RugbyPass People of the year - 2018
As we enter 2019, we look back at the people who we believe have made the biggest impact on the game globally over the past year. These players, coaches and administrators have all contributed to the growth of the game, and their influence will shape the future of the sport for many years to come.
Siya Kolisi
Earlier this year, Kolisi was named the first black captain of the Springboks, before proceeding to lead South Africa to a memorable series victory over England and the Boks’ first win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil since 2009. The evolution of the rainbow nation has walked hand-in-hand with rugby and Kolisi’s achievements have been the latest in a lengthy list of examples of rugby helping the nation come together and heal old wounds. As well as being an icon of South African rugby, he is also an active role model to the children and aspiring Springboks in the townships of South Africa.
Joe Schmidt
The World Rugby Coach of the Year, Schmidt has had a fantastic 2018, first helping Ireland surpass England as the top northern hemisphere nation, before downing the All Blacks in Dublin and undermining all assertions that New Zealand are the undisputed number one side in world rugby. The Ireland coach is set to hand the reins over to Andy Farrell after next year’s Rugby World Cup but does so safe in the knowledge he has helped take Ireland from a nation punching above their weight to genuine world beaters.
Mark McCafferty
The CEO of Premiership Rugby, McCafferty is the man behind much of the competition’s recent success and few deals have the potential to impact the sport as much as the CVC Investment deal. CVC’s 27% stake in The Gallagher Premiership for £200m is changing the investment landscape for the game. For the first time, big, private institutional money is involved at a competition ownership level – and judging by how many other bids Mr McCafferty managed to attract – this is unlikely to be the last. Rugby has always been severely under monetised relative to the size and affluence of its customer base. The CVC deal represents the most significant way Rugby can change these fortunes. McCafferty may well have paved the way for Rugby to take its position as a financially profitable and sustainable sport in the future.
Portia Woodman
A Rugby World Cup-winner, Woodman has added gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens this year, with the wing lighting up the tournaments on the Gold Coast and in San Francisco respectively. She has established herself as one of, if not the most dominant player in the women’s game and was at the spearhead of a New Zealand side that became the first in the country’s history to be offered professional contracts.
Andrew Forrest
Distressed at his beloved Western Force being removed from Super Rugby competition this past year, Forrest has set about creating a new tournament in the Asia-Pacific region. After a year of exhibition matches for the Force, the Perth-based team are set to headline Forrest’s Global Rapid Rugby competition in 2019, which will feature sides from the Pacific Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, as well as tweaking current laws to make for a faster paced and more marketable product.
Jurie Roux
Being CEO of the South African Rugby Union can be an unthankful job, but Roux has managed to balance well the unique demands of the role. He has brought in Rassie Erasmus and overseen an upturn in the Springboks’ fortunes, made further progress with player quotas in a bid to bring about transformation in South Africa rugby, and continues to grow opportunities for South African club sides, with involvement in both Super Rugby and the Guinness PRO14.
Dan Carter
Having won almost everything in the game, Carter turned his sights towards Japan after his Racing 92 contract expired in the summer. He joined up with the Kobelco Steelers on a two-year contract and in his first season with the club, helped guide them to the Top League title, as they beat Suntory Sungoliath, 55-5, in the final. He was also named Top League MVP and won the award for best kicker in the competition. His successful season has helped drive huge interest in the game ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.
Agustín Pichot
Having already successfully campaigned for the eligibility rule in international rugby to be extended from three years to five years, Pichot continued his influential work as Vice Chairman of World Rugby in 2018, pushing forward the idea of a ‘league of nations’. The competition, which will change the way the June and November test windows are conducted, is designed to make the international game more appealing and competitive.
Raelene Castle
In January of this year, Castle was appointed CEO of Rugby Australia, becoming the first woman to be in charge of one of Australia’s major football codes. She has laid out ambitious plans to help the Wallabies return to the top of the international game and drive more interest in the game at grassroots level. She recently oversaw the appointment of Scott Johnson as director of rugby until 2021, and has thrown her support fully behind embattled head coach Michael Cheika.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments