Australian Rugby / RA
- Thread starter Dave Beat
- Start date
Rugbyman2023
Peter Burge (5)
What about Perese for 2023?
Do you have Sua'ali'i stats for tackle busts, like breaks and errors?
I can’t remember a busted tackle this year and 2 or 3 errors in many games
2 tries and now in round 16 of nrl
if missed tackles only means making contact and slipping off add another 10 or 15 getting burnt on the outside / stepped though
Missing tackles in league is harder as the defence is condensed so does not look good missing 1 in 6
all I am putting together is the stats still don’t read any better then the visual performance on Tele
The Ghost of Raelene
Simon Poidevin (60)
How Phil Waugh plans to save Australian rugby
The Wallaby and former Waratahs centurion has big aspirations for the game’s future. But he needs a big cash injection to achieve his vision.
Phil Waugh has a plan to revive rugby. The former Wallaby and Waratahs centurion, who will take the helm of Rugby Australia next month, says he may turn to debt instead of private equity to finance a turnaround of the sport, which has lost key talent to other major sporting codes, including the NRL.
Waugh says the cash injection will ensure financial stability, but will also allow the governing body to launch new initiatives, including the creation of a rugby academy in western Sydney, the heartland of rugby league. “People have got different experiences with private equity and sport,” Waugh said. “That’s why it’s going to be really important to look at what are the pros and cons of private equity... there’s obviously the debt option as well, given the huge revenue events coming in. There’s no doubt we need to have more reserves to invest to get the outcomes that we’re after. ”Waugh, 43, never thought he’d be leading the code he has long adored when he played on Sydney’s northern beaches as a child. A first-grade cricketer and rugby player at Shore School, Waugh’s long-term ambition was to play for the Wallabies. But after achieving that at just 21-years-old, he set his sights on a career in business. Under the leadership of then Commonwealth Bank executives Ross McEwan and Ian Narev, Waugh began to pave his own way in the world of banking. More than a decade later, Waugh finds himself in a very different position from the man who retired in 2011 with 79 caps for the national side and two Rugby World Cups to his name.
He’s been married twice and now has four young boys of his own. His youngest, Arthur, attended the press conference where his new role was announced. “This is a really interesting role... at a critical moment for the sport in the country, and I think I can add a lot of value,” he says. Waugh’s arrival at Rugby Australia comes at a pivotal time for the sport, which is bringing the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025 and the Rugby World Cups in 2027 and 2029 to home soil. But most of rugby’s growth plans, including a multimillion-dollar contract with Roosters star Joseph Sua'ali'i, require funding. This is because, until recently, Rugby Australia was not fiscally responsible.
Rugby Australia made a $4.5 million operating loss in 2021 on revenue of $98.6 million, up from a $27 million operating loss in 2020. To take it to the next stage of growth, the governing body launched Project Aurora, a process that will attempt to raise about $250 million in capital from private investors. The process, run by investment bank Jefferies, will split Rugby Australia into two entities. RACo will pay player salaries and Rugby Australia’s management and corporate costs, while NewCo will be responsible for match-day costs as well as media, marketing and IT costs. The revenue stream for NewCo, which includes broadcast rights, sponsorship and licensing, will be split, with 80 per cent remaining with Rugby Australia and 20 per cent flowing to the private investor. Australian sport does not have a long history of private equity involvement. Archer Capital’s $137 million investment in Supercars, headed by former RA director Peter Wiggs, is widely considered a failure. Overseas, the model has traditionally revolved around a firm buying the commercial rights to a sport, such as CVC’s investment in the Six Nations, European professional rugby competitions and Italian football competition, La Liga.
He retired in 2011 as NSW’s most capped player and captain. But it doesn’t always work. Earlier this month, professional rugby team London Irish followed the Wasps and Worcester Warriors to become the third premiership club in the UK’s leading rugby union competition, Premiership, to fold despite a £200 million ($377 million) cash injection into the competition. Waugh says the code will decide on the model in the next few months. “We want to give our member unions and ourselves optionality. Once you model it up, it’ll become quite apparent what the best way forward is,” he says.
Financial sustainability is Waugh’s main priority. But his other focus is getting state and national teams to win some matches, which requires an investment in grassroots rugby and events to drive participation. High on Waugh’s list of ambitions is the creation of a western Sydney rugby academy, which he says will aim to leverage the ties of Sua'ali'i and other Pacific Island players who have grown up in the area.
