http://www.canberratimes.com.au/spo...-under-threat-from-union-20161202-gt2kv8.html
Told yers! I refer to the comments by the famous rugby league coach Chris Anderson this week. Tell 'em what you said Chris: "Our biggest danger is rugby union … It's a big world sport. It's taken over Europe. Rugby league has died in Europe. All good players now go to union; in England, in France. So it's a big game. It's growing in America. That's our danger. If we don't get our house in order, our danger is we'll be playing rugby union in 10 years."
Ah yes, sneer and jeer, see if I care. TFF has been saying exactly the same for the past 10 years. Of course Australian rugby is going through very grim times at the moment, and that is a worry. But the point is, that it is only in Australia that is happening, whereas it is exploding in popularity everywhere else – and the ARU's coffers continue to fill because of it, in international broadcast monies, however slowly the turnstiles might be clicking at home.
And Anderson is also correct, in his next comments.
"If we don't change … rugby league will die."
A pause, please, for the sneering and jeering to be cut to a dull roar once more. Go on, Chris.
"AFL are genius in grassroots development. They throw a lot of money at grassroots. If we don't do that, they'll hurt us."
Right in every particular. The key for Australian rugby going forward will be to do both, to play the long game, to put more of the international money that neither the NRL or AFL can get close to, and devote ever more to development of grassroots rugby. Then we will see how all the codes are travelling 10 years from now!
