RUGBYWA CHAIRMAN URGES SUPPORT FOR MARC

[Darren]

The following is a statement by RugbyWA Chairman Geoff Stooke OAM.

Constant criticism by a small number of high profile people and a number of Sydney clubs of the new Mazda Australian Rugby Championship (MARC) demonstrates a lack of vision for the game in Australia.

The competition has been established to provide a ‘bridge’ between club rugby and Super 14. Money spent on this initiative should be described as the cost of a worthwhile investment and not as a loss. One can be sure that the AFL never considered its ‘investment’ in Brisbane and Sydney as a ‘loss’!

The measure of the success of the competition is not in its financial performance in the early years but in the contribution it makes to the development of Australia's elite player pool.

For seven years the ARU has been providing Premier Rugby grants to the Sydney and Brisbane competitions to help develop players with the objective of bridging the gap between club rugby and Super 12/14. In 2007 the grants will total almost $2.3 million AUD and over the seven year period the cumulative total of the grants exceeds $12 million AUD. These grants are in addition to Community Rugby funding which is based on participation numbers.

Unfortunately this initiative has not achieved the outcomes desired although the competitions continue to receive the Premier Rugby funding.

It is therefore most appropriate that the ARU take the initiative to invest in and support a national competition that has the potential to help identify and develop elite players and to provide a ‘bridge’ between club and Super 14 rugby. In addition, the MARC will also assist in providing a ‘national footprint’ for rugby in Australia.

It is time that all those interested in the development of rugby in Australia get behind the MARC to ensure it is given every opportunity to succeed. There are times when individual, club and other interests must be put aside for the greater good of the game!

[travelling_gerry]

hear hear

[Skiza]

Amen Mr Stooke

[AndyS]

So if they stopped giving away $2.3M a year and used it for the MARC instead, the ARU is already breakeven? No wonder they don't want the competition to work!

[travelling_gerry]

you got the point Andy

[JediKnight]

Well said, Mr Stooke. Thanks for lifting the lid on the real reasons behind the Eastern States' (predominantly Sydney) clubs desire for the ARC to fail.

[Burgs]

It appears The Australian were the only ones brave enough to quote him:

Force boss takes on new comp critics

Bret Harris, August 11, 2007

WESTERN FORCE chairman Geoff Stooke has accused critics of the Australian Rugby Championship of lacking vision for the game.

The ARC, which kicked off last night, was designed to bridge the gap between Super 14 and club rugby and build depth for the Wallabies.

But the concept was opposed by several strong Sydney clubs and influential figures, including former Test captain Simon Poidevin.

Even ARU chief executive John O'Neill has expressed doubts about the financial viability of the national competition.

But Stooke believes the ARC will be a sound investment for Australian rugby.

"Constant criticism by a small number of high profile people and a number of Sydney clubs of the new ARC demonstrates a lack of vision for the game in Australia," Stooke said.

"Money spent on this initiative should be described as the cost of a worthwhile investment and not as a loss.

"One can be sure that the AFL never considered its investment in Brisbane and Sydney as a loss.

"The measure of the success of the competition is not in its financial performance in the early years, but in the contribution it makes to the development of Australia's elite player pool."

Stooke said the ARU had poured $12million into club rugby in Brisbane and Sydney, but had not achieved the objective of developing depth of talent.

"It is most appropriate that the ARU take the initiative to invest in and support a national competition that has the potential to help identify and develop elite players and to provide a bridge between club and Super 14 rugby," Stooke said.

"It is time that all those interested in the development of rugby in Australia get behind the ARC to ensure it is given every opportunity to succeed. There are times when individual, club and other interests must be put aside for the greater good of the game."

[JediKnight]

You surely didn't expect the SMH to report it, did you?!

[Evie]

You surely didn't expect the SMH to report it, did you?!

Because that would be telling the whole story and they don't do that...