Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development President Dean Duncan believes a successful World Cup Bid in 2027 is a perfect vehicle to help generate change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within Rugby and the community.
Rugby Australia officially launched its bid to host Rugby World Cup 2027 last month, with 'Lloydies' throwing their support behind the opportunity.
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For Duncan, the potential to host the third-largest sporting event in the world was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help build support and grow participation within the sport and the Foundation.
“It’ll definitely raise the profile of Indigenous Rugby not just with Lloydies but across the board,” he believes.
“We have our indigenous committee working within RA and what a successful bid will do is raise the profile of some of our men and women playing the game and potentially attract more support for the game from our committees.”
He is confident the event would create a lasting legacy within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, with the likes of Andy Muirhead (Brumbies) and Moses Sorovi (Reds) currently playing at the Super Rugby level.
Along with this, he believes it will further the work Rugby is doing in starting a national conversation surrounding their culture.
“The positive steps that we’ve taken from 2003(Rugby World Cup) have been seen over the last couple of years is the national anthem being sung in (Eora) language and we have a huge supporter in Dave Rennie,” he believes.
“Dave and I have regular chats and one of the things that he wanted to implement was that all the players had to do a little research around the traditional owners of the lands where they played their Rugby.
“It’s also a learning opportunity for our players not just the exposure for Aboriginal people, it gives them greater insight and we saw the passion that they showed when singing the anthem last year out at Parramatta.
“It started a national conversation. My stance is that it’s a small step towards reconciliation and we’re the first sport nationally to do it. We’re the first sport to wear an indigenous-styled national jersey as well so we keep breaking down those boundaries.”
Duncan revealed that Rennie took the steps to reach out to the Foundation.
With culture the cornerstone of the Wallabies heading forward, he believes the embrace has been incredible and should be showcased on an international scale.
“It’s fantastic...Dave initiated that conversation straight away and focused on what culture means to everyone and if we as a sport can lead that, it’s going to be a winner during a World Cup year.
“We’ve got the jersey and we know it’s a phenomenal seller but last year with that anthem, it started a conversation around the country and it was unbelievable.
“With what rugby did as a sport, it changed the anthem to be inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and that would not have occurred without Rugby’s stance and the positive work that we did.”
