Are we killing the goose that lays the golden egg?
View(s):If we are to give meaning to a Rugby club there will be many different views or interpretations that may stand up. As the new rugby season is around the corner one must realise that a rugby club more than anything else, is a community: the fans that turn up to cheer, cry and curse; the generations of support that means you are born a fan whether you like it or not; where the club comes from and who the club represents. That more or less summarises the perception of a rugby club from the point of view of its rugby supporters.
Today there is almost no club that revolves only around the rugby fraternity. Most clubs have many stakeholders who come for socialising and or participating in another sport associated with a club. It could be cricket, football, basketball, hockey swimming, badminton, tennis, billiards and or snooker. Some like the various theme nights that are associated with a club.
This means that each unit of interest has to compete for resources in the club. Most of the rugby playing clubs started for rugby while some football or hockey was played mainly off season. Some clubs have consolidated the focus of rugby by their constitution where office bearers have to be from a rugby back background effectively shutting off another sports personality from heading the hierarchy. On the other hand in some clubs rugby is another sport while cricket could be their main focus.
Even the teams coming from the Services and Police are one of many sports competing for resources and time. What one has to keep in mind in this scenario is that if rugby has to survive teams have to perform. The members constitute the club and they will not want a huge expenditure that does not bring results. The expenditure has an opportunity deprived to the membership if and when the game does not adequately pay for itself. The costs are huge which are also increased by the demands of players as well as coaching staff. A question arises by the demands that overshadow performance: are we killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
One can attach a similar scenario for schools rugby where the community includes old boys, parents and students. They cry and curse is much more than in club rugby where one thinks to display loyalty to the school is by shouting hoarse even if what you say does not make sense. To some it is to win the league while to some the most important thing is to win a named coveted event. Just as much as the clubs rugby competes for resources the competition in schools may be a dozen other sports. Here again the expenditure is high with rising costs for coaches and the amount of nourishment that are handed out.
In arms, club and school people are passionate about the game and at times are emotional, but have a responsibility to the game whether it is at club or school. This passion sometimes takes away the rational behavior expected spills even to the field where they don’t control the behavior. An often quoted say is “we spend so much on our club or schools”.
The question I have is whether both these branches of the game, clubs and schools effectively shutting off the development of the game on one hand and or moving towards a deterioration if they cannot justify the spend which has more other sports seeking for. Based on what is happening and the costs increasing the chances of a new club or less than affluent school surviving will be a problem. Similarly especially in the case of clubs if the top tier does not perform the chances of being looked after are slim.
The teams in the top tier in the schools will survive. At least those of the top will as matches between teams that are traditional rivals draw crowds that will help the budget through gate collections. With a money syndrome encircling rugby where the demands are more than the outcome it may be opportune for those involved to look at a moderate approach in playing and developing the game.
Should there be a spend that keep mounting be critically evaluated on the long term threat it poses. Take a simple case of players especially at school level continuing to play with injury because somebody wants them out on the field to win a match. Is it also spreading to the clubs where it is a must to be on the field to get your penny irrespective of whether the demands of the game cannot be met as a player may not be in his peak level of fitness to play.
This is a thought that has to be studied more fully as the game could suffer more on the long run as it grows to satisfy a few who have a point to prove.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby
Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB
Evaluator IRB