‘It’ll take a miracle’: decades of decline leave Australian rugby at dire crossroads

The ailing sport is searching for a drastic turnaround dow under - on and off pitch. What if anything can save it at this point?

Australia prop Pone Fa'amausili reacts at the end of the World Cup match against Wales.

It’s the last week of summer and footy scarves are being dusted off nationwide. The NRL is gearing up for a double-header in Las Vegas. The AFL’s main arena just received the rolled gold endorsement of Taylor Swift, and the Matildas are primed for the final leg of their Paris 2024 Olympic qualification - and their 12th straight sold out home game.

Where is rugby union? Launching a new Super Rugby Pacific season on the quiet in New Zealand last week, bracing for a reminder of the 2023 World Cup disaster after a new documentary went to air on Thursday, and trying to get tickets on sale for the Melbourne Rebels v ACT Brumbies round one game on Friday, despite the former being in administration. For “the game they play in heaven”, 2024 is another fresh hell en route to a final reckoning.