In the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic global sport has been under the microscope, whilst the more affluent organisations and governing bodies think about closure on the current season or saving the upcoming one, Rugby Union is not sitting on that same pedestal.
Being a late starter in the professional world (turning professional in 1995) Rugby has always fought an uphill battle, financial success through commercialisation and Rugby’s rigid ethos also represents a challenging dichotomy. The reluctance to indulge in the ideals of promotion and celebrity have halted the games growth in a way that always has fans asking, “what if?”. What if the sport focused on funding the grassroots and helping new demographics enter the sport? What if domestic teams put more emphasis on marketing and filling crowds and what if Rugby tried to adapt when they saw other sports have had a rebirth such as cricket when they created the T20 game.
Rugby has been showing signs of struggle for some time. Crowds are seldom at capacity in the prestigious European Cup, players in Australia are abandoning their own nations professional teams and the famed Currie cup in South Africa is a shadow of it’s former self. This has led to the crossroads the sport is now sitting at.
It would be ignorant to suggest anyone is comfortable in the business world during this pandemic but in Rugby’s case “discomfort” is a pipe dream. Rugby Australia is on its way to bankruptcy with forecasted losses of £60million, their CEO Raelene Castle resigned due to this near fatal financial position. It is worth noting that Mrs Castle relentlessly attempted to salvage this and even reduced her own paycheck 65% before departing the board accompanied by the standing down of 75% of Rugby Australia staff. Across the Rugby landscape the bleak news continues as USA Rugby has filed for bankruptcy in an attempt to have a future after this pandemic. USA Rugby are hoping to go through a restructure alongside World Rugby when possible.
Closer to home in the UK it is difficult to separate the news as sensationalism or the harsh reality. Rugby fans are accustomed to seeing headlines discussing conflicts over player wages and clubs potentially going bust. Whilst the Rugby Players Association (RPA) has toiled over ensuring players and clubs reach amicable terms in regards to wages the RFU (England Rugby’s governing body) is facing a far more complex task.
The English game look certain to lose some of their most famed clubs, many would describe Newcastle Falcons as a ticking timebomb and in the most dire position as they look certain to fold despite a desperate furloughing of all their staff. It also seems pertinent to highlight that in the 12 team top tier league last season, only one club reported a financial gain (Exeter Chiefs £0.7m). RFU President Bill Sweeney has also ruled out a “relief package” due to the boards own £50m loss projections.
I’m aware I may have portrayed the sport of Rugby to be on it’s last legs but there is hope, however I don’t think it deserves hope if the game doesn’t try adapt. For me, the game needs to modernise, they need to remove the arrogance and make club games an occasion to get bums back on seats (let’s not forget the 6 Nations is the best attended sporting tournament in the world on average). Behind the scenes decisions need to be made including reforming the well spoken about salary cap to ensure player wages aren’t putting clubs out of business as well as doing something about the “diabolical and boring” on screen punditry that James Haskell so affectionately described it as.
I’d like to finish off by talking about the CVC component that Rugby fans tend to put so much false hope in. For those that don’t know CVC is an American private equity firm with a net worth in the triple digit billions that has put money into the game. Whilst I do think the money, they put into the game is of huge value I can’t see a future where they’ll “balance the books” out of the goodness of their heart given that they’ve already suspended a £300m investment into the 6 Nations. For me, and it the same point that’s been repeated tirelessly rugby has to make a change to attract the big money from both CVC and big TV firms or the sport could pale in comparison to it’s true potential.
By Harry Booth