Where to for Super Rugby?

[half]

"No detailed questions were asked of ARU officials (by delegates to the EGM)".

What a spineless bunch of supine fucking gutless jelly babies that lot of our supposed elite State RU representatives are.

As if the highly relevant, screaming-out-for-answers questions that needed urgent addressing to the ARU were not blindingly obvious.

Clyne so pompously proud that the meeting was 'very civil and respectful'.

The local sitting members of the Lawn Bowls Advisory Committee would probably be more forthright in addressing their Board than our State RU representatives as they tip toe deferentially and meekly around Clyne and Pulver.

 

[Leo86]

I get it, im not a bussiness man (ok so i wasnt born with entitlement) but i cant understand for the life of me how cutting out a supporter base will help. I will support the Force, the Spirit and Wallabies (as Vics will support Rebels, Rising and Wallabies). But if cut after a few years ive stopped following soup (havent watched anywhere near as much as last year hint hint ARU) then what is my vested interest in a so called "national" team.

So you made "X" team stronger next year but um NZ (who stopped their incestuous shit years ago) are still miles ahead.

Then you achieved what? Im serious Tahs, Reds, Brumbies supporters/Union (plus Force, Rebels union) you achieved exactly what for the sport? I really would love to hear from someone/anyone how this actually benefits Rugby. And seriously if you cant think of an answer then why havent you told your team, foxtel, state union, government minister of sport. Coz if you ain't part of the solution you part of the problem. If you have a reason other then coz my team will benefit from killing rugby somewhere else then state it.

 

[half]

Red & I Am Force

Please don't get me started on the State Unions. If it was possible to stuff things up.

The NSW RU, If not for Mac Bank, they would be broke and Concord Oval, please please please please hold on to yourself half.

They have wasted [is way to kind a word] millions of dollars and what for SFA really and if not for Mac Bank way back when would have lost that too.

It looks like being lost to the West Tigers anyway. Why its not home to the Tahs or have grand building were we trained our youth.

Wam if you read this, this is another example of years of poor decision making, poor cash controls,

NSWRU and Concord Oval, we all know NSWRU are at Moore Park at the stadium.

Why is this just so hard to take and as Red said those spineless folk in charge never question jack. Never understood how to grow and run things.

For the love of the holy mother Mary, its just so so so so so frustrating.

I think it was August last year a client held a corporate function at Valentine Park near Blacktown. Its the home of NSW Football.

With not one cent of taxpayer money they have a complex thats mind blowing, they can accommodate 200 people in their motel, 5 fields, offices, corporate lecture rooms, cafes and the list goes on.

Last year their total revenue was less than 50% of the NSWRU, not quite kind as they don't have a Super Rugby side on their wage books.

RED this will make you mad, even madder than you seem to be so sorry.

If a bunch of soccer volunteers can build this with less money well fuck me we should just fire our lot.

Red & I AM Force, I implore you to open this site, look as you translate it into Arabic, Korean, Japanese. Please open the site look at the four pages with either the arrows or dots, then scroll down to see their facilities, if you wanta cry open some of them up.

Then the final heartache watch the youtube.

Remember this was created with less money than we had. Then consider what Concord Oval could and should have been and what that would have done. So much wasted money and this is what we should have done.

Red & I AM Force ===the link and god have mercy on your soul as you will wanta to strangle someone. The youtube will make you wanta cry for what could have been.

enjoy or get mad.. http://valentinesportspark.com.au

 

[Braveheart81]

I think it was August last year a client held a corporate function at Valentine Park near Blacktown. Its the home of NSW Football.

With not one cent of taxpayer money they have a complex thats mind blowing, they can accommodate 200 people in their motel, 5 fields, offices, corporate lecture rooms, cafes and the list goes on.


enjoy or get mad.. http://valentinesportspark.com.au

This came about because someone converted their chicken farm into sporting fields and then bequeathed it to Football NSW. Clearly an incredibly generous gift worth many millions of $.

I think you are incorrect saying that there has been no taxpayer funding to upgrade it.

Do you really think the Waratahs should play out at Concord Oval? It is horrendous to get to with any sort of substantial crowd.

