community rugby - Australian Sports Commission

RUGBY SERVICES
RUGBY SERVICES
FEDERATION OF OCEANIA RUGBY UNIONS (FORU)
INTERNATIONAL RUGBY BOARD
FORU was formed in 2000 as the first step in iRB governance
During 2005 the first year of the iRB’s new strategic plan was
Peter Rowles
Head of Rugby Services
initiatives that, in November 2004 led to FORU
being elevated to become a full member of
introduced and included a number of key developments that
will impact on the ARU into coming years, including investment
the iRB Council. The ARU participates on the
in High Performance Rugby. Australia, as a Tier One nation will
Executive of FORU.
support the four Tier Two nations - Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Japan
- on a range of strategic initiatives around fixtures, coaches,
During 2005, 14 Rugby World Cup 2007
players and referees.
Qualifying Matches took place in the region
involving nine FORU Unions – Cook Islands,
The iRB is currently reviewing three key programs - Age Grade
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2005 was a significant period at both the national and
international level of Australian Rugby, which will have a
long-term impact on the Rugby landscape. Rugby Services
provided support and leadership in a number of key areas.
SANZAR
Super 14
During the year, Andy Conway, with the support of Price
Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) produced on behalf of SANZAR a
five-year draw for the Super 14 competition, which will enable
SANZAR to plan for the term of the current News Limited
contract. Through a complex maze of consultation and
negotiations with South Africa, New Zealand and Australian
Rugby Unions, the Super 14 Unions and the three broadcasters,
SANZAR now has a very long-term draw. The five-year draw will
now be taken to the next phase and a schedule of times and
venues will be determined to allow in-depth planning for all
Super 14 Unions and the three National Unions.
Tri Nations
2006 will be the first year of the expanded Tri Nations, with
Australia hosting two Springbok fixtures and one All Blacks
game. The additional fixtures and the need to factor in certain
parameters, such as single trips across the Indian Ocean and
adequate recovery time, made it more difficult to come up with
a match schedule that was equitable and logistically possible.
However, we were able to come up with a draw that will give
fans and television audiences more top-quality Test Rugby.
Secretariat
The ARU has spent considerable time planning to assume
the role of Secretariat for SANZAR in 2006 and 2007.
The role assumes the function of SANZAR management
including tournament operations, broadcast liaison, financial
management, commercial operations and media management
on behalf of South Africa, New Zealand and Australian Rugby
Unions. The ARU acknowledges the fine work done by the New
Zealand Rugby Union over the past two years and will provide a
continuing high level of support.
Fiji, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The outcome of these matches is that Fiji and
Samoa joined Australia and New Zealand
in qualifying directly for RWC 2007. Cook
Islands defeated Papua New Guinea and will
play-off against Tonga in 2006, with the winner to proceed to
a repechage against the Asian region Qualifier for the right to
go to France in 2007.
In 2006, further iRB strategic initiatives directly aimed at
High Performance and Tournaments will see the iRB invest £7
million in the FORU region over the next three years.
NATIONAL COMPETITION
During 2005, after much debate on the best outcome for
Australian Rugby, agreement was reached to introduce a
national provincial competition between the four professional
Unions in 2006. The competition will be played in September
to October 2006, after the conclusion of Tooheys New Premier
Rugby in Brisbane and Sydney. An internal working group
continues to develop an appropriate competition model in
conjunction with the four State Unions. This work will continue
over the first half of next year, with kick-off being September 9,
2006 and games played on a home and away basis.
Rugby, Sevens tournaments and Women’s Rugby. Strategic
plans for all three will impact on the ARU over the coming
years.
ANTI-DOPING
For 2005 the ARU enlisted the services of the Australian
Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) to conduct an anti-doping program
including testing and education sessions for its players. The
national, Under 21, Under 19, Sevens, Super 12 and State
Academy teams were just some of the Rugby constituents
to be involved with the program this year. ASDA carried out
22 education sessions, 68 event drug tests and 121 out-ofcompetition
tests throughout the year. The 2005 program
proved to be very successful, with all tests returning negative
results. This gives a strong indication that players nowadays
are very well educated about the dangers and associated risks
of taking drugs in sport. The ARU will continue its relationship
with ASDA for the 2006 Rugby season.
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Australian Rugby Union 2005 Annual Report