Fans point fingers after Fox Sports ends 25-year association with Australian rugby
Fox Sports’ decision to end its 25-year association with rugby union in Australia has led to fans pointing fingers at what is to blame.
The broadcaster has shown union ever since the game went professional, but now Rugby Australia is seeking a new deal.
This is yet more damaging news for union in Australia after suffering over the past years, and this is indicative of the dwindling popularity of the sport.
RA CEO Raelene Castle and soon departing chairman Cameron Clyne have been singled out by many fans, with waves of criticism for how they have run the organisation.
The entire debacle surrounding Israel Folau proved hugely divisive amongst fans last year and while Castle and Clyne were doomed to face censure for whatever action they chose, it only added to the criticism over how RU has been run.
(Continue reading below…)
Israel Folau’s first interview for Catalans Dragons
Castle is still not looked upon favourably after her stint with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL, and decisions in union have also not helped her cause.
Opting to keep Michael Cheika on as head coach after a poor run of results a couple of years ago was controversial, and this is yet more bad news.
Rugby has self-destructed under a woeful administration
— Rhys ☦️🇦🇺 🇷🇺 🇮🇱 God Save the King (@mckenzie_rhys) February 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/Elvatodelasud/status/1225007750972751872?s=20
It’s no surprise that Fox has walked away. Castle and Clyne are poison and effectively are standing over the death of RU in Australia. Such a shame that a game can be destroyed by incompetence of the governing body.
— Cam Williams (@camjohnwilliams) February 5, 2020
Raelene Castle next career move surely must be in demolition.
Seems perfect at imploding organizations.— The Woodsman (@TheWoodsmanTree) February 5, 2020
How does Raelene have a job? See left Bulldogs in tatters and now RA in tatters… Nearly every pub and club has Fox Sports…How many have Optus? Wont even get the casual viewers watching anymore
— Michael Lennon (@MichaelLennon23) February 5, 2020
However, fans have said that Fox Sports’ decision has to do with performances on the pitch as the Wallabies are not necessarily the force they have been in the past and neither are their Super Rugby teams.
The results of the national team do, however, tie in with Cheika and RA’s decision to retain him. The question is now whether a potential revival under new coach Dave Rennie could reignite some interest across Australia.
Equally, the entire Super Rugby competition has been lambasted, as Australia face similar problems to South Africa in terms of dwindling viewing numbers. The lack of success of their teams is partly to do with that, as well as the multiple time zones.
It's clearly linked to the woeful on-field performances by the Wallabies and Aussie-based Super Rugby teams. Who wants to watch the matches on Fox Sports when the teams consistently lose?
— Johnson Leung (@johnsonleung) February 5, 2020
The death nell of Australian rugby. Optus will kill the code as no one will sign up. The real problem is not the broadcast rights, it’s the poor performance of Australian teams. We are now so poor it’s hardly worth turning up to play any Kiwi sides.
— David Evans (@calledeya2) February 5, 2020
Cause super rugby is a stupid competition, have a national competition in each of the countries that compete would make competition so much better and create rivalries.
— interests (@boxingandstuff) February 5, 2020
Optus has been lined up as a potential broadcaster of union in the future once the current Fox deal ends in 2020.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
44 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
123 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
123 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
44 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
123 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
44 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to comments