Force set to be axed

[terrycobner]

Good discussions. I guess I am fortunate to chat with our Kiwi board members as and when their clubs pass through. Every single one say they fear more for the future of SA Rugby due to Political interference than Australia. Most reckon this shake up is the one we needed to have and all say, flying over Australia to play SA is nonsensical. Most tell me they love nothing better than hammering Australia and will relish the time doing it now and maybe for the next few years, but it won't continue!

Super Rugby has NOT sent the ARU broke - that is a fact. The millions paid to Pocock, Genia, Hunt, Folau, Beale etc all add up to a lot. The loss of engagement with community ( just like it happened here in years gone by) is another factor, performance on the field ( Wallabies) is the biggest.

The ARU needs to get rid of Super Rugby. Let us establish a commission to run the game and each Franchise lives and dies by it's governance. Broadcast revenue for Super Rugby goes to the commission or board, distributed evenly and clubs generate the rest. Let ARU run the Tests and Community. This board will also oversee talent equalisation or a draft. The ARU in addition can control coaching, women's, 7 a-side, etc.

The current broadcast agreement is as good as it will ever get. Not only for Rugby, but the same can be said for AFL and NRL. Internet. live streaming, social media are replacing broadcasters so, we need to start engaging in this arena now...not in 2020.

Great speech on sunday Hansie. Thanks for continuing the fight.
Please keep us posted with any updates of twiggy s meeting.

[zed]

We can't just keep the Force and carry on as we were. Super rugby is in a shit state and Australian rugby is in a shit state. We need to use this as an impetus for a complete overhaul of the sport in this country.

[sittingbison]

.....Super Rugby has NOT sent the ARU broke - that is a fact....the ARU needs to get rid of Super Rugby. Let us establish a commission to run the game and each Franchise lives and dies by it's governance. Broadcast revenue for Super Rugby goes to the commission or board, distributed evenly and clubs generate the rest. Let ARU run the Tests and Community. This board will also oversee talent equalisation or a draft. The ARU in addition can control coaching, women's, 7 a-side, etc....

Almost but not quite
Super Rugby needs to be rid of ARU
ARU should not run or control anything
The ARU should be an administrative umbrella, overseeing good governance of the various sub organisations and the interests of game on a NATIONAL level. Even organisation run and financed independently. Example, premier league and football association. The PL became independent of the FA (back in early 90s I think) because the Sky tv money allowed for it. Now run as a professional business, not by a bunch of toffs lunching at the Ritz.
Super needs to be entirely separate from ARU. Each team has the same vote (not two or three for NSW) and the SAME salary cap. If one fails financially so be it....look at Leeds Leeds Utd, one of the biggest clubs, had to be cut adrift from PL. Jesus, what's the point of running a financially unsustainable team, madness.

[Alison]

Hear hear Hans!!

[shasta]

The current broadcast agreement is as good as it will ever get. Not only for Rugby, but the same can be said for AFL and NRL. Internet. live streaming, social media are replacing broadcasters so, we need to start engaging in this arena now...not in 2020.

A very important point. Currently, of the 4 major codes only the NRL has control of LEGAL digital rights. They are stuck in a similar argument to Rugby, dealing with grass roots participation rates and the funding of them. Their players want a set percentage of the pie but, IMO that's a case of "careful what you wish for" as all the analysts think the dollar amounts have plateaued. One interesting figure in the NRL carve up which the RLPA is questioning is a figure of $150 million set aside for "digital strategy". I can see a new digital platform (NetLeague or similar).

In any event Australian Rugby simply has to do a lot better going forward, or become a boutique sport in OZ.

[SinBin]

Almost but not quite
..If one fails financially so be it....look at Leeds Leeds Utd, one of the biggest clubs, had to be cut adrift from PL..

Leeds weren't cut adrift, they were relegated and are only just starting to show recovery signs ie, bought Elland road back after being sold etc. I hope they get back into the EPL soon as they're missed.

