Bit by bit, Rugby Australia’s plan for restoring the game is becoming apparent. The plan isn’t Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Throwing millions at one bloke – who needs to bulk up by about eight kilograms judging by this week’s new jersey photoshoot – and hoping that he solves everything is certainly must-watch sporting theatre.
But the real plan has been partly revealed by the under-16s and under-19s Super Rugby comps that have been running – with some investment given the travel costs involved – and the bigger picture that everything in Australian rugby is now going to go through the four remaining Super franchises, two of which have been “centralised” by RA. RA high performance guru Peter Horne said: “We’ve made a big push pivoting a bit into under-14s and having a connection at under-14s and 15s, and those players in our system from 14 through to just over 20, we’ve been able to retain a significant proportion.” The absolute magic ingredient here isn’t just the age of the player, it’s the alignment with the Super Rugby teams and the idea that a 15-year-old is connected to the Waratahs or Reds right through until he or she makes their debut at 22 or 23.
Australian Schools stars Heinz Lemoto will be the subject of cross-code lobbying. Credit: Getty Images for Rugby Australia Let’s call this the “one-page plan” – in that the Super Rugby franchise can sit in front of a talented 15-year-old and their parents and simply articulate on one A4 piece o.
