SMALL STEPS ADD UP INTO BIG STRIDES But only if WE EXPAND OUR ACADEMY which is currently the smallest in Ireland. IF WE EXPAND THE ACADEMY WE WILL DEVELOP ALL THOSE SMALL STEPS INTO A SUSTAINABLE AND CONFIDENT SPORTS BUSINESS MODEL THAT INCLUDES HEART AND SOUL.
Asking brand new talent to just step in and win the B&I cup is madness after selling experienced and developed assets that probably would have had their break through season this year with the full support of grassroots rugby and knowing that these are tough teams we play against. Ulster Rugby sold the talent, cashing it in so to speak and purchased more foreign talent.
By not developing the numbers in the pro academy in the last 5 years because nothing else matters except I XV Trophies has led to a win at all costs mentality to keep the stadium full and the sponsors on board.
Singing “Stand Up For The Ulstermen” has become paradoxical in this context!
As anyone who knows the performance culture knows, you cannot expect 1st year Academy talent to compete and win against seasoned players.
Failure to expand the local Academy to accommodate the increasing numbers of local talent that deserves contracts and further development and experience is currently the hallmark of a money obsessed culture focused on seeing players only as short term pawns to be used to win trophies to keep the stadium full.
Again we reiterate, COMMUNITY, local sport and development of athletes personally and physically – PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS – not YOUR JOB IS TO WIN OR YOU WON’T HAVE A CONTRACT NEXT YEAR. Or you had a bad schools cup final that’s it your not getting a contract we don’t want you!
What we propose is much more akin to a social contract. INVESTMENT = RETURN! Realistic, Sustainable Development, not the game is up lets sell our talent and cash in the chips, but rather togetherness, personal development, tiered systems in which the long and short term realistic objectives of the group and individuals which is the rugby community of Ulster from the smallest club or school to the biggest club or school is recognised and included in an overall plan. Of course their will still be hard times ups and downs but at least everyone will be on the same page and not obsessed with the absurd singing of our rugby anthem hollowly as a marketing spin where the fans are just being used to bully opposition teams. The current paradox is seeing support wane in increasing numbers because the glaring inconsistencies are no longer ignorable, by simple virtue of mis-management and the wrong ethos and culture.
The way forward is to heal the rifts caused by the last 24 months of madness and get together as communities and businesses to establish sustainable development and an ethical business / social culture in which their is a place for pride in our own hard work and our own achievements to which we add foreign players and staff as a healthy cross fertilisation of talent and open culture. And respect for all other provinces and teams.
Respect for coaches, athletes and supporters, player welfare and development.
WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS GAME THATS WHY AND OLD MEN STILL PLAY IT BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN GETTING ON THAT PITCH AND PLAYING! THATS WHY, ITS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY AND IT ALWAYS WILL – ITS Social, Its competitive its tough and its true grit, its rational, its playing the averages, its training hard, its learning and personal development, its good times and its hard to take losses, its staying IN A GOOD PLACE and GROWING & DEVELOPING, its the greatest opportunity of our lives, its the greatest education there is, social and professional sport, investment and development and WE ARE SEEING THAT DEVELOPMENT IN GRASSROOTS RUGBY WE SEE IT EVERY WEEK.