Whilst they would fit their poor crowds there this season, for most of the Super Rugby, their crowd figures are in excess of the capacity of Concord Oval.

It has clearly been a white elephant for a long time.

 

[RedsHappy]

@half #7023

Thanks for that - your admirable passion for the cause knows no bounds mate.

I was just again staggered that that RUPA and VRU could go to all the trouble for all parties to incept an ARU EGM that was meant to be about a serious debate and questioning re the '5->4 Super teams culling process', and indirectly the huge number of issues for Australian's rugby's future that such a process throws up and yet, by all reports from the EGM:

- there was no serious discussion of the issues involved for the future of Australian rugby​

​

- there were no probing questions raised re, e.g., what does this mean in terms of survival strategy for the 4 remaining teams all of whom are commercially fragile or in a deteriorating state? (Which btw is by far the bigger issue vs one team to go.)​

​

- there appears to have been no debate as to how, when and at what cost the ARU intends to bring the culling process to a conclusion​

​

- some discussion re crowd levels was reported but solely in the context of allegedly declining live sports crowds globally - local rugby crowd size issues were not touched upon at all​

.............and then of course I upper cut myself; I should have known better all along. The 'outcomes' from the EGM and as above are little but a reflection of what I have known all along.

The ARU and RUs 'system of governance' is essentially a network for self-patronage and mutual protection of personal position and elite privilege. The matters of ensuring the code's health and future are essentially secondary. The palpable outputs of this 'system' over the last decade are the clear proof of that.

There is absolutely no surprise or co-incidence that the meeting, in Clyne's delighted phrasing, was 'civil and respectful'. The implicit pact was not broken; there was never a moment's risk it would be.

 

[TOCC]

Ownership of facilities doesn't automatically equate to streams of revenue, QRU own Ballymore and whilst an awesome strategic asset it's maintenance costs are a financial drain on the QRU. QRU has been limited by zoning and legislative restrictions which prevent the QRU for developing external commercial interests like a Hotel.

I don't know the full back story for Concord, however like Ballymore, it seems to be from a past era. Concord wasn't even mentioned recently when the NSW government spoke of upgrading stadiums, and for good reason, accessibility is poor and geographically it doesn't serve a region which isn't served by the SFS, ANZ or upgraded Parra stadium.

However on the Tahs, I certainly think they should be better selling themselves to the wider Sydney and not limit themselves to the eastern suburbs, once the new Parra stadium is opened, they should make it an annual pilgrimage to play out there to cater to western Sydney rugby fans.

 

[Braveheart81]

However on the Tahs, I certainly think they should be better selling themselves to the wider Sydney and not limit themselves to the eastern suburbs, once the new Parra stadium is opened, they should make it an annual pilgrimage to play out there to cater to western Sydney rugby fans.

It seems likely they will relocate there whilst the SFS is being renovated/rebuilt so you would think it makes sense to have a couple of games there in the season transitioning towards that.

 

[RedsHappy]

This came about because someone converted their chicken farm into sporting fields and then bequeathed it to Football NSW. Clearly an incredibly generous gift worth many millions of $.

I think you are incorrect saying that there has been no taxpayer funding to upgrade it.

Do you really think the Waratahs should play out at Concord Oval? It is horrendous to get to with any sort of substantial crowd.

Whilst they would fit their poor crowds there this season, for most of the Super Rugby, their crowd figures are in excess of the capacity of Concord Oval.

It has clearly been a white elephant for a long time.

Is not half's point overall:

Soccer seems more and more able to do these sorts of things, whilst rugby seem - generally - incapable of them?

Just take Ballymore in Brisbane. An outstanding piece of potentially exciting and code-building rugby infrastructure of great potential that effectively is gradually decaying and lies under-developed and fallow.

The QRU has had endless 'visions' and 'plans' for it for decades now. None ever come to fruition.

And before Reg or some other defender of the status quo or QRU mates comes bundling in and tells me about the local residents' concerns, parking issue, blah blah blah I say this: fixing these types of problems is just what genuine, impassioned, capable leaders of sports administrations do and get done. Not line up a retinue of excuses and 'if onlys'.

