Putting rugby first report

Describing rugby as being stuck in a ghetto is unfortunate, but the comparison does still ring true to an extent. One look at this seasons Pacific Nations tournament table would have highlighted the struggles that face any side outside of the rugby’s top tier.

It would be naive to suggest that rugby should go through a rapid expansion, after all without the profits from last years World cup, less traditional rugby nations would struggle without increased funding from the International Rugby Board.

Also the closed shop policies from rugby’s top tier nations are indicative of a sport struggling to come to terms with the push and pull factors preventing rugby from expanding outside it’s established order. 

After all Wales will benefit substantially from it’s dealings with New Zealand, in ensuring the tournament ended up in the land of the long silver cloud in 2011, through the incentive of sending their All Blacks for sell-out games at the Millennium stadium. Parallel to that the New Zealand Rugby Union needs as much revenue as possible in order to try and fend off the increasing threat provided by privately financed, high spending European clubs determined to get their mitts on their players.

Conversely though much of Argentina’s success on the world stage could be pinpointed to their players mass-movement to Europe, but that said SANZAR’s failure to embrace the Pumas is indicative of a game that has placed too much emphasis on the survival of the fittest 

There are so many issues raised in the report titled “Putting Rugby First” that I couldn’t even begin to skim the surface off, but Wales’s position of importance, as a foundation union, would be diluted with the reforms being put forward. But then again it could be argued that the long terms benefits of reform may also aid Wales in the future. What do you think? Let us know by filling in the box below.