Engaging the real challenges of Australian Rugby: Horne and Schmidt’s vision.

The recent article in the Guardian (Turning Green Shoots into Gold - Angus Fontaine) puts forth a sense of optimism for the rebuilding of Australian rugby, thanks to the leadership of Horne and Schmidt, who have a vision to integrate a fractured system and restore the game. While their plans depict a way for recovery, it is critical to consider the bigger picture, the realities Australian rugby has to deal with, and how they intend to do so. An unbiased view suggests that while the vision is encouraging, many deep-rooted problems have to be dealt with if it is to work. My article highlights the current state of the 'game' and its potential challengers and supporters' attributes in reconstructing rugby as a sport of choice.

The Primary Concerns In Australian Rugby.

1. The System is Fragmented: For an extended period, Australian rugby has faced a fair amount of disconnection in terms of community, schools, clubs, and the professional level of the game. These layers of the game have traditionally engaged in management activities in isolation, leading to ineffective practices when it comes to talent and resource development.
2. Decrease in Participants: Rugby has lost its position as a sport of choice, particularly in primary institutions and lower-level clubs. Sports that have invested heavily in the community, like AFL, NRL, and soccer, have exposed rugby's underbelly and made rugby less attractive.
3. Poor Development of Competitions: The Super Rugby franchises cannot maintain the depth and quality to ensure enough world-class players to field a solid national side. Moreover, their performance on and off the field has resulted in financial hardships, worsening the situation.
4. Inconsistent National results: The Wallabies' failures have diminished the public's interest in and confidence in Australian rugby. Achieving such success at this stage is essential to ease the hearts of many in the coming years - under Joe Schmit, we have seen a more cohesive winning Wallaby team.
5. Cultural and Structural Confusion: The lack of confidence and differing tactics have hindered development due to the scattered purpose of Rugby Australia, state unions and franchises.

Horne and Schmidt's Proposals

Horne and Schmidt have proposed several 'policies' to solve these challenges. Let's hope the principles of alignment and philosophy of development and growth are engaged. The depth of the policies will test the effectiveness of all programs.

• The HP Playbook: The HP Playbook aims to unite the vision and accountability of Super Rugby franchises and national teams, creating a cohesive and aligned system that drives consistent performance and development.
• Implementing Developmental Pathways: Using the Australia XV as an example, generate international exposure for potential and up-and-coming players.
• Coordinated and Collaborative efforts: Conducting workshops with Super Rugby teams to manage players' workloads and gather feedback for coaching strategies demonstrates a coordinated effort to align team performance and player development across all levels.
• Strengthening Focus on Coaching and Leadership: Joe Schmidt, a proven leader, was appointed to win back the lost trust and assist in adopting one approach at all levels of rugby.

Viewpoint: Striking Balance – Both Positives and Negatives Explored

Horne and Schmidt's ambitions are entirely commendable. Their attempts to unite all the relevant parties and create one vision go a long way in addressing some structural challenges facing rugby. Nevertheless, the scale of the challenge means that it is prudent to avoid the following misconceptions:

1. Temporal Context and Durability: The proposals as presented are not intended to be short-term quick fixes. Building confidence, establishing new channels, and enhancing standards across all sectors will take many years, not months.
2. Interest at Both Purchase and Organic Levels: If the HP Playbook is built on horizontal congruence at the elite professional levels, its success will depend on more than just theoretical alignment—it requires consistent execution, open communication, and shared accountability across all teams and stakeholders. Its direct effect on grassroots membership clubs and schools remains vague. Unless a more robust bottom-up rugby culture exists, the professional game will ultimately fail - the game is in this very predicament now.
3. Active Marketing of the Sport and Community Engagement: The Wallabies' achievement is essential in winning back the elusive supporters, but mending relations between community rugby is equally crucial. There is an urgent need for a cultural overhaul within Australian rugby to cater to a broader participation base.
4. Intervention on the Challenges: Quite a number of the concerns, especially Super rugby and rugby at the bottom of the pyramid, are traceable to the weak economic base. Some factors need a new approach to funding, with solutions that balance financial stability and performance, ensuring both can happen together.
5. Centralisation vs. Collaboration: Centralisation establishes order, but RA must consider all stakeholders' requirements. This one-size-fits-all strategy risks raising concerns for member unions, franchises, and grassroots programs.

Conclusion

The article suggests that Peter Horne and Joe Schmidt's solutions for reconstructing Australian rugby are reasonable in scope and extent, and their approach to promoting alignment and accountability is an improvement. Nonetheless, the outcome will rely on their capacity to respond to even more fundamental concerns, including club development, finances, and the local community.

To bring Australian rugby back to life, more than a mere structural adjustment will be needed: it will also require a cultural shift and a willingness to invest in the long haul. Should Horne and Schmidt be able to integrate these aims, their visions have the potential to restore the Wallabies' success and promote holistic development that serves every stratum of the game.