Hanshow’s Post

It's truly rewarding to receive positive feedback from our amazing partners! 🌟 Simon Hards from Surrey Cricket Foundation recently shared some thoughts on how our partnership is fostering grassroots cricket in Surrey. It's often in moments like these that the true impact of our partnerships becomes clear, shining a light on how our collaborative efforts bring positive change to sports communities. Such feedback serves as a powerful reminder of the ripple effect our actions can have, motivating us to continue making a meaningful difference. Check out the video to hear Simon’s insights. #GrassrootsCricket #SurreyCricketFoundation #PartnershipSuccess #AJSports

Over the past week, I've been pondering the recent review of New Zealand Rugby (NZR) with a heavy heart. As a lifelong lover of the sport, I've witnessed the highs and lows, from packed Waikato games under the winter sun to spirited debates with Canterbury friends over who was a better 7, Ritchie McCaw or Marty Holah, clearly a stupid debate but keep in mind I was a kid from the Waikato. It's undeniable that rugby holds a special place in our hearts, but it's equally clear that the game is facing complex challenges. The recent review paints a stark picture of an organization struggling to adapt to the changing times. One question that has been on my mind is the composition of the NZR board. Do we have too many "subject matter experts" on board, in other words, rugby people who may be too close to the sport to see the bigger picture? Or are we sometimes victims of nepotism, favoring our mates within the rugby community? These are questions worth asking, especially when we seek transformation and innovation. Moreover, the issue of gender diversity and representation cannot be ignored. NZR lost funding from Sport NZ due to its inability to meet gender quotas and achieve reasonable female representation. It's a stark reminder that inclusivity and diversity are not just buzzwords but crucial elements in modern sports governance. As someone who works with operational and commercial transformation and serves on a board, I believe it's essential for NZR to consider these questions seriously. The game we love deserves innovation and rejuvenation. The report's findings suggest that NZR might need to overhaul its leadership and governance structure to bring about the necessary changes. How NZR responds to this critical juncture will be telling. Will they embrace change and breathe new life into our beloved game, or will they hesitate, allowing it to slowly wither away? It's a thought-provoking moment for all of us who cherish rugby. I understand that these comments might ruffle some feathers, but I believe it's a conversation worth having. Perhaps it's time to balance the sport's tradition with the fresh perspectives of those who can drive innovation and secure rugby's future. Food for thought. https://lnkd.in/gxumDGac #newzealandrugby #innovationinsport #governance

Community facilities are not just spaces - they are the vibrant heartbeats of our neighborhoods, nurturing much more than just physical health and fitness. These spaces are where children learn invaluable life lessons - resilience, teamwork, the importance of hard work, and the realities of both winning and losing. This, in turn has immense benefits for future generations of our communities. Being a part of a sporting community goes far beyond the physical activities. It lays the foundation for a lifetime of benefits, from improved health and fitness to building extensive networks and fostering strong mental health. I would be very interested to see a long term cost analysis of providing and maintaining community sporting facilities against the long term savings on our medical system and criminal justice system. I understand that Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports in WA and is also an inclusive sport. In this way, I recognize the significance of community facilities in contributing to shaping well-rounded individuals and fostering a sense of belonging and togetherness in our communities. Investing in these spaces means investing in the future of our society.

Cash-strapped Netball Australia has been warned nearly $18m in funding will soon be reallocated to other sports amid concerns it will not be appropriately spent. #sportmanagement #sportsbusiness #sportsindustry #netball #businessagility #businessadvisors #fundingsolutions #fundingalert

Could NIL Unlock a New Era of Rugby Athlete Empowerment and Global Fame? The integration of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) in collegiate sports has opened a plethora of opportunities for athletes in sports like American football and basketball. It's intriguing to ponder how a similar system could benefit rugby, a sport with a passionate global following yet varying professional opportunities. Here are some condensed thoughts: Benefits: 💪 Athlete Empowerment: NIL could provide rugby players with financial independence and broader personal development opportunities. 🌟 Increased Sport Visibility: Engaging with brands and leveraging social media could draw new fans, elevating rugby's global profile. 🤝 Enhanced Community Engagement: Athlete endorsements could strengthen the bond between local businesses and rugby communities, fostering mutual growth. Challenges: ⚖ Equitable Framework: The development of a fair and effective regulatory system is crucial to ensure equal opportunities and maintain the sport's integrity. 📉 Market Size Limitations: Rugby's market and fan base, while substantial, are smaller than those of some sports currently benefiting from NIL, possibly affecting the scale of opportunities. 📚 Educational Support for Athletes: Players would need guidance on navigating branding, financial management, and legal aspects of NIL engagements. Implementing NIL in rugby could represents a forward-thinking approach enhancing visibility and financial independence but also poses significant challenges that require thoughtful consideration. The RugbyDAO are keen to hear your thoughts. Could NIL be the future of rugby? #rugby #rugbygrowth #sportsmarketing #sportsbusiness #futureofrugby

Couldn't agree more with this approach to accentuating rugby... The sheer potential! I feel up-and-coming athletes need to be appreciated more, if that means helping them build and grow a more formidable personal brand for themselves, then so be it. After all, that's just a fraction of what needs to happen anyway. Don't even get me started on the possibilities of integrating the phygital side of things into the current NIL structure. Endorsements and promotions, etc are one thing... Crafting phygital assets that have infinite potential for all parties involved... Athlete + brand + fan, now that's a different ball game.

