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I have always known there was a bias in the voting structure at the ARU table, but I am pretty peeved to see how blatant it is in this day and age of five pro franchises spread around the continent.
Currently there are 14 delegates as follows:
New South Wales Rugby Union 5 delegates
Queensland Rugby Union 3
ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union 1
Northern Territory Rugby Union 1
South Australia Rugby Union 1
Tasmanian Rugby Union 1
Victorian Rugby Union 1
RugbyWA (Western Australia) 1
Total 14
I know the majority of players are developed in NSW and then Qld, that is fine, but this is the AUSTRALIAN Rugby Union and should have a far more representative structure.
I would suggest that more proportional system could be:
New South Wales Rugby Union 3
Queensland Rugby Union 3
ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union 2
Northern Territory Rugby Union 1
South Australia Rugby Union 1
Tasmanian Rugby Union 1
Victorian Rugby Union 2
RugbyWA (Western Australia) 2
Total 15
This would see the sub representation of NSW and Qld being 1x Waratah/Reds, 1x Shute Shield/Hospitals Cup and 1x Subbies and Country.
The smaller ACT and Southern NSW, Victorian and RWA would each have 1x Pro and 1x Club, leaving Club Rugby in NT, SA and Tas a Rep each.
You could easily mount an argument for NT, SA and Tas to have one vote and then introducing an independent Chair to maintain 14.
With a further expanded table, I would push for each of the Australian Juniors and Australian Schools to have a vote as well, bringing the total to 17. No doubt that would often be filled by NSW or Qld people, but they would be obligated to vote for what is best for developing all Australian Club Juniors or Schoolboys.
Regardless, it is bullshit that NSW, Qld and ACT and Southern NSW have nine of the fourteen delegates.