Oracle of DelphiThe Australian Rugby disUnion aka icARUs
August 3rd 2007 07:04
Well lookee here.
John O'Neill, who thinks the sun shines out of his massive ego, is back less than 2 months and already the Australian Rugby Union (icARUs) is getting its wings* burned..
*well Tuqiri is dark skinned...
***************************** **
Not only has it just been reported that the ARU looks to be facing a financial crisis of up to A$6million this year...but there seems to be trouble in Camp Wallaby.
- Steve Austin, The 6 million Dollar Man, has inspired The Wallabies to run like the wind...and cut the losses.
Apparently several players are (privately..but obviously not too privately otherwise how would we know this?) voicing their concerns aka whinging, they will be involved in yet another training camp next week in Brisbane.
Some have said another camp next week is "overkill", especially as it will involve commando training to build "team morale".
It's Rugby Boot Camp.
...and I'm willing to bet that it's Tuqiri who ishaving a whinge voicing concern because he will be 'dry' for 3 days. 3. Whole. Days. And his idea of overkill is anything that involves actually doing some work.
The spin doctors, including perennial Skipper-ky Mortlock, are out in force assuaging sportsfans fears, saying there is "...tension yes but no division".
The tension (but no division) is because of the coaching staff.
Stories have come to light about the behind the scenes tantrums that happened at the John Eales medal award night when Defence Coach, John Muggleton spat the dummy (spat the not spat at...pick the dummy) because ARU President Paul McLean 'forgot' to mention him as one of Coach Connolly's assistants during his speech.
Muggleton, one of three assistant coaches with Scott Johnson and Michael Foley, later explained he felt his
Mortlock (and Connolly) declared "the suggestions of division"
Ahhh men brother.
Obviously in Muggleton's case it's...yes sir, no sir...ulcer!!
This is why Dorklock is Captain this year. He refuses to fall flat on his face. Metaphorically.
- Stirling Austin Mortlock. (that really is his name!)
Anyway...let's talk about the loss of six million dollar(s)... man oh man oh man....
I will admit, this has taken me by surprise.
DDH has been telling me all year that Rugby is in (financial) trouble in Australia...and that the ARC is just going to make matters worse.
...but because I am veryLarkham tunnel visioned when it comes to Rugby...even when I'm wielding a sledge-hammer...I fail to see the Bigger Picture and the monetary facts. That the buck and the ruck, may stop here.
A loss of A$6million.
Many reasons have been cited for this revenue slump but to me... Lote Tuqiri is a loss of 6 million dollars.
Other than Lotta Tequilas, the other reasons cited are;
- a blow-out in expenditure
- a dramatic drop in Sydney Test attendances because of second-rate opponents
- rising costs
- discrepancies involving employee contracts (...that's gotta be about Lotta Tequilas, yes?)
I feel it's unfair to say that the "dramatic drop in attendance" is due to second rate opponents.
Firstly, these so called second rate opponents gave my Wallabies (yes. MY...) a run for our money...
Secondly...this is a World Cup year. Opponents are not going to take a risk at having their players injured by the Mighty Wallabies.
Thirdly...it being a World Cup year...it is expected that the revenue will not match the expenditure. The cost of sending our team to France plus paying for broadcast rights.
...AND...unfortunately, I believe Rugby is being marketed to the wrong Sydney demographic.
Yes I know that Rugby is thought of as a 'white collar' sport, elitist, private school boys club, blah, blah boring cliches.
I believe this came about because Rugby people know that You doesn't have a plural...
Anywayyy.
By demographic I don't mean age/wealth/location, etc. I mean...Community vs Society. The ARU is marketing to Sydney society. The event people. The people who attend the opening of a match box....
Yes, we get invited to corporate boxes but we rarely accept these because the people who attend these Rugby match events are not Rugby people.
The last time we accepted a corporate box invitation, we just looked around at all these total and utter fuckwits who had no idea and what's more, didn't care why they were there.
