news putting a high profile player in the car would. Pulver must have failed the sports administration subject 'Looking After Sponsors 101'.

https://www.motorsport.com/v8superc...-v8-supercar-at-sydney-motorsport-park-video/

* The whole drama with Ewen McKenzie, he should have addressed this before it all went pear shaped as it was always going to.

I just can't help but feel Australian Rugby has had a CEO, who has exhibited poor judgement given above examples.

The next CEO needs to be someone from Sports Administration, who wants to forge a career in this field and needs the salary it pays (oh and also not connected to the Shore School or wider Sydney GPS). The whole rugby world takes coaches from NZ, why not one of their up and coming administrators?

 

[blues recovery]

My take on Bill Pulver

* very wealthy man prior to taking on the role of CEO, doesn't need the money that comes with CEO role and I believe no intention of forging an ongoing career in sports administration (eg David Gallop)

* having the role of CEO is more of indulgence for him or a boyhood dream

* Greg Growden use to talk of an ARU official he call 'the Fan', apparently couldn't get him out Wallaby change rooms, I suspect this was Pulver

* He likes getting dressed up in full playing kit. It's just weird what other CEO out there plays dress up other than Richard Branson. Good cause but what other sporting CEO in Australia would do this, as in dress up?

* A few years back when Castrol were the sponsors of The Rugby Championship, they did a promo and were going to take some around a racetrack in a V8 car. It should have been a player, but instead Pulver went for the ride. CEO's don't make the news putting a high profile player in the car would. Pulver must have failed the sports administration subject 'Looking After Sponsors 101'.

https://www.motorsport.com/v8superc...-v8-supercar-at-sydney-motorsport-park-video/

* The whole drama with Ewen McKenzie, he should have addressed this before it all went pear shaped as it was always going to.

I just can't help but feel Australian Rugby has had a CEO, who has exhibited poor judgement given above examples.

The next CEO needs to be someone from Sports Administration, who wants to forge a career in this field and needs the salary it pays (oh and also not connected to the Shore School or wider Sydney GPS). The whole rugby world takes coaches from NZ, why not one of their up and coming administrators?

Very accurate depiction in my view
Nice guy , successful in business , loves Rugby .
Lot of people fit that criteria .
But no experience of the ridiculous political environment in Rugby or professional sport in general . It takes special skills to manoeuvre your way through the minefield that is Australian Rugby . Cameron Clyne doesn't look like he can do it either .
Few can . Pulver certainly can't

 

[Pfitzy]

But no experience of the ridiculous political environment in Rugby or professional sport in general . It takes special skills to manoeuvre your way through the minefield that is Australian Rugby . Cameron Clyne doesn't look like he can do it either .

See this is the thing: the political minefield IS THE ISSUE.

Too many people in rugby think that their idea is the one that should win. None of those ideas are particularly disruptive to the status quo, or even innovative for Australian Rugby.

GPS: WE ARE THE BREEDING GROUND FOR THE NEXT GENERATION!

Well, to a degree. In that you have money to throw at rugby and not many other people do. But to be a "competition" you have to be "competitive" and that means having more than 6 schools, and more than 1-2 of those being contenders in a given year.

GPS has also contracted since the golden days. And doesn't play regular fixtures against other schools competitions or even individuals.

Narrowing the base never helps.


Poido et al: PREMIER RUGBY MADE WALLABIES FOR DECADES SO IT MUST BE THE ANSWER!

Club rugby WAS good but it ignores the fact that Shute Shield in particular has suffered from contraction, and this ridiculous belief that NSW Rugby/Sydney Rugby is somehow helping Western Sydney by beating the shit out of Parramatta and Penrith every week (First Grade for both clubs shipped 130+ points to bugger all on the weekend).

Like the schools setup, senior club rugby has contracted sharply in terms of overall quality. And quite frankly, 4 Grades is ridiculous when you're also trying to support 3 Grades of Colts. Penrith can meet neither criteria.

What these two things have in common is a narrower base, and creation of a real haves/have nots scenario wherein the people in power build on it, and the people without simply suffer through it, then leave.

They're also self-serving, protectionist, and put the game of rugby behind other priorities.

That simply can't happen any more.

The Kiwis reformed their domestic comp, decided that the All Blacks were the top of the pile, and geared everything to success.

They also went through the financial realities of spraying money everywhere like a mad woman's shit, and made sure that couldn't happen any more.

The next CEO needs to be someone from Sports Administration, who wants to forge a career in this field and needs the salary it pays (oh and also not connected to the Shore School or wider Sydney GPS).

I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.

Except the bit about salary - one of the issues with rugby politics (like normal politics) is that a CEO has to be someone who already has success and therefore doesn't need the salary. Its how people at the "top" think.

 

[wamberal]

The next CEO needs to be a rugby person, first and foremost, at least in the sense that he or she understands the game, and the inherent issues that are totally outside the control of the ARU. Like the Laws of the Game.


I am coming to the view that the only comparative advantage we have as a sport in this country is actually our "elite" image.



A marketing genius needs be set loose to devise a campaign. By hook or by crook, we have to convince more and more people that (a) it is worthwhile trying to understand and appreciate the game and b) that rugby is a good game for their sons and daughters to play.


Given that the game is basically only shown on cable, and also given that by far the most playing opportunities exist in silvertail schools and suburbs, like it or not, that is now the base. It needs to be consolidated, and built upon.



We are in a corner, fighting for our survival, no doubt about that. We need to fight smart, and we need to swallow some unpalatable truths.


Try this test. In your workplace, how many people have an active interest in the game? Has the percentage changed over the years?


Ditto with your neighbours.


The game itself is an acquired taste. Some people (like my wife) take to it quickly. Some people (like a couple of leaguie neighbours of mine, who decided to have a look at it because I like it) give up because they do not understand it, and/or do not like it and/or do not care about it enough to tune in regularly.

 

[Kenny Powers]

What these two things have in common is a narrower base, and creation of a real haves/have nots scenario wherein the people in power build on it, and the people without simply suffer through it, then leave.

Australian Rugby's problem summed up in one sentence, and applicable to all levels of the game from juniors thru to the Wallabies.

 

[Kenny Powers]

A marketing genius needs be set loose to devise a campaign. By hook or by crook, we have to convince more and more people that (a) it is worthwhile trying to understand and appreciate the game and b) that rugby is a good game for their sons and daughters to play.

The marketing geniuses are mocking rugby, as this occurs in most junior games even though it is a TV commercial. Pushing it up hill to get mums to sign their kids up.

Yes this does occur in the rugby codes and rugby deserves everything coming its way when it allows this.

 

[wamberal]

Rugby is at heart an amateur game in Australia. It never has earned enough widespread popularity to be a fully professional code.


And it never will, unless something truly cataclysmic happens.


We need to play to our strengths, not to our hopes and dreams. We are never ever going to be widely popular. We are never ever going to have enough broadast revenue to support "grassroots" rugby.


The sooner we face up to that, the sooner we can work to find creative solutions.