Coronavirus might be the forced isolation rugby needs to become great again

We're talking rock bottom, or even worse. Hard to believe when you think back to the World Cup wins and John Williamson singing to a sea of golden fans at packed stadiums.

It's obvious the game is sick when you compare those golden years to the pre-coronavirus empty stands of 2020, the lack of a television deal beyond this year and a potential $120 million revenue hole.

The fact speculation emerged on Friday night that chief executive Raelene Castle could soon be ousted in favour of Phil Kearns typifies rugby's problem.

Castle isn't rugby's problem. Rugby is rugby's problem. Yes, player wage negotiations have dragged on and there's no television deal in place for next season. But why are players insisting on looking at the books of a struggling organisation before taking a pay cut? And no sport is being paid television money at the moment, so why the outrage?

The fact Kearns, a former Wallabies skipper and a Fox Sports employee, has been mooted as Castle's replacement adds another layer to the saga, especially when it comes to broadcast negotiations.

Castle's decision to test the broadcast market was brave. Fox Sports wants you to think it was dumb, and maybe it was given what has since transpired. But if something didn't change, then rugby was going to be in a worse place any way.

And now, if Castle is axed, there will be a Fox Sports employee in charge of broadcast negotiations.

Let's be honest, rugby has been sick for a long time, not just because of the contagious virus which has shutdown sports around the world.

The question now is can rugby be fixed, and how can it be done? Sure, rugby might fall the furthest when we get through all of this, whenever that will be. But it also stands to gain the most, because of all the codes it was the one who needed a major overhaul.

It's perhaps the one thing fans, players, coaches and administrators all agree on at the moment. There's a brilliant rugby idea somewhere waiting to be discovered, it just needs the game to stop tripping over its own feet to get there.

The trans-Tasman competition idea has been floated for several years now. New Zealand has baulked because of the lack of competition in Australia, but the time is now. What about throwing open the borders in a new "Pro Rugby" competition? A free market for players to move between Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and an Asian team without losing their international eligibility.

Beauden Barrett at the ACT Brumbies? Yes please. David Pocock at the Waikato Chiefs - well, there's a reason to go to watch them play in Canberra.

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How about hosting the Bledisloe Cup games like a State of Origin series, be it at the start, during or end of the regular competition?

And most importantly, why not use the existing club competitions as a genuine breading ground for the next Wallabies or professional players? It doesn't have to be a national club competition, but just make sure you pick the best of the best and give them a chance.

Sometimes it's hard to see a vision for the future at a time when there is so much mud flinging. The players' association is growing agitated about a pay deal, but most accept they'll take a hit.

It is true franchises have lost faith in RA's ability to handle the game. Some players have, too. But the opportunity is right in front of them and they have a chance to do something great. Because rugby can be great again if the right decisions are made.

One of the problems of the past decade has been relying in cyclical change. Sure, all sports go through rough times of waning engagement and fan frustrations, but rugby didn't do enough to get itself out of the hole.

It's time for rugby to change, but that doesn't mean having to scrap lineouts, scrum contests and kicking. It just means creating an environment where players and fans can thrive together. Is rugby sick? Yes. But quarantine measures could be the cure.