The Wallaby and former Waratahs centurion has big aspirations for the game’s future. But he needs a big cash injection to achieve his vision.
It involves raising $250 million, winning hearts and minds in western Sydney, the heartland of the rival NRL, and getting the state and national teams winning games.And Waugh doesn’t just mean winning September’s Rugby World Cup although the former Wallaby and Waratahs centurion has views about that too.
Waugh, 43, never thought he’d be leading the code he has long adored when he played on Sydney’s northern beaches as a child. A first-grade cricketer and rugby player at Shore School, Waugh’s long-term ambition was to play for the Wallabies. But after achieving that at just 21-years-old, he set his sights on a career in business.
But most of rugby’s growth plans, including a multimillion-dollar contract with Roosters star Joseph Suaalii, require funding. This is because, until recently, Rugby Australia was not fiscally responsible.Rugby Australia made a $4.5 million operating loss in 2021 on revenue of $98.6 million, up from a $27 million operating loss in 2020.
Waugh says the code will decide on the model in the next few months. “We want to give our member unions and ourselves optionality. Once you model it up, it’ll become quite apparent what the best way forward is,” he says.Financial sustainability is Waugh’s main priority. But his other focus is getting state and national teams to win some matches, which requires an investment in grassroots rugby and events to drive participation.
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