– Published 26 April 2014 02:30 AM
Mourad Boudjellal likes himself. A lot. The owner of Toulon rugby club made his fortune in the comic book industry. His dollar has lured some of the hotshots of world rugby to his hometown on the Cote d’Azur. He bankrolled the club with millions of his own wealth. And added interest. With his own mix of eccentricity and ego.
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“I want to be the one who makes their dreams come true,” Boudjellal once opined about his status. “They know that, so they treat me like a god. I have the ability to determine the mood of an entire city. I like that sort of power, but it also comes with a lot of pressure.”
He mentioned the word ‘god’; we might hitch the word ‘-complex’ to it. Boudjellal’s buck got the bang he desperately craved when Toulon won the Heineken Cup in Dublin last year. Now Munster will feel the full hit of Boudjellal’s wallet when they play Toulon in the Heineken Cup semi-final tomorrow in Marseille.
We turn up our noses here at Sugar Daddy Rugby. Imagine? A single owner in charge to rule all? A rugby club to toy and tinker with. No – we’ll take our layers of committees here; our model Irish structure. Rugby here isn’t built in a way that allows individuals to buy clubs.
But as the rich get richer – French Top 14 clubs recently signed a €355m five-year TV rights deal – will the Irish setup need a revamp in the future in order to continue to be a force in European club and Six Nations rugby?
A spokesman for the IRFU said its model remained under review “but the priority for the union is that the governance of the game, the provincial structure and player contracting remains within the IRFU’s control”.
What about private benefactors? Getting the sugar without the daddy? Or is it naive to think anyone would give cash but receive no profit or power in return? In some instances, yes. While the IRFU say they have not received any donations from private investors, Munster have had a “small number of private contributions to capital projects”.
They had a “substantial contribution” to the development of Thomond Park. Leinster received a “no-strings-attached” €2.2m fund from businessman David Shubotham for the development of their new base on the UCD campus.
There was speculation a few years ago that Rory McIlroy was financing major signings for Ulster Rugby. This was denied by the province. Some backers may want to keep the ‘private’ in ‘private investment’; or else questions would be raised as to whether the payment came with a YOM (You Owe Me).
In a statement to the Irish Independent, Munster said “there isn’t a culture of private donations to sport in Ireland. Any appetite that does exist, originates from the Irish abroad. Most private contributors that do so, don’t seek recognition or return.”
The reason Sugar Daddy Rugby are dirty words is the idea of buying success, buying signature players in bulk. At what cost though to home-grown players or to the development of youth and academy players? But through their system, Munster said they “recently had private contributions that are associated with the education and development of young players and involve a mentoring programme”.
If Ireland’s current successful structure struggles to pull in necessary funding in the future, do the IRFU need to give up some control to let private equity in?
Look at the New Zealand Rugby Union and how it hopes to gain greater return from its professional rugby teams. The Auckland Blues, for example, are operated under a licensing agreement where the provincial unions Northland, Auckland and North Harbour take a 60pc stake with the other 40pc sold to a private investment firm.
Leinster Rugby CEO Mick Dawson says the New Zealand model is one they’ve discussed with the IRFU. The three-time Heineken Cup champions have an “open mind” about this format “if they found a suitable business partner . . . the way rugby is moving, we can’t get left behind,” Mr Dawson added.
Last December, London Irish rugby club was bought by a consortium of London-based Irish businessmen. What contribution could they have made to Irish rugby if an avenue was open to them?
In other sports, businessman Denis O’Brien contributes handsomely to the FAI by part-funding the salary of the Republic of Ireland management team. JP McManus has given considerable backing to Limerick GAA.
But is there enough being done to harness private investment in sport in Ireland? With continued cuts to government funding, the Federation of Irish Sport last month called on sporting organisations to look for private-sector investment. They want the Government to put in place a relief to incentivise this.
In Toulon, Boudjellal’s crusade of cherry-picking and collecting players for his very own fantasy rugby team is paying dividends. But the comic book magnate will come up against a force which boasts its very own super-heroes tomorrow. Munster created the copyright on innate passion and pride. This inbuilt loyalty can’t be bought. And will never be for sale.
Sinead Kissane is a sports reporter and presenter at TV3
Irish Independent
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Article source: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/other-sports/349109/Rugby-Union-Shaun-Edwards-savouring-Springbok-clash
Irish rugby is built on pride and passion but maybe it"s time for some private ...
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