This Needs To Stop 

Facts. There’s this misunderstanding that the players will somehow be evenly spread across the other Aus Super Teams. In reality most just take good money offers from overseas clubs. We saw this when they cut the Force in 2017/18, a few players that went to other super teams made the starting side. But after a year or so things returned to the same talent level, as pushed out players took overseas contracts for game time and money

Definitely agree with the marketing aspect. The ORIGINAL state of origin got less fans in Brisbane than the Dolphins v Cowboys game a few weeks later at the same venue. It’s madness, the QLD v NSW rivalry in UNION goes back to the 1880s and Super Rugby advertises it as just another game. Does my head in, especially because it means a lot to me and many other fans.

True. I’d love to see more teams and if you search I created a fake Super Rugby Australia competition to see if we could field 10 teams with professional Australian players + 1 marquee signing each on Reddit this dude made ten teams which look pretty star studded. Also I’ve been to Shute Shield Games and the atmosphere of Super Rugby Games are so much better due to the smaller stadiums. Sometime it feels like the Shute Shield are getting more live viewers. P.S. Love your vids.

Open up eligibility for the competition with New Zealand so players can go across here and vice versa. Honestly there is absolutely nothing interesting going on regarding recruitment news, especially compared to the NRL and the impact new recruits can have on a club, and such we get the same predictable ladder every year and teams like the Force and Rebels have no feasibility of winning a comp. "If we start winning fans will turn up" gets said often, this isn't necessarily the case. Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers fans turned up in thousands through years of absolute mediocrity and you can never find anywhere near that level of loyalty in any Super Rugby fan here or in New Zealand. Even the Crusaders weren't selling out stadiums in the years they won like 6 straight titles, because it's so completely predictable. If dispersing talent isn't a bad idea, why couldn't the Western Force sign someone like Damian Mckenzie? New Zealand is feeling this too and the irrelevance of the comp is sending their best players and coaches overseas which is the only reason we're now beating them more often in 2024.

Hey Uggy. Kiwi in Aus here. As a childhood follower of rugby and die hard from late teens to mid 30s; I tapped out of rugby for the last couple of seasons. From the rule changes that copy league and the liberal dishing out of cards to the constant TMO interjections... You mentioned loving the product and I respect your opinion on things. Has anything changed in the last couple years? Other than the Crusaders being rock bottom with 1 win - absolutely loving that 😂

Born and bred in Saffaland. Educated in rugby union through school. Played senior club rugby in WA and coached junior club rugby for 7 seasons. Walked away from the game here in 2020. Reason...there is too much crap talking and not enough rugby talking. Juniors don't even know who their Wallaby captain was...really made realise there isn't any easy solution here. I love the game. I don't recognise the game here. There isn't an identity

Agree the Rebels should play at a smaller venue. Leinster play their URC games at the RDS (16,500 seats) - amazing atmosphere. They usually only play European Champions Cup games at the Aviva stadium (51,700). Munster play at Thomond Park (25,600 seats).

Always appreciate you try & offer solutions to situations & not just jump on obvious bandwagons. Been thinking for some time now, stadium choice is a problem. Just use big ones for playoffs may work better

Couldn’t agree more. Rugby Australia sees the NRL as its big competitor, which it isn’t. They’ve always existed side by side, during the peaks and the troughs. Its biggest threat is the constant need to shoot itself in the foot.

Correlation does not mean causation! Yes absolutely! There are so many factors impacting the way the wallabies are performing and the professional sides are too. There are so many things they could be doing to remedy their issues, and there is so many reductive takes glaring with flaws that are floating about at the moment. As for the costs, it’s the same problem across so many leagues except for France. There is such little engagement in growing the game beyond trying to make it more entertaining, which for me is really not thinking about what’s going on in depth. France has been investing in the grassroots and building their game across the country, so that there are more fans to watch from that front, rather than trying to get “great clips” to go viral on social media. Bringing in more fans, building more clubs which are not just the classic upper class posh sports, is so massive and it’s made other sports so much more successful, including more people in the game.

Well done for bringing a bit of sanity to the discussion, mate. Completely agree that the franchises need to be better at generating buzz/FOMO around live attendance. The larger stadiums such as Suncorp should not be used for Super Rugby until the teams can consistently sell out smaller stadiums, similar to the crowds in the Prem in the UK (Twickenham Stoop, Franklin's Gardens etc). Another point to add is that narrowing the prospect of actually getting paid to play Rugby in Australia will only disincentivise aspiring athletes to pursue a career in our code; it would KILL grassroots if we culled our professional clubs in the pursuit of short term, artificial squad "depth".

