Don't be surprised to see players walk out if Rugby Australia continues to struggle financially
Just two weeks after appointing Raelene Castle’s temporary replacement, Rugby Australia has had to release three of Queensland’s brightest up and coming talent who were all in the infancy of their careers.
23-year-old Wallaby Izack Rodda, along with 2019 Junior Wallabies Isaac Lucas and Harry Hockings, are all searching for a new club after refusing to accept a 60 percent pay cut and register for the Australian Government’s JobKeeper initiative.
After standing down the three players earlier in the week, the Queensland Reds, the Queensland Rugby Union and Rugby Australia terminated their contracts on Friday.
Rugby Australia Interim CEO Rob Clarke commented on the release of the three players late last week, who he claims are in the minority by disagreeing with the proposed terms.
“As everyone is aware the impacts of COVID-19 have been felt in every country, across every industry, and rugby is no exception,” Clarke said.
“189 professional rugby players in Australia accepted reduced pay for an interim period to enable the game to navigate the unprecedented situation.
“The three Queensland players elected not to accept these terms.”
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Even though Clarke later added that he hasn’t had any “indication” from the Rugby Union Players Association that more players are looking to move overseas, it only seems like a matter of when.
Manager of the three players, Anthony Picone, explained that the decision not to agree to terms was due to the dire financial state of the game.
Rugby Australia is yet to stabilise its future with a broadcast deal for this shortened season and beyond, just over a week after collecting financial aid from World Rugby to support them throughout the coronavirus crisis.
Taking a 60 percent pay cut would be tough to accept in any profession, regardless of the industry, especially when contracts may not be able to be honoured as Picone highlighted.
“This is their livelihood. It is only reasonable that talented players want to secure stable employment during these times,” Picone stated.
Rugby careers can’t last forever and players cannot be expected to continue acting as they will.
In the past we’ve seen players leave Australia’s shores for various reasons, as they make the most of the talent they have throughout their limited careers.
Samu Kerevi left Australia for Japan after last year’s Rugby World Cup at just 26-years-old when he was the captain of the Reds, also under the management of Picone.
Liam Gill and Sean McMahon were other players who left a Wallabies jumper behind while in their prime to chase more preferable ambitions.
While Japan is being suggested as a potential destination for the ex-Reds players, should they, as well as other Australian players, consider Super Rugby Aotearoa?
Financial stability, competitive rugby and passionate fanbases should tempt some players to move to New Zealand, just as England Centre Joe Marchant did earlier this year.
The three players definitely have plenty of options to consider, with Clarke adding that their careers would not continue on Australian shores for now.
“If they wish to go overseas then that’s their decision, there’s no avenue open to them in Australia at this time.”
Players who are still representing one of the Australian Super Rugby franchises returned to training last week, as they prepare for a competition that is still very much up in the air.
The coronavirus has plagued this country for months now, but rival codes such as the AFL and NRL have spent weeks planning and preparing for their sports to return.
In fact, Rugby League is controversially set to return in just a matter of days, even managing to include the New Zealand Warriors while Rugby Australia can’t seem to organise a competition involving a handful of States.
Already we’ve seen average Australian Super Rugby crowd numbers drop significantly from what we saw last year, down a few thousand for home matches. A lack of action from Rugby Australia at this crucial period in the game’s livelihood could prove to be detrimental in the short-term.
Without the fans to drive the resurgence of rugby’s passion and the financial stability of the sport, why shouldn’t we be surprised if players opt out to do what’s best for them?
Playing for your country is something that many of us can only dream of, but when you’ve got a family to support and mortgages to pay, don’t be surprised to see players walk out if Rugby Australia continues to struggle financially.
Comments on RugbyPass
It’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.
2 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 commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to comments