Admittedly it has been several
months since I have contributed to this blog. Without going in depth behind the
reasons, one reason is writer’s block. However recently I watched a TV show
titled “The Call of the Wallaby” and it provided some much needed inspiration.
As I see it, “The Call of the
Wallaby” is a journey of gathering a group of like-minded people to rediscover
the missing Wallabies supporters (barrackers) and encourage them to return to
the game of Rugby Union in Australia.
While the aim of the program is
honourable, the show’s primary focus appears to be in Sydney, NSW which is
considered to be the rugby capital in Australia for both Union and League. This
would appear prudent, however as many people would attest Australia is a vast
land and has a varying sports demographic.
So this is where it becomes
tricky for the program as Rugby Union is most likely the fourth football code
in Australia behind Australian Rules Football, Rugby League and Association
Football. Therefore in order to grow the sport in this country and to retain
its current supporters the Wallabies need to be consistently successful and
promote the game in non-rugby States such as Victoria, South Australia and
Western Australia.
This is further complicated in
that Sydneysiders are traditionally fickle sports watchers and will stay away
from matches if the team is not successful. This is exemplified by the Sydney
Swans AFL team that had relocated from South Melbourne to Sydney in the early
1980’s and struggled to make an impact in Sydney. This is partially because
Sydney was a new market for the AFL and because the Swans struggled on the
field during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. The GWS Giants will undergo a similar
fate while they struggle for on field success.
The show did a survey of people
in Martin Place, Sydney and were asked are Australian Rugby supporters fickle.
Approximately 75% or the respondents said yes (Mind you it wasn’t that
scientific). Once again the Sydney focus presents a conclusion that may
not be correct. For instance a Rugby Union fan living in Victoria may see this
differently because the attitude to sport in Melbourne is much more robust than
in Sydney.
Alternatively if a rallying cry
was needed then the focus should be nationally than just NSW or Sydney. All the participants within the focus group resided in Sydney which
further emphasises the narrow focus. This seems perplexing as currently there
are five Australian Super Rugby teams that are all regionalised with franchises
in QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC and WA. Rugby Union tests are usually held each year in
Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
The ACT Brumbies are a powerhouse
in Super Rugby, meanwhile the QLD Reds are reasonably competitive and won the
competition in 2011. The NSW Waratahs in comparison tend to be somewhat hit and
miss from season to season. For instance in 2014 the Waratahs are currently in
the semi-finals and were second in 2008. However the Waratahs finished
thirteenth in 2007 and they were eleventh in 2012.
The ARU has recognised that a
test needs to be held in Melbourne each year in order to maximise exposure and
revenue. However it seems that the producers (and cast) of this show seem
reluctant to embrace the nation in a call to arms in supporting the Wallabies.
This is something that I consider to be very short sighted indeed.
The focus then shifts to how well
the Wallabies perform in relation to other nations. The main competing nations
to the Wallabies are England, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland. In recent
years have performed so-so against the All Blacks and Springboks and marginally
better against England and Ireland. Given this current form and the fact that
Sydneysiders are fickle supporters it is hardly unexpected that there will be a
drop off in crowds at Wallabies games in Sydney.
Therefore, it is prudent to
suggest that the long term success of the program requires an improvement in
the form of the Wallabies over the next few years. This needs to be complimented by consistent
semi-final finishes in future Rugby World Cups. Also unless the show changes to
a more national focus, it will find it difficult to engage the wider Australian
audience. This could further damage the very profile that rugby union is trying
to restore.
