Players dismayed at ARU's axing of fledgling national comp

[The InnFORCEr]

Rupert Guinness | December 19, 2007

ELITE players have blasted the decision to terminate the Australian Rugby Championship after only one season, calling it a "big step backwards".

While the Australian Rugby Union may still hold an interim competition in its place to bridge the gap between club and Super 14 rugby, it yesterday labelled the prospect of continuing the ARC as an "untenable financial risk".

The state unions yesterday expressed disappointment over the ARC's demise. But they said they supported a planned review and would accept the ARU's position, despite conjecture over the size of the losses cited by the ARU.

The ARU said in a statement yesterday that the 2007 ARC produced a $4.7 million loss, which was "more than $2 million over the budgeted investment". It also predicted a further loss of $3.3 million if it was held next year. It is hoped the review, to be conducted early next year, will devise the best format for a third-tier competition.

However, the position taken by the states did not quell the disapproval over the ARU's decision among the playing ranks, which embraced the semi-professional competition that was contested by eight teams.

"As custodians of the game I believe that we as a community need to look further into this competition than merely a financial balance sheet, and its true success cannot be fully measured at this early stage," said Queensland Reds breakaway David Croft, who captained the Melbourne Rebels side that lost the ARC final to the Central Coast Rays in October.

"There are many long-term, important benefits of this competition that can not be recorded on a balance sheet. The players all bought into this concept and built teams and established cultures. It doesn't seem right for it to be that easily taken away. The decision to withdraw this competition is a big step backwards."

Brumbies forward Alister Campbell, who played in the ARC for the Canberra Vikings, believes players deserved more say.

"The review undertaken by the ARU senior management should have been more inclusive of the stakeholders including clubs, state unions and the players," he said.

Western Force forward David Pusey fears Perth players have now had their pathway to professionalism cut.

"There is no pathway for Perth players. How does a club player in Perth get into a Super 14 team? The answer is easy. He doesn't," the Perth Spirit player said.

"What happens to players 23 to 40 who don't play much Super 14. Don't tell me 10 games of club rugby in Perth is all they play."

Wallabies and NSW Waratahs hooker Adam Freier did not play in the ARC, but stood by his peers in supporting the competition.

"The cost of the loss of player development opportunities is hard to measure. We believe the players should have had greater input," he said.

NSW Rugby and WA Rugby expressed "disappointment" in the ARC's death. So did the Victorian Rugby Union, but not without also calling upon the ARU to act swiftly to ensure that the growing interest in rugby in an AFL-dominated market does not drop with the ARC's axing.

"It's important from our point of view that the ARU outlines Victoria's place in the national footprint," VRU president Gary Gray said. "The Rebels gave an enormous uplift for rugby in Victoria."

While excited about the prospects of a Melbourne Super side, Gray said Victorian rugby can't wait that long. "We are looking at 2011 [for a Super side] … four years away. That is quite a long time," he said.

The ARU stressed it was still possible that a downscaled competition could be held in the ARC's place.

"We will meet with the states in the new year to see if we can design a new competition - affordable and of standard of football that is suitable," ARU deputy chief executive Matt Carroll said. "It won't be grandiose or anything of that nature. It will be interim."

He said the ARU's review of the game would also take into consideration the potential impact of such a competition on other areas of the game - from the professional ranks to club rugby.

"We are going to peel back all the layers since rugby turned professional in 1996," he said.

"While the format of ARC in 2007 was flawed, and the investment strategies from the stakeholders in particular was flawed, the concept of a high-quality rugby competition remains a key objective for the ARU."

[hopep]

No, The ARC was NOT Flawed. Nor was it designed as an experiment or a provisional contest.
The trialing of an interim, provisional contest was conducted in 2006. When All S14 teams played their non-wallaby players, in a contest to see what worked and what was useful.
The ARU designed the ARC around what worked. They also have removed the other national competition where the Perth Gold played teams from around the country.

Matt Carroll, sounds like he made a decision without consulting ALL the stakeholders and now its come back to bite him on the bum. GOOD.
All they need to do is ask "who want to play in an ARC" and then "who is willing to sponsor it". If the Sydney clubs want out - fine. Let the rest of the rugby community develop and grow.