An interesting discussion is taking part behind the scenes on Twitter. It involves a few of the greatest and influential Rugby Canada supporters discussing a few key issues within our game: How to get the Rugby word out in Canada, how to get more money into the sport, and how to lift the women’s game so that they feel equally as supported as their male counterparts.
It’s a big ask.
They are very separate issues each of the three yet they’re related at the same time, and a cause for great concern for supporters of the game in Canada.
Rugby Canada is being massively criticized for the Pay to Play scheme whereby the 15s women have to pay to enter a tournament. It’s really hard to wrap one’s head around how difficult that must be – to train their hearts out, play like they’re number two in the world – and then pay to play on top of it all. And let’s not forget that they ARE right in the world’s second space, having played an incredible final in the Women’s World Cup against England last summer and capturing the hearts of many back here at home. On top of that, garnering the Women’s Player of the Year award for Magali Harvey.
So the fact that they have to pay is a most unfortunate price; and a direct result of a lack of funding for the sport of rugby in general here in Canada. This is the price we pay as a Tier Two rugby union. And let’s not forget that in terms of population, we are VERY small in numbers. Yet we are massive geographically. It’s incredibly hard to find the talent let alone get the talent playing in a truly meaningful way. And we have harsh winters in much of the country, which forces us to have a shorter season in some parts of our land. Our one national tournament is a handful of games played over the course of four months.
For a talented player in Ontario to be selected by and go out to Victoria to try out for the team or train with the team, that’s a commitment of time and money that they are making off their own backs. On top of that to pay to play…where is that money coming from? If they’re lucky, grants, support from their local teams and communities, their families, their own savings. You have to know they LOVE this game to do that. They aren’t picked off a school field and given a place to live, a nutritionist and a personal trainer 24/7. This is why we love our players, men and women alike. For them, their entire team is their trainers, their coaches, their chefs and advisers and physios.
Where does the big money in the game come from? How is the Premiership in England so wealthy? How are those teams so popular? A lot of you will roll your eyes and say how obvious those answers are: It’s a rugby nation, lots of cash and support from their RFU, tickets sold by the millions, massive fan bases in cities mere miles apart. Exactly. Here in Canada it’s like trying to get blood from a stone. Rugby Canada wants to support our women players, but they can’t pay them. It’s the chicken and the egg – the women have to do really well and then they will get noticed and then money will come in and then they will be paid. But the process is very long and arduous for the women who are already working themselves to the bone to do it. For themselves, their nation, and each other. They ARE number two, but they aren’t being paid the big bucks…
It’s the same for the men’s side. If they got more notice by media outlets and sports channels here at home, maybe they would get more financial support from sponsors to be able to spend more time working on the key elements that do not consistently win them games. Or wait – is that the other way around? If they were winning games consistently would the media flock to them? Then maybe the money would follow? Which comes first? How can the men win if there isn’t the support in place to get them to the podium? How can we rectify this situation? Is there an easy answer?
No.
Okay, at a quick glance a major upset for our Men’s 15s in the Rugby World Cup would be a great start. But it has to be something dramatic. Laugh all you want but imagine the international attention they’d get if they beat Ireland on September 19. A more plausible scenario is beating both Romania and Italy, and that’s likely going to be the goal they focus on going into training. One thing is certain, Rugby Canada knows it can not lose the pool.
More wins, more notice, more sports broadcasters sitting up, giving them air time, more sponsorships, more government of Canada feeling they’re worthy to push forward, more sponsorships from bigger money, more players plucked for international assignments which in turn gets them more training, more field time, and more notice here in Canada, with more followers, bigger game, more money.
It’s chasing tails.
They must be exhausted doing it!
The men and women who play rugby for Canada are mighty incredible people with big hearts. Hats off to all of them. Hats off to the people who are behind the scenes working tirelessly to try to get the word out, the players noticed, the sponsorships happening, the excitement building.
There is no easy answer. It’s truly a Tier Two problem that is not easily solvable. But jeez people let’s get this sport some cashflow! Get the word out! Rugby is growing in Canada there is no denying it. Criticizing the organization isn’t going to help the cause. Support the women – support the men – support each other. We are all just trying to hold Rugby Canada up. Do no harm. Mutual support is needed across the board.
But the bottom line is this:
Show [Them] the Money.
