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Australian Rugby / RA

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
Early days for Ballymore. It remains a big expenditure item and QRU are still pretty skeletal in terms of their staffing. They have some really good ‘passive’ income in the leases they have gotten from their old HQ building and the old gym which is great.
 

Wallaby Man

Nev Cottrell (35)
Cheika officially parts ways with Argentina, with Contepomi stepping up to HC.
A coach that takes them to a World Cup semi, produces some historical wins and wants to stay on board. Gets replaced by a guy with no head coach experience, I’d go out on a limb to state because he’s the “correct” nationality. It’s just peak rugby and shows how it is so far off professional standards of other sports. If this was soccer, basketball etc. he’d be signed up for another 4 years.
 

Wilson

Phil Kearns (64)
A coach that takes them to a World Cup semi, produces some historical wins and wants to stay on board. Gets replaced by a guy with no head coach experience, I’d go out on a limb to state because he’s the “correct” nationality. It’s just peak rugby and shows how it is so far off professional standards of other sports. If this was soccer, basketball etc. he’d be signed up for another 4 years.
There was talk of a long term plan for Cheika to hand over to Contepomi from the moment Cheika started. Arguably this is a good example of Argentina learning lessons from Cheika's previous stints elsewhere and making sure he doesn't overstay his welcome.
 

stillmissit

Peter Johnson (47)
Yeh this didn’t happen.

Happy to listen to conversations around the Rebels, but inviting 8 CEOs story haha, there isn’t a corporate box in the country that isn’t filled with regular workers and senior staff members. In fact they make up 95% of all the people in these boxes. Let’s keep these stories real.
So you have proof that I am a liar? Please post it and not some mamby pamby about who is in boxes. You don't know what you are talking about.
 

stillmissit

Peter Johnson (47)
I hear you, don't agree. Well not that exactly. I think both Perth and Melbourne are key to the future of the sport. It seems rough to base an opinion on a single occurrence? As others have said Melbourne has been filling stadia for tests pretty consistently.

I don't disagree with the dismal financial assessment of the Rebels management. This doesn't change my thoughts of Melbourne being important.

RA are best advised to find a way if possible the continue all five State franchises. There are serious problems if finances forced us to present say 4 teams for a period. Because I doubt going back to five would be easy. Were we to stay wedded to New Zealand it would be a particularly tough road. The easiest way to solve this problem is not to have it. Finances at the Rebels need to be resolved if they can be.
Hi Dru. I am not suggesting that the Rebels are ousted if their finances can be resolved, I am all in favour of keeping them, I am not in favour of bailing them out only to have the same directors throwing money at players they can't afford.
We need to resolve the lack of professionalism at all 5 Super Rugby teams, with a primary focus on improving the players so that they are knocking on International standards and not requiring improvements on basic skills when they get to the Wallabies.
They are also not fit enough and struggle to keep up with Kiwi teams. I was always of the understanding that assuming you have the skill level then fitness and dedication were the 2 ingredients to build a successful team.
 
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stillmissit

Peter Johnson (47)
Brumbies voted not to get on board that centralisation model..

But i believe they’ve only delayed the inevitable, the buisness model of a Super Rugby team in Canberra isnt sustainable long term under the current tournament design and grant distributions, let alone any state. But ACT are more so precariously positioned, with little equity left, ongoing financial pressures and no real benefactors obvious for the rescue.

WA are backed by Twiggy, and QLD now have Ballymore generating some revenue and healthy corporate support, but that corporate support wont remain if the Super Rugby keeps declining in interest.
It's a very tricky situation if RA let the $$$$'s rule then the ACT our most successful Super Rugby team for a fair while disappears, and the players go to other franchises who have proven they cannot build their own talent ie Tahs.
I agree with Dru that we need to maintain our 5 Super Rugby teams, how to do that is beyond my pay grade.
 

LeCheese

Greg Davis (50)
It's a very tricky situation if RA let the $$$$'s rule then the ACT our most successful Super Rugby team for a fair while disappears, and the players go to other franchises who have proven they cannot build their own talent ie Tahs.
Stating this as though that decision has been publicly earmarked by RA, when nothing but assurances to the contrary have been provided, is a bit odd
 

Tazzmania

Bob Loudon (25)
WA are backed by Twiggy, and QLD now have Ballymore generating some revenue and healthy corporate support, but that corporate support wont remain if the Super Rugby keeps declining in interest.

