'We want to hear from the critics': World Rugby changing its tune
It wasn’t that long ago where World Rugby were generally viewed as this monolithic organisation, slow to change and impervious to criticism, but that unapproachable reputation appears to be mellowing with the baton of CEO now passed to Alan Gilpin, the administrator best known previously as the face of the 2019 World Cup who had to explain the rationale behind the pool match cancellations caused by a typhoon striking Japan.
Gilpin’s composed handling of that crisis, which saw three pool matches fall by the wayside and some others left in jeopardy until they eventually were given the green light, has ultimately served him well, the administrator initially taking on the World Rugby CEO role on an interim basis before he was permanently appointed in March.
One of the regular past criticisms of World Rugby is that they don’t have a voice, that when problems arise there is collective hiding behind the big corporate curtain rather than demonstrating the eloquence to front up and talk about awkward, hot topic issues affecting the game.
Concussion, in particular, is a subject that has had World Rugby on the backfoot PR wise for quite some time. Every time there is a major debate ignited, they are seemingly presented as the spook in the room, the punch bag for everything that is wrong regardless of any steps that they may be taking to better tackle a thorny issue.
It was last December when a group of ex-players suffering from dementia came together to launch a landmark legal case against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union over alleged failures to protect players from the risks caused by concussion, a development that seems to have spurred the game’s global governing body into becoming more proactive and more vocal about what it is doing in this sector.
"In this area the last year we have obviously heard some incredibly brave testimonies from former players"
– World Rugby launches six-point plan which includes provision of aftercare for former players left stricken by brain injuries
https://t.co/w5reHjgzlq— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 13, 2021
It was why Gilpin and a coterie of his colleagues popped up on a Zoom last week to get their message across prior to the July 14 announcement of a six-point player welfare plan where number one in their half-dozen principal commitments is the advancing of best practice in care, information and support for former players struggling or concerned about their health. In other words, they are willing to start paying the aftercare bills.
It’s a prudent move, committing to work with some public health authorities and providers and brain health specialists to pilot and then roll out a series of facilities for players to avail of who have got concerns about their own brain health as a result of concussions in the game. But will it be enough to reverse the general impression that World Rugby constantly equals bad when it comes to the problem of concussion?
“It’s a great question,” said Gilpin when this was put to him by RugbyPass, that positive steps taken by World Rugby in this area are usually drowned out by the negativity that concussion regularly generates and how it is going to be really difficult for them to change that perception.
“It’s not about being painted as the bad guys. What it highlights to us is the whole debate around concussion and brain injury is that it is a really complex area. As Eanna (Falvey, World Rugby chief medical officer) will tell you far better than any of us, there is a lack of scientific and medical consensus on what some of those things mean.
“What we know is we have got to work with the best science we can, invest more in research, do more that is rugby specific and that is kind of what you are hearing from us now – and what the whole debate also highlights is we have just got to spend a lot more time and energy educating every part of the game.
“Whether that is understanding more in the community game and sharing that information with young players and parents all the way through the community game and definitely at the elite level where that focus really is, making sure that people do understand the processes and the safeguards that are in place around head injuries assessments, around graduated return to play, the introduction of the ICC (independent concussions consultants) concept.
“The more we can socialise that, the more we can educate around that the better people’s understanding will be and the better quality debate that we will have. It will constantly evolve, it is continuing to evolve and we want to continue to evolve with that debate.
“That is why one of our key messages is we will continue to engage in that space all the time. Eanna made the point, we want to hear from the critics because that is how we get challenged in a positive way to try and make things better.”
Right now, the narrative about surrounding concussions is entirely negative, that it is the heartwrenching stories about ex-players who are deeply affected by the issue that are understandably getting told. Is there scope, though, to start better telling the other side of the story, that current players can have a concussion and safely return to play?
“Great point and it’s actually a point we have discussed quite extensively with International Rugby Players is exactly that, that one of the best ways to educate is by the players for the players. Certainly, as we move forward in this space and we look to get a lot more education capability across, that is going to be really key, that we hear from players about the positive experience, how their concussion was managed.”
"Concussion is obviously an emotive area and there will be many opinions on this and we welcome those…"#LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/ybK8fiV5Mv
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 14, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
What was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
28 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
28 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
28 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to comments