22 Comments

I often wonder where we’d be (if David Nucifora was still here in Australia), where we’d be in terms of player development and a more centralised system here in Oz. Clearly Ireland is different but with Nucifora they achieved No. 1 world ranking? Obviously he’s not to everyone’s liking (Brumbies player revolt after winning a Super Rugby title) but what he could have done here in Oz has been lost to another country.

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He's done a tremendous job in Ireland and a lot we can learn from him and them.

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I admit I haven't read too much about it but did see the announcement. I'm unsure because I feel that RA have their own governance issues and that by taking control of the super rugby clubs they will inflict these issues into the cultures of the clubs.

But it's good to see them addressing the M\F imbalances in the sport. I'll be happier when they speak with action rather than words and it looks like they're a step closer with the appointment of a performance manager for the women. I do question the selection process and why they have chosen a male with a rowing background to be the head of performance of women's rugby but guess we will have to wait and see. It would be great to see more women landing these big roles, especially for female teams. Not to say that men don't have their place because workplace diversity is important.

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The entire system for how rugby is run (male and female) needs to be closely examined. Dont think we're world class in either category

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Needs to be an equitable model which means that no one or two stakeholders have excessive decision clout over the rest of the states/territories.

Would love to have player representation on any reconstituted board, from the contracted professional players - male and female. I'd like to have like a two bodied thing - a supervisory council and an executive board.

The executive board is in charge of corporate management, your Waugh's etc; the supervisory council controls the executive board.

The supervisory council is chosen by the current contracted playerbase and the territory or state unions, and they can propose and select those who sit on the Executive Board.

You cannot sit on Exec Board and Supervisory Council.

Appointments would require majority consensus, if you had like 7 states and 2 player reps, you' have a 9 which means a 5/4 majority required to appoint.

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I'm pretty sure all state boards would be dissolved as RA would control everything.

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Ben. There is an old management consulting adage that states that If they are decentralised then you centralise. If they are centralised then you decentralise. Though that is a very cynical view it does create much needed energy (that word again) and things start happening that were not happening before. Very important for a new CEO to get things moving.

We all agreed that something needs to happen to get momentum back. Of course an appearance in the final in a few weeks would be the biggest energy hit of all

PS I am also fearful of a NSW rugby domination.

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I'm fearful of that too, but how does being cynical create energy?

Totally agree the Wallabies going deep and playing without fear would give all rugby fans a huge boost in energy

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Hopefully Ben Darwin was consulted on this as his company delves into successful structures.

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We need cohesion like Ben says, but with 4-5 teams. Not 3.

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Good performances by National team masked horrendous ones by their Regional teams.

Last season their teams finished 10th, 13th, 14th and 15th in URC!

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Governance would be a good place to start: a national structure should have a constitution and purpose that is about the whole game and one that effectively removes the provincial power bases. The design has to encapture pathways, whether that be about healthy schools rugby or local clubs and the refs and so on. Above all, it has to have a strong idea of community, which is really what makes rugby healthy. Take a leaf from the AFL book.

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Agree community is key and think the provinces will lose their autonomy under the proposed new system.

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I like the idea - the only thing I think might be a bit crap is if they start to group all the Wallabies players into a single team e.g. Leinster. Would be hard to field competitive teams across all of them if that's the case.

But I'm sure they've thought it all through! (hopefully)

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Agree that's a concern and possible reality. I know we can't have all provinces in the grand final, but we need a system where any club can still succeed

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Doesn’t work so well in Wales where they have never got past old loyalty and rivalries. Governance there has been a shambles for nearly 30 years! So much depends on getting the right balance and it is hard.

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I thought Welsh rugby was really strong until recently?

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This is well over due. Just need to ensure that the Tahs don’t overly influence and benefit from this model; it needs to be applied equally and consistently across all unions!

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Agreed. Need a system where any club can be successful.

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If the 2 countries that are running under this format currently # 1&2 in world rankings. Can’t be a bad thing.

However would be very concerned with RA running this.

As you know I’m a very loyal rugby supporter and have been for many years. So would this be RA or as past NSWRU running this.

Hence the dislike of the Tahs in the way ran rugby.

While on subject of RA they are in process of selling Wallaby membership to Lions tour for $1899 (2year member) Gives you priority tickets to Lions test tickets x2 and a few other benefits.

In 1999 I and 999 other joined Wallaby 1st Plus at nomination fee $1500 and since $180 per year fee.

This is 30 year contract that also gives us 2 ticket priority access to all wallaby tests in Australia

Now they are asking me to join another membership for the same benefits.

Rugby chasing money.

🏉GoYouGoodThing🏉

🏉ScottyG🏉

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You are not along with your skepticism Scotty. Go you good thing indeed.

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All the time l have been involved in Rugby, both club administration and refereeing, l was under the impression that Rugby in Australia was centralised. Sydney made all the decisions, by having majority representation on the board. So what will change now. Hamish and Phil are both Sydney centric.

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