Thread: Australian Rugby's Near Death Moment

Hi Mick.
My interest in this is as a fan and a member of my club in Melbourne.
It depends on the press.
You have to remember Murdoch owns the Oz as well as fox.
Fox is annoyed because Oz rugby put the tv rights out to tender.
Also one of our best ex coaches writes on rugby for the oz as well as being a famous radio presenter.
His articles for some time have been calling for the downfall of oz rugby management
Anyone who disagrees with him usually comes in for a serve
So maybe a helping of salt is required on their reporting.
Also fox reporting is probably skewed the same way.
A lot of other media is also skewed towards rugby league and bagging rugby at any opportunity.
A writer who I reckon provides very good unbiased commentary is Geoff Parkes.
He's on a website called the roar in case you don't already know it.
Of course the Covid 19 has thrown several spanners in the works and the outcome is anybody's guess

For mine, I reckon oz rugby will survive and indeed prosper in the coming years.
I think due to the virus OS clubs may have less money to lure players away before their time, especially UK and europe
I'm not sure what will happen to super rugby but we may lose Sth Africa and Argentina, at least in the short term.
In that case we will hopefully see our teams at home more often.
As for club rugby, I reckon this is going pretty well and will hopefully go better when the big boys are home more often and going well

I for one don't think if our peak body goes under that it will save rugby

we live in hope

Frank

I hope you're right, Frank. I picked up the story from the Sydney Morning Herald. Maybe it didn't make The Age. We buy the Weekend Oz but mostly to read Paul Kelly, my old school friend. I've never watched Fox TV. I do know about Roar but I'm not a great seeker of sports news unless the headline topics grab my attention. Too much trivia. I'll go looking for Geoff Parkes.

I also think Rugby will survive but the question remains in what form. If the peak body goes under, I think another will take its place.

mick

I guess the article you refer to is "clock ticking towards rugbys doomsday"
Written by an avowed Rugby league person
His articles always tend to be simplistically categorised as "league good - union bad"
He continually says its not a spectator sport
I disagree of course
There is much enjoyment watching rugby.
I think league is easier to watch and understand but that doesn't make it better only different
I played both codes as a young person as well as soccer.
Union is by far my preferred game to watch these days.
And the added bonus of it being a truly international game improves its watchability.
With all the different styles of play that come with that.

As I said before,
We live in hope.


Frank

Yes, that's the one and I know Roy Masters' reputation but the facts remain including the players' pay cuts.

I've never played any other code and have a strong association with a school generally recognised as the principal nursery of Rugby players in Oz. >60 Wallabies produced over 120 years and >50 premierships won. When my grandson was taken to his first 'Tahs game, he started crying in the car on the way home. My son said "What's the matter, mate?" The 7 y.o. replied "We lost!". It's in the DNA.

Reform has been a long time coming and I've no doubt Rugby will be the better for it.

mick

I find it hard to believe that no one in a position to make a difference can't see that the majority of games on subscription only = shrinking fan base.
NRL and AFL have a fair whack of games on free to air - rugby has select super games on after midnight on free to air.
Guess which code is starved of air and shrinking in Oz.

Originally Posted by champs

I find it hard to believe that no one in a position to make a difference can't see that the majority of games on subscription only = shrinking fan base.
NRL and AFL have a fair whack of games on free to air - rugby has select super games on after midnight on free to air.
Guess which code is starved of air and shrinking in Oz.

I imagine there could be two reasons for RA's choice of pay TV. The first is obviously money. The second could be that free to air couldn't see enough viewers to pay their way and also pay RA for the rights. But I agree with you and it was the only reason I connected Foxtel despite knowing cable TV was a load of rubbish from my time in the States in the early 80s.

I worry that the agents for change have so far only whinged rather than provided a clue about the changes they propose.

As Frank said, we live in hope.

mick