Fed-up women players call out Rugby Australia for 'inequality'

SYDNEY – Australia’s women’s rugby team have slammed Rugby Australia over inequality and lack of investment in the game, highlighting the different treatment afforded to the men’s team, the Wallabies.

In a coordinated move, almost every current women’s Test player posted the same statement on social media late on Sunday demanding that the governing body address their concerns.

Their anger appears to have been triggered by wives and girlfriends of Wallabies players being flown to Sydney to “say goodbye” to the men’s team last week as they departed for the World Cup in France.

“You told us flying anything beyond economy was too costly. Then you flew the Wallabies business class on a trip shorter than ours,” they said.

“You continually say we don’t have enough resources and yet we all saw the World Cup send-off for the Wallabies.”

No expense has been spared for Eddie Jones’ under-performing men’s team ahead of the World Cup, with training camps and a trip to northern Australia before their departure to Europe.

The women’s team, the Wallaroos, are employed part-time and also took exception at the number of assistants given to Jones, with the former England coach accumulating an 11-strong backroom team.

Former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen on Monday joined the Wallabies in a short-term advisory role in the lead-up to the World Cup, but he will not be paid by Rugby Australia.

They also criticised Rugby Australia’s decision earlier in 2023 to recruit rugby league star Joseph Sua’ali’i on a reported A$5 million (S$4.4 million) contract.

“You told us full-time contracts were in the pipeline, that there wasn’t enough money to keep the men in the game, let alone us. Then you paid $5 million for an NRL player,” they said.

“You said our programme would go professional, and our coach would be full-time. How many coaches has Eddie taken to the World Cup?

“We’ve seen the impact that women’s sport has had on the Australian sporting landscape, thanks to the @matildas,” they added, referring to the groundswell of support for the Australian football team, who were fourth at the just-completed Women’s World Cup.

“It’s time for the chairman, board, and CEO to prioritise the future of Australian women’s rugby and allocate adequate resources. It’s time to acknowledge that we are not promoted equally, even on a free platform.

“The future of our games hangs in the balance. It’s your move, Rugby Australia.”

Rugby Australia had no immediate comment.

But in February, Rugby Australia announced it would begin contracting Wallaroos players on a part-time basis in the first step of what it said was a staged increase in investment over the next five years.

Things seem to be better in Australian Rules football, after it was announced on Monday that prize money for the women’s top flight will almost double for its upcoming eighth season and match the men’s total for the first time.

A total of A$1.1 million will be split among the top eight teams in the AFL Women’s competition, up from A$623,922 in its seventh season.

In the men’s competition, A$1.1 million was split across the top four teams in 2022. The prize pot remains the same for this year. AFP, REUTERS