Harrison: The snag regarding what the 10 ex-Wallaby skippers are up to
Rugby Union Players Association boss Justin Harrison says plans from ex-Test captains for reinvigorating rugby in Australia aren’t a “magic formula” to cure the troubled code. Harrison and incoming RA board member Peter Wiggs met on Monday with Phil Kearns and Nick Farr-Jones, who were representing the ten disgruntled ex-Wallabies who signed a letter last week calling for administrative change.
The petition contributed to RA chief executive Raelene Castle falling on her sword. Harrison said that the meeting was a step toward rebuilding unity, but the ex-players didn’t have simple, immediate solutions to resolve the game’s woes. “What they have done is put their names to something to provoke transparency and not have things decided by a very limited number of people who have agendas and vested interests,” said Harrison to AAP.
“They’re not advocating for any one particular magic formula. There’s been malcontent with the way rugby has been administered for a long time… with Super Rugby, the professional model has detached from the community model and there’s been a lack of involvement with decision making and administrative governance from grassroots up through that food chain. There’s no document that’s going to achieve that.”
The ex-Test lock felt there would be further “trauma” as the code reinvented itself. “Everything is on the table at the moment – everything needs to be pulled apart,” he said. “That’s going to involve a lot of people losing control of something they have enjoyed or held on to for a significant amount of time.”
Harrison said the focus needed to be on establishing revenue streams and appealing to broadcast and commercial partners. He is also part of RA’s return to play committee which is working towards a resumption date after last month’s suspension of Super Rugby due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
There was plenty to work through including the structure and participation model given the coronavirus had shut international borders long-term. “The Super Rugby model as we know it is not going to be repeated so whatever is delivered is going to be vastly different from what it was six weeks ago,” Harrison said. He hoped there would be progress regarding a return to play inside a fortnight.
– AAP
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments