Rugby Union – Decades of Decline

According to an article published in the Guardian in February 2024, Australian rugby has rotted from its head office to its heartland for two decades.

“The once-proud and powerful code is fractured in so many places, in so many ways, few believe it can be rebuilt. It has heavy debt, a “broken system”, struggling participation rates, anaemic broadcast numbers, bleak crowd figures, major struggles on the field – and balance sheets.”

A review conducted by the RFU found fewer people are playing the sport at youth level and traditional private rugby schools because of injury concerns, and the view that it is a difficult game to introduce.

There are many published reports regarding the decline of Rugby Union across the globe and more importantly in Australia.