As 2016 begins and Super Rugby edges closer, the game in Australia is in a strong place.
Just prior to Christmas, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) announced a new record broadcast arrangement with Fox Sports, Network Ten and other media outlets globally, with the code’s financial stability secured for the immediate future.
This came on the back of the Wallabies’ outstanding performances at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, on the back of their victory in The Rugby Championship, while for the third straight season two Australian sides featured in the Super Rugby playoffs!
In 2016, The Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) will bring you a regular wrap of positive media stories about our members, comprising of all current professional Australian Rugby players with the occasional glance back at former professional players since 1995.
We are proud to present the first edition of RUPA: Look Who’s Talking Now!
As Australia’s Super Rugby teams returned to the second half of their pre-season following a short Christmas break, so too did Australia’s Rugby media.
Melbourne Rebels winger Sefanaia Naivalu won RUPA’s Newcomer of the Year in 2015, and as the Daily Telegraph’s Jamie Pandaram points out that puts him in esteemed company; of the nine previous winners of the award, eight have gone on to represent the Wallabies, and Naivalu is certainly keen to emulate that achievement.
“In 2016 my goal is to wear the gold Wallabies jersey, I am eligible in September 2016,” Naivalu said. “I’m going to continue to make sacrifices, keep working hard, train hard, and build on everything, fitness and skills, and play my game. Fiji approached me at times when I was there, especially the Fiji Sevens team, but my dream was not to play for Fiji, it was to wear the gold jersey.”
After an outstanding Rugby World Cup campaign as part of the competition’s most respected back row, Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy returned to training in Canberra and wasted no time in setting goals for the upcoming campaign.
“I don’t think the goal changes from year to year, we’re always here to win the competition.” Fardy said. “We’re disappointed we’ve fallen at the final hurdle the last few years but obviously we take a lot of confidence in the fact we believe our best footy is ahead of us and we’re looking forward to a big year.”
One of just two foundation players remaining at the Melbourne Rebels, prop Laurie Weeks was speaking about the recently announced pre-season trial against Samoa at AAMI Park.
“Samoan Rugby has a proud history and I’m expecting this game to be a challenge, they are big, fast and extremely physical in their playing style,” he said.
Thursday saw Wallabies and Brumbies prop Scott Sio tell the Canberra Times’ Chris Dutton that he is taking on more responsiblity as he tucks into his fifth pre-season in Canberra.
"I guess I do feel like a senior guy in a way, it's all happened pretty quickly for me," Sio said. "I've worked very hard and been very lucky to get the opportunities I've had, I'll never take that for granted. It can be a cut-throat sport at times in terms of selection and injury, you've got to take the good with the bad. Maybe I'd like to step into a leadership role in the tight five in the coming years.”
It’s something Sio’s Coach Stephen Larkham agrees about, as he encourages all of his younger group to take on greater responsibility.
"We're getting different guys to talk at the end of training sessions and we'll continue that so we don't have one voice, we need a number of guys contributing," Larkham said. "The longer teams are together, the more they understand everything and they're better at leading. I certainly think a number of guys can step up, Scotty is one of those.”
Sio’s not alone; Western Force lock Adam Coleman told us that he no longer feels a rookie as he enters his third pre-season in Perth.
“I definitely feel like there is a lot more responsibility and leadership expected of me, but I’ve embraced that and kept the same approach I’ve always taken in regards to helping my teammates,” Coleman told RUPA.
Leadership was common theme in Australian Rugby media circles as the working week came to a close, with Reds skipper James Slipper anointing teammate Rob Simmons as a potential Captaincy replacement while he’s out injured in an interview with The Australian’s Wayne Smith.
“He’s a natural leader,” Slipper said. “I’ve had the privilege to play with Simmo since he was 15. I’ve known him pretty well and he’s well-respected in the group… I’m sure he’d do a great job.”
To Rugby Sevens, and excitement machine Henry Hutchison spoke to RUPA about his series debut in Cape Town last month and the year ahead.
“It was amazing playing in front of a crowd of 55,000 each day; it was definitely new for me, and the tournament was a big step up for me and showed me the level I need to get to.”
Hutchison and Tom Lucas spearhead a group of Australians heading over to compete in Fiji at next weekend’s Coral Coast Rugby Sevens.
"Two names that fans should look out for who have previously represented the national team are Henry Hutchison and Tom Lucas — both are exciting talents," said Coach Hugh Carpenter.
"We expect the tournament to be a tough one — no doubt about that. We are looking at building depth in our national Sevens program and this will be a fantastic experience for many of the boys who will be travelling to Fiji.”
Finally we finish this edition of Look Who’s Talking Now! overseas, where Fox Sports’ Christy Doran spoke to former Reds lock Dave McDuling as he embarked on a new adventure with the Sharks.
“Every player weighs up a lot of things when they go to different teams — whether it’s abroad or within their own country — and I just thought the time was right for me to get a fresh start and test myself in a completely new environment,” McDuling said. “Coming to Durban I get that overseas life experience and exposure, but a bit of the attraction for me in coming here was to still be involved in Super Rugby because it’s where I want to play my Rugby, so it’s a little bit of the best of both worlds.”
Meanwhile, McDuling’s ex-teammate at Ballymore James O’Connor was the star of the show for Toulon as they defeated Pau in France, with Quade Cooper and Drew Mitchell alongside him. Will Genia, Luke Burgess and James Horwill were among the other Wallabies in the winners’ circle in Europe last weekend.
Social Supremo!
Every edition of Look Who's Talking Now! will conclude with the Social Supremo; our pick for the best social media post from a current player in recent times
This week, it was a no brainer as Wallaby #841 and Western Force superstar Matt Hodgson told us just how much he loves playing Rugby, as he enters his fourteenth Super Rugby season:
