Media alert: Australian rugby union to announce major decision on the future of rugby

[RugbyReg]

Australian Rugby Union will make a major announcement on Wednesday morning regarding the future of Rugby in Australia.

ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill, will be joined by Qantas Wallabies coach, Robbie Deans, and Qantas Wallabies captain, Rocky Elsom, to make the announcement at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park.

What: Major announcement on the future of Rugby in Australia.

Where: ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park.

Who: ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill, Qantas Wallabies Coach, Robbie Deans, and Qantas Wallabies captain, Rocky Elsom.

thoughts?

 

[nathan]

thoughts?

Deans re-sign.

 

[Zeno]

Maybe: Tossing some crumbs out to the grassroots.

Probably not: A new tier of competition.

 

[Bruce Ross]

I'll go with some lead balloon announcement. If they were announcing some profound strategic initiative to secure the future of our sport they would hardly have the team captain as one of those making the presentation. And that's not in any way intended as a dig at Rocky.

 

[matty_k]

Has the salary cap officially been announced?

or new jersey for this year.

 

[FiveStarStu]

Deans re-signing. Would love it to be something significant, but yeah.

 

[disco]

My guess - Robbie Deans to coach on until Lions Tour.

 

[RugbyReg]

don't think Rocky would be there for a Deans re-signing.

Maybe just a significant sponsorship signing.

 

[barbarian]

Don't know, I think having the captain there to support the coach resigning is legitimate.

Major sponsor also sounds good though. Seems like the right time for it.

 

[Gooch]

Rocky announcing he is f***ing off back north after RWC?

 

[nathan]

don't think Rocky would be there for a Deans re-signing.

Maybe just a significant sponsorship signing.

I imagine he would be. Support from the CEO and Captain, seems to make sense.

Very much an ARU thing to announce it as a significant announcement about the future of rugby in Australia. The future of the Wallabies? Sure, but it doesn't have a dramatic impact on rugby union as a sport within Australia.

I'd like it to be something else, major sponsorship, 2nd tier ARC style tournament, under 20's comp like Bruce Ross has suggested..but I don't want to get my hopes up.

 

[vidiot]

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[Brumbies Guy]

Australian Rugby Union will make a major announcement on Wednesday morning regarding the future of Rugby in Australia.

ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill, will be joined by Qantas Wallabies coach, Robbie Deans, and Qantas Wallabies captain, Rocky Elsom, to make the announcement at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park.

What: Major announcement on the future of Rugby in Australia.

Where: ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park.

Who: ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill, Qantas Wallabies Coach, Robbie Deans, and Qantas Wallabies captain, Rocky Elsom.

I'm going to say Qantas extending their sponsorship.

Otherwise, hopefully some form of Australian Club Championship. Or possibly some kind of inter-conference draft/trade process?

 

[ChargerWA]

With the phrasing "a major announcement on Wednesday morning regarding the future of Rugby in Australia", it would want to be something momentus, like a national comp. If it's just a coaching contract extension or a sponsor it will be the lead balloon Bruce predicted.

Just to add to the mix, what about an announcement that players playing in the NH are now eligible to be a wallaby.

 

[Blue]

Immediate abolishment of all scrums at all levels of rugby?

Jonathan Kaplan and his future offspring on the border blacklist?

Rocky retires because of injury?

 

[Blue]

http://www.keo.co.za/2011/04/25/aussie-latest-elsom-still-struggling/#more-77414

Oops. I was joking on that third point but could it be?

Aussie latest – Elsom still struggling

25 Apr 2011

Keo.co.za brings you news from Australia’s Super Rugby franchises.

Elsom still struggling - Reports from Australia suggest Brumbies flanker Rocky Elsom is in danger of not playing Super Rugby.

The Wallabies hard man has been laid low due to chronic hamstring problems and it is feared he could miss the entire tournament. He was supposed to make a comeback at the weekend but injured the hamstring in training again.

Chief executive Andrew Fagan said: ‘We’ve had medical advice and it’s not a surgery versus rehab issue, it’s not that clear. It’s a difficult injury and it’s only when you push it a little bit further in training or with more intense rehab that you know if it will take or not.’

Meanwhile hooker Stephen Moore and flank Mitchell Chapman are expected to return from injuries for their match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein at the weekend.

 

[Scotty]

Hmmm I throw out a few ideas:

Further changes to academy system
A draft system from the same
Confirmation on salary caps

 

[#1 Tah]

Are we putting a bid in for 2023?

 

[meatsack]

Are we putting a bid in for 2023?

Hopefully this, or some announcement of federal funding for a rugby 7s olympic program.

 

[RedsHappy]

Could it be a real breakthrough: this group will announce that it will actually take responsibility, and accept accountability, on a measurable basis, for achieving some top level results for the endlessly patient Australian rugby fans?