Ex-Wallabies spread the word to juniors
A BAND of former Wallabies led by Stephen Hoiles have set about restoring the faith in Australia’s rugby community.
Hoiles manages the Classic Wallabies – designed for former Australian Test players – and last year identified an area in which they could make a significant impact.
“I just noticed my six or seven-year-old daughter at the time was coming home and telling me how often the (Sydney) Roosters were at school (and she would ask) can we go and watch the Roosters, Dad?” Hoiles said.
“I just thought why aren’t we doing this in rugby?”
“I still remember every professional sportsman that came into my school when I was younger and I could name them all (including Wayne Pearce and Owen Finegan).
“Whether they be from league or rugby, they always had a big influence on why I wanted to be a professional footy player.”
Hoiles noted the ARU had funnelled much of its funding into propping up the country’s spluttering top-level teams, leaving little to take care of grassroots engagement.
It’s a hole the 16-Test back-rower believes the Classic Wallabies can fill, with the help of corporate backing.
Supported by Vodafone and Harvey Norman until the end of the year, ex-stars have been able to tour schools and clubs around the nation.
Over the past week Hoiles and Mark Chisholm visited Surfers Paradise and Musgrave Hill state schools as well as the juniors of clubs Helensvale and Bond Pirates.
With long-term funding Hoiles said the program could extend to a full-time capacity, even involving their own development officers.
He said the concept had a double benefit of helping players with the life transition presented when retiring from the professional arena.
“It is only the people that are in that field themselves that realise how hard it can be because at the age of 35 you’re trying to work out what you want to do and who you want to be,” he said.
“Our sport is not immune to mental health illnesses and suicides – it is a big part of what we want to help.”
Chisholm only returned to Australia from Ireland two weeks ago after hanging up the boots and admitted life after footy can be a “daunting” prospect.
“You think what’s next, what is going to fill that void and this is exactly it,” said the lock who is nearing the completion of his strength and conditioning studies.
Chisholm said efforts at the grassroots level will be crucial to turning around a “frustrating” period for the struggling Wallabies and Super Rugby franchises.
“I think it has lost a fair bit of momentum and interest, to be honest,” he said.