LOTE! ..MATE! . WHAT HAPPENED?

What an amazing turn of events.

I think that the way this pans out will be quite interesting.

Whatever it is that Lote is alleged to have done, my uneducated guess is that John O'Neill sees an asset that is under-used, a very expensive one at that, and says....."let's cut it out of the inventory and save ourselves the mega bucks that my predecessor committed us to when we couldn't really afford it.."

Why?

It's a convenient time to do it, since all of the major footy codes (except Soccer, it seems) are running scared and trying to turn all of the players into choir boys, who are some sort of "role model" for .....who? Other choir boys, and violin players who don't play footy anyway?

I mean, if it's the mums who frighten those big, tough male administrators into this, why are they (the administrators) administering in the first place?

So, I think that Lote can become a hero out of all of this..Why? ...because now, if we believe everything that we read, he is taking the ARU on in the courts. He may well lose, on the facts and circumstances of his particular case, but this may well become a test case, especially with the media circling and ready to hop on the bandwagon of the bloke who has the best story, and who just may smell like a winner.

You see, I think that the media has backed itself into a corner where they have sensationalised every player misdemeanour and indiscretion to the point where everyone is running scared, so that the media might be almost have bitten the hands that feed them.....us, the public, the game(s) and their readership.

So, just maybe there are a few who are looking for an honourable "out" here and lo and behold, along comes John O'Neill and Lote.

You beauty! This might just be the way of getting things back on track.

How?

Well, it looks like Lote is fairly serious, otherwise the ARU would be huffing and puffing, but they are choosing to stay quiet, which means that their exorbitantly priced lawyers have advised them that Lote's exorbitantly priced lawyers are packing down with serious intent for a pushover try and, as far as Lote, the bloke (as opposed to Lote the figurehead) is concerned, this is bloody serious stuff. I mean, thanks to Gary Flowers, Lote can't earn what he would like to if he has to go back to the NRL, so he is forced to consider other possibilities.

As far as we, the great unwashed public, were concerned, as of two days ago, Lote's biggest problems were getting back into the Wallaby run-on squad and finding a matching pair of green and gold socks in the laundry basket.

Anyway, looks like this is the ticket. ARU, NRL and AFL players must have been waiting for someone to come along and take on the "employer".

How legal or proper are these sort of "3 strikes" clauses? How reasonable are they when tested against the employment norms or principles in other industries? How much of an influence on an employee's livelihood, should the "role model" issue be? Are these fair and reasonable restraints to place on employees? How far can an employer go when balancing the interests of the product against the interests of the employee? How long do you have to wait between "incidents" to justify giving someone the "flick"?

I'm no expert, but I reckon that these are some of the questions that will be asked and I think it's fair to ask them....and Lote's exorbitantly priced team will ask them, in spades, and more..!

The media must be salivating over this, which is ironic when you consider that the problem is one that they created. It's almost like the media has found the way to create perpetual motion.....create the problem then report on it ad nauseum....

In these troubled times (the "GFC") how many industries would love to be able to create a market and then exploit it to a hungry audience that they conditioned, in the first place? Pure genius.!

Lote, on a personal note, I wish you all the best.

You might be a bit of a tearaway, but that is what Rugby people understand and respect. You have never given anyone any concern about being involved in any funny business, sexually speaking and your greatest sins seem to be that you don't mind a late night drink (whoaa!!), when you have probably worked your guts out for a couple of days before playing a night game that finished around 9 pm..if we believed everything that the press tried to push on us, no Rugby bloke would be a drinker...imagine that?..there but for the grace of God.........(and the press!).

Talking of role models, blokes that play Rugby at the lower levels, the lower grades, the subbies, the bush players, the Services blokes, women, and many others might just hold you up as a role model whether you like a drink or not. We're not quite as judgmental as some would like people to believe....and those kids who everyone seems hell bent on protecting aren't as naive as some would think.

On a professional note, I hope that you push this to the limit and get some sanity back into the way that football players are treated. Dickheads need to be sanctioned, but not every footy player is a dickhead!

Of course, the irony in all of this is that you and the ARU will end up paying the legal costs and the press, as usuall will come out of it smelling of roses. However, we all know that the best roses are grown in the smelliest manure....I look forward to some well balanced reportage over the next couple of weeks, but I'm not holding my breath.. (anyway thats the best way to avoid the smell of the manure).

Hopefully, we'll see you back on the paddock (and hopefully playing Rugby) before too long. Better to be judged by the bloke with the whistle than the bloke in a funny wig!

Cheers,
Gatesy

BEEN AWAY

I haven't been blogging much over here lately, as I took on the job of webmaster for my school (Marist Canberra) Rugby site and we set up a whole new site.. you can check it out at www.maristrugby.com.au. It's turned out to be a lot of work, but quite rewarding, but it's about time to get back into it.

