Ball In Touch: Our rugby columnist Jeff Ball explains why Wales’ decision to tour the Pacific Islanders by 2017 is a big step in the right direction. Join us on Twitter @BallInTouch to continue the discussion about this and more
Going The Extra Mile
As I was browsing the IRB’s world rankings (as you do), the list of international rugby teams there suggests that rugby is indeed a global game. Half of the worlds countries apparently plays rugby, with 93 member unions being topped by New Zealand and bottomed by Finland, with the powerhouses of Luxembourg and Vanuatu not far off. No, I hadn’t heard of it either -Vanuatu is about 1,000 miles East of Australia with a population of about 250,000, the same as Derby (Thanks Wikipedia).
Anyway, I digress. The point I was trying to make is that with rugby being played in the four corners of the globe (hate that phrase – how can a globe have corners? Sorry, digressing again) then to someone from outside our cosy rugby world, they will no doubt be perplexed that the list of countries England, the country rugby was officially born in, has toured in since the ’98 ‘Tour of Hell’ reads as follows: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, USA, Argentina. And it must be noted that some of them are one trips, several are repeat visits and some are a flying stop-over in a multi-national trip.
Back to our non-rugby friend and the question would undoubtedly be “is that it?” Yes dear friend that is it, six countries in 14 years and no sight of Vanuatu or the like.
Those of us who follow our men in white know the answers of course. The cynical response is: “it all comes down to money”, the non-cynical: “the lower nations don’t represent enough of a challenge or have the resources to host a big side”. The actual answer is probably somewhere in the middle, but realistically it is because the big sides are a bit selfish.
So let’s stop being selfish and being idealistic for a moment. Surely as one of the leaders of the global game it is England’s responsibility to do what it can to grow and develop the game in places of untapped potential? We just have to look at how football is growing in Asia to see the opportunities.
We aren’t alone, all the big sides stick to the same well trodden tours, taking turns to visit each other for the Summer Tours or Autumn Internationals .It is the same faces playing each other again and again. And that is why the ultimate competition, the World Cup, is a bit like the Eurovision Song Contest. Everyone must qualify, except the big sides who just have to turn up on the day and despite there being a lot of teams to pick from, there are only a few realistically who can win it. And everyone hates the English.
It’s all a bit cosy and it is an attitude that is perpetuated in the four years between tournaments – the big boys won’t play with the little kids unless it is in their backyard with their ball. That’s why Wales’ decision to tour the Pacific Islands of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji are a big step that should be applauded and encouraged. Admittedly we may have to wait until 2017 for it to happen, the fact the WRFU has publicly stated its intentions is a step in the right direction and makes it unlikely they will go back on their word.
Every World Cup the ‘minnows’ tag comes out, as do the talks about having a two tier competition. This is regularly shot down but it is understandable why it is voiced – we operate in a two tier international game, with even your most dedicated rugby fan unable to name more than one or two of the big players of the likes of Russia or Portugal off the top of their head, despite both featuring in recent tournaments.
More Pacific Islanders need to see this in their own country against the big sides
Some of you may be quick to point out Scotland will be playing Samoa in Samoa this June. But that is on the back of matches against Fiji and crucially Australia. The majority of the funds for this tour will come from the Australia game, the ability to make a profit from these big occasions being the reason governing bodies will send their teams halfway around the world.
The Wales trip is unique because there is no big money making game. According to Wales Rugby CEO Roger Lewis, they are willing to take the financial loss to do these tours. The intention is to grow the game and show respect to the Pacific Islanders.
The next World Cup is in England and the one after that is in Japan. After that, the likes of the USA are realistic candidates for 2023 and the chances of seeing the World Cup in one of the big traditional countries within the next twenty years is extremely low. Realistically it could be another 40 years before the William Webb Ellis trophy graces the pitch of Twickenham again.
Therefore, efforts like Wales’ must become more and more commonplace. I have written previously about England’s need to grow the game in other parts of England, and I still hold to that – one Six Nations or Barbarians game in the North a year would be a good start.
But it’s when we see the likes of England taking on Samoa, or even Japan in Samoa or Japan, that’s when we will really be able to say we mean business about growing the game. It is all very well talking the talk, but until other big sides climb down from the top table and entertain the smaller nations on their home turf, it is only then we will be able to say with pride that rugby truly is a global game.
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4 Comments
You’re totally wrong with tours to the PI ! The new Tours Agreement signed in 2011 schedule the PI tour in the new 8 year cycle. Scotland benefits from Tonga misorganization (they’re not able to give sufficient hosting guarantee) to hold the test in Asutralia, That’s why the test is outside the international window. Every 6 nations will do the PI tour once. England will do it probably in 2017 during Lions tour.
