\"Anything is possible\" for Super Rugby in 2021, says Fitzpatrick

Wed, Apr 22, 2020, 8:36 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman

Anything is possible when it comes to the structure of Super Rugby in 2021.

That's the view of Rugby Union Players' Association president and Waratahs hooker Damien Fitzpatrick as the focus of rugby's key figures turns to resuming competition.

On Wednesday afternoon, the NRL confirmed a return date of May 28, and training return of May 4, but rugby is set to remain suspended until at least July, according to Rugby AU CEO Raelene Castle.

That competition will likely be a domestic competition leading into trans-Tasman Tests at the end of the year, pending decisions on travel bans.

Beyond this season, though, the format of Super Rugby still appears to be up in the air with little clarity about how borders will operate.

Currently, New Zealand and South Africa have signed broadcast deals committing to a 14-team round robin from 2021 but Rugby Australia's broadcast negotiations have been paused amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asked whether he felt that format was set in stone for next year, Fitzpatrick said there was the possibility of a shakeup.

"I think the situation has shown that right now anything is possible. I don't exactly know what is able to be changed and what's not able to be changed," he said.

"I can tell you one thing if the airports are not going to open it's going to be difficult to run that comp."

"Everything would be on the table, not just from Australia but I'm sure all the SANZAAR partners are looking at ways to get the best result and best product out there for the fans."

Australia's players have called for change. Photo :Getty ImagesThe players' association has called for a greater say on these kinds of issues after completing a pay deal for the next six months earlier this week.

When news of the pay deal came through, RUPA CEO Justin Harrison called for a "roots and branch" transformation of the game.

That call was followed by a letter signed by 11 former Wallabies captains calling for the Rugby Australia leadership to "stand aside".

It appears players' main interest in the immediate future is operational involvement and Fitzpatrick pointed to the level below Super Rugby as being a priority.

"Right now, we need to have a really strong look at the structure of our second tier provincial competition and whatever the model is, now is the perfect time to have a really strong look and discussion amongst ourselves," he said.

"I know the captain's letter yesterday, they were discussing the proposal of a committee, to overlook the game and report back to the game.

"From a personal level, from RUPA as well, we agree that change has to happen and we want to play a role in that.

"We are going to invest time in making sure the change happens from the bottom right to the top.

"The captains have suggested a committee and I would endorse that, because right now if the way the game is, to have a group of people invested in the game, who understand the challenges we face, I don't think it can be a bad thing right now.

"I think we need to be looking at all possible opportunities to improve."

Pressed on specific changes the players were hoping for, Fitzpatrick said overall the game needed to be more open with its members.

"I'm not going to go into changes in boards and management and employees and all the rest of it but on Monday RUPA indicated change was needed," he said.

"We are behind that. I think in terms of a competition restructure operationally we can do much better with the communication and that's the communication from RA to rugby bodies, from RA to players, from rugby bodies to players and to the community game with the average punter buying a pie and watching.

"I think we can be far more transparent as a code.

"I don't know the exact details but we've advocated for a seat in those discussions and we are really hopeful that those discussions are going to start in the very short term and RUPA get to play a role."

Asked whether he felt change was needed at the top of Rugby Australia's ranks, Fitzpatrick said things had "moved on from that".

"The conversation has gone past there. Whatever happens from the administration from above, that's out of our hands, but we want to make sure if change is to happen that the players play a role in that. We feel we have a really significant role to play.

"In terms of management I won't go into that right now, but for the players we just want to make sure change happens and that the players are part of that."

RUPA have been vocal about their desire for players to have a greater voice in the game and Fitzpatrick said he felt transparency had been lacking in recent years.

""I think there have been times and there may be reasons for it or not, I felt at times we've worked in silos in this sport and there has been a vacuum of information that i feel fi we are to progress and grow as a game, and to get back to the levels that we all want it to get it to, that cannot continue.

"Transparency is going to be key and it's the one thing RUPA continually asked for in our negotiations and we'll stick to that because with transparency it allowed for ... a sped-up process."

This week's pay deal result came after more than two weeks of back and forth that was only able to formally begin once RUPA received key financial information it had requested from Rugby Australia.

Rugby Australia's financial details were a sobering sight for players. Photo: Getty ImagesFitzpatrick said the numbers presented were a fairly sobering sight for the players.

"Once we got to the final position that we're all solving for made things much easier," he said.

"I'm not going to say that it was exactly the news that we wanted to hear. We would have loved to have known that the company you work for has huge amounts of cash reserves - but that wasn't the case and we knew that.

"The reason we were sitting at the table was because everyone was fully aware that there needed to be some sort of restructure that incorporated the costs and alleviation of the game to enable us a fighting chance to stay alive.

"And that's why we were there. We just wanted to make sure that we had a really clear picture, if the players were going to play a part in that, which we were, tat whatever decisions were made that we were comfortable knowing that the money was going to be well spent."

Share
Relieved Cron: 'The good news is we can still be better'
Australia's wheelchair rugby team are setting their sights on a return to the Paralympic podium after booking their tickets to Paris.
Steelers book spot at Paralympic Games
Five things we learnt from Western Force - Queensland Reds
Western Force stun Queensland Reds to open account in 2024