To them...It was just an excuse to droptrou names and flash asses cards..it was the scene to be seen at. It was An Event for the poseurs.
Rugby fans...true fans...can no longer afford to attend matches because of the ARU's inflated sense of self worth.
The ARU thinks that by inflating ticket prices to match the size of their egos, this will entice the SS because don't socialites think that the more expensive, the more exclusive therefore the more desirable?
The ARU justified the inflation by blaming the players. Completely forgetting of course, that they (the ARU) 'bought' leaguies and sold the soul of Rugby.
(A joke doing the junior Rugby rounds during the height of the league poaching era;
Wanna be a Wallaby? Play league.)
AND this is one of the many reasons why Rugby people hate the ARU and are boycotting test matches. It's not about the players.
Believe me when I say the Wallabies would play for nothing except for the Love of Rugby and Country....but they shouldn't HAVE to because they are the reason the ARU exists.
For a long, long, long time, the players got nothing. It was the bureaucrats who profited from the sweat off a Rugby Back and Forward.
Oh grrr...I could go on and on about this but I won't because this has already become War and Peace; The Rugby Years.
Epic story short. Sydneysiders stopped going to the matches because the media reports said they weren't worth it. The papparazzi wouldn't be there.
Sydney may be a Rugby town but this year...we're the ugly ruck-lings because of the Swans song. The papparazzi hangs out there.
This dramatic drop is the result of making Rugby inaccessible to the Rugby fans and Rugby people.
Plus...Sydneysiders are fair weather people. When the Waratahs wilt, they cut them down
*******************
As for the "high costs". The mice are squeaking to the press. What I want to know is why? What will this achieve other than dissent?
That's great that they're deeply concerned BUT Club Rugby is wearing the brunt and the expense. I don't see these ARU delegates taking pay cuts and putting their money where their mouths are.
1....because if this comp is supposed to be about future Wallabies, why hold it when the selectors are all going to be in France?
2. Victoria does have a lot of Rugby history, just not recently. The fear is the AFL stranglehold.
Let me just make this very clear.
Yes...I do think the ARC could be a good thing and it's worth it as a bridge for aspiring Wallabies but why should Club Rugby...and therefore the junior feeder clubs and the GRASSROOTS people...be forced to pay for something they didn't want in the first place (because of the expense to their budgets and their comps) but the ARU decided it would be a blast?
Contrary to polular belief, Rugby Clubs coffers are not overflowing. They can barely afford to carry the cost of their own teams let alone fund national teams. And now...they're going to lose all their Club Rugby players.
One ARC team is expected to suffer at least a $1.7m loss in its first year.
The costs at another ARC side are already running at three times more than originally budgeted, and the team has yet to play a game.
Officials believe only two of the eight teams - the Canberra Vikings and Perth Spirit - have the potential to break even.
Such is the "dissatisfaction with the ARC" among the game's grassroots that a committee has been formed, involving high-ranking NSW and Qld Club Rugby officials, who
This competition is expected to cost a third of the ARC.
I don't know how. Maybe they're going to sell body organs on eBay. Or during halftime.
NEWS JUST IN:
from Rugby Heaven
info courtesy of Rugby Heaven
images courtesy of BBC
John O'Neill, who thinks the sun shines out of his massive ego, is back less than 2 months and already the Australian Rugby Union (icARUs) is getting its wings* burned..
*well Tuqiri is dark skinned...
***************************** **
Not only has it just been reported that the ARU looks to be facing a financial crisis of up to A$6million this year...but there seems to be trouble in Camp Wallaby.
- Steve Austin, The 6 million Dollar Man, has inspired The Wallabies to run like the wind...and cut the losses.
Apparently several players are (privately..but obviously not too privately otherwise how would we know this?) voicing their concerns aka whinging, they will be involved in yet another training camp next week in Brisbane.
Some have said another camp next week is "overkill", especially as it will involve commando training to build "team morale".
It's Rugby Boot Camp.
