WA boycotts ARU stoush

[laura]

RugbyWA has turned its back on a board-level power struggle threatening to split the Australian Rugby Union to concentrate on getting more money for Perth club rugby.

Queensland chairman Peter Lewis has created huge waves by putting up his own candidate to oppose the presumed ascendency to ARU president of NSW’s Ron Graham.

It is traditional for the ARU vicepresident to get the top job when the incumbent reaches the end of his term. Paul McLean will step down from the top job at today’s ARU annual meeting but Lewis wants another Queenslander, Dick McGruther, to replace him.

The possibility exists the voting will be split 7-7, forcing McLean into the embarrassing step of making a casting vote.

RugbyWA has been strongly lobbied during the past week but refuses to get involved and will stick with convention and back Graham.

Neither of the candidates for president is in a position to influence the matter of most importance to WA: correcting the inequality in ARU rugby funding for States.

NSW and Queensland have parlayed their historical dominance of the sport into a joint grab of 80 per cent of the funds the ARU allocates to club rugby in Australia, despite providing only 74 per cent of the players.

Their lavishly funded first grade competitions — Sydney’s gets $2.276 million and Brisbane’s gets $1.02 million — provide an added incentive when both States recruit players for their Super 14 sides.

Their advantage comes mainly at the expense of WA and the ACT. They each get three per cent of the funding pie, despite jointly having 17 per cent of the playing population, and the ARU insists they use their Super 14 teams to generate the extra revenue.

The decline in attendance at Super 14 matches at Subiaco Oval has led to RugbyWA reversing a 2006 decision compelling Force players to participate in the local premiership this year. Instead, many players will return to Sydney to add to their income at the expense of the Perth competition.

RugbyWA boss Geoff Stooke has taken the fight to the ARU but says a solution is a long way off.

“The ARU sympathises with our position but it lacks the resources to address the inequality affecting the competitions in Perth and Canberra,” he said.

“It says adjusting the allocation on the basis of player numbers would cause irreparable damage in NSW and Queensland because the ARU funding is ingrained in their systems.”

He could have added the voting system effectively entrenches NSW and Queensland as untouchable.

With Super 14 no longer able to adequately fund club rugby in WA and the ACT, the ARU grant of $200,000 to each is ludicrous compared with the $475,000 allocated to Victoria and the $225,000 to each of South Australia and the Northern Territory.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=132414

[AndyS]

Actually, the bits of that article I found most interesting were:

"NSW and Queensland have parlayed their historical dominance of the sport into a joint grab of 80 per cent of the funds the ARU allocates to club rugby in Australia, despite providing only 74 per cent of the players.

Their lavishly funded first grade competitions — Sydney’s gets $2.276 million and Brisbane’s gets $1.02 million — provide an added incentive when both States recruit players for their Super 14 sides.

Their advantage comes mainly at the expense of WA and the ACT. They each get three per cent of the funding pie, despite jointly having 17 per cent of the playing population, and the ARU insists they use their Super 14 teams to generate the extra revenue."

And:
"He could have added the voting system effectively entrenches NSW and Queensland as untouchable.

With Super 14 no longer able to adequately fund club rugby in WA and the ACT, the ARU grant of $200,000 to each is ludicrous compared with the $475,000 allocated to Victoria and the $225,000 to each of South Australia and the Northern Territory."

The funding levels for the ACT seem particularly bizarre, but while I can understand how we got where we are, surely the whole point of growing the game is to widen the player base. It seems a stupid decision then to restrict that growth. You would have to think that NSW and Q'ld have probably achieved all of the easy gains possible, whereas the "AFL states" are almost untapped resources...

[Burgs]

Maybe instead of being piss weak and just voting for the presumed incumbent we should see some leadership from RWA and find out which of the two candidates is prepared to redress the funding situation to buy our vote.

19 years into a professional system it is an absolute joke that such an incumbency "election" be seen to be acceptable.
No wonder things are going to shit, we don't even have a democratically elected Board running the show

[rahrahgirl]

i dont really see the problem when the vice presented is elected knowing he will become president, the vote just happens ahead of time really.

nsw and queensland remain in the dominate possition as they were around for many years before any other union joined. it happens in alot of sports.

i would like to see rugby wa put more of there profit into clubs and be able to show an increase of players so the aru takes more notice. forward thinking not backward bitching would work alot better in these situations!

[Burgs]

RWA (as WARU) has been around since the ARU was founded and have been involved in Rugby in Australia since before 1900, I don't think we need to earn our position as you imply.
NSW and Qld are and will remain in a dominant position as they have set things up in a manner that they can't be diluted.
It won't matter what the other states do, without a major shake up those two will always hold the reins and the bank vault.
RWA basically carries its own Club Competition (with the Clubs of course) as it is because of the pathetic token effort that the ARU allow us.
May be better to comment from an informed position, or at least absorb all of the article, before rolling out the normal diatribe from the East.

[Burgs]

About time Poido hit the media again...
He may well have a point this time though.

