Just on Waugh, and his merry men, they find themselves in the kind would say challenging situation the cruel would say hopeless.
With, extremely low budgets in comparison to his main competition in AFL trying to steal rugby’s position in private schools and in rugby heartland areas or previous heartland areas. With League grabbing more of the Pacific Island market each year, and currently attempting to boost digital revenue from the states.
From the more minor competition, the A-L is recovering, rebuilding & expanding, after its civil war, Basketball has been booming, and playing to near capacity stadiums and also in the mood for expanding. Both have broadcast agreements with 10 and Paramount. Both have mens and womens national teams, as well as competitions.
Given the above, Waugh finds rugby at a crossroads, he can’t make to many mistakes as he will drive rugby below basketball. Rugby needs not only to stem the decline but show growth. Given how far we have fallen he has little wriggle room.
While Super Rugby has almost killed Australian professional rugby in Australia, its impossible to get out quick as its our main revenue driver.
Waugh's, challenge as I see it, is to maintain revenue from Super Rugby long enough to build another competition and income stream. Its been left very late but is still possible but its getting very close to time.
If Waugh does not see his main priority, is developing a new competition to take over from Super Rugby, then we are in deep deep deep poo. Finally his plan has to work as you can look to both Basketball and Football both made errors of judgement in developing there competitions, Waugh does not have the wriggle room Basketball and Football had to recover from there management errors.