This concept is being thrown around in Wales too. I don't see it as the answer when there's already a plethora of quick wins and long term strategies available to solve Welsh rugby's problems before you leap to cutting off a limb

Great video! I don’t understand how contraction can help the code when you only have teams in the single digits

I stopped attending games in Perth when the Rugby Australia culled the Force. I still watch replays of Super Rugby games, but it’s no longer the same enjoyment and passion as there used to be when South Africa was still part of the comp. I would now rather watch Heineken Cup or Top14. I miss our saffa competitors

Yeah, I completely disagree with this. Couple of things: 1. The Rebels are not financially viable. Even if you don't believe in the cohesion thesis popularised by that Raging Boar video, the reality is that the Rebels aren't capable of standing on their own two feet financially and RA doesn't have $5million a year lying around to help them stay running. Per Paul Cully in the SMH (who's just repeating what's in the administrator's report): "During the past three years, Rugby Australia has put $16.6 million into the Rebels. Bear in mind [that RA] has been forced into taking an $80 million credit facility at an interest rate of more than 10 per cent. Player salaries at the Rebels over the same period totalled more than $22m, and the administrator stated that the franchise has been spending an average of $7.37m on players a year. These are the fundamentals of the Rebels situation and should be seen as far more relevant than the administrator’s view that Rugby Australia should engage with the Rebels’ investor group for a rescue package. Why? Because that recommendation takes a very narrow view as to what might be best for the Rebels’ creditors, not what is best for the sustainability of Australian rugby. It does not take into consideration that Rugby Australia would have to keep funding the Rebels with money it doesn’t have - to the tune of about $5m a year - despite knowing that the very same organisation has been bleeding at least $5m a year for the past three years, regardless of the RA funding." Expansion was a very expensive mistake (I think calling it a success is pretty mad - neither the Force nor the Rebels have been successful in SR and the Wallabies win % has fallen off a cliff over the same period of time), but even if you thought it was a good decision to try and grow the game, there just isn't enough money now to keep the Rebels afloat. I think it would be reckless in the extreme for RA, as an organisation that came perilously close to bankruptcy only a few years ago and has many other things it needs to spend money on, to try and keep the Rebels afloat. "More/better marketing" is just not a serious solution to the Rebels problems - a professional rugby club in the most AFL-mad city in the world (that's also home to one of the most successful NRL clubs of the past 20 years) was always going to be a long-odds bet, and it's one that RA can no longer afford to make. 2. The cohesion thesis popularised by that video is actually a pretty fascinating one, and it's a shame you didn't spend more time on it. It originates with former Wallabies prop Ben Darwin and his analytics firm Gainline Analytics, so I'd encourage you to listen to a few of the many podcast interviews he and his cofounder Simon Strachan have done explaining their view on what explains rugby performance. I think there are some high-level critiques you could make of their work, but it shouldn't be so easily dismissed. It's the most persuasive *structural* explanation for the Wallabies' decline I've encountered.

I've been harping on about this to my mates after a bag and a few beers for hours now, Super rugby NEEDS to introduce a draft type system, which would see Auzzies and Kiwis playing across the ditch, its a win-win. On top of this, NZRU need to relinquish control of the super rugby franchises, so that they can become FRANCHISES, sell them to private businessman and lets privatise the competition. I'm a massive NFL fan, and it wasn't until I got into the NFL that I realised just how behind and useless Super Rugby is. We need trades and off season drama, we need more storylines to follow, more sunday games! and a 6 team playoff format. If we get that, then maybe just maybe we might just get ourselves a real competition.