...and I'm willing to bet that it's Tuqiri who is
The spin doctors, including perennial Skipper-ky Mortlock, are out in force assuaging sportsfans fears, saying there is "...tension yes but no division".
The tension (but no division) is because of the coaching staff.
Stories have come to light about the behind the scenes tantrums that happened at the John Eales medal award night when Defence Coach, John Muggleton spat the dummy (spat the not spat at...pick the dummy) because ARU President Paul McLean 'forgot' to mention him as one of Coach Connolly's assistants during his speech.
Muggleton, one of three assistant coaches with Scott Johnson and Michael Foley, later explained he felt his
work in 10 years with the Wallabies had been under-appreciated by the ARU hierarchy.
Mortlock (and Connolly) declared "the suggestions of division"
a non-issue
when the World Cup squad assembled for its first training camp in Sydney on Tuesday 31/07."All the players have the utmost confidence in our coaching staff," Mortlock said.
"We're blessed in Australia to have a great mix, especially in this Wallabies camp.
"We're blessed in Australia to have a great mix, especially in this Wallabies camp.
Ahhh men brother.
"You've got Knuckles (Connolly) being the head coach and quality assistant coaches under him who all have their own distinct job descriptions and they all work extremely well in that capacity and together the system works really well.
"Basically in this environment you want to get the best out of everyone and I think to do that you have to have an environment that's conducive to discussion - and maybe even robust discussion at times - in what is in the best interests of the team moving forward.
"I'd certainly prefer that environment than where you're surrounded by people who are constantly saying yes.
"Basically in this environment you want to get the best out of everyone and I think to do that you have to have an environment that's conducive to discussion - and maybe even robust discussion at times - in what is in the best interests of the team moving forward.
"I'd certainly prefer that environment than where you're surrounded by people who are constantly saying yes.
Obviously in Muggleton's case it's...yes sir, no sir...ulcer!!
"The coaching staff always have an open-door policy for players and coaches alike and this year has been great as far as the mood in the camp and that has been led by the coaching staff."
This is why Dorklock is Captain this year. He refuses to fall flat on his face. Metaphorically.
...damn...hope the ground is soft...
- Stirling Austin Mortlock. (that really is his name!)
Anyway...let's talk about the loss of six million dollar(s)... man oh man oh man....
I will admit, this has taken me by surprise.
DDH has been telling me all year that Rugby is in (financial) trouble in Australia...and that the ARC is just going to make matters worse.
...but because I am very
A loss of A$6million.
Many reasons have been cited for this revenue slump but to me... Lote Tuqiri is a loss of 6 million dollars.
Other than Lotta Tequilas, the other reasons cited are;
- a blow-out in expenditure
- a dramatic drop in Sydney Test attendances because of second-rate opponents
- rising costs
- discrepancies involving employee contracts (...that's gotta be about Lotta Tequilas, yes?)
I feel it's unfair to say that the "dramatic drop in attendance" is due to second rate opponents.
Firstly, these so called second rate opponents gave my Wallabies (yes. MY...) a run for our money...
Secondly...this is a World Cup year. Opponents are not going to take a risk at having their players injured by the Mighty Wallabies.
Thirdly...it being a World Cup year...it is expected that the revenue will not match the expenditure. The cost of sending our team to France plus paying for broadcast rights.
...AND...unfortunately, I believe Rugby is being marketed to the wrong Sydney demographic.
Yes I know that Rugby is thought of as a 'white collar' sport, elitist, private school boys club, blah, blah boring cliches.
I believe this came about because Rugby people know that You doesn't have a plural...
Anywayyy.
By demographic I don't mean age/wealth/location, etc. I mean...Community vs Society. The ARU is marketing to Sydney society. The event people. The people who attend the opening of a match box....
Yes, we get invited to corporate boxes but we rarely accept these because the people who attend these Rugby match events are not Rugby people.
The last time we accepted a corporate box invitation, we just looked around at all these total and utter fuckwits who had no idea and what's more, didn't care why they were there.
To them...It was just an excuse to drop
Rugby fans...true fans...can no longer afford to attend matches because of the ARU's inflated sense of self worth.
