ARU faces $4m Test shortfall
By Jon Geddes and Peter Jenkins
May 03, 2007
THE Australian Rugby Union faces a staggering loss of $4 million on their two Tests at Telstra Stadium this year as crowd estimates plummet.
The Daily Telegraph has been told by informed sources that the Wales Test on May 26, which was expected to draw 60,000 spectators, now could have a crowd of only 30,000.
That is despite an ARU spokesman saying yesterday the way ticket sales are tracking, they are expecting 50,000 fans at Telstra Stadium.
The Welsh have dudded the ARU and local rugby fans by leaving 18 top-line players at home to attend a World Cup training camp.
And while original estimates for Test with South Africa on July 7 were for an 80,000 crowd, indications are that it is more likely to be 50,000.
Those figures would mean a total drop in crowds of 60,000.
The Daily Telegraph has been told the most conservative estimate is that every drop of 10,000 from the crowd costs $500,000 in gate receipts.
That would mean a minimum loss of $3 million.
On top of that, on current estimates the corporate hospitality revenue for the two Tests could drop by at least $1 million.
The source warned that the crowd for the Wales Test would be a "disaster" if Wallabies coach John Connolly does not pick a strong side.
"If he uses this game as a trial, four months out from the World Cup, then he will kill the whole thing," the insider said.
"The rugby fans aren't stupid. If they don't treat it as a proper World Cup build-up and a game where you start getting your act together and smashing opponents you are going to play, then really the word 'Test' is starting to look a little bit meaningless."
A week later Wales play its second Test at Suncorp Stadium, which is expected to attract 40,000 spectators.
The Wallabies' other home Tests are against Fiji on June 9 in Perth and New Zealand on June 30 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Sydney fans are still smarting about again missing out on a Bledisloe Cup game, with the one-off match this season being staged in Melbourne.
In the wake of the controversy surrounding the Welsh team, now England coach Brian Ashton has cobbled together what has been described as a third-string side to play two Tests in South Africa.
Selectors have recalled prop Kevin Yates, 34, who played his last Test a decade ago against Argentina, when he was suspended for six months for an ear-biting incident.
Hooker Mark Regan has also been brought out of mothballs, three years after his international retirement.
And in what seems like an Irish joke, their national coach Eddie O'Sullivan will leave his entire first-choice Test side at home for the two-Test tour of Argentina.
The interesting selection is former NRL winger Brian Carney who started playing for Munster in March.