Presidential vote anger: Poidevin wants clubs to split from NSWRU

Greg Growden | March 26, 2009

FORMER Wallabies captain Simon Poidevin says the Sydney premiership clubs should walk away from the NSW Rugby Union following the revelation the clubs will not have a vote in today's ballot to decide the next president of the Australian Rugby Union.

The tussle between NSW's Ron Graham and Queensland's Dick McGruther for the position of ARU president at today's annual general meeting could be determined by the casting vote of outgoing president Paul McLean.

It is understood the five NSW delegates, three Queensland delegates and one each from Victoria, South Australia, ACT, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania are tied at seven votes each for McGruther and Graham. Graham is understood to have the support of NSW, Western Australia and Victoria, while McGruther is believed to be backed by Queensland, South Australia, ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Early yesterday there was a strong hint that, in a secret ballot, NSW might not vote as a five-man bloc, especially as the Sydney premiership clubs, at a heated presidents' meeting in Sydney on Tuesday night, instructed their delegate, Chris Birch, to vote for McGruther.

However, NSWRU chairman Edwin Zemancheff later told the Herald that the NSW delegation would be himself, Ian Ross, Laurie Maher, Will Jephcott and Geoff Garland, which would indicate that Birch would not be one of the five NSW delegates attending the meeting.

Asked who would be representing the NSW clubs, Zemancheff said: "NSW has five votes and we just have to nominate our representatives to attend the meeting. Our constitution doesn't say that a director representing a stakeholder must attend the meeting.

"And I can say unequivocally that NSW will be voting as a bloc in favour of Ron Graham. There will be no split."

Several representatives of Sydney clubs were astounded last night when told they would not be represented at the ARU meeting, with Poidevin, a passionate club stalwart, arguing that it "leaves the Sydney premiership clubs with no option but to disaffiliate from the NSW Rugby Union".

"It is clear the NSWRU has a total disregard of the huge contribution of the Sydney clubs to the success of the game in NSW," Poidevin said. "The question has to be asked as to how the Sub Districts, who contribute no players to the Waratahs ranks, and NSW Country, who have not contributed a player in recent times, are given a vote and the clubs aren't."

Ross represents Sub Districts, while Maher is the NSW Country representative.

The relationship between many Sydney premiership clubs and the NSWRU has been tense for some time, with threats by leading clubs to form a breakaway competition being made in recent months. Some senior club officials told the Herald last night that this latest development could lead to a "coup".

Several weeks ago, it was assumed Graham, a former NSWRU president, would take over the ARU role. But then Queensland nominated former ARU chairman McGruther, who played a key role in Australian rugby's transition to professionalism. McGruther has been out of rugby administration for some years but is widely respected.

While NSW has lobbied heavily for Graham, a former Wallabies prop, Queensland has been as eager to ensure McGruther succeeds. QRU chairman Peter Lewis made that clear in his "chairman's letter from Ballymore" yesterday: "Dick's relevant experience and acumen compared to his rival is a 'no-brainer'. Let's hope the secret ballot produces a sensible outcome in the interests of the game."

[rahrahgirl]

RWA (as WARU) has been around since the ARU was founded and have been involved in Rugby in Australia since before 1900, I don't think we need to earn our position as you imply.
NSW and Qld are and will remain in a dominant position as they have set things up in a manner that they can't be diluted.
It won't matter what the other states do, without a major shake up those two will always hold the reins and the bank vault.
RWA basically carries its own Club Competition (with the Clubs of course) as it is because of the pathetic token effort that the ARU allow us.
May be better to comment from an informed position, or at least absorb all of the article, before rolling out the normal diatribe from the East.

im sorry, i only moved to the east this year with my brother, i consider myself a force fan and was there for every game in the first year as i was living in perth, unfortunately my brother takes care of me and his job takes him all over the place.

im aware of what you say but you sound more like someone speaking from the west than someone informed!

the clubs in wa are to far away from the masses for any sort of national competition in this current economic enviroment to work. so maybe rugbywa should look at sending a group of top players over to the east to play agaisnt qld or nsw clubs for a month or so. as rugby players im sure there is opportunity for them to be put up by there oppostion! it happened when a group of canadaian players came out to my school a few years ago. might allow them to increase there skills, maybe top two teams or top fifty players qualify for the tour or something!

[AndyS]

i would like to see rugby wa put more of there profit into clubs and be able to show an increase of players so the aru takes more notice.

the clubs in wa are to far away from the masses for any sort of national competition in this current economic enviroment to work. so maybe rugbywa should look at sending a group of top players over to the east to play agaisnt qld or nsw clubs for a month or so.

This is not intended as a dig at you personally RRG, but aren't you then saying that:
1. RWA needs to demonstrate that it already has the necessary development money in order to ask the ARU for development money, and
2. Travel is too expensive for a competition to work with ARU assistance, so RWA should take two teams travelling without any assistance?

[Burgs]

My apologies, you were sounding more like a pontificator from the East than someone informed.

RWA can try all sorts of creative things to build the depth and experience of its collective Club playing group and your suggestion is one of many with some merit however that is not what we are talking about.