“A lot of people have an affiliation with rugby, based in western Sydney, and I don’t think we capture that talent as best as we could,” he says. “We are committed to setting up and working with NSW Rugby and the other member unions to deliver an academy in western Sydney and bring the best talent through and secure them for rugby, rather than losing them to rugby league. ”Also key to his vision is appealing to existing fans, many of whom are from Sydney’s lower north shore and eastern suburbs. “I love the concept of an old boys’ day at Allianz Stadium... three back-to-back GPS games at Allianz Stadium from 11am to 5pm, and you just make it a festival,” he says.
Over the past decade, fans have become frustrated with the performance of Australia’s Super Rugby teams and the men’s national team, the Wallabies. Waugh says the code has lost its sense of community, which has partly been let down by poor scheduling decisions. Club rugby and school matches are being played at the same time as national games at Allianz Stadium. Super Rugby games compete for eyeballs on television against the NRL and AFL.
Waugh says Super Rugby needs to become a better competition. “It needs a rethink ... a committee or board focused purely on Super Rugby to ignite it,” he says. “We can work across the system and competitions so that New Zealanders can come into Australia…and make them eligible to be selected for the All Blacks. Eligibility across the tournaments is a good conversation to have.”
But it goes further than that. Missed tackles and lineouts, knock-ons and missed goals are among the many unforced errors Australians have grown tired of watching. Scheduling will help, but Waugh says the sport needs to do better. “What we’ve been fascinated with in Australia is around winning the Rugby World Cup … what’s really important is winning consistently every year. That drives interest,” he says. “Where I’ll be spending most of my time will be on how do we drive high performance to make [rugby] far more attractive commercially. We’ve probably had to go to market with a less compelling proposition than we’d like because we haven’t succeeded as best we could. ”Rugby union has always faced competition from other sporting codes such as AFL, NRL and soccer. In 2022, about 144,700 people over the age of 15 played rugby, compared to 149,700 in 2016. That’s despite a 1.5 per cent increase in children under the age of 15 picking up the sport during the same period. Waugh says the sport needs to focus on its strengths, to ensure participation at a young age flows through to the professional game. One of its key differences is international appeal. “You are always going to be in the fight for a contract in cash, but how do you give a touring experience and the global experience, which is the most compelling competitive advantage for rugby against other codes?” And do the Wallabies have a chance at this year’s World Cup? “If we can play with the discipline and the passion that [coach Eddie Jones] gets out of teams, then we could surprise everyone,” he says.
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LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
Is this the first instance in recent times where they've acknowledged private equity may not be the way forward? Given this is one of Waugh's first media pieces, it goes a ways to confirming, in my mind, that his financial background is a key reason for his appointment.
Sydney-centric growth models - business as usual then...
liquor box
Peter Sullivan (51)
I have never liked the idea of money from an organisation that wants to make money off the game, I would prefer a model where supporters can invest in a way that would be similar to being share holders to provide the equity and then get benefits like discounts on seats or merchandise.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
You're not securing $100m from fans though
The Ghost of Raelene
Simon Poidevin (60)
I knew this would get picked up and yes its his wheelhouse I guess.
I think the Western Sydney Academy is a must with the amount of talent playing Rugby & League in these regions. I'd hope when working with other Sates similar can be done in Qld in areas like North QLD.
Feet are barely under the desk so I'm not going to jump into him about anything he has or hasn't said. I do like the concepts of the School Boy days as this is something that can be done in every city to engage traditional fans of the game that may have drifted away from supporting it which I know is the case for many.
I've always thought a Super Rugby game should be something you make a day of. 3 games, Schoolboy (any association) or Colts, 1st Grade fixture then the Super Rugby game. A lot of people are cognisant of what they are spending their cash on and want value for money. Make it something that you can really go to the game and park up for the day.
dru
David Wilson (68)
That's a bit like rolling your eyes when someone has the audacity to suggest a slap could be coming when someone leads with the face and finger at it showing where exactly to aim.
I like that he's pulling up the conversation on Equity (you could equally say with dismissiveness "I knew that would be picked up" on being thorough with the equity issue). OTPH I object to the immediate focus on Sydney for funding and initiatives. And very much object to that before they resolve the impasse between the more naval gazing of the SS clubs with a) NWSRU, b) RA and c) show willingness to mesh with the rest of the nation.
