THE Australian Rugby Union has lot to answer for over the decision to heavily slug the parents of kids that want to play the sport.
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Rather than slash the pay packets of the "elite" players that can barely beat time with a stick, the ARU has hiked the registration and insurance costs of kids and adults that play purely for the fun of it.
In a diabolically heavy-handed assault, the ARU last week imposed significantly higher costs for those wanting to have a simple game of rugby union in Wagga, Deniliquin or anywhere else in the bush.
Oh yes, the fees have also gone up a staggering percentage in the metropolitan areas as well, but the city clubs are in a better financial position to offset the massive rises.
With sponsors and backers more abundant across the board in Sydney for instance, it appears the city clubs will ease the burden on the players, or the parents of the younger players.
In the country, however, there will be no such liberty – players or the parents of the players will foot the entire bill.
And in the case of an eight to 18-year-old from Tumut, Wagga or Temora etc, the cost will be a minimum $79.50 each – but could be as much as $60 per head more.
After paying the exorbitant ARU fees, the parents of a kid from anywhere in the Riverina may be asked to fund a stiff levy to their local club.
Now, these charges vary across the region, but it is unlikely any club will just ditch the fee in the face of the other costs.
Admittedly, some clubs use the cash to "provide players with track suits and other apparel", but "others are not so generous".
One way or the other, parents with two or three teenage sons (or daughters) will have to find an extra pretty penny just to allow their offspring to play rugby union.
Southern Inland Rugby Union Community Rugby manager Mick McTaggart admitted last week that officials from the 12 clubs had been "shocked" by the price hike from the ARU.
McTaggart also told The Daily Advertiser that the changes to the payment structure were not unexpected and should be viewed as a "welcome to the real world" situation for SIRU clubs.
"They've (clubs) been very lucky in the past," McTaggart said.
McTaggart certainly wasn't wrong there.
Up until this recent ARU bombshell, SIRU clubs had been able to register a senior "team" for $1800, compared to the $168.50 minimum cost per player in 2015.
The percentage rises are fundamentally – and agonisingly – similar for junior rugby union.
Instead of the old system of registering a team that could comprise upwards off 25 or 30 players, the bill is now worked out on a "per head" basis.
The cost blow-out raised "concerns" in the Riverina rugby union fraternity that players could be driven away from the game.
"It put alarm bells out there," McTaggart told The Daily Advertiser last week.
"I think it came as a shock to some of the clubs.
"It's a big shift, and they were stunned."
Little wonder.
While the ARU laments its appalling financial situation, and equally horrendous performances by the Wallabies on tour, parents in the Riverina will just have to dig their hands deeper into the pockets.
Heading into the weeks leading up to Christmas, most families will find juggling the budget that much harder.
Faced with a bill of several hundred dollars in the new year, parents may have to take the extraordinary move of giving their children an ARU registration as a Christmas present.
Either that or send a piece of coal to the ARU, perhaps.
What a dastardly way to operate.
Here we have the ARU raking in millions from everyday families, while the Wallabies flounder in Europe.
Suffice to say, rugby league and Australian football must be pleased with the ARU's decision.
Over the years, the other football codes – soccer included – have been torched for imposing high registration and insurance costs on players of all ages.
Rugby league, invariably, was the heaviest hitter, but changes to the registration and insurance premiums in soccer has somewhat changed the landscape.
Now, as McTaggart said so eloquently last week, "at the end of the day you need the peace of mind that comes from insurance".
Exactly.
In this age of litigation, the cost of insurance, of any variety, has seemingly spiraled out of control.
And that is a direct result of serious injury in all sports, none more so than rugby union.
For ever player seriously hurt playing any brand of football,the fee for insuring other participants goes through the proverbial roof.
Significantly, rugby union clubs do not have the money to offset the costs.
In contrast to rugby league and Australian football, rugby union clubs don't get handsome gate receipts or some of the other benefits of a more open market economy.
Some rugby union clubs virtually live a hand to mouth existence – not all, but enough to make this a serious problem.
Rugby league and Australian football clubs in the bush are able to market their brand to sponsors in a much more efficient manner than their rugby union counterparts.
With money coming in from various sources, rugby league and Australian football clubs are able to shave costs for players.
This isn't always the case in rugby union.
More is the pity too, as the sport is fighting a tough battle for participants.
No matter what anyone says, times are tough for all the football codes.
Player numbers are barely staying in the black, although some sports hedge the figures to make them sound so much better than they are.
The ARU often crows about its grassroots support, but the situation might soon change.
Without thousands of kids playing in the bush, and encouraging their parents to take them to games in Sydney or Melbourne, the ARU might find its financial black hole has just got immeasurably bigger.
The next generation of Wallabies might also be short on country boys.