Rugby Abroad’s Post

🚨 🇦🇺 🏉 ✊ “Nothing could be more important at this time than a focus on winning the hearts and minds of Australian rugby fans” Australian Rugby Think Tank Report: Insights and Innovations for a Thriving Future. As Australian Rugby stands at a pivotal crossroads, the RugbyDAO has spearheaded an essential dialogue through an Australian Rugby Think Tank, uniting key stakeholders to deliberate on the future of this storied Australia. With the 2025 Lions Tour, the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, and the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup on the horizon, the imperative to fortify the sport's foundation and propel it toward a prosperous future has never been more urgent. This report encapsulates the insights, recommendations, and strategic pathways discussed during the think tank. Delving into critical areas such as grassroots engagement, performance pathways, and fan engagement, offering a blueprint for a commercially viable, globally competitive, and community-centric rugby ecosystem. The report reveals passion and optimism in a fragmented landscape and highlights the necessity for a unified strategy that prioritises community development, leverages technological innovation, and redefines fan engagement. This is a call to action for immediate change but also a platform for deeper investigation into cultivating a thriving rugby culture that resonates with Australians from all walks of life. We invite the entire Australian and global rugby community—players, coaches, fans, and stakeholders—to engage with the findings and participate in a constructive dialogue. Together, we can address the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead, ensuring a vibrant and resilient future for Australian Rugby. Feel free to start or join the conversation in any of our channels by commenting below, joining our discord or following us on twitter (X). Links in the comments. Explore the full report below and join us in helping to shape the renaissance of Australian Rugby. #AustralianRugby #rugby #sport #RugbyDAO #RugbyRevival #FutureOfRugby #rugbyrevolution

What would happen if rugby unions had to be ranked with both men's and women's rugby teams involved? Check out the full episode in the link in the bio or below

Admittedly, I had a knee jerk reaction when I saw all the pink and purple in the World Rugby initiative Rugby Rising Play. (Sidenote: at 42 years old I'm working on understanding my own conditioning against societally identified "girlie things".) But looking at the broader negative reactions to this promo, reinforced self-reflection regarding my initial reaction and how that conflicts with my genuine belief about the sport of rugby - Women and girls are diverse, and all types of folks play and enjoy rugby. I have arrived here: This promo video is a good reminder that we need many different paths to entry into the game that make all people and children feel comfortable to join the game. Rugby is not just about being tough, it is also about finesse, tactics, style, and evolving as a game - and for that we need all kinds of people to join. If there is a sector of girls that will see this and feel that rugby is a place where they may belong - as fans or as athletes - it is a good thing and I applaud it. Women and girls are NOT a monolith, even in a tenacious sport. Some of the best athletes I coached only ever participated in theater or cheerleading or music and they applied their focus and became amazing rugby players. We as a rugby community have to reach our hands out to every type of person and let them decide if they want to be a part of the community. This World Rugby promo is an example of that. And YES, rugby needs fans! So even when people try rugby and find that playing the sport isn't for them, there is still a place for them as a fan. As for the fandom, children - especially girls, can find strength in watching others display their toughness. We allow boys who have never played Pee-Wee Football (little kids American football) to watch and admire the NFL players each week. We see how it makes them feel powerful and confident, so why not girls and rugby? Are we, as a rugby community, defining little girls who like pink, purple, and sparkles and resigning them to be moms and caretakers only?!? If so, that is absolute rubbish. So let's broaden the circle - that's what the women+ of this game have been doing. You should continue to follow our lead.

