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'Fan-centric' innovations expected once Super Rugby Commission is established
By Ned Lester
New Zealand’s love of rugby is complex and varying. Australia’s, even more so. The relationship between the respective unions is “unique” but New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson is certain the two will soon come to an arrangement on the establishment of a Super Rugby commission.
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The commission will provide a clear and progressive future for the competition and look to re-engage any waning fanbases as other sports threaten to steal rugby’s spotlight.
Since Super Rugby’s future is confirmed until 2030, maximising the entertainment value and community connection will be priority number one and an objective deserving of its own, full-time staff.
The commission’s official purpose is to “drive commercial revenue, oversee rules and regulations, shape the future strategic direction and generate fan-first initiatives”.
So what avenues will the commission explore? Ideas being floated such as a draft, a salary cap, a player transfer or a trade system all have their merits but, whether they serve the best interests of the competition and the sport overall will likely be investigated and ruled upon by the commission.
“I think there will be more and more work as the commission stands up to investigate those areas, with urgency,” Robinson told Paddy Gower Has Issues.
“We’re incredibly open-minded to all these possibilities. Nothing is off the table as it relates to the way we’re viewing the future of the competition.”
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While club registrations are down, Blues CEO Andrew Hore told Paddy Gower Has Issues that digital engagement and broadcast numbers are trending upward.
“People are following,” he said. “They’re there. It’s getting them back to the ground.
“This sport needs to be treated like any other world-class international competition, and actually have people working on it all the time.
“Working out what the fan wants, making it far more fan-centric doesn’t take a lot, and then you start to get the tribalism building again and people travelling again which is fantastic.”
Some progressive innovations can be expected over the coming Super Rugby seasons, for now Robinson is without doubt “the game is still really strong in terms of its connection to people’s hearts and minds.”
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They can tinker at the edges as much as they like. The standard is poor.
Simply, there are too many teams, especially in the current climate of injuries, suspensions and concussion protocols.
What they need to do, in Australia, is shake the elitist tag and show a little love to the 'subbies' where regular people, with a love for the game, are toiling away, week in week out. Get the eyes off the private schools and generate some interest at suburban grounds. Club Rugby needs a lift too. Scenes on the TV coverage of clubs (who lets face it, feed the Super Rugby sides) playing on grounds that are simply roped off rather then proper fenced in stadiums, just shows the game off as being amateurish. The game went professional a long time ago now, it's time it started to look and feel that way too.