You make some good points though. The EPL is owned by it's 20 clubs with each club having ONE vote each. Since the EPL started about 25 years ago, the national body, the FA, has had no say in the commercial running of England’s top flight. But EPL matches are still played under FA rules, with FA referees, and the governing body adjudicates on disciplinary issues on the pitch. A perfect model and example for how to run a professional and lucrative competition fairly. Whether it would suit an inter-country competition is debatable.

[shasta]

There have been plenty of suggestions about how to fix the current mess. This one at The Roar is one of the better ones I've read. Itwould be a leap of faith and would need businessmen with real vision and deep pockets to back it. TV alone would not take this step in the current conditions.

This is how the Force can be Saved.

AuthorRoar Guru

Never before has a decision split Australian rugby so tragically.


A way out needs to be found before even more damage is done but real vision and conviction is required to map the way.

There are four stages to saving the Force and achieving what many see as impossible.........

http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/08/22/force-can-saved/

[GIGS20]

The ARU needs to get rid of Super Rugby. Let us establish a commission to run the game and each Franchise lives and dies by it's governance. Broadcast revenue for Super Rugby goes to the commission or board, distributed evenly and clubs generate the rest. Let ARU run the Tests and Community. This board will also oversee talent equalisation or a draft. The ARU in addition can control coaching, women's, 7 a-side, etc.

I would think that this structure, if run properly, would be able to fund 5 teams AND pay a license fee to the ARU. However it would all be wasted effort if the ARU continued to throw money into the black hole that is the "established superstrars" of our game at Wallaby level.

Super Rugby broadcast revenue should go to the commission, a small fee to ARU (to support grassroots, 7s, Womens etc) and the ARU live on the Wallabies broadcast revenue and any other sponsorship they can arrange. NRC subsumed under Super Rugby Commission, once there is enough of a competition, the same thing happens with Womens' league. No ARU top ups, Wallabies play purely for match payments, but an allocation of funds to each Super Rugby team that can only be used for CURRENT wallabies at the time the contract is written.

All funding from the commission to the Super teams is a solid 20% stake of the funding provided (to the cent) salary caps integrated to ensure that the teams with money don't do a tahs, but not so tight as to stop a team trying to raise it's own funds in order to improve on the paddock.
Even (if it's warranted) grant short term bonus grants to expansion teams like the Rebels as seed funding, no need to repay, but certain performance criteria need to be met.

If the ARU aren't willing or able to create a system that is fair, maybe Twiggy SHOULD launch a new comp

[Alison]

Wayne Smith reporting on Twitter that Twiggy couldn't do a deal. A huge financial offer from Twiggy was knocked back by the ARU.

Those board members are either massively corrupt and need to it cover up their dirty dealings, or they are as dumb as dumb can be. Either way they sure as hell do NOT care a damn about our beloved game.

Eales should be made to give back every one of his Wallaby accolades.

[BLR]

Eales should be made to give back every one of his Wallaby accolades.

Can we start a change.org petition to strip him of his Wallaby number, captain-ship and all mention of him when it comes to Australian rugby?

[sittingbison]

Lance him

[GIGS20]

Those board members are either massively corrupt and need to it cover up their dirty dealings,.

It can't be the corruption alone Alison, with the looming supreme court appeal anybody with two brain cells to rub together knows that the dirty laundry will be aired in court. If they think they can cover that up (pay off the judge to refuse the appeal) surely they'd be running to avoid court action by the WA government... That would take place in a WA court, no paying your way out of that one pats... Then there's the threatened senate inquiry.. If they think they're safe enough to risk a potential $150Millblack hole, they're not as crooked as they are stupid. Now I don't know whether I want the appeal to succeed or fail, it might be a whole lot more fun to see pats and his cadre humiliated, bankrupted and destroyed by a couple of pissed off billionaires

[brokendown gunfighter]

anyone who goes to the test at NIB is a bum!

[chibi]

anyone who goes to the test at NIB is a bum!

Why did I picture Bob Hawke just then?!

[Darren]

anyone who goes to the test at NIB is a bum!

See you there?