The ARU thinks that by inflating ticket prices to match the size of their egos, this will entice the SS because don't socialites think that the more expensive, the more exclusive therefore the more desirable?
The ARU justified the inflation by blaming the players. Completely forgetting of course, that they (the ARU) 'bought' leaguies and sold the soul of Rugby.
(A joke doing the junior Rugby rounds during the height of the league poaching era;
Wanna be a Wallaby? Play league.)
AND this is one of the many reasons why Rugby people hate the ARU and are boycotting test matches. It's not about the players.
Believe me when I say the Wallabies would play for nothing except for the Love of Rugby and Country....but they shouldn't HAVE to because they are the reason the ARU exists.
For a long, long, long time, the players got nothing. It was the bureaucrats who profited from the sweat off a Rugby Back and Forward.
Oh grrr...I could go on and on about this but I won't because this has already become War and Peace; The Rugby Years.
Epic story short. Sydneysiders stopped going to the matches because the media reports said they weren't worth it. The papparazzi wouldn't be there.
Sydney may be a Rugby town but this year...we're the ugly ruck-lings because of the Swans song. The papparazzi hangs out there.
This dramatic drop is the result of making Rugby inaccessible to the Rugby fans and Rugby people.
Plus...Sydneysiders are fair weather people. When the Waratahs wilt, they cut them down
Also worrying the ARU is the financial state of the NSW Rugby Union, which has seen its revenue drop alarmingly following a poor Super 14 season and the resultant turnover in staff.
*******************
As for the "high costs". The mice are squeaking to the press. What I want to know is why? What will this achieve other than dissent?
A high-ranking ARU official told the Herald last night that the union was "in a state of decay".
Several ARU delegates are also "deeply concerned" about the costs involved in running the Australian Rugby Championship, which begins next week, with officials convinced it will turn into "a financial nightmare".
That's great that they're deeply concerned BUT Club Rugby is wearing the brunt and the expense. I don't see these ARU delegates taking pay cuts and putting their money where their mouths are.
The ARC has already deeply divided the rugby community, with concerns that the competition, which will be held concurrently with the World Cup in France[1], will struggle to attract crowds, especially as it involves sides that have no history[2].
1....because if this comp is supposed to be about future Wallabies, why hold it when the selectors are all going to be in France?
2. Victoria does have a lot of Rugby history, just not recently. The fear is the AFL stranglehold.
Let me just make this very clear.
Yes...I do think the ARC could be a good thing and it's worth it as a bridge for aspiring Wallabies but why should Club Rugby...and therefore the junior feeder clubs and the GRASSROOTS people...be forced to pay for something they didn't want in the first place (because of the expense to their budgets and their comps) but the ARU decided it would be a blast?
Contrary to polular belief, Rugby Clubs coffers are not overflowing. They can barely afford to carry the cost of their own teams let alone fund national teams. And now...they're going to lose all their Club Rugby players.
One ARC team is expected to suffer at least a $1.7m loss in its first year.
The costs at another ARC side are already running at three times more than originally budgeted, and the team has yet to play a game.
Officials believe only two of the eight teams - the Canberra Vikings and Perth Spirit - have the potential to break even.
This has prompted enormous ructions within the Sydney club ranks, with one north-of-the-harbour first division team understood to be considering boycotting the Trevor Allan Cup, a club competition being held during August-September, in protest over losing so many players to the ARC..
Such is the "dissatisfaction with the ARC" among the game's grassroots that a committee has been formed, involving high-ranking NSW and Qld Club Rugby officials, who
are in the process of formulating an alternate club competition that would take over from the ARC
This competition is expected to cost a third of the ARC.
I don't know how. Maybe they're going to sell body organs on eBay. Or during halftime.
NEWS JUST IN:
from Rugby Heaven
THE Australian Rugby Union yesterday confirmed it would suffer a financial loss this season due to numerous factors, including a drop in Test crowd figures.
