Winning is everything for Aussies, says O’Neill
FORMER Rugby Australia chairman John O’Neill says the entire health of the game is riding on the Wallabies winning big trophies and stringing together victories.
O’Neill, speaking tomorrow at a Gold Coast junior rugby fundraising lunch at RACV Royal Pines in the lead-up to Saturday’s Wallabies v Argentina Test, said Australian rugby was dependent on drawing back big crowds to fixtures.
“The Wallabies need to win not just for themselves but their fans,” he said.
“The health of the game depends on the support that once saw crowds of more than 100,000 cheering on the team.
“Those heady days when we held every major trophy on offer should not be forgotten against a backdrop of half full stadia like last week against South Africa (at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane).
“The key revenue levers in sport are gate takings, broadcast revenue and sponsorship.
“Broadcasting revenue is locked in for five-year periods for rugby, so the levers you can pull on an annual basis are gate takings and sponsorship.
“Successful teams drive both. The Wallabies are our primary rainmakers so their performances are absolutely crucial,” he said.
O’Neill said he felt Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale was “incredibly important to their prospects on any given day”.
O’Neill heads a line-up of rugby luminaries – including Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and ex-All Black turned Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn – as guest speakers at tomorrow’s lunch at RACV Royal Pines.
The event starts at 12.30pm with tickets at $160 a head or $1500 for a table of 10