HI Ben. Sadly nothing new in your comments. Just exacerbated by Covid etc. I am writing this from New Zealand, though usually live and share your love of Canberra and our Brumbies. Complex problems but the ongoing lack of a shared vision and good leadership, one that can bring all parties regardless of disparate views to the table is the biggest problem. It is amazing to watch rugby here. NZ is not perfect either from a "rugby politics" perspective and have their own big wicked problems at the moment but essentially everyone is united by their love of the sport and every young man/ woman's desire to put on that black jumper. Makes me sad when you talk about the culture and the memories of the good old days when the sport has effectively destroyed itself in Australia on the professional level. School Boy and club rugby is still pure and great though fortunately. The passion is still here, just need a force to tap it and bring everyone along!
Hi Dianna. Totally agree that I don't cover anything new, but I do think the current leadership is beginning to paint a strong vision for Rugby here in Oz, and I think if the game can get a more few things on the business end tidied up (broadcast deal sorted, now private equity) then I think the game will have some more dollars to invest in grassroots. The old saying of "If the Wallabies go well, Rugby in OZ goes well" is still true to an extent, but should be caveated with "but not at the expense of the grassroots".
Enjoy the blog, Ben. I agree with many of your sentiments and ideas but until Australian rugby realigns its priorities to be more inclusive at the junior level, we're merely putting lipstick on the pig. The game desperately (now more than ever) needs a broader base. Instead it's contracting again. It should not just be kids from the leather patch brigade or talents who end up in private schools on scholarships (and then often jump ship to league) who play union. Those who run the game have had numerous chances over the years to reach out to the hoi polloi, but haven't been able to adequately overcome the reality, or at least soften the perception, that rugby union is a game for toffs. I believe the current malaise in the quality of play and rugby intelligence in Australia is a direct result of that lingering (and actively embraced in many quarters) perception of rugby 'exclusivity'.
Glad to hear your enjoying it Greg. I'm really enjoying the process of writing, and a big part of it is to gather opinions to try and figure out how and what the game should prioritise. Totally agree it needs a broader base, but I think the game should focus on re-engaging the fans it lost over the past 5-10 years first
Dare say many of those fans are the great unwashed who discovered rugby early in the professional era but have felt less of a connection as the game disappears up its own derriere once again. Anyhoo ...
It's a crude way of alluding to 'non-traditional' supporters -- leaguies and others who filled the stands during the Wallabies successful run a couple of decades ago (and more recently the Waratahs) when a real and sustained push into communities not usually associated with union would have helped broaden the base. Numbers in private schools are dwindling now too (some of boys in Chinos prefer the Swans, I hear) and trying to attract league fans to games where Australian sides are getting whipped by 30 points is a difficult task. So, I fully understand and agree with much of what you're saying about 're-engaging' fans. My lament is it's somewhat like prioritizing improving the performance of the orchestra on the Titanic. In my humble view there is and has long been a lack of urgency to take the game to the people -- the Sydney club push to dump on western Sydney is just the latest example. That's why we are where we are. All this nonsense about how the game will always thrive as long as the Wallabies do OK (I know you're not saying that--but that's the common excuse) employs the kind of befuddled logic of trickle down economics. You have to build from the base up, not hope some of the fairy dust dropped from the top magically transforms the fundamentals. Australian rugby has had numerous chances to develop the base, but has almost always opted to look after the duffers in the corporate boxes before locking in development plans that maximize the game's accessibility and viability at junior level. I sincerely hope and to an extent believe there is enough talent and goodwill in rugby to help it limp through this period and perhaps flourish again in the future but a push to make the game less 'exclusive' will do as much for prospects as improving pathways for elite players.
I think you have hit the nail on the head there Ben, especially with the absolute SNAFU that is rugby in NSW. It seems that some people involved in Rugby in NSW want to ‘play the man, not the ball.’ And whilst I’m all for tribalism and club rugby (Go Vikings!) at least there is a clear pathway from U9’s to the Wallabies, Wallaroo’s and Sevens. NSW does not seem to have that for several years now and the Waratahs current standing is a direct result of that.
Thanks Adam. Clear pathways are so important for any young player (Even the Vikings!) and vital for retaining talent. And thanks for all your comments and for the support you've shown for my writing. Really appreciate it!