The Western Force are not only "backed" by Twiggy, they are also owned by Tattarang, which is the private investment group owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest. Among its investments are Harvey Road, Bega, Squadron Energy (soon to be a NRL team front of shirt sponsor), RM Williams, Akubra, Austal and of course FMG
 

Alex Sharpe

Ward Prentice (10)
A coach that takes them to a World Cup semi, produces some historical wins and wants to stay on board. Gets replaced by a guy with no head coach experience, I’d go out on a limb to state because he’s the “correct” nationality. It’s just peak rugby and shows how it is so far off professional standards of other sports. If this was soccer, basketball etc. he’d be signed up for another 4 years.
I agree that it's peak rugby, but I think that its a good thing.

Rugby hanging onto a bit of nationalism and tribalism by having top teams largely made of up people from the nation they are representing will stop the sport turning into a meaningless game of mercenaries coaching/playing for whoever will pay them the most.

Good on the Argies if that's what they have done. wanting a homegrown head coach can have it's limitations but you cant accuse them of cheapening what it means to represent their country
 

stillmissit

Peter Johnson (47)
Stating this as though that decision has been publicly earmarked by RA, when nothing but assurances to the contrary have been provided, is a bit odd
You missed the IF......How many assurances are made by senior management these days only to have a different one come out? Happens all the time- keep the chickens quiet then introduce the bad news.
 

Brumby Runner

Jason Little (69)
Brumbies voted not to get on board that centralisation model..

But i believe they’ve only delayed the inevitable, the buisness model of a Super Rugby team in Canberra isnt sustainable long term under the current tournament design and grant distributions, let alone any state. But ACT are more so precariously positioned, with little equity left, ongoing financial pressures and no real benefactors obvious for the rescue.

WA are backed by Twiggy, and QLD now have Ballymore generating some revenue and healthy corporate support, but that corporate support wont remain if the Super Rugby keeps declining in interest.
Adam, I wasn't aware the matter had been put to a vote by the Brumbies. Can you tell me when the vote took place and who voted? I certainly didn't get a vote as a member. Precisely what was the model that was rejected?

As I understand the situation, the Brumbies and Reds have given their support to High Performance centralisation/alignment but are baulking at any takeover by RA of their commercial and IP interests. I probably haven't kept up with all the latest developments if as you say the Brumbies have rejected a proposed model of centralisation. I know there's been a lot of organisational change going on at RA including the demise of both the national coach and the Chairman of the Board, but I really haven't seen any information at all coming out of RA about the current status of negotiations or model development with the franchises, and that's consistent with their complete lack of information and detail about any model before the personnel changes.

The latest information I have on the subject is a statement from the Brumbies dated 29 October (https://brumbies.rugby/news/brumbies-open-to-centralisation-highperformance-changes-20231028) which clearly states that they are prepared to agree with many aspects of centralisation. Contrast that with the apparent absence of similar information from RA unless of course you are able to point to a description of their proposed model and provide detail of the vote by the Brumbies to not get on board.

Your belief that the Brumbies are at most risk in the future might well be right on the mark. I would personally find that abhorrent and it would see the end of my interest in Aussie rugby, but I do concede that rugby in this country is likely to be in dire straits before any benefit is realised from upcoming Lions tour and RWC. However, I hope you are not just muddying the waters by suggesting the Brumbies have voted down a RA proposal (which as far as I can see just doesn't exist) and have in some formal sense scuppered any and all moves towards some alignment of operations across the franchises.

My own ideas about what might happen if centralisation goes on, are :

1. The Brumbies are relocated to western Sydney (say Campbelltown in the SW) and renamed the McArthur and Southern Highlands Brumbies;
2. The Rebels are declared bankrupt and closed down;
3. Selected Brumbies and Rebels players will be offered positions at the Rugby Australia Waratahs where it is deemed there are deficiencies in the squad. The sole purpose of Centralisation being to make our Waratahs Great Again (MOWGA);
4. Those players along with most of the remainder from the current Brumbies and Rebels will say no thanks and take on long term overseas contracts;
5 The Force will be invited to start up their own competition with Asian based teams and once again be cast adrift by RA;
6. RA will enter a contract with NZRU to play three teams in Super Rugby, being the Reds, their Tahs and the MaSH Brumbies;
7 All three teams will be decimated for players and finish the bottom three side in perpetuity;
8 GAGR closes down for lack of interest.
 
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Adam84

Rod McCall (65)
Yeah sure, Brumbies voting on McLennan to be sacked had nothing to do with their very public debate they had with McLennan over RA’s centralisation plans. Likewise QLD. Believe that if it helps you sleep

Anyway that’s all in the past now and doesn’t change what I’ve said above the risk faced by the Brumbies going forward.
 
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