Clearly this is easier said than done, but that is the unmet challenge facing the game. RA and the Super Rugby franchises must find ways to improve their revenue streams. Rugby Australia made a mistake in 2003 by not investing what it earned Within the current global rugby economy, that is not cheap. The first and most obvious thing Australian rugby must do is put players on the field who the fans want to watch.
In 2003, rugby was competing with rugby league for popularity, but the game is now arguably the fourth football code in Australia behind league, Australian rules and football. If Rugby Australia is to fully capitalise on a successful event, the game in this country must be in good shape to begin with or the anticipated bonanza may not eventuate. It will be another five years before the 2027 tournament. RA and the Super Rugby franchises must ensure any World Cup windfall is a bonus, not a lifeline. While McLennan’s words were heartening, Australian rugby cannot afford to rely on hosting the World Cup every 20 years or so to keep the code afloat. And it would enable RA and state unions to invest money in the most important growth area of the game – the grassroots.įortunately, RA seems to have learned its lesson, with McLennan saying any 2027 windfall would be put into an “investment vehicle to drive long-term sustainability”. Earnings from the 2027 World Cup must be invested to ensure the financial growth of the game and protect it against unforeseen circumstances such as a coronavirus pandemic.Ī future fund would have helped RA prevent the player exodus to Europe and Japan and assisted Super Rugby franchises during periods of financial stress. Rugby Australia cannot afford to make the same mistake twice. Former chief executive John O’Neill wanted to invest the money in a future fund similar to the one established by the Australian Olympic Committee following the 2000 Games in Sydney.īut various stakeholders in Australian rugby wanted their piece of the World Cup pie and, rather than building wealth for the game, the windfall dwindled. RA received a $44m windfall for hosting the World Cup in 2003. Unfortunately, this did not happen the last time Australian rugby was in this position 18 years ago, and the game is still paying for it. French commentary by Eric Bayle and Thomas Lombard.It would certainly be a golden opportunity for the cash-strapped game in Australia but, rather than a short-term financial fix, the event should leave a legacy that will help to secure the code’s future in the long term. ALL-STAR COMMENTARY Real sports broadcasting commentary with Grant Nisbett and Justin Marshall.
CROSS-PLATFORM FANHUB Share, download and rate players and teams using our famous Fanhub across all platforms! NEW! Side-line camera angle and drop goal camera allowing for closer simulation to a real broadcast view. NEW! AI formations and improved positioning of players making the game more realistic and challenging for those experienced rugby heads. NEW! Make the ultimate rugby player with both the kit creator and the enhanced player creator!
NEW! Women’s Sevens Rugby with 16 international teams, including 5 licensed teams. NEW! Catch your rivals off guard using set plays with 10 different moves, including cross-kick! RC4 is here to give you the best rugby experience of all time!
The focus for Rugby Challenge 4 has been to build on and improve the gameplay of our previous rugby games while retaining its essence with the use of the original signature animations, now spectacularly enhanced by the Unreal Engine.