Well done the Brumbies on a great season and go the Wallabies.

I am very excited about some of the signings for next year - Gits is back, Rocky Elsom knows a good deal when he sees one and we haven't lost too many. Have it on good authority that Julian Salvi will be back in a couple of years after his Italian sojourn and ready to take over where George Smith leaves off, if and when George decides to call it a day. I think we are in for another golden era of Brumbies Rugby and I believe that Andy Friend is getting it right. See Green and Gold Rugby's article at http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/andy-friend-talks-all-things-brumbies-with-ggr/comment-page-1/#comment-8972

Looking back I made a couple of predictions early in the season. I said that the Brumbies could win the S14 if they made the 4. Wasn't too wide of the mark. I said that Matt Toomua would be a standout and he's getting there, so not bad all in all.

Test season is here and the Wallabies are shaping up well.

Will Lote make it? I reckon Robbie is toughening him up and making him hungry. He will feature at some time in the Tri Nations.

I think we are a definite chance for all of the silverware this year, but the Boks will be match hardened after the Lions, though they might be in a bit of a let down phase, after all the hype.

Now, if we could just win the 7's once in a while ........

I THINK THAT THIS GUY IS ONE OF THE BEST CENTRES IN OZ

...... and that is really saying something, given the talent that we currently have in our three quarters....Smith, Mortlock, Horne, Cross, Ioane, Hynes, Carter, Tahu , O'Connor, etc not to mention the guys on the fringe like Rathbone, Fairbanks, Turinui... however, revisit this site just before the next World Cup and see if I was right.. I will!

Tyrone Smith signs two-year extension to stay at Brumbies until 2011

May 01, 2009
Brumbies centre Tyrone Smith has signed with the Super 14 franchise for another two seasons, securing his services through to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Smith, younger brother of Australia flanker George Smith, joined the Brumbies from UK Super League club Harlequins for the 2008 season.

He went on to play in every match before being named Australian Rookie of the Year.

This season, he has played in all 10 matches for the Brumbies, starting in seven at inside or outside centre.

The 25-year-old, who starts at outside centre against the Queensland Reds on Saturday, said he's pleased to remain with the Brumbies.

"I've really enjoyed my first two years at the Brumbies and I'm really looking forward to staying on until 2011,'' he said.

"The reason I came to the Brumbies was the chance to play with George at a club that would develop my game and play a good style of rugby."

HOW THE WORM TURNS!!.

15 years ago, we Rugger Buggers were still putting up with the headline.."Rugby Star defects to League...

"..I used to hate that, but I always sort of knew that one day the worm would turn....the boot would be on the other foot, so to speak.

However, many of those guys who 'went across" were blokes like Michael O'Connor, Wally Lewis, Ricky Stuart, who had all been junior league players, anyway. It's not like they had never played league..

But now, there is a big difference...not too many Rugby players have gone across to League in the last few years - Name One??!!

So, I really got a boost out of reading this article...Does anyone seriously believe that Benji would come back to RL, when, having played a season of Rugby, the All Blacks or one of the S14 franchises wouldn't be throwing out feelers, or the French or other Japanese Rugby Clubs?? Let's get serious here, RL is fast becoming the poor relation, and it can only get worse for them.. Yay!!! How good do us tragics feel about this?

February 27, 2009

Article from: The Australian

BENJI Marshall's quest to spend an off-season in Japanese rugby union gained impetus last night when one of the country's leading sports lawyers suggested he stood a good chance of launching successful legal action against the NRL.

Marshall and his management have raised the prospect of allowing his existing contract to lapse at the end of the season, the precursor to spending several months in Japan before returning to re-sign with Wests Tigers.

The move, which has the support of the Tigers, has been condemned by NRL chief executive David Gallop.

Gallop has previously stated Marshall would not be allowed to sign with an NRL club if he played rugby in Japan.

However, that stance could backfire on the NRL given leading sports lawyer John Mullins suggested Marshall had a good chance of successfully challenging any attempt to block him returning to rugby league.

"His contract is over," Mullins said. "There is no ongoing obligation to them (the Tigers and NRL).

"He is going somewhere else in the world, he's going to do something over there and he's going to get paid for it.

"Then he might or might not come back and hope to get a contract again to do something.

"It's hard to imagine how (banning Marshall) could possibly be lawful, particularly seeing his contract is over.

"What would be the basis for them to refuse to register him? That he had the temerity whilst he was off contract to work for somebody else?

"Surely that can't be lawful?"

The Tigers have been contacted by several lawyers offering to handle the case should they elect to challenge the NRL on Marshall's behalf.

