Australia’s Super Rugby franchises are floundering and the Melbourne Rebels need to be sacrificed.
Rugby union in Australia has a fragile ecosystem, a small band of loyal followers and participants and a top-level national team that historically punches above its weight. Dwarfed by the AFL and NRL, overwhelmed by the A-League and cricket, Super Rugby down under is now at a low ebb.
When the competition started in 1996, when Super 10 became Super 12, it was exciting, revolutionary and fresh. Launched in opposition to rugby league’s Pay TV emergence, it involved 12 teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. With three clubs from Australia, five from New Zealand and four from South Africa, it was a tight competition featuring most of the best players in the world.
In 2006 they added two more teams, one from Australia and one from South Africa, to become Super 14. The Western and the Cheetahs arrived and both struggled on the field. In 2011 another Australian club was admitted – the Melbourne Rebels – and the competition was revamped into a conference system. There would be more derbies, more inter-country games and less between those from different countries.
In 2016 the tinkering continued, all in a big grab for more TV money. In came a team from Japan and Argentina, and another from South Africa. From 10 franchises in 1995, there is now 18. Japan’s Sunwolves won just one game in their debut season, with 13 defeats and a draw from 15 fixtures. Argentina’s Jaguares fared only slightly better, with four victories from their 15 matches.
But from what was once a close, thrilling and unpredictable competition has become bloated and over-extended. Many fans have switched off. Many of the best Kiwi, Aussie and South African players are no longer plying their trade in their homelands, but in the UK and Europe where they can earn more. In a mad dash for revenue, Super Rugby has lost its soul.
This change has been most keenly felt in Australia. With three teams the Australians, and especially their national team the Wallabies, were competitive. With four that was still largely the case, with the Force having regional and strategic benefits, though they have found it tough going on the field. But five teams is simply too much.
Australian rugby is over-stretched in resources, both financially and its player base. The Rebels have never finished above 10th in their history and never had a winning record. Their average home crowds have dropped too from their debut campaign in 2011, from 17,141 to just 10,500 in 2016.The Rebels might operate in a strong sporting market, but it is one dominated by AFL. Melbourne is the heart of Aussie Rules and home to nine strong AFL clubs. The Rebels also compete with a top NRL club – the Melbourne Storm - which were founded in 1997, and the biggest and most powerful A-League club – Melbourne Victory – which launched in 2004.
Both of these clubs have won numerous titles and enjoyed strong success on the pitch. Both have carved out their own niche in the Victorian sporting psyche. Sadly the Rebels haven’t. The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is fighting fires all over, with problems at head office, in attracting sponsors and new fans, and in propping up five franchises. It needs to make the tough call to axe the Rebels, for the greater good of Australian rugby.
