Originally Posted by
Jules
From the Australian- The Victorian government today will announce a massive rugby union deal that will bring Test matches to Melbourne on an almost yearly basis, but which also targets grassroots rugby, in particular the Pacific Islander community.
This was the deal that helped swing the Australian Rugby Union to support the Melbourne Rebels, leaving the Western Force to wither on the vine after being cut loose from Super Rugby. Annoyingly, though, the Victorian government is keeping the dollar value of the deal a secret, deeming it to be commercial in confidence.
Certainly the Western Australia government, which previously had volunteered to fast-track a $5 million commitment to the ARU for the 2019 Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth in order to save the Force, would surely have been highly interested in the Victorian figure.
Initially, it was understood the Victorian government intended steering around $20 million into rugby to secure the Rebels’ safety, but this figure is understood to have been dramatically downgraded. Some reports have indicated the figure is around $14 million.
The high point of the new deal is the securing of six Melbourne Tests over the next eight years, starting with Ireland during the next June window. As well, Victoria has also secured the 2020 Bledisloe Cup match and a Test against the British and Irish Lions when next they tour Australia in 2025.
But it is at the grassroots level that the money is most needed, and the Victorian Minister for Sport John Eren joined local MP Luke Donnellan at the Fountain Gate Secondary College to announce a $500,000 upgrade of one of its rugby pitches. The college’s academy has more than 100 students in its rugby program and today’s announcement will build on the $200,000 the Labor government has already spent on the academy’s strength and conditioning room.
“We’re proud to back the talent of tomorrow and will continue to bring the big games to town, because we know that without the grassroots we will never be home to the greats,” Eren said.
The college has a large Pacific Islander population and it is hoped that rugby can play a key role in reducing some of the problems in that community. Pacific Islanders make up only two per cent of Victoria’s population but 11 per cent of its crime statistics.
“The sort of programs that we run in Victoria are to assist in making sure that kids are playing rugby and are not hanging around car parks,” said Victorian Rugby Union president Tim North. “We also have dedicated programs working with the Minister for Women and a domestic program called the Quilt Program. What it does it makes sure there is a proper recognition of women’s place in the sport, no vilification and of course zero tolerance for domestic violence, let alone around rugby.”
Indeed, World Rugby is studying the pilot program in Victoria and, if it succeeds, will help spread it throughout the rugby world.
On a related theme, Liz Broderick, the former Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner, is to stand down from the ARU board after agreeing to assist the United Nations in the sex discrimination field. The board met yesterday in Sydney to consider a range of matters, including discussing potential replacements for former director Geoff Stooke, who resigned in protest at the ARU’s decision to cull the Western Force.
More than 150 applications have been received for the ARU chief executive’s position and the intention is to fill the position — currently held by Bill Pulver — before Christmas. It may not be until the New Year that the new CEO will be free to start, which means Pulver might well see out his contract, which expires in February.
The ARU will launch both its new $20 million Moore Park headquarters and its rebranding package, as RugbyAU, in Sydney today.
Almost at the same time, Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, who briefed the ARU on his innovative India Pacific Rugby Championship, will hold a press briefing to announce what progress he has made in getting his competition up and running.
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