Glider
20th April 2020, 08:56 AM
If the press is to be believed, and they do sound credible, our peak body is in deep financial trouble. Perhaps this is desperation speaking, but I think this may be the saviour of the game in Australia.
For my part, I yearn for the days when we attended local games played with grit and determination by enthusiastic amateurs and cheered with one eyed parochialism. The best were chosen to represent their states or our country to play with no more than the good heart to compete and defend the hopes of their supporters. And they did well!
For too long, Rugby management have gone down the professional route thinking they could expand the game against League and Aussie Rules by adopting a win at all costs attitude often resulting in a profoundly boring spectacle. Teams lost their geography by being re-branded as names in the vain hope that the supporter base would be expanded past their borders. In the meantime, AFL were handing out equipment to NSW schools to persuade them to change codes while treasuring local club identities.
We follow a minor sport in this country. Always have. And in the past we've done well to enjoy success against other places where it's the national game. The best Rugby in Sydney is the GPS competition where kids compete in their final year of school to go down in the record books as premiers and possibly unbeaten champions for that year. Sadly two schools have dropped out for lack of parental support so six schools play one round robin where any loss can be fatal to their objective.
The grade competitions are still great fun and as well as the completely amateur Cup comps. A return to grass roots would be a welcome change for me so I can rug up and go to the local ground on Saturday to indulge in some one-eyed cheering for my team without participating in unsporting behaviour like distracting kickers but politely applauding good play by the opposition.
mick
For my part, I yearn for the days when we attended local games played with grit and determination by enthusiastic amateurs and cheered with one eyed parochialism. The best were chosen to represent their states or our country to play with no more than the good heart to compete and defend the hopes of their supporters. And they did well!
For too long, Rugby management have gone down the professional route thinking they could expand the game against League and Aussie Rules by adopting a win at all costs attitude often resulting in a profoundly boring spectacle. Teams lost their geography by being re-branded as names in the vain hope that the supporter base would be expanded past their borders. In the meantime, AFL were handing out equipment to NSW schools to persuade them to change codes while treasuring local club identities.
We follow a minor sport in this country. Always have. And in the past we've done well to enjoy success against other places where it's the national game. The best Rugby in Sydney is the GPS competition where kids compete in their final year of school to go down in the record books as premiers and possibly unbeaten champions for that year. Sadly two schools have dropped out for lack of parental support so six schools play one round robin where any loss can be fatal to their objective.
The grade competitions are still great fun and as well as the completely amateur Cup comps. A return to grass roots would be a welcome change for me so I can rug up and go to the local ground on Saturday to indulge in some one-eyed cheering for my team without participating in unsporting behaviour like distracting kickers but politely applauding good play by the opposition.
mick