'Fed up' Wallaroos call out Rugby Australia hypocrisy

Wallaroos players have called out Rugby Australia in a coordinated social media post about a lack of funding for the women's game.

On Sunday afternoon, almost every current Wallaroos player posted the same letter to RA across various social media platforms slamming the funding inequity between the Wallabies and Wallaroos.

The letter followed a day-in-the-life style Instagram reel made by the partner of a Wallabies player, and posted on Rugby Australia's official page.

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She was one of several wives and girlfriends flown to Sydney last week to farewell the men's players before flying to France for the World Cup.

 Shannon Parry, Georgina Friedrichs and Adiana Talakai of the Wallaroos stand for the anthems during the Women's International match between the Australia Wallaroos and Fijiana at Allianz Stadium on May 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

"You told us flying anything beyond economy was too costly. Then you flew the Wallabies business class on a trip shorter than ours," the letter reads.

"You told us full-time contracts were in the pipeline, that there wasn't enough money to keep the Men in the game, let alone us. Then you paid $5 million for an NRL player.

"You said our program would go professional, and our coach would be full-time. How many coaches has Eddie taken to the World Cup? You continually say we don't have enough resources and yet we all saw the World Cup send off for the Wallabies.

"We've seen the impact that Women's sport has had on the Australian sporting landscape, thanks to the Matildas. It's time for the chairman, board, and CEO to prioritise the future of Australian women's rugby and allocate adequate resources. It's time to acknowledge that we are not promoted equally, even on a free platform.

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New Wallabies captain Will Skelton talks to teammates at Sydney International Airport.

"The future of our games hangs in the balance. It's your move, Rugby Australia."

Wallaroos gun Georgie Friedrichs reposted the reel, saying "Wallabies WAGs getting more funding than the Wallaroos team".

"Eddie (Jones) has more than six coaches in his program – the Wallaroos coach isn't even full-time.

"The Matildas have shown the world's hunger for elite female sport. The man in charge of Australian Rugby needs to step up and make some changes, before history remembers him as a villain, not as a saviour. Do better Rugby Australia."

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the funding for the Wallaroos is significantly lower than other leading nations, including New Zealand and England, where their top stars are on full-time contracts.

Rugby Australia has previously stated they hope to have the top Wallaroos on full-time professional contracts before the next World Cup in the UK in 2025.

Former Australian rugby sevens player turned Nine commentator Allana Ferguson said the players were "fed up", and the Instagram reel from the player's partner was the "final straw".

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"The Matildas have shown us all what women's sport can do, and how it can positively affect our whole nation," she said on Nine's Today.

"They're upset and fed up with the way they've been treated and they want change within their sport.

"They want more out of their sport and for their sport. They've been asking for it for a very long time, and fair enough too.

"What the Matildas have done is build a really positive platform for players and different sports to launch off, and they feel it's their time to get a little bit more recognition from Rugby Australia itself."

The federal government on Saturday morning announced the Play Our Way program, a $200 million funding injection for women's sport across Australia.

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