I recently had the opportunity to give a presentation on the Kenyan sports landscape in Janelle Wells, Ph.D. class at USF VSEM. I was initially interested in Kenya due to their historic success in distance running, but I discovered the importance of several other sports in Kenyan culture as well. One of these sports is rugby sevens, a condensed version of rugby. The Kenya Sevens team has experienced success throughout the 21st century, but in 2023, they were relegated from the World Rugby Sevens Series. The article below details a number of reasons that led to the team's struggles. Sports organizations provide valuable case studies to learn from when building and maintaining an organization. The struggles of Kenya Sevens revealed several key factors to focus on when striving for sustained success: 1. Organizational consistency and stability over a long period of time 2. Development of a healthy team culture 3. Common goals within the organization 4. Investment in both the current and next generation of players 5. Relationships with outside organizations #GlobalWells #VSEM #KenyaSevens

Sign of the times (passion related) Is it time to take a leaf from the English/ Europe and privatise rugby clubs in AUS and NZ? Is it time to let the reins go #ARU and #NZRU and create a comp using local teams rather than rep teams Here’s why. 1. Let small town/ suburban clubs showcase their locally breed talent. 2. Use local suburban fields, instead of empty stadiums. 3. Gives the community a reason to come together. 4. Uncapped salaries. 5. Be cool to see my junior club play in a tier #1 national / cross Tasmania comp. 6. Easy recruitment 7. A board that is familiar to the club since juniors The list goes on… what could be the 8th and 9th why? #local #sport #rugby #sponsorship #privatisation #suburbs #makechangehappen #initiative #newbeginnings

Is The Sport Of Rugby Next On The Saudi's Investment List? After the #fifaworldcup , and the #olympicgames , the #rugbyworldcup is the third largest sporting event in the world that takes place every four years. As a sport, rugby's popularity is exploding globally. More than 8 million players across 132 nations play the game, and last years Rugby World Cup played in France introduced the sport to many new fans across the world. Today the sport has a global fan base of over 500 million. With a new Netflix series now released "Six Nations Full Contact" the sport is bound to attract even more new fans. Like any new global businesses there are challenges. The smaller rugby playing nations find it hard to secure the funds required to elevate the game in there countries. Infrastructure, equipment, good level coaches, and high performance centers that are taken for granted in the larger rugby nations are few and far between in these smaller rugby communities. Over the past few years, #saudiarabia through their Public Investment Fund (PIF) have been on a mission to invest in global sport at unprecedented levels. From Golf's #livgolf , to #formula1 , #boxing , #mma , and #football to name a few, billions of dollars have been spent to help expand the sports, and to bring a new level of entertainment to sporting fans across the world. Known discussions between the PIF and the sports of #cricket and #tennis in 2023 have led many to believe that they will be the next to feel the huge financial injection from the Saudi's seemingly bottomless purses. Many in global rugby circles, myself included, believe that it is only a matter of time before the PIF sets its eyes on #rugby, and why not. "World Rugby" the organization is the gatekeeper of the sport, and as an organization it's purpose is to grow rugby by making it more relevant and accessible, with a vision of a global sport for all, true to its values. However World Rugby is limited by funds, and with any rapidly expanding global business securing significant investment can assist in many different areas. The Saudi's are playing the long game when it comes to their investment in sport. There's is not a take over mentality, but rather working with each sport to find ways to elevate its presence as well as to invest in ways that can alleviate the sport, this can also include in investing in data and technology solutions, logistics and planning, and marketing. Lets see, if in 2024 the PIF and Rugby find themselves on a similar trajectory, I believe the result of that would be great for the game, players, coaches and fans. You can view my latest rugby show episode here on this topic https://lnkd.in/geSFrwVp

We observe the South Island NRL Bid being compared with others. Confident in being the next club granted approval to join, we strongly advocate for expanding the National Rugby League men's and women's competitions to 20 teams as soon as feasible. This expansion should ensure sustainability where clubs, players, and communities can prosper. We believe that the South Island of #NewZealand has all the inputs for early success, similar to what was seen with the Melbourne Storm. We believe Rugby league is the premier sport in Australasia, given its extensive reach across the entire Pacific. We acknowledge and respect the efforts of everyone involved in the bid application process, from #PNG to #WesternAustralia. As part of the #rugbyleague community, we aim to collectively strengthen and cement rugby league's position as the leading sport in the Southern Hemisphere. The below analysis was completed on Australian fans in 2021; we plan to share similar data on the New Zealand and Pacific markets in the coming weeks. #NRL