His start date is apparently 6 July so they aren't even under the desk yet.
RemainingInTheGame
Herbert Moran (7)
How Phil Waugh plans to save Australian rugby
The Wallaby and former Waratahs centurion has big aspirations for the game’s future. But he needs a big cash injection to achieve his vision.www.afr.com
Phil Waugh has a plan to revive rugby. The former Wallaby and Waratahs centurion, who will take the helm of Rugby Australia next month, says he may turn to debt instead of private equity to finance a turnaround of the sport, which has lost key talent to other major sporting codes, including the NRL.
Waugh says the cash injection will ensure financial stability, but will also allow the governing body to launch new initiatives, including the creation of a rugby academy in western Sydney, the heartland of rugby league. “People have got different experiences with private equity and sport,” Waugh said. “That’s why it’s going to be really important to look at what are the pros and cons of private equity... there’s obviously the debt option as well, given the huge revenue events coming in. There’s no doubt we need to have more reserves to invest to get the outcomes that we’re after. ”Waugh, 43, never thought he’d be leading the code he has long adored when he played on Sydney’s northern beaches as a child. A first-grade cricketer and rugby player at Shore School, Waugh’s long-term ambition was to play for the Wallabies. But after achieving that at just 21-years-old, he set his sights on a career in business. Under the leadership of then Commonwealth Bank executives Ross McEwan and Ian Narev, Waugh began to pave his own way in the world of banking. More than a decade later, Waugh finds himself in a very different position from the man who retired in 2011 with 79 caps for the national side and two Rugby World Cups to his name.
He’s been married twice and now has four young boys of his own. His youngest, Arthur, attended the press conference where his new role was announced. “This is a really interesting role... at a critical moment for the sport in the country, and I think I can add a lot of value,” he says. Waugh’s arrival at Rugby Australia comes at a pivotal time for the sport, which is bringing the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025 and the Rugby World Cups in 2027 and 2029 to home soil. But most of rugby’s growth plans, including a multimillion-dollar contract with Roosters star Joseph Sua'ali'i, require funding. This is because, until recently, Rugby Australia was not fiscally responsible.
Rugby Australia made a $4.5 million operating loss in 2021 on revenue of $98.6 million, up from a $27 million operating loss in 2020. To take it to the next stage of growth, the governing body launched Project Aurora, a process that will attempt to raise about $250 million in capital from private investors. The process, run by investment bank Jefferies, will split Rugby Australia into two entities. RACo will pay player salaries and Rugby Australia’s management and corporate costs, while NewCo will be responsible for match-day costs as well as media, marketing and IT costs. The revenue stream for NewCo, which includes broadcast rights, sponsorship and licensing, will be split, with 80 per cent remaining with Rugby Australia and 20 per cent flowing to the private investor. Australian sport does not have a long history of private equity involvement. Archer Capital’s $137 million investment in Supercars, headed by former Rugby Australia director Peter Wiggs, is widely considered a failure. Overseas, the model has traditionally revolved around a firm buying the commercial rights to a sport, such as CVC’s investment in the Six Nations, European professional rugby competitions and Italian football competition, La Liga.
He retired in 2011 as NSW’s most capped player and captain. But it doesn’t always work. Earlier this month, professional rugby team London Irish followed the Wasps and Worcester Warriors to become the third premiership club in the UK’s leading rugby union competition, Premiership, to fold despite a £200 million ($377 million) cash injection into the competition. Waugh says the code will decide on the model in the next few months. “We want to give our member unions and ourselves optionality. Once you model it up, it’ll become quite apparent what the best way forward is,” he says.
Financial sustainability is Waugh’s main priority. But his other focus is getting state and national teams to win some matches, which requires an investment in grassroots rugby and events to drive participation. High on Waugh’s list of ambitions is the creation of a western Sydney rugby academy, which he says will aim to leverage the ties of Sua'ali'i and other Pacific Island players who have grown up in the area.