Sky Sport has just announced the introduction of free-to-air Friday footy, and I couldn't be more thrilled about it! 🏉 This is a significant move, especially considering the current challenges facing rugby viewership in New Zealand. Over the past few years, we've seen a decline in Super Rugby viewership, coupled with stiff competition from other sports like NRL. But with this new initiative, there's hope for a resurgence in interest and support for rugby in our country. Let's delve into why this initiative is so crucial. Firstly, there's the matter of our international performance. Gone are the days of All Blacks dominance, and now we find ourselves battling for a top-three position in the world. Additionally, there's a noticeable rise in rugby's popularity in the northern hemisphere, with World Rugby actively seeking to break into the US market. However, one of the most concerning aspects is the decline in local participation numbers. Currently, there are only 32,429 adults playing rugby in New Zealand, compared to a staggering 73,000 participating in football. This trend underscores the urgent need for action to revitalize interest in the sport at the grassroots level. But here's where the silver lining lies: history has shown us that exposure plays a pivotal role in boosting participation. Just look at how cricket and football saw a surge in participation following major events like the World Cup in NZ. By showcasing rugby on free-to-air platforms, we have the opportunity to reignite interest and drive participation from the ground up. So, a huge shoutout to Sky for taking this bold step forward. Let's all rally behind this initiative and hope that it serves as a catalyst for positive change in the rugby landscape. 🌟 https://lnkd.in/gCvzmmgh #RugbyRevival #SkySport #FreeToAirFooty

Fans show their Super Rugby super powers! NZR+ has launched two Play Predictor games to elevate both the DHL Super Rugby Pacific and Sky Super Rugby Aupiki competitions for rugby fans. The Play Predictors give fans an “always on” second screen experience, whereby they can watch the live action unfold on the field and use the NZR+ app to track how their predictions perform. There are $250NZD All Blacks Shop vouchers up for grabs weekly, as well as bragging rights amongst friends and colleagues 🏉 The Play Predictors are also a way to showcase our Super Rugby competitions to a global audience, giving the clubs, the players and their fans an additional platform of exposure. The Play Predictors are free to play for anyone with an NZR+ account. One of our first winners, Matt, was excited to get shopping at the All Blacks shop. "I've never owned an All Blacks jersey, so that will definitely be on the list," he shared. "I'd also better grab something for the kids too!" NZR+ provides highlights and rapid recaps for every Super Rugby match, so fans can see exactly how they earned points once the round is complete. We’ve been proud to collaborate with the teams at Endeavor and LiveLike to bring Play Predictor to life. These Play Predictors are only Phase 1 in our gamification roadmap, and we are looking forward to launching more exciting fan experiences when the international series starts in July. Give the Play Predictors a try this weekend and see how your powers of prediction rank against rugby fans all over the world: Super Rugby Aupiki: https://lnkd.in/gR8PFed9 Super Rugby Pacific: https://lnkd.in/gH5pEvvu To win the prizes, you must be 18+ and be a resident of NZ, Aus, UK or Fiji. Further T&Cs apply.

New blog article is now available and today's topic is all things rugby! "Super Rugby, once heralded as one of the premier rugby union competitions in the Southern Hemisphere, has undergone significant changes in recent years. Among the most profound shifts was the departure of South African teams, which has had far-reaching implications for the competition's excitement and business viability. This detailed article explores how the end of Super Rugby involving South African teams has affected the competition, both in terms of fan engagement and financial performance." To read more of the blog, click the link below: https://lnkd.in/gtS2Wg9w #sports #sportsmarketing #content #blog #writing #rugby #superrugby #sportsbusiness #agents #athletes

A very disappointing day for rugby in Australia. It seems history is set to repeat itself with another Australian Super Rugby Team ceasing to exist. It is naive to think reducing the professional contracting opportunities by 20% will increase depth and competition. The NRL and AFL have 17 and 18 teams respectively, Rugby will have 4. Which code do you think juniors will steer towards? A 1/4 chance or a 1/17 or 1/18, less career opportunities will equal less depth as potential players seek certainty and better odds of making it professional. How could a governing body be ignorant to a franchise operating insolvent for multiple years? I question whether this failure of corporate governance raises more concerns for the future of professional rugby in Australia.

