Marc Ellis takes aim at rugby’s ‘pale, stale mentality’ with league growing in popularity
One of New Zealand’s best-loved sporting personalities has taken aim at rugby’s “pale, stale mentality” and believes the game risks falling behind league unless those in charge are prepared to challenge an outdated mindset.
Marc Ellis played both sports at the highest level, representing the All Blacks and Kiwis, but believes league is continuing to pull ahead, citing its ability to connect with supporters and a culture he considers less arrogant.
While Ellis concedes there are problems on the field for rugby, he believes the issues run deeper, with many stemming from what happens behind the scenes.
His comments are particularly notable given his standing in the game, as a former player and TV presenter, but he’s also part of a syndicate that owns an 11% stake in the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise, alongside former All Blacks Taine Randell and John Timu, as well as John Blaikie and Simon Maling.
Ellis was previously asked about his thoughts on the state of rugby during an interview with Chris Rattue in 2023, when he admitted he did not watch much of the game these days because of its rules and the influence referees can have on a match with a single card.
Three years on, those views have only strengthened and, speaking to the Herald about playing cricket for Team Rugby in January’s Black Clash, Ellis said the game needs an evolution from the top.
“I’m going to get myself in trouble here being a Highlanders board member, but I think a lot of the boards – particularly of the national game – are constrained by grey-headed white men,” Ellis said.
“Whether or not they’ve got an ethnic mix now to hit the quotas that are required, I don’t know. But I think it still has that pale, stale mentality of grey-haired old board members sitting around a table and just sticking to the status quo rather than reinventing and reinvigorating and actually curating for the benefit of the consumer.”
He said league’s simplicity made it a much easier product to market globally, suggesting even a “housewife in Holland” could understand what was happening, unlike rugby, where hundreds of rules can leave even seasoned players and supporters questioning decisions.
Asked what changes he would make to improve rugby, Ellis said making the game faster and more free-flowing was key, particularly when it came to the rules.
“I think it’s attitudinal. I think you need to make it fast-flowing,” Ellis said.
“I think you can’t have water stops, you can’t have people changing, pulling a hamstring at the convenient time or needing the magic water. You need to penalise stoppages and speed up the tempo of the game and reward the teams that have the fitness and the enthusiasm to entertain.
“I think set piece is something that the game’s always been won and lost on, but to me I’m not sure that’s a great spectacle for the vast majority of people wanting to watch.
“They want to see free-flowing, engaging, entertaining rugby. I think strategically there needs to be a bit of a rejig on some of the rules and just seeing it through the consumer’s eyes perhaps. That’s why league’s doing a bloody great job.”
Ellis said rugby’s lengthy stoppages and complicated rulebook made it increasingly difficult to compete for the attention of modern sports fans.
“We’re so time poor these days and with so many wonderful options as to how to spend our time and to do it on our own terms when we wish to, that rugby’s got a product which really doesn’t quite live up to that of league,” Ellis said.
“You’ve got 23 minutes of action versus 80 and you’ve got 125 rules versus 10, and people fastidiously maintaining those rules.
“So it can become pretty bloody frustrating, particularly when you get a great test match or even a World Cup final where the result is decided by the team with the most players on the park.”
Ellis is particularly frustrated by the impact red cards can have on the spectacle, admitting he struggles to remain interested when a team is reduced to 14 players.
“At least league sort of play on and unless somebody’s done something bloody grievous, they retain the full 13,” Ellis said. “To me, the moment somebody gets sent off, I turn the TV off.”
Sporting organisations are increasingly competing for the attention of audiences who have more choice than ever before. He believes rugby can no longer rely on tradition or the loyalty of generations of supporters to keep people engaged.
“The world’s changed, consumers have got the lock and the key, and so you’ve got to present them with something that engages,” Ellis said.
On a brighter note, Ellis is looking forward to representing Team Rugby in the upcoming Black Clash in Christchurch, where he will square off against close friend Matthew Ridge, who has been named as a wildcard for Team Cricket.
“It’ll always be good to face him,” Ellis said. “He’s a softballer, which would really hurt my feelings if they got over us.
“Putting him out of the park would be my biggest thrill. It’s a personal battle we’ve had for a number of decades now.
“We want rugby to right the ledger. It’s 6-2 in favour of cricket, so we’ve got to do something.”
Ellis played in the 2021 Black Clash event, which was won by Team Cricket in a nailbiter.
With Ellis, Team Rugby have named Adam Gilchrist, Tom Walsh, Israel Dagg, Kieran Read and Colin Slade so far.
For Team Cricket, they have Ridge, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Lou Vincent, Jesse Ryder and Adam Parore.
Ellis, who admitted he is not comfortable wearing cricket helmets because he never grew up with them and struggles seeing through them, is hopeful Wagner goes easy on him.
“I grew up facing Heath Davis when we were 12 – sort of pre-pubescent – and he was bowling at the speed of Richard Hadlee, and we were on concrete practice wickets. That was terrifying because Heath didn’t even know where the bloody ball would go,” Ellis said.
“Now it’s mandatory, but you know, good news is if I get hit, I’m not going to remember ... I note that Neil Wagner’s playing for cricket, so I’m hoping he’s going to be decent to a guy with a couple of grey hairs.”
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.