English Rugby Union player Marcus Smith admitted he accepts the responsibility to help promote rugby union in England amid the financial crisis.
Smith revealed he has to put on a show and said that he would be open to holding talks with officials over how best to grow the game. Smith acknowledges that the level of attention he receives in public is growing.
Smith believes several lessons can be learned from US sports because he spent three weeks in Los Angeles over the summer, during which he worked with an NFL coach. Harlequins are front-runners in that regard, and Premiership Rugby praised the club for how they attracted a younger and more diverse audience for their match against Gloucester in May.
Smith said I feel very responsible, and ultimately we are the patrons for the game, and the light is shining on us, and it’s our job to entertain the people who come and support us.
Smith said it’s a problem with Worcester at this moment but potentially Wasps as well. Moreover, he said at Harlequins, we are very grateful for our owners, but it also shows how fragile it can be.
Smith said, more importantly, you have to enjoy yourself while it’s here, It’s not going to last forever, and it’s our role as players today to lift the profile and inspire the new youngsters in this country. Hopefully, we can build the game and lift it to a new level, he added.
Smith said you can encourage people from different ways of life to enjoy the spectacle because obviously, it’s a show, and we are entertainers at the end of the day.
