GE does this Aussie billionaire have a few millions from his tea fund to use on the sea eagles?
Like most billionaires...yes he does, but probably no he wont.
I was watching an interview between Richard Branson and Stephen Colbert when he hosted the 'colbert report' and Stephen said "You're a billionaire, why can't you just write me a cheque for a million dollars?"
Branson answered: "I could, and if you can honestly tell me that there is no other organisation nor person in the world that could use the money more than you, I'll write the cheque for you now."
I don't think I've ever seen a more conflicted human on tv than Stephen at that moment. (lol)
Anyway. The Wolfpack also own a stake in the London Skolars so he may be 'sports busy.'
Who is the two-headed-girl signing an autograph?
That's no two head, that's my wife!
🙁
Kidding, Ashton Sims says hi.
With regard to growing the game, here a link to an interesting article:
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Global/Issues/2018/12/07/People-and-Pop-Culture/Hangin-With
On the club's impact on youth rugby in Toronto ...
Argyle: We're teamed up with Rugby Ontario. This year, about 100,000 kids have had a rugby ball in their hands. That's a lot. Our goal with our sponsors is to drive that number to about 200,000 kids a year over the next two years. The kids are able to see, up close, a professional outcome, and to meet the players. Our players meet and greet and walk around the stadium after every match, as do the visiting players.
Ok, it's easier to just read the article than to keep quoting it.
It's not easy to grow any game nor is it fair to hang the responsibility on growing the game on one club when the game has got their own administrators and clubs over 100 years old, and said club is yet to even be in the top tier league! There's also sims, Lussick, McCrone, Leutele, Thompson all from the nrl and even the failed coal train Taylor and moi moi.
But, it's an important question.
As quoted above, ego's have been put aside and the wolfpack have teamed up with rugby union to get footy balls into kids hands. It's great initiative. If, as expected there's a second league team in Canada soon (Ottawa) and even one in New York, then players from North America can see a pathway to the big time. There are footy leagues in North America currently, but there was no real pathway for players unless they moved to England or Australia. Most would head Union's way (for Canadians) as at least they know the game. (Interestingly, it is mainly a sport girls play in schools as the guys all play hockey and cfl). So locally grown talent can see a way.
Link regarding the 'second' team.
https://www.burnabynow.com/wolfpack...ortium-that-has-bought-hemel-stags-1.23668259
It has to be done properly, and I think Mr Argyle wants to do so. I think he gets that the wolfpack run the real risk of being despised in the UK.
Fans of struggling teams see this well financed team come on board, have a host of good players, etc. (The new Manly?)
It'd be easy for the Wolfpack just to play to win and ignore everything else. I think, based on what's happened so far (in Canada) and the work they are doing, it would be unfair to say they don't care about the health of the game as a whole.
Is this grassroots assistance? Getting footy balls into kids hands, you could say yes. Is it pumping money into local comps or funding something like 'footy for kids' - probably not...yet. The club is not yet 3 years old and to compare, after 100 years the nrl are accused of ignoring grass roots footy (and Toronto aren't the administration, remember).
Plus not everything goes to plan... Toronto lost the million pound game and didn't get promoted to super-league last year!
Anyway... what do I know?
aveaniceday
🙂