This is an ARU Board representation issue and management of the code across the nation from juniors to the Wallabies. The current distribution of votes and funding does not reflect the current environment.
That will not change while antiquated systems like Presidential incumbency are allowed to continue and never seeing a candidate from any of the other Member Unions for fear of a challenge to the status quo.
The ARU is now a business, not a retirement junket for past Rugby Administration luminaries.

In my opinion, while it should be the best person for the job, a great thing for Australian Rugby would be to see a term by a Victorian, or even either WA or ACT, to see a shakeup of the ongoing old boys network (both the perception and the reality) and see this code catch up with the times we live in.

While there are traditions that should always remain associated with Union, I couldn’t care less if the entire Board had never strapped on a boot or laid a tackle, so long as they get some professionalism about them and start rebuilding our code.

[Cowboy]

Just to follow on from Burgs's post, the problem with Rugby in the professional era is that it is a very half hearted professionalism, and the existence of NSW have a turn then Qld have a turn in the highest position in the game is unbelievable.

Would anyone accept the chairman of BHP being appointed because he/she is from NSW instead of the most able candidate?

[travelling_gerry]

Ron Graham elected new ARU President
March 26, 2009 - 4:01pm
Story by: ARU
Former Qantas Wallabies prop Ron Graham has today been elected as Australian Rugby Union President for a two-year term.



Mr Graham, a former ARU and NSW Rugby Union Chairman and NSWRU President, replaces Paul McLean who stands down after four years in the position.



The election of Mr Graham, who had been serving as ARU Vice-President, took place at today’s Annual General Meeting in Sydney.



The new Vice-President, elected unopposed, is Dick McGruther.



Mr McGruther is a formerChairman and President of the Queensland Rugby Union and was ARU Chairman from 1996 until 1998.



The election of Mr Graham continues for him eight successive years in office as Chairman,President or Vice-President of the NSWRU or ARU.



He also played 18 Tests for the Qantas Wallabies during the 1970’s.



Mr McLean, considered one of Australia’s greatest five-eighths and capped 30 times for the Qantas Wallabies from 1974 to 1982, told the AGM on standing down: “It has been an honour to serve as your President.”



ARU Chairman Peter McGrath was re-elected unopposed as a director at the AGM.



At the Board meeting to follow, he was also reappointed as ARU Chairman for a further year.



Mr McGrath has held the position since 2007.

[jazza93]

Most big NSW and QLD clubs make tons of $$ off pokie machines and ontop of that they get ARU grants. It looks like Rugby WA gets screwed when they hand out money every year.

[domattw]

ok ladies and gentlemen what is the solution and blue print going forward. The ARU would surely get some funding from the Federal Govt / State Govts? maybe the pressure for an equal system needs to come from there ...So guys here's the challenge "What is the Blue Print for the Management of Rugby Union going forward?" Maybe one idea is that each state has holds the Presidency for 2 years then it moves on. ok lets throw this open and then invite the ARU To look at the ideas? If they want to listen

[Cowboy]

ok ladies and gentlemen what is the solution and blue print going forward. The ARU would surely get some funding from the Federal Govt / State Govts? maybe the pressure for an equal system needs to come from there ...So guys here's the challenge "What is the Blue Print for the Management of Rugby Union going forward?" Maybe one idea is that each state has holds the Presidency for 2 years then it moves on. ok lets throw this open and then invite the ARU To look at the ideas? If they want to listen

Well, the first questions I would need to answer are about the ARU board. Who is on it, and how do they get there?
I am going to mention that horrible other sporting code called AFL and guess that their model of management is very different and it appears to work rather well.

[travelling_gerry]

from Grumbles..


THE NSW Rugby Union powerbrokers yesterday won the tussle to get their man, Ron Graham, over the line to be the new Australian Rugby Union president for the next two years. They also succeeded in getting at least one of the minor states and territories to change their allegiances away from the other candidate, Dick McGruther, to ensure it did not go to the casting vote of outgoing president Paul McLean. Graham won the vote by at least a majority of two. McGruther's supporters have their suspicions that a delegate who comes from a very, very hot part of the country swapped sides just before the ARU annual general meeting. That is not surprising considering that the previous night he was at a Sydney gathering held by NSW heavyweights. McGruther instead becomes the new ARU vice-president. The most encouraging news from yesterday's meeting involved an extraordinary improvement in the ARU's financial position. The ARU announced a $9.19 million turnaround, recording a $712,000 surplus for last year. This is a dramatic improvement from 2007 when the ARU announced a $8.48 million deficit. ARU chief executive John O'Neill said to get the union back on track "a raft of initiatives and tough decisions" had to be taken. "One of those moves was to disband the Australian Rugby Championship after just one year. The ARC, while conceptually having some appeal, was simply unaffordable," he said. The Sydney premiership scene remains a volatile area, especially with many high-ranking club officials annoyed that they did not have any representation at yesterday's meeting, after NSW ensured that all of their five delegates at the meeting would vote for Graham. This messy issue is far from settled.