In an official statement, ARU chief executive John O'Neill said he would not confirm the size of the loss until the end of the year.
O'Neill did admit that the cost of running the Australian Rugby Championship would be "a factor in any 2007 loss figures, as is the unexpected rise in the Australian dollar against other currencies".
O'Neill explained that a substantial portion of the ARU's revenue revolved around broadcasting rights, negotiated in American dollars.
"The ARU will record a loss this year - that was not only expected but budgeted for in this Rugby World Cup year," O'Neill said. "However, the position has been exacerbated by other influences, including the Welsh and Springboks sending us second-string teams. While we are working hard at reducing costs and maximising revenue at the ARU, it is difficult in a World Cup year.
"We always do better financially in the three years when there is no World Cup and each nation's team is at full strength. The International Rugby Board is holding a special meeting in November to discuss the concept of an integrated season, with a view to stopping what happened this year. Of course, this year's budget is further impacted by the start-up costs of the Australian Rugby Championship."
O'Neill said there would be a review of the ARC after its completion. "I have been an advocate of an intermediate competition between club rugby and Super rugby for a long time," O'Neill said. "I have also said that the competition must be viable and sustainable and that we will review it at the end of the year.
"That does not mean it will be dismantled, nor does it mean it will not change."
Many clubs remain anti-ARC, with one complaint being that they will be without virtually all their talent for the Trevor Allan Cup - a club competition being run in August and September.
In an official statement, ARU chief executive John O'Neill said he would not confirm the size of the loss until the end of the year.
O'Neill did admit that the cost of running the Australian Rugby Championship would be "a factor in any 2007 loss figures, as is the unexpected rise in the Australian dollar against other currencies".
O'Neill explained that a substantial portion of the ARU's revenue revolved around broadcasting rights, negotiated in American dollars.
"The ARU will record a loss this year - that was not only expected but budgeted for in this Rugby World Cup year," O'Neill said. "However, the position has been exacerbated by other influences, including the Welsh and Springboks sending us second-string teams. While we are working hard at reducing costs and maximising revenue at the ARU, it is difficult in a World Cup year.
"We always do better financially in the three years when there is no World Cup and each nation's team is at full strength. The International Rugby Board is holding a special meeting in November to discuss the concept of an integrated season, with a view to stopping what happened this year. Of course, this year's budget is further impacted by the start-up costs of the Australian Rugby Championship."
O'Neill said there would be a review of the ARC after its completion. "I have been an advocate of an intermediate competition between club rugby and Super rugby for a long time," O'Neill said. "I have also said that the competition must be viable and sustainable and that we will review it at the end of the year.
"That does not mean it will be dismantled, nor does it mean it will not change."
Many clubs remain anti-ARC, with one complaint being that they will be without virtually all their talent for the Trevor Allan Cup - a club competition being run in August and September.
info courtesy of Rugby Heaven
images courtesy of BBC
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Comment by Chic Critique
Finally you're letting us comment! I owe you some comments sweet thing!
Cheers
CC
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Um...yeah...epic......I had to stop myself, which is not that good a thing because I also haven't edited this...eeek.
Usually a story like this would require a few days research and a 3 page spread. The urge to write something about the issue at hand just hit me this afternoon after someone said something to me about it.
...and I thought it a bit unfair to write something like this and not allow the chance for people to comment on it.
If they can get through it!
Hope you're well hon. Big hugs...
Dusk
Comment by Chic Critique
Take care and thanks for your comments as always.
PS - I am well and hope you are too!
xxoo
Comment by David
This is the type of article scum-sucking, bum-sniffing, brown-nosing, sycophantic journos wouldn't have the courage to submit to their employees for fear of losing their jobs.
This is a more than interesting observation:
I saw Stephen Larkham interviewed about boot camp, and he was enthusiastic about it. (Damn, I mentioned Larkham's name again).
What I like most about this post? This is how real supporters talk about the sport they're passionate about. The same thing goes on in Aussie Rules.
How you could possibly think this wasn't a great post?
David ...