the Australian women’s team denounces the inequalities with the men’s selection

The Rugby World Cup has not yet started that a scandal could break out in Australia. The women’s national team, overwhelmed by the inequalities and the lack of investment from which it suffers compared to its male counterpart, challenged the Australian National Federation (Rugby Australia), Sunday August 20 at the end of the day. In a coordinated action – almost all of the current players have posted the same statement on social media – the Wallaroos are asking the governing body to address their concerns.

The presence of the wives and girlfriends of Wallabies players – airlifted all expenses paid – to Sydney (Australia), for ” say goodbye ” to members of the men’s team, the last week before leaving for the World Cup in France (September 8 – October 28), seems to have triggered the ire of the players.

“You told us that any flight beyond economy class was too expensive. Then you made the Wallabies travel in business class for a shorter trip than ours, in particular lamented the third line Kaitlan Leaney, on X (formerly Twitter). You keep saying we don’t have enough resources. »

The women’s selection – which plays very few matches between the World Cups except against the New Zealanders – was also offended by the fact that the Wallabies coach, Eddie Jones, has a plethoric staff made up of eleven assistants. The Wallaroos, quarter-finalists of the last World Cup organized in New Zealand in 2021, denounce the budget allocated to the men’s team, with however mixed results. To better prepare for the World Cup in France, Eddie Jones’ men were able to carry out training courses and a trip to northern Australia.

‘You told us full-time contracts were in the works, there wasn’t enough money to keep the men in the game, let alone us’continue the Wallaroos, unhappy to see their federation invest massively in the recruitment of Joseph Suaalii for the 2027 World Cup, which Australia is organizing.

“We know we still have a long way to go”

A real rising star in the NRL – interclub rugby league competition played in Australia and New Zealand – the 20-year-old prodigy, author of 17 tries in 27 games, became the highest paid player in the history of Rugby Australia by accepting a contract of 5 million Australian dollars (about 3 million euros) last March.

The wave of support received by the women’s football team – the Matildas – semi-finalists of the World Cup which ended on Sunday, must be an example, plead the rugbywomen: “You said our program would go professional and our coach would be full-time. We have seen the impact women’s sport has had on the Australian sporting landscape. The future of our games hangs in the balance. It’s up to you. »

Without mentioning the points covered in the document, Rugby Australia admitted that it needed to do more for player equality: “We will take steps towards a fully professional future for the Wallaroos and we will invest more extensively in women’s rugby through national and local competitions and we know we still have a long way to go. »

In February, the federation announced that it would start signing part-time contracts with Wallaroos players. A first step towards a gradual increase in investments over the next five years.

Could this sling disrupt the last preparation match of their male counterparts, opposed Sunday August 27 to the XV of France (at 5:45 p.m.). Still, the World Cup organized in France does not start under the best auspices for Australia, while the Wallabies appear in a pool C raised with Wales, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal.