ForceFan
Peter Fenwicke (45)
With the current lack of interest in any meaningful broadcast options for 2020/2021 it's time to revisit my likely outcomes from nearly 6 months ago:
What's needed is a complete rebuild from the gross mismanagement under which the game in Australia has been suffering for a very loooong time.
Lower the sights, aim for success, focus on timezone, reduce the amount/cost of travel, don't try and fix everybody's problems, slow and steady growth from the grass roots, seek more corporate sponsorship, competition managed by professionals not amateurs, ensure that media coverage is readily accessible and affordable (to as many people as possible).
There are all kinds of new models being talked about but non address the basic issue of funding.
Where are the $$s coming from to support 5 professional rugby franchises moving forward?
That equates to $30M - $35M per year without the operating costs of RA.
There is obviously zero interest from the broadcasters as there is little/no commercial interest in the game under the current structure.
All of the plans of Australia-wide competitions at the club level are fanciful. Where are the $$s to finance this form of competition? We have shown that we can't even maintain the NRC.....
I reckon:
Only the Western Force is offering 2 year contracts to old and new players.
The only way forward is for the current system to get completely broken in order to re-establish itself.
Shuffling the deck chairs is not going to achieve the desired/necessary outcomes.
Here we are almost in October and still no assured plans for 2021.
The RA board needs a total cleanout without the input from those who have helped to create this mess.
You know it makes sense.
What's needed is a complete rebuild from the gross mismanagement under which the game in Australia has been suffering for a very loooong time.
Lower the sights, aim for success, focus on timezone, reduce the amount/cost of travel, don't try and fix everybody's problems, slow and steady growth from the grass roots, seek more corporate sponsorship, competition managed by professionals not amateurs, ensure that media coverage is readily accessible and affordable (to as many people as possible).
There are all kinds of new models being talked about but non address the basic issue of funding.
Where are the $$s coming from to support 5 professional rugby franchises moving forward?
That equates to $30M - $35M per year without the operating costs of RA.
There is obviously zero interest from the broadcasters as there is little/no commercial interest in the game under the current structure.
All of the plans of Australia-wide competitions at the club level are fanciful. Where are the $$s to finance this form of competition? We have shown that we can't even maintain the NRC.....
I reckon:
- RA should have the task of co-ordinating the game of rugby in Australia from the Wallabies, through other Australian representative sides and growing the game from the grassroots across the country. However, in the short term RA is unable to guarantee that it can even provide ongoing funding for the 7s or any other representative activities.
- The professional game in Australia should be run by a professional organisation without all of the vested interested created by the outmoded state systems.
- The Wallabies should be able to be selected from any eligible Australian player (no matter where they are playing) and providing players (who are interested in playing for their country) ensure enabling clauses in their contracts.
Only the Western Force is offering 2 year contracts to old and new players.
The only way forward is for the current system to get completely broken in order to re-establish itself.
Shuffling the deck chairs is not going to achieve the desired/necessary outcomes.
Here we are almost in October and still no assured plans for 2021.
The RA board needs a total cleanout without the input from those who have helped to create this mess.
You know it makes sense.