Sky Sport has just announced the introduction of free-to-air Friday footy, and I couldn't be more thrilled about it! 🏉 This is a significant move, especially considering the current challenges facing rugby viewership in New Zealand. Over the past few years, we've seen a decline in Super Rugby viewership, coupled with stiff competition from other sports like NRL. But with this new initiative, there's hope for a resurgence in interest and support for rugby in our country. Let's delve into why this initiative is so crucial. Firstly, there's the matter of our international performance. Gone are the days of All Blacks dominance, and now we find ourselves battling for a top-three position in the world. Additionally, there's a noticeable rise in rugby's popularity in the northern hemisphere, with World Rugby actively seeking to break into the US market. However, one of the most concerning aspects is the decline in local participation numbers. Currently, there are only 32,429 adults playing rugby in New Zealand, compared to a staggering 73,000 participating in football. This trend underscores the urgent need for action to revitalize interest in the sport at the grassroots level. But here's where the silver lining lies: history has shown us that exposure plays a pivotal role in boosting participation. Just look at how cricket and football saw a surge in participation following major events like the World Cup in NZ. By showcasing rugby on free-to-air platforms, we have the opportunity to reignite interest and drive participation from the ground up. So, a huge shoutout to Sky for taking this bold step forward. Let's all rally behind this initiative and hope that it serves as a catalyst for positive change in the rugby landscape. 🌟 https://lnkd.in/gCvzmmgh

Twickenham Stadium becomes the Allianz Stadium: Could this be the turning point for English rugby? Rugby fans across England have felt ‘personally attacked’ by the loss of their beloved “Twickers”. ’How could you?’, they scream. Well, considering the state of the game, quite easily. Our rugby specialist, Will Thompson, breaks down why this deal isn’t all doom and gloom, and could actually be the game-changer rugby in England so desperately needs: 🏟 This deal is reportedly worth more than £100m over 10 years, a staggering figure in rugby terms that will see record numbers invested in the grassroots game and professional clubs. After a difficult few years since Covid, the RFU are keen to avoid any more pain. Fans, players, and key voices in the media have been calling out for the desperate need for investment, and this is the answer. 🏟 This investment will also provide vital funding into the professional game and senior teams, particularly enhancing growth in the women’s game with Allianz already title partner of the Premiership Women's Rugby 🏟 With that, Allianz is a known sponsor of rugby across the world, so it feels an authentic and genuine partnership 🏟 The press release from the RFU mentions ‘improving experiences’ at the stadium too, essential in bringing Rugby HQ into the modern day with a stadium that attracts new fans to generate more revenue, which forms a huge part of the funding for the whole English game; multiple routes to the station might be a start... 🏟 The other alternative at one stage was selling Twickenham altogether and merging the Home of Rugby with the Home of Football – yes Wembley! So we were relieved this deal means our iconic home remains 🏟 Accusations of Twickenham ‘selling its soul’ are somewhat naive, as these types of investments are exactly what every other mainstream sport has done to survive and grow. And just as people still affectionally call Wembley Stadium Connected by EE simply ‘Wembley’, The Kia Oval simply ‘The Oval’, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium simply ‘Murrayfield’, and the DHL Stadium ‘Cape Town Stadium’, Twickers will always be Twickers to rugby fans After what’s felt like years of ‘what do we do’, this deal feels like the first huge step towards growing and changing the game this nation loves so much. #Rugby #Twickenham #AllianzStadium #RFU

American Rugby needs to capitalize on this!!! 🏉 As a passionate rugby player, I’m thrilled for Netflix's upcoming docuseries on the Rugby Six Nations Tournament … We've witnessed the incredible impact the “Drive to Survive”🏎️💨 series has had on elevating the sport's popularity … Now it's time for rugby to get some shine in the spotlight … Major League Rugby! … ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION!!!??? 🧐 Major League Rugby in America has a golden opportunity to seize what is hopefully a surge of interest and help catapult the growth of professional rugby in the U.S. With the eyes of potential new fans turning towards the sport, MLR needs to find ways to leverage this momentum to expand its reach to build a stronger fanbase. This year, I hope MLR capitalizes on the power of storytelling and showcases the intensity, skill, and camaraderie that define rugby.   If MLR and its teams work to lead the way,... Players, and enthusiasts alike, will unite in promoting our beloved sport.   Create engaging content around the stories, struggles, and emotions of the players! 🗝️🗝️🗝️ We don't need more highlights, We need more HEART! ❤️ There's so much we can do to make rugby a household name in the U.S. Let's make this moment count and bring rugby to the forefront of American sports culture! 🌟🇺🇸 #content #storytelling #GrowTheGame