HI Ben. Sadly nothing new in your comments. Just exacerbated by Covid etc. I am writing this from New Zealand, though usually live and share your love of Canberra and our Brumbies. Complex problems but the ongoing lack of a shared vision and good leadership, one that can bring all parties regardless of disparate views to the table is the biggest problem. It is amazing to watch rugby here. NZ is not perfect either from a "rugby politics" perspective and have their own big wicked problems at the moment but essentially everyone is united by their love of the sport and every young man/ woman's desire to put on that black jumper. Makes me sad when you talk about the culture and the memories of the good old days when the sport has effectively destroyed itself in Australia on the professional level. School Boy and club rugby is still pure and great though fortunately. The passion is still here, just need a force to tap it and bring everyone along!
Hi Dianna. Totally agree that I don't cover anything new, but I do think the current leadership is beginning to paint a strong vision for Rugby here in Oz, and I think if the game can get a more few things on the business end tidied up (broadcast deal sorted, now private equity) then I think the game will have some more dollars to invest in grassroots. The old saying of "If the Wallabies go well, Rugby in OZ goes well" is still true to an extent, but should be caveated with "but not at the expense of the grassroots".
Enjoy the blog, Ben. I agree with many of your sentiments and ideas but until Australian rugby realigns its priorities to be more inclusive at the junior level, we're merely putting lipstick on the pig. The game desperately (now more than ever) needs a broader base. Instead it's contracting again. It should not just be kids from the leather patch brigade or talents who end up in private schools on scholarships (and then often jump ship to league) who play union. Those who run the game have had numerous chances over the years to reach out to the hoi polloi, but haven't been able to adequately overcome the reality, or at least soften the perception, that rugby union is a game for toffs. I believe the current malaise in the quality of play and rugby intelligence in Australia is a direct result of that lingering (and actively embraced in many quarters) perception of rugby 'exclusivity'.
Glad to hear your enjoying it Greg. I'm really enjoying the process of writing, and a big part of it is to gather opinions to try and figure out how and what the game should prioritise. Totally agree it needs a broader base, but I think the game should focus on re-engaging the fans it lost over the past 5-10 years first
Dare say many of those fans are the great unwashed who discovered rugby early in the professional era but have felt less of a connection as the game disappears up its own derriere once again. Anyhoo ...
Who are the great unwashed? Waratah supporters?
It's a crude way of alluding to 'non-traditional' supporters -- leaguies and others who filled the stands during the Wallabies successful run a couple of decades ago (and more recently the Waratahs) when a real and sustained push into communities not usually associated with union would have helped broaden the base. Numbers in private schools are dwindling now too (some of boys in Chinos prefer the Swans, I hear) and trying to attract league fans to games where Australian sides are getting whipped by 30 points is a difficult task. So, I fully understand and agree with much of what you're saying about 're-engaging' fans. My lament is it's somewhat like prioritizing improving the performance of the orchestra on the Titanic. In my humble view there is and has long been a lack of urgency to take the game to the people -- the Sydney club push to dump on western Sydney is just the latest example. That's why we are where we are. All this nonsense about how the game will always thrive as long as the Wallabies do OK (I know you're not saying that--but that's the common excuse) employs the kind of befuddled logic of trickle down economics. You have to build from the base up, not hope some of the fairy dust dropped from the top magically transforms the fundamentals. Australian rugby has had numerous chances to develop the base, but has almost always opted to look after the duffers in the corporate boxes before locking in development plans that maximize the game's accessibility and viability at junior level. I sincerely hope and to an extent believe there is enough talent and goodwill in rugby to help it limp through this period and perhaps flourish again in the future but a push to make the game less 'exclusive' will do as much for prospects as improving pathways for elite players.
I think you have hit the nail on the head there Ben, especially with the absolute SNAFU that is rugby in NSW. It seems that some people involved in Rugby in NSW want to ‘play the man, not the ball.’ And whilst I’m all for tribalism and club rugby (Go Vikings!) at least there is a clear pathway from U9’s to the Wallabies, Wallaroo’s and Sevens. NSW does not seem to have that for several years now and the Waratahs current standing is a direct result of that.
Thanks Adam. Clear pathways are so important for any young player (Even the Vikings!) and vital for retaining talent. And thanks for all your comments and for the support you've shown for my writing. Really appreciate it!