And it can be done! Just look at what the little (Brisbane) Wests rugby club have achieved more or less on their own, a brilliant $13m redevelopment:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/quest...s/news-story/bac28974ceff15521278b3cd9725f8e6

 

[Rugbynutter39]

"No detailed questions were asked of ARU officials (by delegates to the EGM)".

What a spineless bunch of supine fucking gutless jelly babies that lot of our supposed elite State RU representatives are.

As if the highly relevant, screaming-out-for-answers questions that needed urgent addressing to the ARU were not blindingly obvious.

Clyne so pompously proud that the meeting was 'very civil and respectful'.

The local sitting members of the Lawn Bowls Advisory Committee would probably be more forthright in addressing their Board than our State RU representatives as they tip toe deferentially and meekly around Clyne and Pulver.

Sadly for many of us this egm went exactly the way we expected and like a lot of these talkfests created. No urgency seen for change and no revolutionaries willing to lead the change. Wish I could like afl or league more as more professionaly run organisations / sports which have long term future.

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[RedsHappy]

Wayne Smith in today's The Australian online has this to say from the recent EGM (my emphasis):

"There was criticism of the ARU for its lacklustre, underwhelming presentation to the emergency general meeting and all indications are that it is not that the ARU has a plan to disperse the money around the states but is choosing to withhold details for the moment, but rather that it has no plan at all. It is symptomatic of the organisation.​

​

An advisory body will be brushed aside in the day-to-day administration of the sport. Only am independent, stand-alone commission, charged with overseeing what is in Australia’s interests in Super Rugby, would have served any real purpose. Small wonder the ARU was so anxious to set up the advisory panel."​

​

What a crook is the 'advisory body/panel a la Commission' to merely, solely, advise the ARU on Super Rugby.

On what planet does that make a scintilla of sense re the intelligent use of scarce funds for the code as a whole?

We are careening headlong to disaster.

 

[The torpedo]

RH I wonder whether the ARU board and exces have skeletons in the closet.....................................

 

[cyclopath]

RH I wonder whether the ARU board and exces have skeletons in the closet..

Who doesn't?

 

[RedsHappy]

RH I wonder whether the ARU board and exces have skeletons in the closet..

Mate there's much that's strange and inexplicable about their conduct. Whether it's that or not, only time may tell.

 

[half]

This came about because someone converted their chicken farm into sporting fields and then bequeathed it to Football NSW. Clearly an incredibly generous gift worth many millions of $.

I think you are incorrect saying that there has been no taxpayer funding to upgrade it.

Do you really think the Waratahs should play out at Concord Oval? It is horrendous to get to with any sort of substantial crowd.

Whilst they would fit their poor crowds there this season, for most of the Super Rugby, their crowd figures are in excess of the capacity of Concord Oval.

It has clearly been a white elephant for a long time.

ARrrr mate, the chicken farmer way way way way back in the 50 or 60 gave them a small farm at parklea.

Over years they developed the Parklea facility and purchased some extra land where their facilities are today.

They sold Parklea to a developer and many cried foul, but they promised to build something better and by fuck they have.

Union was donated TGM which was in value terms worth many many many times more.

They built that complex on canteen money, player registration fees etc. Its run in a very professional manner and they have turned their grass roots facilities into a profit centre. Sorta the best of both worlds.

So yes way way way way back they got some land for free but the building of the fields and everything else was hard slog, which BTW the farmer helped as well.

But as Red says above its not so much about this park its how they did it, they did not waste the gift, they turned the gift into an amazing sporting facility that helps at all levels of their game..

Its also way out in the back blocks especially years ago, i.e. not to close to Bondi for a dip and coffee.

We have had chances to do the same we just wasted them.

Should the Tahs play at Concord, if the management had been good fuck yes, we would have owned the stalls, and made income from selling beer, chips, and the stadium rent would have been free.

If Macquarie Bank had not steeped in the NSWRU way back then would have lost Concord and gone bankrupt and they still messed it up.

 

[half]

BH

Just a little more, not a lot as its over using one example.

