Following the All Blacks’ victory over the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup Test in 2020, retired NRL player Keith Galloway tweeted a tongue-in-cheek analysis referring to Australians as private school graduates. This sparked a discussion about the perception of rugby union in Australia being dominated by those from private schools. With a majority of Wallabies players and administrators coming from private institutions, there is a belief that rugby has an elitist image, which may be hindering its growth among a broader audience. Former RA chief executives have acknowledged this issue, and steps have been taken to address the dominance of private schools in rugby, including the establishment of inclusive programs. The appointment of Phil Waugh as the new RA CEO highlights the importance of strengthening connections between grassroots and professional levels, which can benefit the Wallabies and women’s rugby. RA is also striving to increase funding and support for junior pathways to grow the game and compete with other codes like rugby league in public schools, where the sport is dominant. Despite criticisms over financial investments in players like Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, RA aims to generate resources that can ultimately benefit grassroots rugby. The ongoing challenge for RA is to instill inclusivity in the sport and expand its appeal beyond its traditional private school base.
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amp.abc.net.au
