Rugby union in Australia has encountered a series of challenges in recent years, experiencing a decline in junior participation when compared to other sports such as NRL and AFL. To address this issue, the sport has enlisted the expertise of Mark Gasnier, a NRL premiership winner and State of Origin champion, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of players and promoting a modified version of the code.
Recent data from the Federal Government has revealed that rugby union lags behind other sports in junior participation, with just 95,000 children playing the sport across all age brackets. In contrast, 173,000 children aged 0-8 are engaged in Aussie Rules, while 108,000 children aged 9-14 are involved in rugby league. Additionally, there are 125,000 teenagers aged 15-17 playing Aussie Rules, compared to 84,000 involved in rugby league.
The challenges faced by rugby union extend beyond junior levels. The disappointing performance of the Wallabies in the 2023 Rugby World Cup led to the dismissal of coach Eddie Jones, while Super Rugby has encountered obstacles following the departure of South African teams, the Argentine and Japanese sides. Rugby Australia also announced a significant loss of $9.2 million in 2023, indicating a substantial setback for the sport.
In response to these issues, Rugby Australia has sought the assistance of Mark Gasnier, a former NRL star who also played for Stade Français in France towards the end of his career. Gasnier, known for his remarkable playing career in the NRL, State of Origin matches for New South Wales, and representing the Australian Kangaroos, has been appointed to promote a new non-contact rugby sport called Tri Tag for juniors, aimed at competing with programs such as AFL’s Auskick and the NRL’s League Stars.
Tri Tag is available in various formats, tailored to suit different age groups and skill levels. Gasnier is hopeful that this new initiative will reignite interest in rugby union across Australia. With New South Wales Rugby already implementing Tri Tag and plans to introduce it in Australian schools, Gasnier is actively involved in training union staff and launching the program at grassroots levels nationwide.
While this move has been met with some skepticism from rugby fans who are cautious due to previous unsuccessful attempts to revitalize the sport, Gasnier remains optimistic about the potential impact of Tri Tag. Despite the challenges faced by rugby union, the introduction of new initiatives and the involvement of prominent figures from other codes demonstrate a strong commitment to rebuilding the sport and attracting new players.
As rugby union endeavors to regain its standing and appeal to a younger audience, the involvement of Mark Gasnier and the introduction of Tri Tag represent significant steps toward driving growth and participation in the sport.