Victorian rugby

Posted by Michael on June 20, 2009, 3:35pm, 213 views,  Leave a comment

If the Australian Rugby Union were serious about developing the game outside New South Wales and Queensland it wouldn’t have scheduled “test” matches against Italy in Canberra and Melbourne. Read more

Reform the Super 14

Posted by Michael on February 21, 2009, 5:27pm, 160 views,  Leave a comment

South Africa’s reported threat to withdraw its five teams from Super 14 rugby in favor of a European competition is not a bad thing. Read more

Something in the water

Posted by on February 22, 2008, 6:22pm, 311 views,  1 comment

Sacked Western Force player Matt Henjak is likely to play in Europe after the Australian Rugby Union rubber stamped the Perth club’s decision to sack their star halfback. Read more

A slap in the face

Posted by on February 13, 2008, 9:31pm, 273 views,  Leave a comment

The Australian Rugby Union is furious over the Western Force’s decision to allow Matt Henjak to tour South Africa despite being under investigation over an altercation which left teammate Haig Sare with a broken jaw, AAP reports.

The former Wallaby scrumhalf was on the flight to South Africa on Tuesday, while his teammate Sare was leaving hospital, having had a plate inserted in his jaw following the fracas on Sunday.

It’s a curious decision by the Western Force and coach John Mitchell given the signal it sends. After the furore in Perth over special treatment for Ben Cousins by the West Coast Eagles, a hard line would have been expected.

Mitchell has said Henjak will play the Super 14 opening round match against the Sharks in Durban on Friday.

I think it will take all three games in South Africa to assess the merit of this decision. If the Force don’t win at least two of those games, and show discipline on and off the field, it will be judged a failure.

Until recently it has been part of Australian sporting culture that the team is bigger than the individual.

Australian rugby woes

Posted by on February 9, 2008, 7:50pm, 326 views,  Leave a comment

Australian rugby is on the edge of an abyss. The code is losing money, spectators, television viewers and players.

The cancellation of the national club championship has nearly killed the sport in Victoria and hasn’t done it any favors elsewhere.

Poor Super 14 performances have translated to the international stage and there is no end in sight. So what’s the solution?

Money would help. It’s traditionally been rugby’s strength and when rugby league was weak the code flourished. League’s revival and the growth of soccer has created pressure on multiple fronts.

Rugby needs to recapture the public imagination. A new John Eales or Mark Ella needs to be found. Big names need to be recruited from league. An Australian Super 14 team needs to fire.

And the national club championship has to be restored.