The players' union has also give Marshall its backing.

"I think it would be completely different if the Tigers were releasing Marshall in the midst of his contract period," Mullins said. "That would be a different situation."

Gallop has compared the Marshall situation to an employee from Coke going to work for Pepsi for a few months. Mullins failed to see the logic in that argument.

"What's happening here in that analogy is your employee has quit his job at Coke, gone and got a job at Pepsi, and at some stage in the future he might come back to Coke wanting a job - and Coke might or might not give him a job," Mullins said. "What Coke is saying here is we may not let you work in the soft drink business if you go and work for Pepsi."

Legal action would have far-reaching ramifications for the NRL. If Marshall were to challenge the NRL successfully, it could open the floodgates for other players to follow his lead.

Players and managers across the NRL are already exploring their options in Japanese rugby. Cronulla sacked Fraser Anderson this week after the backrower announced he had negotiated a lucrative deal with Japanese club Kobe.

Although Anderson's manager Lance Thompson denied a deal had been struck, an announcement is expected today.

The Australian learned yesterday that Willie Mason - via his manager Greg Keenan - had asked the Sydney Roosters in the off-season for permission to investigate the prospect of a guest stint in Japan.

The Roosters, however, refused to grant Mason permission.

Mason is among a host of players being shopped around Japan. Brisbane star Karmichael Hunt and Melbourne fullback Billy Slater have also been mentioned as potential targets.

Japanese rugby has suddenly taken over from French rugby as the biggest threat to the code. The issue will be discussed at a meeting of club chief executives in Sydney next week, with Marshall's situation likely to be a focal point of that debate.

By then, Marshall's future could be decided. His manager, Martin Tauber, will hold further talks with the Tigers tomorrow, where it is expected the club will table a revised offer for the New Zealand international.

Should Marshall agree to a new contract today, any move to Japan would be off the table. However, should the Japanese offer come to fruition, and Marshall follow through on his threat to play there later this year, the NRL could create itself a headache.

Club bosses are far from unified in their approach to Japanese rugby.

What they do agree on is that the threat is nowhere near as bad as some have suggested.

"I don't think there's a threat," Cronulla chairman Barry Pierce said.

"I think they're just isolated cases at this stage."

Tigers chief executive Scott Longmuir warned the NRL was getting into dangerous areas by threatening to stop Marshall playing in Japan.

He said the issue needed to be discussed next week.

"All we're saying is let's make sure we take a good look at it," Longmuir said.

RECORD TV AUDIENCE WILL BOOST THE OLYMPIC GAMES BID

From: "Inside the Games" - 27th February, 2009

Record TV audience will boost rugby sevens Olympic bid


FEBRUARY 24 - A RECORD worldwide television for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai next month is set to give the sport's Olympic chances a major boost.



The event, featuring 24 men's international teams and which will include a 16-team women's tournament for the first time, will be screened in 140 countries by 25 international broadcasters.

There will be 380 hours of live, delayed and highlights coverage of the event due to be held March 5-7.

Bernard Lapasset, the president of the International Rugby Board (IRB), said: “Rugby Sevens continues to be a hit with television broadcasters around the world.

"Its unique blend of explosive action, world-class players and highly-competitive format packaged in matches of 14 minutes, has proven successful in reaching out to new young audiences, sponsors and broadcasters.

"Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 looks set to raise the bar once more.

“These record broadcast figures mean that more people than ever before will have the opportunity to experience Rugby Sevens at its thrilling and spectacular best, furthering the promotion of sevens to the world sporting community as the IRB reaches out for the inclusion of rugby sevens in the Olympic Games.”

The previous television broadcast record was set at the 2005 tournament in Hong Kong where athe tournament was broadcast to 300 million homes worldwide, in 125 countries through 20 international broadcasters.

Record TV audience will boost rugby sevens Olympic bid

Tokyo Wins Bedisloe Cup Race

From a US Perspective..



Tokyo has reportedly won the race to host the All Blacks and Wallabies in a fourth Bledisloe Cup match in Japan in September. Denver had recently jumped back into the running to host the match at Denver’s Mile High Stadiumwith an aggressive offer. Australian rugby boss John O’Neill’s view was the deciding factor in heading to Japan instead of America.

“Denver won’t happen this year. The NZRU were keen, so were USA Rugby and the International Rugby Board. Funding was in place but O’Neill preferred Tokyo,” USA Rugby boss Kevin Roberts told Auckland’s Sunday News.

The fourth Bledisloe content has become synonymous with money grubbing, so it was no surprise that O’Neill negotiated a larger fee from the Japanese than Denver’s representatives were offering.