“A lot of people have an affiliation with rugby, based in western Sydney, and I don’t think we capture that talent as best as we could,” he says. “We are committed to setting up and working with NSW Rugby and the other member unions to deliver an academy in western Sydney and bring the best talent through and secure them for rugby, rather than losing them to rugby league. ”Also key to his vision is appealing to existing fans, many of whom are from Sydney’s lower north shore and eastern suburbs. “I love the concept of an old boys’ day at Allianz Stadium... three back-to-back GPS games at Allianz Stadium from 11am to 5pm, and you just make it a festival,” he says.
Over the past decade, fans have become frustrated with the performance of Australia’s Super Rugby teams and the men’s national team, the Wallabies. Waugh says the code has lost its sense of community, which has partly been let down by poor scheduling decisions. Club rugby and school matches are being played at the same time as national games at Allianz Stadium. Super Rugby games compete for eyeballs on television against the NRL and AFL.
Waugh says Super Rugby needs to become a better competition. “It needs a rethink ... a committee or board focused purely on Super Rugby to ignite it,” he says. “We can work across the system and competitions so that New Zealanders can come into Australia…and make them eligible to be selected for the All Blacks. Eligibility across the tournaments is a good conversation to have.”
But it goes further than that. Missed tackles and lineouts, knock-ons and missed goals are among the many unforced errors Australians have grown tired of watching. Scheduling will help, but Waugh says the sport needs to do better. “What we’ve been fascinated with in Australia is around winning the Rugby World Cup … what’s really important is winning consistently every year. That drives interest,” he says. “Where I’ll be spending most of my time will be on how do we drive high performance to make [rugby] far more attractive commercially. We’ve probably had to go to market with a less compelling proposition than we’d like because we haven’t succeeded as best we could. ”Rugby union has always faced competition from other sporting codes such as AFL, NRL and soccer. In 2022, about 144,700 people over the age of 15 played rugby, compared to 149,700 in 2016. That’s despite a 1.5 per cent increase in children under the age of 15 picking up the sport during the same period. Waugh says the sport needs to focus on its strengths, to ensure participation at a young age flows through to the professional game. One of its key differences is international appeal. “You are always going to be in the fight for a contract in cash, but how do you give a touring experience and the global experience, which is the most compelling competitive advantage for rugby against other codes?” And do the Wallabies have a chance at this year’s World Cup? “If we can play with the discipline and the passion that [coach Eddie Jones] gets out of teams, then we could surprise everyone,” he says.
Rugby AU CEO is not a job I'd wish on anyone but... COME ON!
GPS Day / Western Sydney Academy / Busing Shute shield fans to games?
Rugby AU have built a box inside the actual box and they are doing all their thinking inside that box!
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
How Phil Waugh plans to save Australian rugby
The Wallaby and former Waratahs centurion has big aspirations for the game’s future. But he needs a big cash injection to achieve his vision.
Hell yeah, can't wait for the "Make Sydney Rugby Great Again" hats to roll out.
Will they be in Sydney Uni or Randwick colours?
liquor box
Peter Sullivan (51)
no, probably not, but maybe put it to fans first then private equity for the balance, let the supports have real involvement in the game
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
I stumbled on this on Twitter and was able to read it as one of my 5 freebies. It’s a good read, remember the hack of hitting ‘escape’ before the paywall warning loads 
www.smh.com.au
‘We had been walked over for years’: The rise and reprisal of Hamish McLennan
The Rugby Australia chairman has antagonised the NRL and New Zealand Rugby in a bid to “take a stand and fight for what’s ours”.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Insightful article. I think the Hammer has overall done a decent job, especially righting a listing ship. The next challenge is to start properly growing the game again and maybe even look outside of the North Shore and Eastern suburbs of Sydney.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Yep, community rugby re-engagement, rebuilding the elite program, results on the park - all of these are necessary.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
figured this is more RA related then Wallaby 2023
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
^ "Eddie Jones tells Sky in NZ this evening that “three or four” NRL players are “ready to sign” with Rugby Australia. “Big names”. Hard to tell if he’s serious or not."
Spoiler Alert: he was very, very obviously taking the piss.
Spoiler Alert: he was very, very obviously taking the piss.
Members Section
John Thornett (49)
He is prob doing what Eddie does but....... Cam Murray, Payne Haas, Matt Burton still haven't committed long term. I'm gutted we couldn't land NAS but at the same time he is such a prod kiwi it would be hard to take him serious singing the aus anthem.
ps also relieved his didnt go back to Wellington.
ps also relieved his didnt go back to Wellington.