Rugby suffers setback
WITH the postponement of all international rugby union matches scheduled for July comes the loss of Townsville’s highly anticipated double header.
And with that, a leading women’s coach said the game in the region could fall with it.
The region was set to host the Wallabies and Wallaroos at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on July 18.
However with no clear end in sight to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s unclear when those games will go ahead, if at all.
Given rugby in Townsville has struggled to sustain numbers year on year, the presence of the Wallaroos was set to provide some exposure to the community of where the sport could take them and what it has to offer.
Teachers West women’s coach Lee Brinning said the prospect of having international games in the city presented the opportunity to reach untapped markets and increase Townsville and District Rugby Union members.
“In a way it shows the girls the better quality of rugby they play,” Brinning said.
“It’s one thing to watch the men play but when you see the women play at that level it generates more interest in it and maybe encourage more clubs to bring on women’s teams.
“Last year was probably the most women I’ve seen play rugby in Townsville, and now we’re back down to struggling again this year.
“Every year we do get fluctuation and not having that game here could cause an impact.”
Brinning said the games would have served as the perfect advertising model to attract new players.
And that is perhaps where he sees the biggest misgivings of the game in the region – advertising.
Before pended
COVID-19 the season susthree women’s teams were on board, down from the four the TDRU had last year.
Brinning said that in 2019 the numbers had enabled a 15a-side competition, however this season’s figures did not provide that opportunity.
He said until the women’s code started to get some greater exposure in North Queensland it would constantly be overshadowed by their rugby league counterparts.
“I think there’s enough talent here in the region, we just need to advertise it a bit better,” Brinning said.
“That goes with rugby in North Queensland all together, the advertising of the game really is no good.
“If you ask someone what’s going on in the North this weekend they’ll say league more than anything else, which is disappointing,” Brinning said.
“Until we get proper advertising out there and decent venues to play at it’ll just be the same every year.”