Culling teams is not the answer to growth. Smaller stadiums and better marketing is the answer. Its not just Aus, its NZ too. SR looks boring cause the poor atmosphere but the performance this year is definitely better, other than Crusaders due to players on sabbatical, injuries, retired to overseas and coach staff change. Highlanders on the other hand something needs to change, maybe the system or the board I dont know. And then we have the force with having to gain traction with retaining, producing and growing the sport. NZ's issue is we dont have smaller stadiums only test stadiums, surely Australia has the luxury of smaller stadiums. Playing in bigger stadiums is a financial strain when that could be of better use, especially for players. And then the killer of all "POLITICS" needs to stop. Really like your vid and I completely agree with you! New subscriber here. 👍😁

You know, I’ve seen the video you refer to, and on the face of it, it made a lot of sense at the time. But I think you’re right. The Springboks example shows that it doesn’t really matter how many teams you have to select from. So reducing the number of Australian teams, just takes opportunity away from potential professionals. Another excellent point is that the Rebels owe a fortune to to Aami park which they never come close to filling… that’s like a bachelor renting a mansion and sleeping in the guesthouse. Save a load of money, play at a smaller stadium, fill that stadium and suddenly you’re in front of a packed crowd of fans. And saved a bucket of cash. You make more sense than the people making the decisions…

Super Rugby has improved in my opinion, and I feel it's down to the exclusion of South African teams. Australia, New Zealand and the Island teams are very close by, so players are less fatigued from traveling long distances to South Africa. Instead they now focus on game day staff and less on travel worries and this for me has benefited all the teams in Super Rugby.

As an outsider, interesting take. I hadn't followed Southern Hemisphere rugby too closely over the pandemic so the Australian issues of late came a bit out of nowhere to me, even though I've read up and (thanks to vids like yours) learned since that the problems are deep rooted and go back some time.

I think the video could go deeper. In my opinion, the "cohesion argument" and the lack of good marketing are actually tied together. To a lot of people, club rugby is just a training ground for the National Team, and it's not worth watching because of that. Besides the URC, Super Rugby is possibly the competition that suffers the most from this, it's clearly seen as a training ground for All Blacks and Wallabies. Just watch the kiwi show "The Breakdown", if a player is having good performances, they don't even talk about his role in the team, they start to question if he'll play for the ABs. They don't even mention the Australian teams, and why would they? No All Black plays there so it's not even worth mentioning. It's the same thing with australian super rugby fans, if something hurts the wallabies, then they'll try to fix that. The Rebels can be playing amazing rugby, if they're hurting the Wallabies' cohesion, then they have to be dismantled. This Wallabies > Super Rugby team mindset completly devalues Super Rugby as a competition and that's where the marketing comes. They have to market the league in a way where australians can have rivalries between themselves. For example, if the Reds play against the Highlanders, a Tahs fan should be supporting the Highlanders, since their rivalry with Queensland is so much older and more intense. This will never happen of course, because, again, "Wallabies > Super Rugby team".

YUS new vid bout time bro

As some others have alluded too…VIC Government and councils are not inclined to build new rectangular shaped stadiums in a state where Australian Rules Football/AFL is the most popular code of football.

Thanks mate, people need to hear this take in the mainstream sporting discourse. Love from WA 💙🖤

There was no smaller stadium in Melbourne. AAMI park was the only rectangular stadium in the city with broadcast facilities so the Rebels have had no option but to use it. Right now a 5k stadium was just built for the Aleague side western united and it looks like the rebels might move there if they don’t get culled

There is certainly a strong correlation between Springbok's recent success and them allowing players to play overseas

I've been involved in Rugby in Sydney and Auckland for a very long time. Comparitively speaking, the wrong people are in charge at almost every level. For a club to even register for a season it costs 17 grand and for that the union just manage to scrape together a few refs for the games. The union doesnt support the game or grow it. The people Ive interacted with in meetings are mainly private school types looking down on clubs and volunteers. There's only 1 full time employee that helps support clubs from my knowledge in NSW. WR seriously need to intervene because NZ and Australian rugby are affected by it and that's no good for Rugby as a whole. It's not bad luck, it's happening for a reason.

There is one thing that can be done quite easily. When they know it will be a smallish crowd, they just open the one stand, quite reasonably to save on stewarding costs. The issue is, the main camera position is in that main and just looks out onto those empty stands with no view of the stand where the crowd are actually sitting. It creates a bad optic that can be addressed.

AAMI Park is the only venue catered to, and built specifically for the likes of soccer, league and rugby. The hardest thing for me to understand is how reducing the number of teams, is a benefit to a national squad. Unless the current Wallabies side is made up of ONLY players from 3 teams, then sure, maybe. The fact is that it's not. More teams + better performance + increased coverage = a stronger product surely. The die hard NRL supporters in NSW + QLD hated the thought of a team based in Melbourne, yet here is the Storm, 25 years later with the 5th best crowd average this year so far. Through advertising, paid promotion, and strength of will, they forced themselves in to the AFL stronghold. If the money isn't there to show off what you can do, your product disappears. Is the case for the Rebels to disband one of "too many teams", or "we just don't want you any more"?

