From an outside perspective, the casual observer would assume that rugby has a seat at the highest table of sport in Australia.
With an impressive history on the International scene including two Rugby World Cup wins (1991, 1999), runners up twice, as well as four wins combined in the former Tri-Nations, now The Rugby Championship. Australia is also home to five Super Rugby franchises.
Yet Australian Rugby faces ever increasing competition from many sports, as well as a generation of children glued to screens and worries from parents about contact sports in general. The latest figures from the Australian Sport Commission (ASC) paint a vivid picture of the challenges that lay ahead.
AusPlay- Participation Data
The ASC released data in December for the year October 2015 to September 2016 highlighting the ways in which Australian children and adults are keeping active. The figures are encouraging; with 3.2 million children involved in extra curricular activities and 11.6 million adults are participating in physical activity three times a week. The findings can be looked into at greater depth on the ASC website but what does this mean for Australian Rugby?
Australian Rugby Crowded Out
In a document diluted with facts and figures; what is most obvious is the harsh reality that rugby union no longer ranks in the top 20 sports played by Australian adults and ranks a mere 18th for children (1.2% of the population).
With a myriad number of sports now on offer, rugby is no longer just challenging with swimming, soccer, and Australian Rules football. The key to getting rugby back in the adult top 20 list is engaging with children and aiming to steadily climb the rankings. Whilst the challenges facing Australian Rugby may seem difficult, all hope is not lost.
ARU and State Unions Already Acting
The Australian Rugby Union and the State Unions have already begun tackling the issue.
With new initiatives launched surrounding the buzz of the Olympic Sevens victory by the Australian Women’s side, including VIVA7’s, a non-contact version of 7’s aimed at engaging the whole family. Alongside, a greater presence in the nation’s schools with the Game On Program going strong.
More children than ever before are being exposed to the sport. With the hard work being put in to attract new players, it is then vital that they can then be retained and the National Rugby Championship (NRC) is doing just that by exploring new avenues of competition with the introduction of a Fiji side from 2017. Ingenuity and a willingness to adapt from the top means nothing, however, if fans don’t get behind the ventures.
Results Driven Business
Unfortunately for Australian Rugby fans, they have the dubious honour of living closest geographically and surrounded by more expats from a nation with some incredible rugby pedigree.
With New Zealand dominating rugby; it is especially tough when they are on your front door step and increasingly in your living room. Rugby in Australia is heavily influenced with expat communities who are fantastic driving force of the sport. But when the Wallabies are consistently losing more and more, children would rather be All Blacks than pull on the Green and Gold in their own country.
Ultimately, success on the International stage and in Super Rugby is imperative to aide with the growth of rugby from the bottom up.
Not All Doom and Gloom
This is not a piece written to deride those in power or those volunteers working hard to prepare for the upcoming season at clubs across Australia.
It is more of a wake up call for all, that everyone invested in rugby union needs to work together to tackle the challenges facing Australian Rugby. Nor is it a call to arms after a disappointing 2016 on all fronts for the Wallabies and the Super Rugby franchises.
This is an opportunity to explore the possibilities that still remain for rugby union in this country. There are sufficient numbers of threats from outside of the rugby circle without throwing daggers within.
“Main Photo”