Hi RG
Thanks for your comment. I hadn’t heard of that Agreement, nor can I find it via Google? Sounds like an interesting document though so if you have a link or something, I’d love to see it.
Jeff
We just have to look at how football is growing in Asia to see the opportunities.
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The most stupid statement in a very poor article.
Football in Asia is growing because of the interest generated by screening the big league games in those countries. This in turn grows a local demand for football that has seen leagues improving as more people participate and companies get involved.
It has absolutely nothing to do with the big international teams touring. In fact there is a distinct lack of tours or fixtures in Asia.
Since the 2002 World Cup only Brazil out of the top sides has even shown any interest at all, playing in China (2003), South Korea (2003) and Hong Kong (2005) but nothing since 2005. Spain, Italy, Germany, England and most other top nations have not played in Asia at all.
Having destroyed that theory let’s go after the other one. Wales, England and Scotland have regularly send A teams over the years to play against Canada, USA, Romania, Portugal, Russia, Tonga, Samoa and the like. They also regularly play most of the senior smaller nations (Samoa, Fiji etc.) in the UK during the autumn internationals. Not to mention host most of their players in our leagues.
Thus the major nations are doing more than their fair share of work to develop the smaller ones. The problem is that there is only so much you can do with countries like Samoa because of the tiny population, never mind Vanuatu. Where larger nations have gotten into the sport then that developmental role has worked very well. Argentina were minnows 20 years ago, Italy were behind Romania in the pecking order, both of those countries with a passion for team sports and large population, both helped and both now at the top table.
As good as it would be to see the traditional rugby minnows do well, realistically the route of expansion as a world game will head through the likes of Russia, Ukraine and Canada, not via Tonga.
Hi Ieuan
Thanks for your comment. My comment on Asia was less a suggestion that touring is what the big teams must do, more a reflection on how a sport and grow if given exposure. With a billion plus people, a growing middle class and a burgeoning obsession for all things ‘Western’, any efforts to break into this market are ripe with potential. Similar for places like India – another billion people there. So not a theory that needs ‘destroyed’ so much as an observation. Of course you can say there is opportunity everywhere. Aviva Premiership crowds on an average weekend are maybe 250,000 in a country of 60 million plus. My point is more effort needs to be made to take the game to non-traditional places. As to what is the appropriate method is, be it tv coverage or touring, is for the men in suits to decide.
For your second point, again, I’m not saying there are not efforts being made by the big nations to help the smaller. I’m a huge fan of the Churchill Cup and disappointed it won’t continue, albeit there will be something to replace it. But there is a big difference in between watching an A team and the full side. Just look at the attendances when the CC was hosted in England, and the figures are nothing to get excited about. Compare that to the heavily-over subscribed full England internationals and you can see how public perception differs.
In addition, outside of such competitions as the CC, the trips to the smaller nations are more a novelty, than a regular event. If you wanted to be cynical you could argue the top sides send their A teams to play these sides as it is good experience to develop their own players, not so much the other sides. Defeat is usually inevitable and it mainly provides a platform for players to become familiar with each other and the international set-up, something that should pay off when they make the step up to the full side (hopefully).
In terms of percentage of revenue from the Autumn Internationals, it is very rarely a fair split. But the PI sides have no choice than to travel to the UK to play the British sides as they aren’t going to go to them. Better to have a small part of the pot than none at all. Similarly for the players, I wouldn’t say we host their top players, they simply have no choice but to come and play here, again to get a bit of the pot that is bigger than anything at home. But just because they are smaller in population doesn’t mean they can’t compete – usually it is the organisation and fitness that lets them down, symptoms of being unable to train together for long or to the level other sides enjoy. I’ll accept Vanuatu is a bit small though, but that was mainly just to highlight my point.
I agree the inclusion of countries at the top table will help develop countries. But the fact we can only really say Argentina and Italy have made that transition in the twenty years you mention, surely that can’t be accepted as enough? The inclusion of Italian sides in the Rabo12 league will make a big difference and I’m looking forward to seeing how that reflects on the national side. But the fact it has taken Argentina this long to get in a proper competition is pretty poor by the governing bodies.
There’s no reason why places like Tonga can’t become a power. Population isn’t everything – look at New Zealand. 4 million people compared to e.g. USA’s 300 million.
Personally I think the biggest growth to come from the global game will be North America and Japan, though keep an eye on Russia, they’re my tip for ones to watch in the next few years.
Cheers for your comment, always good to discuss things.
Jeff
My reference to Vanuatu was to highlight an extreme. Given the size of the country, nevermind the player pool