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The never-ending search for the great cash cow of Rugby.
Over the years the administrators of Rugby have made decisions that leave the average punter or Rugby Fan scratching their heads in disbelief. Sometimes they continue to follow a course of action that has us pulling our hair out. I have a theory. But – if you take a moment. It begins to all point in the same direction.
The Expansion of Super Rugby
For a while Super12 Rugby was considered the best provincial Rugby Tournament in the world. Funded by the ever-growing Pay-tv juggernaut. Rugby Administrators came up with a simple theory. If 12 Super Rugby teams is worth X dollars, then 15 Teams must be worth X+ dollars. And 18 teams would be worth X+++ Dollars. Unfortunately it didn’t work like that.
Inviting Japanese Rugby into Super Rugby
One of the expansion teams brought into Super Rugby was the SunWolves of Japan. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Professional Rugby players who signed to play in Japan were known to be going on the Superannuation Tour. Japanese teams paid top dollar to players essentially on their last legs. The local Japanese competition were made up of Corporate teams. To the Administrators of SANZAAR is this all about bringing the mighty Yen in to the competition. In the end they weren’t even subtle about it charging the SunWolves a ridiculous entrance fee. SunWolves refused to pay. No more Yen.
The NSW Waratahs
For a long time there was a theory that if the Tahs were successful then Australian Rugby was successful. And making money. The more Tahs players/Coaches in the Wallabies. The better it was for the Rugby in Australia. After all, New South Wales was the largest (Rugby) supporter base and the biggest (Rugby) TV Market. It didn’t work – but it sounded good in theory.
The Melbourne Rebels
Depending on who you talk too. Some say that the Melbourne team was supposed to be the fourth Australian team instead of the Western Force. The belief has always been that the Victorian Sporting market is the biggest in Australia. Melbourne the sporting capital of the world and Rugby Australia bought in to the hype. A successful Melbourne team is the cash cow Rugby Australia have always wanted. The first problem is that the Victorian market only cares about AFL and Cricket. The other problem is the Rebels have been far from successful and have been the black hole that has almost put Rugby Australia into receivership.
Dr. Andrew Forrest AO PHD
If only Andrew Forrest was born on the North Shore of Sydney or even better the inner suburb of Melbourne. Australian Rugby’s newest and possibly realest (is that a word) cash cow. The Biggest problem for Rugby Australia is that Andrew Forrest has a string attached. That String is the Western Force. The interesting twist. Rugby New Zealand don’t seem to care about the attached string and appear to be happy not only with what Forrest brings to the table, but they are welcoming it. 2021 will possibly see the Western Force be apart of SuperRugby Aotearoa. What happens in 2022 is anyone’s guess?