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Australian Rugby / RA

Bullrush

Geoff Shaw (53)
I'm totally unaware of how the power structures work in Australia.

Why can't RA take control of all rugby in Australia? Why doesn't NSW and Shute Shield and QLD etc answer to RA?
 

Bullrush

Geoff Shaw (53)
look up the address of Rugby Australia HQ
Moore Park?

Sorry - I don't get it. Things here just seem overly complicated. Even the school rugby system is confusing to me with Catholic Schools in one comp and other schools in another comp, club teams etc....it's so hard to follow.

When it was 'explained' to me, it made me very glad we live in Canberra! LOL
 

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
I'm totally unaware of how the power structures work in Australia.

Why can't Rugby Australia take control of all rugby in Australia? Why doesn't NSW and Shute Shield and QLD etc answer to Rugby Australia?
Because our shit is fucked, duh. The whole premise of Australian rugby for the preceding 100 years of amateurism was that you'd make some good business connections playing a bit of rugby. If you are actually good at it? bonus.

And now you want healthy and efficient corporate structures and a clear development pathway?

We have no professional rugby culture in Australia. The participation numbers are propped up by amateurs playing club rugby who are basically all just middle age dudes who can't be fucked running back 10m every tackle.
 

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
Moore Park?

Sorry - I don't get it. Things here just seem overly complicated. Even the school rugby system is confusing to me with Catholic Schools in one comp and other schools in another comp, club teams etc....it's so hard to follow.

When it was 'explained' to me, it made me very glad we live in Canberra! LOL
The people that run NSW rugby either run Rugby Australia or are pretty closely aligned.
 

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Why can't Rugby Australia take control of all rugby in Australia? Why doesn't NSW and Shute Shield and QLD etc answer to Rugby Australia?

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but from memory...

The governance structure outlined in RA's constitution gives NSW and Qld main voting rights.
 

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but from memory...

The governance structure outlined in Rugby Australia's constitution gives NSW and Qld main voting rights.
I think it's they get 2 votes and the other unions get 1. Or something like that. Given the participation numbers that part is probably fair enough. It's what goes on outside the boardroom that causes all the problems.
 
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Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
OK - so their allegiances are with NSW first before Australia? eg. the fear of building and creating a strong, exciting NRC is that it will detract from the Shute Shield?
Yup. Or they genuinely think that last time Aus rugby was on top all our Wallabies came from two clubs in NSW and QLD so we should replicate the '90s and club rugby will save Aus rugby.. Ignoring any of the other 1000 things that have changed since.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
The governance structure outlined in Rugby Australia's constitution gives NSW and Qld main voting rights.

There's very little that they actually get to vote on though. Rugby Australia is largely run by its board and CEO.

I think it's more that rugby in Australia is a collection of different organisations at every level. Rugby Australia don't control what the state unions do. NSWRU doesn't control what the Shute Shield does. Neither NSWRU for RA control what junior rugby in Sydney does.

Given the game relies on volunteers particularly at the lower levels it is hard to try and take away that power to control the various levels because you would have to replace it with paid employees.
 

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
Or as this bloke on Instagram puts it more succinctly
IMG_1978.png
 

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
OK - so their allegiances are with NSW first before Australia? eg. the fear of building and creating a strong, exciting NRC is that it will detract from the Shute Shield?

That's right. There are many vested interests in the game in this country and not many of them align with the interests of the game in general.
 

Bullrush

Geoff Shaw (53)
Case in point: Phil Waugh, the epitome of NSW rugby elite, and his recent comments dismissing a second-tier comp and promoting club rugby
I heard something very similar to this, regarding Waugh, earlier in the week when talking to someone I know who used to be very connected with Brumby rugby...you said it nicer though LOL
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
As somebody who grew up loving my local rugby club, then playing for them, then supporting them in cash and in kind, I wonder what will take our place? Of course nothing and nobody is irreplaceable, with enough money it must be possible to engineer a new national competition. And I would be happy to support a team I suppose. I supported the Central Coast Rays.

How much is enough? Could the proponents please give us some ballpark estimates? And where would the money come from?
 

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
As somebody who grew up loving my local rugby club, then playing for them, then supporting them in cash and in kind, I wonder what will take our place? Of course nothing and nobody is irreplaceable, with enough money it must be possible to engineer a new national competition. And I would be happy to support a team I suppose. I supported the Central Coast Rays.

How much is enough? Could the proponents please give us some ballpark estimates?
Put it this way, if I had Twiggy's money, as a fairly passionate supporter I'd throw up $100m to get a professional domestic comp up and running. 8 clubs x $10m and $20m into the pot for the promotion, administration of the comp, etc. It would come with Ts & Cs of course which would no doubt be the sticking point. If they couldn't make it work with $100m I'd then walk away.
 

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
I mean, it's not like there are any models for countries to centralise rugby admin / coaching / S&C / competition structures and get positive results at all levels.
Apart from NZ, Wales, Ireland....
I actually sympathise with RA to a degree, as it must be a living hell trying to have a sensible discussion with some of the major players in NSW (esp) and Qld. I have been told as much by a couple of people who would know pretty well.
That does not absolve them from trying better though!
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
I mean, it's not like there are any models for countries to centralise rugby admin / coaching / S&C / competition structures and get positive results at all levels.
Apart from NZ, Wales, Ireland....

In these countries rugby is a dominant winter sport, and AFAIK the admin etc has been centralised for a long time. But the question is not, is this a good idea? Of course it is a good idea. The question is, how to achieve it in a country where rugby is the fourth most popular "football"? Ane where the strength of the game is in NSW and QLD?
 

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
NRC produced some wonderful talent. It didn't work commercially.

How about a competition with the 6 Super Teams (incl. Drua) playing their B teams, and the winners of that year's Shute Shield & QPR joining as standalone teams? Two pools of 4, 6 matches (home and away), Semis and a Final? Any players who've starred in Club Rugby at any state level can be used as top up players for the Super B teams.

Or the 6 SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) franchises running their 'B' teams vs a rep squad from each of Sydney and Brisbane. Round robin for 7 games plus finals. Run in the post season between September-December. And do something a little different in actually market the damn thing.
 
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