A couple of days ago, trying to calm down, I went out of my way to list things where the ARU was deserving of respect within the current situation. Time to consider why I still dont like it.
1. Even Pulver confirms his previous belief of a necessity in Aus for a national footprint. This now overridden by fiduciary responsibility regarding solvency. The second does not absolve the first! When and how did this startegic change occur? The matter should be expanded.
2. The board CVs look impressive. Female quota - "check". Money experience - "check". Legal experience - "check". Administration background - "check". Even with the claimed rugby experience these guys could be a board in insurance, banking, whatever. There is a smattering of rugby administration experience, but rugby operations experience seems to be limited to Stooke (RWA) and Robinson (HPU). Normally more admin experience than operational experience wouldnt bother me in a board, but right now at the ARU it does.
3. Setting fiduciary responsibilitie at solvency is important, but it's a low bar. Its also a cop out to be saying its the State RUs who are responsible for the mess. The directors are responsible for approving strategy and answering to - actually to who? Not the fan I suspect.
4. Investing in "grass roots" is just as disengenuous from Clyne's mouth as it is from Dwyer or Begg. What does it mean? Who gets the funds? Who controls them? East v nation, Premier v Community, School v Club. What is actually being proposed?
5. Grass roots does nothing to address the National footprint of pro (or at least broadcast) rugby.
6. Cutting RWA definitely is a high risk of NOT concentrating the talent, but simply severing a big chunk of rugby. Similar re Vic RU. What happens next guys? You did not even see the City Bus (of litigation) heading at you. When are you going to look at what needs doing to hold the rugby community, at least in some lessor way, that you are severing?
7. I would have thought NRC features in that somewhere, but questions were responded along the lines that it was irrelevant to this issue. Really?
8. The PR during this period has been truly apalling. Direct ARU responsibility for that.
9. The impact on the players and families lives is outrageous. The lack of any obvious process or policy is unacceptable. The well being of your people must come first!
10. The actions of the ARU have led to a plethora of negative press, a free kick to the sporting competition. ARU is responsible.
Without looking to many of the generalities, simply the strategic failure (of expansion and 5 teams), presumably a strategy approved by the Board, begs accountability. That means a hell of a lot more than having the balls to front Alan Jones.
The biggest killer I leave to last. The ARU's chart showing cost success relationship to the number of teams does NOT justify cutting to 4 teams. No, no, no, not at all. It justifies cutting to 3! Does anyone think SANZAR, already planning more changes in 2020, have missed this? Holy-moley.
I'd even be happy to discuss 3 teams. Hell 2, or just have the WBs for that matter. The problem is you need a plan around the National footprint and the ability have the State RUs actively engaged, and an enthusiastic NATIONAL fan base.
That requires our largest geographic state and our supposedly soon to be largest city. This current strategy does nothing for this.
But hell, as we shrink to irrelevance, the Directors will be able to justify they met their personnal liabilities related to solvency.
<slow clap>
Rant ends.