The NZRU banked about $NZ4 million ($3 million US) from last year’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Hong Kong and can expect to pull in at least $NZ5 million from their Tokyo jaunt. These sums hardly make the match a gesture intending to strengthen the game of rugby in a growing rugby nation.

Sentiments around the United States fall somewhere between relieved and disappointed with a little extra emphasis on relieved. Yes, it would have been great to host the All Blacks and Wallabies in a renowned NFL stadium. But, at the same time, the thought of filling the 80,000+ seat stadium almost seemed an impossible feat. In a time when the United States is starting to take baby steps forward in terms of hosting international events, the Bledisloe Cup match would have been the equivalent of putting a man on the moon about the same time the Wright Brothers were learning to fly.

Had the Denver Bledisloe Cup match went forward, a massive opportunity could have been siezed, but it would have also been hugely embarrassing for all parties if the stadium were half empty. Even the 40,000 fans to half fill Mile High Stadium would have been four times the number of fans on hand for the 2008 Churchill Cup Finals in Chicago.

At some point, it will happen though. New Zealand seems desperate to expand the All Blacks brand onto US soil. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the All Blacks brand took root in the United States before the Eagles did? It will be even worse if we find out that the NZRU is using their close ties to Kevin Roberts to make this a reality.

As for Denver, they must be congratulated for attempting such an aggressive feat in the name of rugby. The Denver Sports Commission is reportedly now interested in hosting the entire Churchill Cup using Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and Infinity Park as the two venues for the tournament. The idea of hosting the entire tournament in a specified area has merit and may be neccessary for the tournament to continue operating in the current stressed economy.

THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN RUGBY ADMINISTRATION !! --DOES IT?

From: Rugby in Kenya

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Being a passionate rugby journalist is easy for one when they just sit and enjoy the game. But in Kenya it becomes a little different. for some of us.

Way back when we went to Hong Kong with Watembezi the game was just a social affair for those who went to the elite schools.

Today all this has changed and the intrusion by non-rugby playing people running the affairs of the KRFU should be a cause of concern.

First and foremost SOYA should apologise to Kenyans for awarding KRFU with the award of best run association. That is not true. There is plenty conflict of interest within the KRFU and this is demonstrated as follows.

The Chairmans relatives (two of them) are major suppliers of the KRFU. He is a director in both companies. Club: Impala and Quins.

The Vice Chairman awarded the KRFU a sponsorship for the Gramd Slam. Only 30% was spent and rest used to refund directors for 'loans' to the KRFU. The Vice Chairman is the postmaster-general. Club: Mean Machine and ex Barclays.

The Secretary continues to use a dubious travel agent for business with KRFU, IRB and sponsors money. The travel agency with a shareholder in Emirates Airline is famously remembered for the U18 fiasco where peoples children were abandoned in Dubai and Morocco. This also affected 5 other African countries as KRFU and the travel agent were the logistic partners. Club: Mean Machine and ex Barclays.

The Treasurers brother works in the KRFU secretariat office. Club: Impala.

Director in charge of Referees. A senior Impala official. Does not see anything other than Impala. Club: Impala.

Director in Charge of grounds: A senior KCB rugby official. Achievements NIL. Club: KCB

Director and former 7's coach. Settled in very well but leans favourably to Mean Machine. Club: Quins and Mean Machine.

Director incharge of 7's: Business associate of General Managar: Club: Nondies and Mean Machine.

Womens Director of KRFU is a first cousin to the secretary as well as a niece of a former Director who is abroad on further studies. Club: Quins.

Development Manager has filled the secretariat with anybody and everybody from Impala. Club: Impala and ex Barclays.

General Managar has brought in all his college buddies into the secretariat and other functions. He is very close to a sponsor. He also has formed a company that is a major supplier to the KRFU. Club: Nondies and Mean Machine.

Director and Super Series Chairman. A crony of the chairman and business partner with the General Manager. At times brings in 'friends' to work closely together. Is setting himself up to succed the Chairman in 2011. The deal was made while they were both at Impala Club. Club: Impala.

Mini Rugby Co-ordinator and Groundsman: Club: Impala.

Chairman Organising Commitee Junior World Rugby Trophy is the current Impala rugby club chairman. Is that why the Impala ground is being refurbished with IRB money? Why not Railway Club or Jamhuri Park?

The above must be the most damning case of conflict of interest.

I do believe they have have firmly taken a leaf out of John Githongo's book "ITS OUR TURN TO EAT".

With the above maybe it is time to give Michael Mwangi Muthee a chance. At least his stewardship of Mwamba and its success especially with Kulabu forming the bulk of the world beating Kenya 7's team is there for all to see.

Frisco
Posted by The Real KRFU