Game has to end crazy tit-for-tat bickering now
THE death of a cherished monarch has inadvertently provided fresh evidence that rugby’s governance remains resolutely amateur, more than a quarter-of-a-century into the professional era.
What a shambles it was, as the game scrambled to work out how to suitably mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Yet again, the sport managed to make itself look divided and petty. Congratulations to the RFU for ruling that all fixtures from Championship level downwards could proceed, with fitting tributes, but the Premiership tied itself in knots and exposed fundamental flaws in the way it is run. Deciding to postpone two Friday night games was the wrong move. Better to have let well-behaved rugby crowds pay their respects than leave many disgruntled fans to count the cost of non-refundable hotel and train bookings.
Why could other matches proceed 19 hours later, but not Bristol v Bath and Sale v Northampton in their allotted slots on Friday? Even worse was the process, with unaffected clubs failing to agree to proceed as planned. Premiership Rugby has adopted a more progressive outlook since Simon Massie-Taylor was appointed as chief executive and his approach so far has been encouraging. But the organisation is still mired in self-interest and petty politics.
There needs to be an overhaul, so that a fully independent executive serve the needs of the collective. There must be an end to all the tit-fortat boardroom bickering.
Last week, there was a World Rugby conference in South Africa. So, was this the time for a breakthrough at last on the longdiscussed global season concept? No. Not a chance. When asked why not, one leading source produced a list of stumbling blocks. It was a long list. Where are the visionaries and master diplomats that the sport so desperately needs? Agustin Pichot might — just might — have been one, but the former Argentina captain was seen off by the old establishment. Bernard Laporte led the resistance to reform. As president of the French federation, he has been a galvanising figure, but last week he was in court in Paris, charged with corruption.
Even when it is not mired in incompetence and in-fighting, rugby governance is murky. True leadership is required now — and unity too. Locally and globally, there are fears about declining attendances, savage financial losses, fixture congestion and concussion-related litigation. If it is to survive and thrive, rugby must become as professional off the field as it has long since been on it. It took the death of a monarch to show that remains a fanciful prospect.