Australian Rugby / RA

[Derpus]

Having re-read it, it seems like the investment will be on the basis that Super Rugby will not proceed beyond 2020. Third hand information at best though.

 

[KOB1987]

We'll see - but there's no way in hell a tough, results-obsessed firm like KKR will just buy for serious money into some version of Super Rugby and say to RA and the local Aust RUs "hey guys, you just run things wrt to (eg) sourcing and developing players, training and coaching, RU leadership, media strategy, game and code marketing, comp format choices, player engagement terms (and so on) just like you always have".

Not.Going.To.Happen.That.Way. Not with these boys.

Absolutely. Also says they are talking to South Africa. No mention of the kiwis, the inference being that it’s a domestic comp they are going to do the feasibility study on.

 

[RedsHappy]

Absolutely. Also says they are talking to South Africa. No mention of the kiwis, the inference being that it’s a domestic comp they are going to do the feasibility study on.

Just a fyi: NZRU have already said they have had recent conversations with PE re taking some form of strategic stake in the ABs as a global business/brand. Nothing announced as yet.

 

[Dctarget]

More distinct groups of people invested in RA is good, more interest in keeping it afloat. I reckon as an investor it makes sense right now, it's hopefully at its nadir and about to get a BIL series and probably the RWC. Pick up a stake for chips then watch it have a (small?) up swing.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

Just a fyi: NZRU have already said they have had recent conversations with PE re taking some form of strategic stake in the ABs as a global business/brand. Nothing announced as yet.

That's right - there was some media a few months ago mentioning that US PE Firm Silver Lake was in discussions with NZ Rugby. Interestingly, Silver Lake and KKR partnered up with their investments in the UFC. I wonder if we're seeing an alliance of Silver Lake, KKR, Rugby AU and NZ Rugby to pull together a trans-Tasman competition.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12330421

 

[qwerty51]

I like it. PE means there's a focus on the domestic product over the international product which is what I've been saying needs to happen. I know people will complain we'll become like France/England where the clubs don't have the national team's interest foremost but nor should they. Make the call RA.

 

[Lorenzo]

Latest mail suggests a UFC/Rugby hybrid

 

[dru]

Latest mail suggests a UFC/Rugby hybrid

God, we’d suck at that. The Irish though.

 

[Quick Hands]

I like it. PE means there's a focus on the domestic product over the international product which is what I've been saying needs to happen. I know people will complain we'll become like France/England where the clubs don't have the national team's interest foremost but nor should they. Make the call RA.

The best thing about a PE domestic league is that RA would have very little to do with the day to day operations.

 

[Adam84]

As long as there is a clear window where a domestic competition can be played without a crossover with test rugby then it’s a positive.

 

[Clawhammer]

God, we’d suck at that. The Irish though.

Na - we'd dominate - featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski used to play for the Warilla Gorillas.

 

[Derpus]

God, we’d suck at that. The Irish though.

We've got a few UFC fighters knocking about - Robert Whittaker

 

[Derpus]

God, we’d suck at that. The Irish though.

We've got a few UFC fighters knocking about - Robert Whittaker

 

[Jets]

I think PE would work best if they owned the comp but not the players. RA give them a window to play in and parameters around player workload, RUPA could be part of these talks. The PE group run the comp and promote it, pay the teams to participate in it and RA for use of the players and they can keep all the other money.

 

[Rebels3]

I presume it’d be a similar deal to what happens in Eng, where the RFU pays a sum of money to the Premiership for exclusive access to players at certain times of the year and also limits players of interest been over played.

 

[KOB1987]

Wayne Smith has sat down with Hamish McLennan and these are his five priorities in order:

1) Secure the financial future of Australian rugby. Essentially fixing the pro tier comp and getting a broadcast deal done.
2) investment in grassroots and club rugby
3) creating a meaningful pathway from amateur rugby to pro rugby to the Wallabies
4) innovation - lobbying for law changes and how the game is presented to the media, etc
5) allocate sufficient resources to RAs 2027 RWC bid.

I’m liking this bloke already. Now to find a CEO who can execute the above. I’m still keen on Carroll.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Wayne Smith has sat down with Hamish McLennan and these are his five priorities in order:

1) Secure the financial future of Australian rugby. Essentially fixing the pro tier comp and getting a broadcast deal done.
2) investment in grassroots and club rugby
3) creating a meaningful pathway from amateur rugby to pro rugby to the Wallabies
4) innovation - lobbying for law changes and how the game is presented to the media, etc
5) allocate sufficient resources to RAs 2027 RWC bid.

I’m liking this bloke already. Now to find a CEO who can execute the above. I’m still keen on Carroll.

I'm on board with all of that

 

[Ignoto]

I’m liking this bloke already. Now to find a CEO who can execute the above. I’m still keen on Carroll.

Mate, it's groundhog day all over again. Here's a snippet of the press release when Pulver was appointed in 2013!!

“I would like to see the ARU as an innovative and profitable leader in a prosperous global Rugby community.
Communicate & collaborate relentlessly with all stakeholders to ensure a united approach to achieving our objectives;
Support every effort in community Rugby to expand participation in the game, including a focus on encouraging the involvement of women;
In a world where our supporters are distracted by an endless range of entertainment options, we must aim to constantly enhance our entertainment experience; and

Recognise any themes?

 

[KOB1987]

Mate, it's groundhog day all over again. Here's a snippet of the press release when Pulver was appointed in 2013!!



Recognise any themes?

TBH, not really. Only that they both had objectives, just different ones. This is a chairman BTW, Pulver was CEO. It's whoever gets that role that will be crucial. Any of Pulver's objectives went out the window when he signed off on the 18 team Super Rugby comp and proclaimed it as Australian Rugby's greatest day ever.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Wayne Smith has sat down with Hamish McLennan and these are his five priorities in order:

1) Secure the financial future of Australian rugby. Essentially fixing the pro tier comp and getting a broadcast deal done.
2) investment in grassroots and club rugby
3) creating a meaningful pathway from amateur rugby to pro rugby to the Wallabies
4) innovation - lobbying for law changes and how the game is presented to the media, etc
5) allocate sufficient resources to RAs 2027 RWC bid.

I’m liking this bloke already. Now to find a CEO who can execute the above. I’m still keen on Carroll.

Yeh I am still keen on carroll too - want someone who can think outside the square as that is what we need given where rugby at in this country - i also like the idea of private equity investment to drive a more commercial and strategic focus for the pro super rugby game to break away from the traditional rugby thinking still in many cases bounded back to amateur era thinking and traditions.

Wayne Smith has sat down with Hamish McLennan and these are his five priorities in order:

1) Secure the financial future of Australian rugby. Essentially fixing the pro tier comp and getting a broadcast deal done.
2) investment in grassroots and club rugby
3) creating a meaningful pathway from amateur rugby to pro rugby to the Wallabies
4) innovation - lobbying for law changes and how the game is presented to the media, etc
5) allocate sufficient resources to RAs 2027 RWC bid.

I’m liking this bloke already. Now to find a CEO who can execute the above. I’m still keen on Carroll.