Uh-huh couldn't agree more....

[clarity_g]

AUSTRALIA Rugby Union boss Gary Flowers believes the 2011 World Cup verdict has blown an important chance to grow the game globally, Flowers has congratulated bid winner New Zealand but feels the decision to overlook Japan represents a chance wasted.

EDITThere has always been something about the IRB that ticked me off. And well, I think I've

Comments

[wordynerd]

everything that you said is so true! how can the IRB hope to attract more people to the game if they don't push into non-traditional area. hhmm... this is starting to sound remarkably familiar. perhaps a little like the ARU & the awarding of the 4th super 14 team to perth. hhmm? hhmm... perhaps?

[clarity_g]

Perth. Oh god. I shouldn't get started on Perth! That rant will last for pages.

But there is something about rugby, especially at an administrative level, that is an old farts game. They line their own pockets and are unable to see what is best for the game rather than what they want. (or what will make them more favourable)

[wordynerd]

it's very much an "old boys club". which is insanely frustrating because it's killing the game here in australia. it's even more obvious now withe the socceroos and the rather rapid growth of football in australia since oh guess who, might that be john o'neil took over? the ARU better watch out otherwise they're going to be in some serious trouble.

but we shan't talk about perth b/c i think you and i could vent for quite awhile. (i'm still pissed now!)

[clarity_g]

oh yeah. I'm still pissed about Perth too.

John O'Neil was the best thing for Australian Rugby. Since he has gone the game has been slowly dying, especially in Victoria. John O'Neil had the balls to stand up to channel 7 and say, if you don't show the game live (even when there was an AFL game they were meant to show) in every state, we'll take it off you. And they did. He gave the non-rugby states GOOD games (not like the bullshit we're getting now) and managed a substantial growth of player. I'm not entirely sure what Gary Flowers has done, but make all those things go backwards!

[llamasxrevenge]

It would have been great to have it in Japan cause it would give the game heaps of exposure in a country where it is not a major sport.

However I can't help but feel a little pleased for purely selfish reasons. That being its going to be a hell of a lot cheaper to jump over to NZ rather than go to Japan!

Still, it would have been great in Japan.

[clarity_g]

That's definately the one good thing! It's much cheaper in NZ than Japan. Just hope there is going to be enough tickets to go around!