By Ajack
July 28 2002

We are now only just starting to see players coming through that have only known professional rugby and even now they are greatly out numbered by those who played before professionalism, so are probably guided by those in regard to standards and what is expected. Is this about to change? For many years, which school tie you wore seemed to dictate how far your rugby career went and an Oxbridge education did you, no harm at all, is this about to end? Many players relied on having a “good job” or at least a very understanding employer in order to play top class rugby and the ability to tour with your country, let alone something like a Lions tour. How many of “us” could get or afford three months off work? So a lot of rugby players were from “professional” backgrounds, which played for the love, possible status and career opportunities that go with rugby.

Given the amount of “stick” a top rugby players body goes through these days (I am not saying it was ever easy) as described by our very own Budge, will this no longer be the choice of the well educated?

Given the physical side of rugby and financial rewards will it become the chosen profession of a different breed of person? How many boxers have a PHD? Will rugby become an option for “hard kids” to get off the streets and make a good living? Will rugby clubs end up more like boxing clubs, run in inner cities, with a chance to improve life, rather than in the suburbs run by men in blazers drinking Gin and Tonic and saying jolly good show.

Will the modern day rugby player become more like a gladiator or boxer who is only there to entertain the masses with all the “upper classes” watching what goes on in the arena? Would less educated but “hungry” players improve or take away from the game? Will rugby become more popular in “lesser” schools and less popular with “privileged” children?

I know I am being very stereotypical here and generalising but is the face of rugby changing?

Do you have any views on this matter, if so post them now on the nessage board.