Well said mate. If you cut 1 or 2 teams then, sure, for 3 years you might see a bit of a bump in the left over teams, with their extra talent. But once that time expires you will be left with the same problems we have now. We already miss out on the Louis Lynagh's and Mack Hansen's because there aren't enough pathways for young players, why would cutting your pathways by 20-40% improve that problem?

Oz does have a slight player depth issue, but that could be resolved if your retired legends would put the mic down, switch off the podcast and refrain from going on piss trips and sleeping under bridges so they could give back to yhe sport that made them. Oz needs coaches

Hi man! I'm not a beast but quite good at playing rugby (21 yrs). I've played it for about 7-8 yrs here in Italy. My thought is: I'm around 66kg x 167cm. Am I actually too small to become really good?

I think Australia would be better if they could pick players from overseas clubs like the Boks do(forget the Geatueu rule).I also think that people tend to forget that it wasn't just having 3 superugby teams that made the wallabies strong,it was having star players like Smith,Larkham,Gregan, Eales,Horan etc

Magic Pill for super Rugby, Add 2 Japanese sides, bring it to 14 teams, have joined up TV deals for the 14 teams, any super rugby player can play for their national team, now it's growing and It'd be more competitive and increased revenues across the board over time

The most glaring indictment on how mismanaged the force and rebels have been is how many test players have come from them. It’s been 20 years for the force and 13 for the rebels. The rebels first “home grown” player now plays for Scotland! and the force have a lineup from anywhere and everywhere except Perth seemingly. RA thought putting teams there was a licence to print money without actually doing anything to grow the local player base (i.e the whole reason to expand!). Now everyone acts shocked when they realise this isn’t the case

I think super rugby for both nz and Australia need to be played later on in the year. We need to promote the provincial/club rugby more and the super rugby becomes a all star best of the best format. Imagine protecting a certain 7 players and the rest are put into a player pool where anyone can sign anywhere. For example Mark Talea was protected by the blues so he signs a 1 year deal with Reds but he's still eligible for All Blacks selection

Rugby in Australia has a NRL sized gorilla on its back that absorbs the bulk of the talent by the time they reach u16s through junior reps and pathways programs and even if those players never plays nrl they can still be good enough to stay in the game and semi pro with both state leagues and most strong bush competitions pay for decent players and coaches. Rugbys lack of professional clubs below the provincial teams has crippled their ability to attract players and from what I’ve seen of junior rugby’ representatives teams and selections policy over the years in Qld is either half heartedly run out a team with who’s available or give a training squad shirt to 10 kids from every team in the town and hope that encourages the players to stay with rugby cause it’s their first choice and not because they aren’t good enough for league or only play rugby as a supplement to league. Even state level teams are diluted to buggery by picking multiple teams each year. the GPS And private schools rugby is really the only solid pathway but even that is on shaky ground nowadays cause kids don’t want to go to school and a free education at a decent school is isn’t that big a deal today and I don’t think the schools are gonna be running recruiting officers to round up talent and still very much relying on old boys/alumni and connections to schools for boys to attend. Another huge problem is Junior players are also regularly not going on to play senior football because they are being pigeonholed way to early as (especially)forwards and backs . The forwards are often taught very few skills other than their tackling and pick and drive So a kid who has played prop or flanker at 75-80 kgs or one who isn’t overly tall has gotten away with it in his age group but he starts his first senior season and suddenly he’s outweighed by 20-30kg or is 5’7” and dwarfed by a couple of back rowers 9 inches taller then he is obviously going to struggle to compete in the forwards but can’t be used as a back cause he can’t do a drop off or even pass both sides then they are lost to the game altogether. It gets ingrained into them sometimes have personally advised several juniors over the years to to start developing or reinventing their game over their size and the ones that don’t or can’t take the tip never played again after u19. And that actually saddens me

I think the connection with the number of Super Rugby sides and the decline in Australian national team performance is mainly circumstantial and, if there is any link, it has probably more to do with the introduction of new teams when they originally happened. It would be folly to reduce the number of teams right now for Aussie rugby and, indeed the whole competition. There needs to be more teams, not less. Hopefully, the re-inclusion of teams from Argentina and Japan will increase the colour and competitiveness of the spectacle. This is what will bring in a greater audience rather than culling weaker teams.

