Women's Rugby

[PhilClinton]

The rugby bosses probably thought the Rio Women’s 7s gold medal was a big enough tick in the ‘good vibes’ column that it would buy them some more time to figure out the next steps for the women’s game in general.

Then suddenly it’s been 6 years and they haven’t actually actioned anything so finally their shit is getting called out.

 

[Derpus]

The rugby bosses probably thought the Rio Women’s 7s gold medal was a big enough tick in the ‘good vibes’ column that it would buy them some more time to figure out the next steps for the women’s game in general.

Then suddenly it’s been 6 years and they haven’t actually actioned anything so finally their shit is getting called out.

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't think about the women's game at all.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Watch an NRLW game and listen to the amount mentions about former Wallaroo this player and that player. All the good ones will be gone within 5 years as they bring in more teams.

 

[Tex]

I believe "just" to Sydney for the send off - but still, it was all expenses paid, Intercontinental Hotel, dinner, etc...

It's a terrible look, on top of the Sua'ali'i money, the Vancouver 7 incident, the Matildas momentum etc.

Rugby Australia need to fix this quick smart. Not wait for a RWC result (good or bad)... let's commit $3m to 30 x $100,000 pa professional contracts, and offer them to the top 30 girls.

Do it tomorrow Phill Waugh. We've heard you. We get it. There's more work to be done. We've seen what the Matildas have achieved (geez think of how much merch they've just sold...) We've found the money.

Not just that, but I saw the RA instagram account share a rubbish
'day in the life of a Wallaby WAG' video from one of the players' girlfriends, replete with shopping trips, facials and lazing in the hotel room. Funding disparities aside, an utterly braindead PR moment.

 

[RugbyReg]

Plus the bullshit around Eddie also overlooking the womens program. It’s all pretty tasteless.

 

[qwerty51]

Plus the bullshit around Eddie also overlooking the womens program. It’s all pretty tasteless.

Is this not happening at all? I did find it a strange announcement and no journo ever pushed back on it.

 

[The Phoenix]

All power to them. This will be so Rugby Australia - get the jump on all the other codes then sit back and do nothing and get overtaken.
At least we can probably rely on Football Australia to stuff up the legacy of the World Cup through infighting and incompetence.

 

[Pfitzy]

RA overlooking critical development intiatives?

 

[LeCheese]

Leading story on news.com.au right now

https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/wallaroos-players-unleash-on-rugby-australia-claim-wallabies-wags-are-treated-better-than-them/news-story/0606817e428ae1029d607173babdd399

 

[Bandar]

About time rugby got the lead article on news.com

It’s probably the only time they have ever covered women’s rugby.

 

[half]

Beggars belief, both the AFL & NRL started their own national competitions after the success of both international soccer and rugby womens teams. Soccer started its W-League and started to have success.

Rugby from a real position of strength, equal to the womens soccer team say 8 to 10 years ago, has just stood by and watched.

Its so so so so sad. we failed to see the gold mine we had.

 

[Rusted]

Not surprising news corpse jumped all over this. Another negative rugby article to post. HOWEVER, this is an important issue that does need to be front and centre. Rugby led the way a few years back in women's rectangle shaped sport, led by our magnificent 7s girls in Rio. League and AFL were pretty much sitting on their hands until they realised there was interest and a market for women's sport. Since then the codes have gone on to build their leagues while rugby stalled. Seeing some of our best now running around in other codes getting well compensated in professional environments while RA um and ah about funding women's rugby has led us to this. RA need to realise, women hold the key to reviving rugby in this country. Not some $5 million kid from Sydney or a recycled coach from Randwick.

 

[Bullrush]

Beggars belief, both the AFL & NRL started their own national competitions after the success of both international soccer and rugby womens teams. Soccer started its W-League and started to have success.

Rugby from a real position of strength, equal to the womens soccer team say 8 to 10 years ago, has just stood by and watched.

Its so so so so sad. we failed to see the gold mine we had.

It's not too late. Women's rugby is only just starting to scratch the surface in every aspect of where it can go.

But action needs to happen NOW.

