Wednesday’s Rugby News sees the fallout from Folau, Rugby Australia nominating Waugh, our yearly Welsh test locked in, and the future looking bright for Women’s Rugby.
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Fallout Folau
Well, Israel Folau had a chat with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia today about his Instagram comments.
The result? Well, not much. At least not immediately.
Raelene Castle fronted the media after the discussion, and said that the meeting was a very positive and considered one, and that Izzy acknowledged that maybe saying that gays will go to hell unless they repent their sins might have been, in retrospect, not a very respectful thing to say. Well done Izzy.
“We are in a negotiation with Israel to extend [his contract] and we would really like him to stay in rugby, that’s hugely important to us, he is a great player, he has delivered some great outcomes for us and has been a really strong role model in the Pacific Islander community and we would like to see he stays in rugby,” Castle said to ABC News.
While she made it clear that Folau was passionate for what he believed in, she did remind Izzy of RA’s policy of inclusion, and that there was an expectation that rugby players conduct themselves with grace and respect online.
“I think Israel has acknowledged that maybe he could have put a positive spin on that same message and done it in a more respectful way,” Castle added.
While Rugby Australia is playing their cards close to their chest amid the media and sponsor backlash, Folau could be in a lot more trouble, and it could extend beyond the rugby sphere.
A former New Zealand immigration minister saying that he could be denied future entry in New Zealand for his “bigotry against homosexuals.”
That could be a big problem for Folau, who is married to Kiwi netball star Maria Tutaia, and also routinely travels between the two countries for both personal and professional purposes.
On the flipside, other organisations, such as Australian Christian Lobby cautiously welcomed RA’s decision to not immediately reprimanding Folau for his comments.
“It is likely that the handling of this incident has set a precedent in Rugby Australia and other sporting codes where the ability of players to articulate mainstream Christian views is chilled. This is discrimination against people of faith in sport,” Managing Director Martyn Iles said.
“Falou’s appropriate use of social media could stifle his freedom to speak openly about his faith and marginalise his Christian identity into the future”.
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RA goes to Waugh
In the midst of the whole debacle with Izzy Folau, and announcing a $3.8 million loss in the last calendar year, Rugby Australia could have at least one positive result by announcing changes to their board.
With John Eales’ term on the board coming to it’s end, the board could use the opportunity to bring someone in to give a new outsiders perspective on rugby.
They had Gordon Club President Hayden Rorke come on, which gave us a bit of hope that there would be more of a focus on club rugby.
Maybe someone from country New South Wales or Queensland? Or even someone from WA, after Geoff Stooke resigned last year? That would send a good message about restoring bonds with WA rugby, right?
So they nominated Phil Waugh. Another bloke from the Northern Beaches with loads of Wallaby caps to his name.
Oh.
All cynicism aside, no disrespect to Waugh’s abilities, and the best of luck to him. If he can make the national game better, I’m all for it. But it’s not exactly like him joining the other eight or nine Northern Beaches-based board members inspires confidence.
This adds to the $3.8 million deficit the governing body ran up last year, but Cameron Clyne is adamant they can turn things around this year.
“Obviously 2017 was a very difficult year and one we don’t in any way hope to replicate,” Clyne said to news.com.au.
“But I think on field performance is a huge driver of both revenue and sentiment around the game.
“Last year with the British and Irish Lions touring (New Zealand), we had probably a difficult series.
“Fiji, Italy and Scotland didn’t attract as many fans.
“But I think we’re very excited about Ireland.
“That has a real potential to give us a financial boost.”
The improvement of the Aussie Super Rugby teams on top of that suggests that hopefully things can start to look up for the code.
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Only way is Up…
Enough of the depressing news, let’s talk about something cheerful.
Who here has watched some of the Super W? Well, the grand final is this weekend, and already people are already talking it up for next year.
One of them is Western Force Womens coach Sebastian Delport who, at just 29, is the youngest coach in the competition and one of the youngest coaches of a state representative team in the country.
“There’s a huge amount of untapped potential in the women’s game, not only globally but particularly here in Australia,” Delport said to rugby.com.au.
“They (women) are very cerebral; they really want to understand the nuts and bolts of the ‘whys’ behind a performance.
“So it’s a really fun environment to be in because we as a coaching group learn as much from them as they do from us, just because they are pushing us in asking that ‘why’ question all the time.”
With the Force boys no longer able to represent WA in Super Rugby, it was up to the girls to put on a show and give Force fans something to cheer about. The team did especially well, knocking over more favoured teams in the Brumbies, and coming close to beating a solid Queensland Womens outfit.
“They are carrying the flag (for WA) until the new World Series event kicks off and the Western Force start their campaign heading into the NRC in May,” Delport said.
“Heading into that home Rebels game – that’s the first time in a long time we have been able to represent the state and the community here on home soil. So that has been something they have really looked forward to with a lot of pride and passion.
“There is now a sustained goal at the end of the pathway for them and you don’t have to be youngsters like Courtney (Hodder) and Zakiya (Kereopa) to access it.
“The senior club players like Anne (Fagan) and a few of the other ladies that have been plugging away at club level now have a platform as well to really take their game to that next level.
“The players themselves and we as a coaching group, can see the development of all the teams that are involved in the competition,” he said.
“Goal number one is to develop the women’s game here, not only at a state level but nationally as well – so the Wallaroos can kick on to hopefully a 2021 home World Cup.”
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Dancing with the Scarlets
Finally, the Wallabies have locked in another match into their Spring Tour at the end of this year, announcing they will be facing Wales as their first fixture of the tour.
The fixture was confirmed by the Welsh Rugby Union on Tuesday, and will see the two teams square off for the fourteenth straight year. The Wallabies are currently on a thirteen match winning streak, having not lost to the Scarlets in close to a decade.
Italy is widely predicted to be the second team on the tour, though the Italian Rugby Federation is still to confirm the fixture, with England being the third clash.
Here is the full Wallabies 2018 Fixtures, courtesy or rugby.com.au:
JUNE SERIES
Saturday, June 9, 8pm – Australia vs Ireland, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, June 16, 8pm – Australia vs Ireland, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday, June 23, 8pm – Australia vs Ireland, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, August 18 – Australia vs New Zealand, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Saturday, August 25 – New Zealand vs Australia, Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday, September 8 – Australia vs South Africa, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, September 15 – Australia vs Argentina, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Saturday, September 29 – South Africa vs Australia, Port Elizabeth
Saturday, October 6 – Argentina vs Australia, TBC
Saturday, October 27, New Zealand vs Australia, Nissan Stadium, Yokohama
SPRING TOUR
Saturday, November 10 – Wales vs Australia, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday, November 17 – TBC
Saturday, November 24 – England vs Australia – Twickenham, London
Here’s one for you GAGRS: what matches do you think we’re going to win this year?
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