The big problem with the wallabies is behind the scenes. This happened to the springboks back in the day too. Sort out behind the scenes stuff and they will be good again.

How about relocating Melbourne to QLD or NSW to create a local Darby? In that way, we could get an Easts v. Souths. Vibe.

Who misses the South African teams? I wish sanzar would say Baby I was wrong I can change come back. I know you are with someone gorgeous and you get to go to bigger parties now, but remember we got all the memories. I am a Kiwi in NZ and NZR needs to help Australian Rugby get back on track, The competition would be better, and the product too. Not saying we need to fix it, but taking steps like equal share in revenue amongst the teams is a start. I wish Super Rugby had 16 teams so instead of that Melbourne round, have the season kicked off with a 7s tournament instead.

I’m a melbournian, and follow the dees in the AFL and Storm in the nrl regularly going to games. I have attended the GP, netball, motorcross and other sports in Melbourne since the pandemic. until recently (late ‘22) I knew nothing about the rebels, just so poorly marketed to a sports mad city. I know a lot of people that don’t follow union but got around the World Cup and tried to follow the Wallabies. I agree that RA needs to pull their finger out otherwise they are just going to get smaller compared to AFL and NRL.

I agree. When I first heard of the Rebels being cut I was all for it. But tbh having an extra team is good. There are so many players that would have went over seas if the Rebels weren’t there. Carter Gordon, Tupou, Kellaway etc. we actually have enough talent and we can see the increase in Aussie teams winning super rugby. Keep the Rebels 💪🏾

Thank you. Frustrating to see the old boys promoting a simple solution to Australian rugby woes, but from my point of view few people are actually talking about real problems... Just perceived problems.

I think possible reasons for Aussie teams being very much improved in this comp is that Joe Schmidt most likely went to all the clubs to allign themselves with the Wallabies' culture and style of play. And that NZ teams benefitted from having our South African teams to physically challenge them which in turn caused them to dominate the comp for years and now that we're not there anymore they've lost that overall edge and now only have great backline play and not as physical anymore. That's why its quite competitive between the NZ and Aussie teams and that the comp is quite the spectical it was supposed to be like back in the 90s and early 2000s.

Leaguie here...but yes absolutely agree. Rugby Australia need to get a massive loan from World Rugby (or andrew forest etc) to fund at least 10 Teams. And persist with it over time. Fans in Australia want a team that is 'theirs'. Cultivate local fans and youve got them for life. Similarly Talent will grow over time with a larger pool..even if it all starts from a low base quality wise. unfortunately reducing teams has killed off so many fans and was the wrong decision. But then i dont know fully why they did it.

Say it louder for people in the back! Love this

IMO its gonna take 20 years to 'fix' Australian rugby because thats how long its going to take to grow a new generation of players and fans. I think only having 4 teams did help the Wallabies back in the day but that was right around the transition into the professional era, the game has moved beyond that now

Imo a way to make the Wallabies successful is to pick players off form rather then name if players get picked off form they’re already performing well going to the games for Australia

I think dropping to 4 might be the sweet spot.gotta understand is rugby in victoria is a very tiny game.afl is king.people actually talk about storm and league in melbourne but rebels no one even knows who they are.

I agree. Australia has more than enough talent, it's just playing the wrong code. What needs fixing is the ARFU

I miss super 12 and super 14 :( definitely need to give out more free tickets to kids and schools. The turns out for the highlanders home games is crazy and the atmosphere is nuts, yet theyre almost bottom of the table.

Agreed. Losing a Super Rugby franchise gives less Australian players a chance at playing professional rugby and decreases the quality of the playing pool overall. This may mean that the talent is more focused in the remaining teams but they're all going to be fighting for less spots and less players will get an opportunity to show their capabilities of playing for the Wallabies.

We need less homer simpsons...and more money for public schools!

Fair takes my bro 🙌

Agree aus n NZ should both expand

i live in auckland and have been to almost every blues home game in the last decade and the attendances at eden park are a joke. especially now that the blues team is full of all blacks you’d think more people would be going to games but i’ve noticed the opposite. I personally don’t know if this is just a problem australian rugby is experiencing but it does seem like casual interest in rugby is depreciating. Us die hards will always show up rain or shine

Mate great video. I got sick of hearing it too. And that Raging Boar documentary ignores the points you raise.