IMO, the best thing RA could do is to put their hand up, say they fucked up with the obvious inequality of the way the Wallaroos have been treated but make a big committment to what will happen going forward. This could turn the story into quite a positive thing that young women in the game right now can look at and feel that they are involved in a sport that has a real future.

 

[Jimmyjam]

Beggars belief, both the AFL & NRL started their own national competitions after the success of both international soccer and rugby womens teams. Soccer started its W-League and started to have success.

Rugby from a real position of strength, equal to the womens soccer team say 8 to 10 years ago, has just stood by and watched.

Its so so so so sad. we failed to see the gold mine we had.

What gold mine?

None of the aforementioned women's sports are profitable. They are a financial black hole because paying fans have no interest in paying for the product. Look at the WNBA in the US.... running for over 25yrs and have never been self funding, in fact have made losses every year with the annual subsidies from the NBA the only reason it still exists. Basically an insolvent business kept alive by charitable donors. Note, the WNBA players are also complaining about lack of pay etc.

I am no hater of women's sport, the more sport for everyone the better! But professional sports are a business and players are paid based on what they are worth. No male rugby players are complaining about the salaries of players in the NBA, NFL MLB or the European football leagues, because the sport doesn't make enough money! It's tiring listening to the continual whining when the reality is so clear and obvious....

 

[Slim 293]

No male rugby players are complaining about the salaries of players in the NBA, NFL MLB or the European football leagues, because....

... because they're completely different sports in overseas markets?

And the Wallaroos are not asking for equal pay here... simply for better treatment that they should be entitled to as employees.

“Wallabies partners better looked after than the Wallaroos. Their flights, accom, food all paid for to ‘say goodbye’ to the boys while the @wallaroosrugby get stranded in a Canadian airport for 3 days because Rugby Aus didn’t give them a flight home,” the furious player wrote.

“Wallaroos families/partners don’t even get a free ticket to the game.”

 

[LeCheese]

They are a financial black hole because paying fans have no interest in paying for the product.

The 1,977,824 people who attended the 64 women's football world cup games may beg to differ. Average stadium capacity of 75%. There is absolutely interest when the product is funded, promoted, and well executed.

 

[SouthernX]

Wallaroos versus WAGS would be a great charity rugby match concept.

PS: I want our rugby girls to be given equal treatment but it’s not a level playing field and we all know the challenges associated with that…

Can’t wait for out of touch McLennan and Phil Waugh come out with their response.

 

[SouthernX]

The 1,977,824 people who attended the 64 women's football world cup games may beg to differ. Average stadium capacity of 75%. There is absolutely interest when the product is funded, promoted, and well executed.

Comparing a World Cup event which comes to your country once every couple of decades isn’t comparable to the challenge with woman sports on week to week basis in a domestic comp.

But it’s moot point if all these leagues pump money into men’s product and put on a token female competition

 

[Jimmyjam]

The 1,977,824 people who attended the 64 women's football world cup games may beg to differ. Average stadium capacity of 75%. There is absolutely interest when the product is funded, promoted, and well executed.

Sadly all the self proclaimed Walleroo (and other female sports for that matter) supporters on here and social media do not actually support them in any other manner than a few virtue signalling keystrokes online. They do not attend the games, buy the tickets year on year, buy and wear the merchandise, watch them play on tv etc. This is how the revenue is generated by which they could be funded. If they actually supported them with their actions they could be paid not just the same, but more than the men. Over to you Walleroo supporters..... Put your money where your mouth is.

 

[LeCheese]

Comparing a World Cup event which comes to your country once every couple of decades isn’t comparable to the challenge with woman sports on week to week basis in a domestic comp.

But it’s moot point if all these leagues pump money into men’s product and put on a token female competition

It's not moot - again, my point is if the product is well executed and well marketed (like the WC), the fans will come.

Australia has some of the most fickle, bandwagoning fans in the world - the only way to get people interested is through success. The only way to achieve success, particularly with competition from other leagues, is with funding. It's the exact same with mens Super, club rugby, and the NRC (rip).