But because of your post I re watched their youtube, and remember this is an organisation with less revenue than the NSWRU [But does not have a Super Rugby team on their books or anything like ARU revenue] . That aside I looked at the CEO and it stands out like dogs balls the difference in management skill.

I also did a quick scan of their facilities, they are amazing.

We still have maybe not for much longer TGM

We have Ballymore.


We had or still have I think Concord we could have done the same

Thats the difference.

watch the youtube and see the professionalism and see how a state body should be run.

 

[half]

Is not half's point overall:

Soccer seems more and more able to do these sorts of things, whilst rugby seem - generally - incapable of them?

Just take Ballymore in Brisbane. An outstanding piece of potentially exciting and code-building rugby infrastructure of great potential that effectively is gradually decaying and lies under-developed and fallow.

The QRU has had endless 'visions' and 'plans' for it for decades now. None ever come to fruition.

Red

Your example is beyond simple.

Take Ballymore, why not sell it as the NSW Football body sold theirs that was ageing to a developer and build something be it out in the boon docks.

The QLDRU has an asset that as I understand it cost them money to maintain.

Why not sell it, go out to a Logan where the council is offering to help build a stadium, take the Ballymore money, get some funding at Logan or similar.

then build something that can be used, say 15 to 20 K stadium, where the ARU gets all the beer sales etc.

 

[Braveheart81]

But because of your post I re watched their youtube, and remember this is an organisation with less revenue than the NSWRU [But does not have a Super Rugby team on their books or anything like ARU revenue] . That aside I looked at the CEO and it stands out like dogs balls the difference in management skill.

I also did a quick scan of their facilities, they are amazing.

We still have maybe not for much longer TGM

We have Ballymore.


We had or still have I think Concord we could have done the same

Thats the difference.

NSWRU never owned Concord Oval. It was always owned by the council. NSWRU ploughed huge funds into it prior to the 1987 RWC which included the corrupt behaviour of NSWRU CEO Ken Elphick who later went to prison over it. Macquarie Bank then bailed out the NSWRU to keep them afloat.

Part of the problem with the segmented nature of rugby in Australia is that maybe some of those grounds or parcels of land would have been able to be better utilised if there was a more centralised or congruent organisation structure.

Would TG Millner have become more than what it is if it wasn't just under the control of Eastwood who ended up having to use it in part to finance their survival?

Hard to know what more could have happened with Ballymore. It was never the main venue in Brisbane versus Lang Park so the upgrades that have happened there were never likely winnable by the QRU and Ballymore.

 

[TOCC]

Red

Your example is beyond simple.

Take Ballymore, why not sell it as the NSW Football body sold theirs that was ageing to a developer and build something be it out in the boon docks.

The QLDRU has an asset that as I understand it cost them money to maintain.

Why not sell it, go out to a Logan where the council is offering to help build a stadium, take the Ballymore money, get some funding at Logan or similar.

then build something that can be used, say 15 to 20 K stadium, where the ARU gets all the beer sales etc.

It's not that simple
QRU can't sell it because they don't technically own it, it was granted to them under a DOGIT, and like I already mentioned, zoning and legislative restrictions limit the commercial or development value of the land...

 

[wamberal]

If Howard had won the 2007 election, Ballymore would look a lot different now.


Thanks a lot, Queensland Kev.

 

[half]

BH

Sigh

Two things

Concord the NSWRU if they approached the council with the view of a long term lease, conditional upon the NSWRU undertaking measurable improvements to the ground. I am sure would have been granted.

The corrupt CEO, cast your memory back some of those old soccer officials were similar.

All I am saying is with the right people and vision Concord could be nay should be a Union Centre of Excellence.

TGM, gifted to Eastwood and the trust deed says if ever used for non rugby reasons the land to be returned to the family.

Just consider this, the NSWRU and ARU approach Eastwood, and say this is still your home ground. We want to pour millions into its development. In return for this cash investment we want the club, you can have free rent for all your sides.

Then a combined NSWRU and ARU could have build something similar to what the NSW Football people did. Also at a time when the area was a heartland area, sponsorship's with local business from the then expanding North Ryde Research Park.

I accept its not identical, but we had ample changes to do the same thing that NSW Football did and the state unions well enough said.