Big agree. Taking the rebels away from Australia’s biggest city is going to send your sport backwards not forwards. We have 85k the MCG last year. People will watch rugby and pay to go to games, you need to draw these people in. Getting rid of a team is not the answer

uggy return will go crazy

Good video!

This is the realest take for sure bro

Rugby Victoria are incredibly corrupt, junior programs lack significant needs, they didn't oppose RA's fatal decision of streaming on Stan Sport, and they only have one competition, there is no proffessional rugby in Victoria aside from the Rebels, not even a semi-proffessional competition. Who's at fault? Interstate private schools firstly in Rugby Australia, hiring underqualified buddies to sit in a chair, then the Melbourne private schools for gatekeeping the compeition (Rugby is almost non-existant in any schools other than elite private schools), finally the corruption and lack of effort put in by Rugby Vic.

Kiwis killing rugby in Australia unaware it is hurting nz too

You can’t just say Rugby is the most exciting sport in the world and think people believe that. Many people, particularly in Australia fundamentally dislike the sport, no amount of marketing will change that. We have to be realistic and go after the people who have a casual interest not blow money on people who clearly don’t care

The idea that less Super Rugby teams will improve the Wallabies is one of the most ignorant things I have heard in decades. It is right up there with national sides only choosing players that play domestically. So having a smaller group of players to choose from will help the Wallabies? In no way is that true. Not only that, but less top tier opportunities will drive potential players to play other sports, especially in Aus, where League and Australian Rules Football provide nearly equally attractive opportunities for young players. That will start a talent drain and really put the pinch on all rugby union. 100% that Super Rugby in Australia needs to market better, draw in young fans, select stadium deals where they can fill the stands every single game, and have good transparency of money management. As an American rugby fan, look at what growing our domestic rugby competition is doing for our national team. It is drawing attention, which will lead to more young players choosing rugby, which leads to a better national side. More teams means more eyeballs on rugby union, which opens a lot of other doors, all good for the national team. In time, that will lead to you g players choosing rugby over football, basketball, and other sports here. The same could happen in Aus. Condensing your Super Rugby sides is the beginning of the end. Find a way to generate more games, and more exciting games, to increase revenue. Pay players on par with NRL and Aussie Rules, and you will start to give young players a reason to choose Union, creating even better competition in the future, and perhaps even expansion. Less is not more, it is too little.

Also why does SR not support ANZAC Day, the one sport that is equally contributed too by both Aussie and Kiwi teams not play on ANZAC day. Could the reds or the force not hosted games yesterday. Could there not have been 2-3 ANZAC Day games in NZ yesterday. Obv there was AFL and NRL games in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne but surely RA could have capitalised on Brisbane or Perth.

Whats good

can`t wait for the jaguars pumas and cheetahs to come to super rugby like jaguars in only 4 years made it to a final last 2 years pumas and cheetahs back to back finalist taking 1 final each its going to get better when they come it can stop all this blues chiefs brumbies hurricanes top 4 im not saying crusaders cause there basically out of it and a trash right now so yea jaguars can mix up the top 4 a bit like the last 2-3 years its been 3 nz 1 aus with these new teams u could be looking at 2 nz 1 aus 1 arg or SA and not just 3 nz 1 aus i don`t think Fijian d and moana can get that top 4 in the coming 3-4 years so it would be great to have more teams in the competition so we can have more winners less back to back champions and we can start to have a competition that thrives off rivalries, competitiveness, final winners from around all 6 countries and to reach a bigger audience

Can they take super rugby off Stan? Pay for Stan then pay more for sport 😭 then pay again for Kayo because I watch league to 😁

A major problem is the old heads running theses unions who were raised in a culture of short term corporate profits over long term viability, same reason Boeing are falling out of the sky. As a dual national, I have faith the younger generation can take over and save the game in Aus and to a lesser extent in England. Whether we will be given the chance with these boomers probably being on life support refusing to retire at 150 is another question…

''We used to be Champions,..... WORLD CHAMPIONS ...!!!!!!!! And now? ...... Very little grass roots support... Very little School support ... and almost NO Indigenous support .Even teams that their country has no Indigenous people have Indigenous players from some other country playing for them ????? We have 25 Million People in this Country of them many of those that choose to play Football choose either AFL or Rugby league, Why????? Why is there no Indigenous Rugby Union Competition right across Australia (like the Maori All Blacks) where the ARU could use them as a feeder comp to find up and comers , ' Once Were Champions .... up against the Greatest Team in ANY sport in the World '' The All Blacks'' surly that should be used to encourage any young player either male or female to play ... The Game They Play In Heaven...... ( Imagine ,,, (TV AD) David Campese looking straight in to the lens and Saying, Australian Rugby needs you... Remember...... ''Wallabies used to eat KIwi's for Breakfast "

"The most entertaining game in the world" 😂

Bring back the NRC!

