By Jon Geddes

AS the curtain comes down on his amazing coaching career, Joe Barakat has delivered some harsh home truths about the current state of Australian rugby.

“I think it is horrible,” the highly regarded rugby identity and outgoing Southern Districts coach told Rugby News.

While it pained him to say that about the game he loves, Barakat - who has been involved in rugby from grassroots to the international level - also felt obligated to call the situation as he sees it.

“In 2005 and 2006 Australian Rugby Union and NSW Rugby Union said they were not going to fund club rugby anymore,” Barakat said. “Every club in the Shute Shield used to get $100,000 collectively each year.”

In a highly provocative statement which incensed the Shute Shield community, then ARU CEO Bill Pulver reportedly said: "I'm not making any money available for the Sydney clubs to p… it up against the wall.”           

And Barakat said: “Have a look at the trajectory of rugby since that time.

“All we have done since 2005/2006 is go downhill.

“Am I disillusioned? Absolutely.

“If we start trying to build this game up from the grassroots, it is going to take time.

“If we start trying to rebuild this game from the Wallabies down, we definitely know from the weekend it is going to take time.”