Further to that, I have no idea what the state of Rugby union is but Foxtel did make an executive /financial decision to withdraw from their deal I think.
If a sport fails to make a set amount of money, then it filters through to the players. Maybe when the game is crippled enough financially, perhaps you will get your wish to make footballers "like the rest of us" and get a job. But the plight of rugby is just how capitalism works. Good old supply and demand and if people aren't tuning in or paying for tickets, then the game and the players face the consequences and then weigh up whether they need to supplement their incomes with another job.
But mark my words, the moment you decide to "socialise" a sport, there will be a Kerry Packer waiting to pick it up and give the players their dues and to make a fortune out of it himself at the same time. In the meantime, while series like the state of origin are worth nearly $100 million/year, i think it is only fair to pay the players their fair share for providing the entertainment, just like in any other part of the entertaiment industry.