Not sure I’d say rugby union in its current form is the best product, when you look at the average NRL game by comparison. And while we have a great international depth of teams, most only care about a World Cup that obviously comes once every 4 years. Meanwhile we got all this time in between where super rugby can’t capture these audience

I agree it needs to stop. It is Super Rugby needs 'fewer' teams

Mean vid g

The GOAT is back!

Springboks may have 17 club teams to choose from but at least the SA domestic teams aren’t shit so they sell out crowds. That’s the difference and why the Aussie domestic teams that attract zero crowd attendees and broadcast interest need to play in lower level competitions (not Super Rugby) and their better players should represent either the Waratahs, Brumbies or Reds all of which draw far more interest from fans. Please don’t talk to me about the Rebels. They can barely generate a crowd of 1,000 fans to their games despite them being competitive, whereas the Waratahs who are almost dead last on the log fill up their stadium far better.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein, smart fella they say. The data clearly shows decline in all areas over the past 20 years and you reckon we just leave it be and she’ll be right mate. Is that it? Or create more teams and spread our talent even thinner…. Take a bunch of shute shield and QPR players that can’t get a contract with one of our current 5 super teams, put them together and they’ll take down the blues and canes in full flight… Is that it? Or change Wallabies eligibility so players can move OS and get paid 4x what they get here and still play for the Wallabies… Just kill off Super Rugby altogether. Is that it? Ignoring the data that is as clear as day is absolutely moronic. Rugby is not the every man’s game in this country and we need to stop trying to be. We’re not the AFL or the NRL. Less teams that are stronger is the only way forward. Time for change.

2 Sydney teams both playing out of Allianz & 2 Brisbane teams both playing out of Suncorp - plus the Brumbies. There's your 5 teams & your corporate returns all taken care of. I agree that reducing the teams is not the answer but the current teams suck. WA & VIC can't produce their own players. Period. Neither of them are popular in their own states & both need to go. Having only one team from NSW & one from QLD is a joke. Rugby misses out on tribalism, local derbies & inner city rivalries that most sports take advantage of.

All the best talent in Australia is being funneled into league.

*fewer

Simply put, not every game in Super is of importance, you can quite happily lose six to eight games and still make the final. So why bother going to games that are of little to no importance, hence falling crowds. Australia doesn't have the talent for five teams, the reason the call is out for a reduction in team numbers. But lets continue and review the situation in five years time if Rugby Australia doesn't go bankrupt in the meantime. And yeah the Rebels are having a real good season, are we watching the same competition! As a Tahs supporter, the season is dire already with the team playing simply inept rugby most weekends. Anymore of this rubbish and hello NRL.

Smaller, higher quality teams allow the expansion longer term. Running lower with too many teams spreads talent too thin. Look at Ireland, very good now and they run few teams. Costs also need to be kept in check. No point draining finances to the detriment of all. It is a business that needs to earn its way after all. Super 10 was probably the highlight years back. Every team was strong. They need a draft system, allow players to be bought and traded, spreads talent and evens the comp. Get better marketing. I saw adverts lately that showed a bunch of penalty kicks. Duoh.

Can’t compete with nrl and Aussie rules for money nrl revenue last year 700million afl 900million aru130million

Bring back Eddie Jones. Too soon?

The future of rugby is women rugby. They will bring more players and public to the game as a whole.

I have ZERO sympathy for Australian Rugby!! It's dead, the funeral was last week, you must of missed it cause it wasn't on TV,,,, just like the rest of Rugby's competition. The NRL will continue to struggle RA and rightfully so. World rugby employs the same tactics to league in the rest of the world so my care factor for RA is Zip. Maybe RA can run back to QANTAS for more money.............Goodbye rugby Australia,,,,,,,you wont be missed

I think you’re on the right track. Personally I’d love to see a tiered club national championship in Australia. There is tribalism in clubland that isn’t found anywhere else. Build strong local connections between clubs, their communities and schools and pour RA resources into this. Representative footy would then look a lot more like State of Origin. Players could move around clubs or they could help their local club rise to the top.