How Rugby Australia's acting-CEO believes the sport can reclaim its status in a crowded market
Since the glory days of the early 2000s, many have tried to revive Australian rugby yet all have failed. With plenty of challenges still to overcome, there’s growing pressure on Rugby Australia with the recent short-term appointment of rugby-man Rob Clarke.
Clarke was announced as Raelene Castle’s temporary successor on Wednesday, bringing plenty of experience into his role as interim CEO on the back of years of rugby administration at the then-named ARU, as well as with the Brumbies and Rebels.
He fronted the media the day after being appointed, discussing a forward-thinking outlook on how he plans to fix the 15-man code.
“It’s a new day. The past is the past, and I don’t think that there’s any advantage dwelling on the past. My focus is the task that the board’s given me over the time that I’ll be sitting in the chair,” Clarke told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.
“There’s a lot to be done, the game has gone through a very challenging period. The first item on the agenda is to get ourselves playing rugby around the country again.
“I’m delighted with the plans that have been put in place by the team here, we’re well-positioned for when the restrictions end that will enable us to get rugby played at both a community level and a professional level as soon as we possibly can.”
A lack of passion, tribalism and support has plagued Australian rugby in years gone by, with state-of-the-art stadiums such as Suncorp and Bankwest left mostly empty by faltering crowd numbers.
After three rounds of Super Rugby this year, the average attendance at Australian home matches was just 7,324, which was nearly 4,000 less than the average across the entirety of the 2019 season.
Ultimately, fans enjoy seeing their team competing and winning trophies, and now after years of struggling against foreign opposition, it’s time for Australian Super sides to stand up in domestic derbies and draw their fans back to rugby.
What exactly that domestic competition may look like is up in the air at the moment, with Clarke expecting a decision to be made within the next couple of weeks as they aim for a July return.
“Assuming that restrictions are lifted as we hope in the next week or so, we would aim to be playing – if at all possible – in July, with training starting in June. But, of course, it’s all tied to the restrictions.”
“We will come up with some competition models and structures that think will work well for Australia. We will then work with our SANZAAR partners, as they’re indeed doing now, in working at looking at it from their own point of view, and talk that through.
“Then, of course, we need to bring the broadcasters along that journey with us because they have some very clear objectives out of it, and the ultimate goal is to bring those two together.”
While revisiting a trans-Tasman competition in the future could be a possibility, it’s time for Rugby Australia to experiment and establish their own identity and tribalism.
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Rugby in this country needs to become Australia’s family sport for one, as it builds off the uniting rugby culture seen at the grassroots level.
Club rugby has also shown us that tribalism is everything in sport and needs to be prioritised in the professional game. Rugby Australia needs to figure out how this support can be reignited and established through rivalries driven by fanbases’ love of their State.
We’d need to see rugby from coast to coast to make the most of this – enter the Western Force.
Clarke commented on the potential return of the Perth-based franchise, with many still frustrated by their controversial exit from Super Rugby in 2017.
The Force have since developed their own identity, becoming a cornerstone of Western Australian sport as they continue to invest in their relationship with the community.
They’ve also tasted domestic success in the National Rugby Championship, winning the 2019 Grand Final in emphatic fashion with a 41-3 victory over Canberra Vikings.
One of the most physical test matches you will ever see! The British & Irish Lions went to Pretoria in 2009 to save the series in the second test and put their bodies on the line. The full match will be on RugbyPass this Sunday at 3pm UK time. ??? #Springboks #LionsTour pic.twitter.com/cGvyVVwetZ
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Perth hosted the first Bledisloe Cup test between the Wallabies and All Blacks last year, which Australia won in a record-setting 47-26 performance. With 61,241 spectators in attendance, Rugby Australia needs to tap into what is still a thriving rugby market.
“I’ll be reaching out to WA, they’re an important member union and there may well be an opportunity to reengage the Western Force in future competition structures.
“At the end of the day, a national footprint would be a wonderful goal to have. Decisions were made back then for reasons back then, and some of those were driven by financial issues.
“I don’t harbour any grudges; I don’t have any negative feelings towards WA or anybody else. At the end of the day, my focus is really engaging all of our member unions, trying to unify everybody behind the challenges we have.”
As he steps into one of the toughest administrative roles in Australian sport, there’s plenty of expectation hanging on Clarke needing to do the sport justice.
He said that he’s “very confident [that] there is a bright future for the game” but only time will tell if Rob Clarke will truly have a positive impact on the sport Down Under, or if he’ll just become another person to have tried.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments