Wallaby player gag does their game a disservice

YOU would have thought that with Rugby Union in Australia languishing behind Aussie Rules, Rugby League, and soccer, the Wallabies would be keen to put their players in front of the British Press this autumn.

Think again. Instead of making players available this week there was no official access – this despite the UK rugby public knowing little about most of Michael Cheika’s squad.

These days it is common practice for international rugby squads to make no more than a handful of their players available to the Press over the course of a week. This contrasts with the big American professional sports, where entire squads are made available on media days.

Players in those sports understand that publicity is crucial to the wellbeing of the whole enterprise – including ensuring they are well-paid.

Australian Rugby Union used to have a far more enlightened approach, with coaches like Bob Dwyer ensuring they made the Wallabies the most approachable team on the planet. The pay-off in terms of raising the profile of Australian Rugby Union both at home and overseas was immense.