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Rugby League's 'circus act' response to All Blacks-Kangaroos hybrid test a surprise
Blake Solly deserves a medal.
Self-interest is at the core of every National Rugby League chief executive’s role. Rules changes, salary cap amendments, player welfare initiatives – you name it – none are ever viewed from the broader perspective, merely the prism of their own club.
If NRL CEOs are ever united on anything, it’s that international football is a blight on the game.
Mickey Mouse matches in which players, fatigued after a gruelling club season, can get hurt are not something clubs welcome and probably fair enough too.
So it was shocking – not to mention commendable – to see Solly stick up for the international game the other day.
Once general manager of the English Super League competition and now South Sydney chief executive, Solly slated the proposed hybrid game between the All Blacks and Kangaroos as a “circus act’’ that threatened to further diminish the standing of test match rugby league.
“We have an obligation to help Tonga and NZ Rugby League. We should be promoting our own international game, not some hybrid exhibition match…now we’re going to devalue that for a circus act,’’ Solly told The Daily Telegraph.
At first glance, talk of a 14-a side game between New Zealand and Australia’s marquee rugby teams looked interesting.
The Wallabies, bless them, will hopefully become a genuine rival for the All Blacks once Dave Rennie gets established as head coach but, for now at least, the Bledisloe Cup series isn’t the spectacle it was 20 years ago.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) needs revenue. Scotland and Wales aren’t coming here this season and the chances the All Blacks might go to Europe in November look remote. There’s talk The Rugby Championship could be staged in Australia, but that remains to be seen too.
It’s right, then, that NZR are looking at other means of making money, having confirmed 25 per cent of their organisation’s staff will be made redundant. The staging of Super Rugby Aotearoa has softened the financial blow NZR are set to take for 2020, but it hasn’t stopped the All Blacks’ coaches, for instance, falling victim to wage cuts.
The organisation will get back on its feet again, though. Plans for a global season continue to go nowhere and we still don’t know how long South Africa and Argentina will stick it out with SANZAAR or what the post-COVID-19 broadcast market might look like, but the All Blacks will eventually be able to play on the world stage and to accumulate income for their parent body.
In the meantime, a made up game against the Kangaroos would generate a bit of money and interest, without diminishing the All Blacks’ brand or the primacy of test rugby.
Where the match did look a bit of a nonsense was from the rugby league perspective.
New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Greg Peters was quick to suggest so, having been left out in the cold, with former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott saying similar. The surprise in all this was that an NRL chief executive would join that chorus.
The emergence of Tonga, largely at the Kiwis’ expense it must be said, has been a boon for international rugby league.
Often an afterthought, played before half-empty stadiums, test footy desperately needed a shot in the arm. Tonga provided it – thanks to wins over the Kiwis, Kangaroos and Great Britain – and hopes remain that Samoa might soon achieve the same, as more and more New Zealand or Australia-eligible players pledge their allegiance to their nation of origin.
The fundamental difference between the two rugby codes, though, is that test football is very much the pinnacle for one and club footy for the other. That’s why Solly’s assertion was such a stunner.
Either way, this hybrid game isn’t one to die in a ditch over. If it gets played, great. If not, no one will be too bothered.
Dean Lonergan, the promoter behind the proposed clash, might still have to see off a legal challenge anyway, from a man called Phil Franks who believes he has a patent on hybrid league and union matches.
We’ve all had a go at NZR over the years for being a bit staid. For not looking to innovate or diversify enough or simply give fans a few things to enthuse about.
We still don’t know what the international season holds but, at short notice, NZR were able to crank up Super and club rugby, with the Mitre 10 and Farah Palmer Cup competitions still to come.
This hybrid game might not get off the ground, but it’s nice to see our often-maligned governing body at least trying to offer us something different,
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Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments