Ex-New Zealand and Wales chief: 'Do fans want to watch that rubbish?'
The ex-CEO of the both New Zealand and Wales rugby unions has called on the major northern hemisphere nations to start sharing Test match income to help the game avoid a world-wide financial meltdown.
One of the chief architects of SANZAR before Argentina joined New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, David Moffett established Welsh regional rugby, dealt with massive WRU debts, fought to keep the Six Nations on free-to-air TV and took decisions that attracted plenty of flak from fans and fellow officials during his career.
With rugby now facing unprecedented financial pressures due to the coronavirus pandemic, unions are struggling to remain solvent and it has put the spotlight on the thorny subject of revenue sharing. With a home England international generating up to £12million a game for the Rugby Football Union, it is natural that teams like New Zealand want to a significant slice of the action while the Pacific Islands nations would be happy with just 10 per cent.
However, England matches at Twickenham deliver 85 per cent of the RFU’s finances and the idea of spreading the wealth to aid the southern hemisphere nations is an anathema to many, particularly with the RFU facing eye0-watering losses this year.
It cost hundreds of millions of pounds to create a major stadia like Twickenham and the RFU question why, for example, New Zealand don’t have a similarly large arena with state of the art hospitality facilities. To increase revenue the All Blacks have to become a travelling attraction, getting a share of the gate wherever they appear. World Cup winners South Africa are in a similar position.
Before any rugby restart happens, Moffett expects the major southern hemisphere unions to play hardball over the issue, telling RugbyPass that the looming presence of private equity company CVC – which is buying a share of European rugby – should act as a warning.
He explained: “Because of this virus the southern hemisphere unions are bleeding to death and how are they going to replenish their coffers if it’s not through some kind of agreement with the wealthy unions? I can absolutely see that happening and the only role for World Rugby in this is as a broker because they cannot dictate to an individual union what happens to their gate money.
“The southern hemisphere nations are going to be agitating more and more for a share of the gates when they play in the north and that will be resisted. The equalisation of income has to be on the table and the major southern hemisphere countries may have to play hardball to get a change.
“For the Pacific Islands nations, it’s a double whammy because they get nothing for playing the top northern hemisphere teams who don’t tour in the Islands. That has to be looked at. It won’t be easy but the current crisis can be a catalyst for change involving the big twelve unions because if we get another of these viruses next year the game will just disappear.
“The sport has to come up with solutions rather than let outside organisations come in and take control by way of ownership. There will be posturing and veiled threats but the game has to work out how rugby is going to survive. CVC are circling around the top of the sport and will they be good for rugby in the long term? I don’t think so. When I was on the Six Nations I fought to keep the tournament on free-to-air because there are some things you don’t stuff around with – and one of them is the best competition in the world.
“I’m not sure that CVC understand what the fans want. The English Premiership and the French Top 14 knock Super Rugby for six because they are tribal, authentic and have promotion and relegation, and England would be crazy to ever do away with that.
“Super Rugby has been a disaster. We started with twelve teams but chased quantity not quality and it’s a lop-sided competition. Crowds and viewership are down and what sport transports its players around the southern hemisphere every year – it’s crazy. Japan is attracting more players because it’s not as competitive has fewer matches and they can earn a lot of money.”
Moffett also delivered a withering verdict on World Rugby just days after Bill Beaumont was given another four years as chairman of the sport’s governing body. The administrator, who has also held the roles of CEO with Australia’s NRL and Sport England, remains passionate about the sport and is demanding clarity of purpose from the governing body.
“A lot of the time, decisions are made that are not best for South African rugby”
– @fsteyn12 tells @JLyall93 ??? why things must change for @Springboks rugby to fully realise its value. Also beers with Prince Harry and coming home from @MHR_officiel https://t.co/yOXy255JCn— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 5, 2020
“The solution for the international game is to get World Rugby to tell us what their purpose is and to be honest about it” he added. “What do they mean by a global season? It’s a global season for the twelve best teams in the world and it’s not about anything else.
“It’s all about the money and World Rugby have taken their eye off the ball when it comes to the laws of the game and the mode of play. Everything we hear about is centred on the professional game, but where are those players going to come from? They don’t just knock on your door. They come from a school or a club and there needs to be a balance struck, but I don’t see that happening.
“The laws are absolutely atrocious because they have fiddled around with them to encompass the way some coaches want to play the game. The game used to be played by players on their feet and now we have guys wrestling on the ground and endless time spent on resetting scrums. Do fans want to watch that rubbish?
The confirmation that Sir Bill Beaumont will complete a second-term as World Rugby chairman came as no surprise, but the former England captain will need all his might to save rugby from crisis.
Is he the man for the job?
– asks @OwainJTJones https://t.co/uuMvrnzTxz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 3, 2020
“Unfortunately, what we have got is a massive disconnect between the professional game and the community game and I didn’t care who got the job of chairman of World Rugby because I don’t have faith that either of them actually understands what the role and purpose of World Rugby is.
“They like the sexy end where all the money is and they have forgotten about the 99 per cent of people playing the game because of the pursuit of money. They will say they are concerned about the grassroots of the game but none of their actions proves that is true.
“The majority of fans I speak to would prefer longer tours and watch a three-Test series between New Zealand and England and the success of the British and Irish Lions tours prove this. I firmly believe that the professional game should be primarily aimed at promoting the amateur game and provide financial support because they are not separate entities. We are losing this.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Billy's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to comments