MONEY BILL
I got over World Cup loss in five or 10 minutes, says $10.5m star ahead of his big-money move to Canada
Beancounter Report or some such; ‘‘I don’t think you can measure the interest of ordinary people, interest which never has a financial expression and never will have. But it’s part of England; a part of our way of life.’’
Oh, but that is exactly what we have become. Us fans have become a measurement. Social cohesion and affordable ticket prices are a long way down the list of most sport’s team priorities. And money is top of the list by a very long way. Rugby may be a part of New Zealand and a part of our way of life, but the many people who once packed into our grounds to follow their team, no longer feel that way.
We, the fans, have become disenfranchised. Michael Atherton wrote in the Times the other day of John Aston, the Manchester United footballer who won man of the match at the 1968 European Cup final. Aston said; ‘‘I could play on a Saturday, go to the local, have a couple of pints and people would say ‘well played’ or ‘blimey, that was poor stuff.’’’
That is now a fantasy. Sponsors form a dividing wall now between fans and players. And that is why Japan was so nourishing. It gave us an imperfect glimpse of what still could be. And it gave us a glimpse of what players and fans could do to bring a community and a country together.
Rassie Erasmus, the coach of South Africa, spoke of it being ‘‘not our responsibility, it is our privilege’’ to play for the people and the country. Captain Siya Kolisi said, ‘‘We appreciate all the support – people in the taverns, in the shebeens, farms, homeless people and people in the rural areas. Thank you so much, we appreciate the support. We love you South Africa and we can achieve anything if we work together as one.’’
Together as one. It’s not a bad thought for the incoming CEO of New Zealand Rugby. The sport unites communities. Make it affordable for people to return to the grounds. Give them good food and make the wonderful new technologies available to them. Show them you care. Bow deeply. Because if we can bring fans back into our grounds, then New Zealand will be a better place.
Together as one.
‘‘We appreciate all the support – people in the taverns, in the shebeens, farms, homeless people and people in the rural areas. We love you South Africa and we can achieve anything if we work together as one.’’ Boks captain Siya Kolisi