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French RL really up against it

B

Bombay Devils RLFC

Juniors
Messages
226
ElectricEelMan said:
Rugby league is the fastest growing sport in France.
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It may be but what base is it coming from. The growth of RU is a 2 edged sword for RL. Firstly the more people playing any form of rugby would be generally good for the growth of RL however if the RU clubs become bigger they are likely to take all the good RL players. This is where we need some expanded thinking. Maybe give salary cap exemptions to NRL clubs who take on a French player etc. There is nothing better than a winning culture & if French RL can start performing better on the field the crowds will follow.
 
miguel de cervantes

miguel de cervantes

First Grade
Messages
7,487
ElectricEelMan said:
Rugby league is the fastest growing sport in France.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't put too much faith in this quote.

RL in France has made some small gains, mostly associated with the Dragons, but it has gone sideways in many other respects. The best thing to happen to rugby league in France would be without a single grain of doubt the inclusion of Toulouse in super league. If they can do this, the public awareness of the game will go up another notch and Paris with Stade Français will likely become interested in creating a XIII section to go with their XV club.

Union in France has certainly gained in popularity after the WC2007, but I don't think it is bowling over the population like some here would suggest. I personally believe that the Top14 is dangerously unstable, with players paid too much, too many foreigners playing and clubs relying heavily on public money to keep them competitve.
 
Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle

First Grade
Messages
9,748
I agree, there appears to be some good news regarding awareness of RL, Catalans appear to have done a good job with the Catalonian peoples, but they seem to have hit a wall in regards to development. Jamal Fakjir hit the scene 6-7 years ago and he's gone backwards there's no new wave of 'young guns', even though there does appear to be an increase in the number of people playing.

It's all well and good to point to RU in France, and the masturbatory effect it will have on SteveM, but he is the resident joke on the international forums, so disregard him for anything other than comedic purposes.
 
S

SteveM

Juniors
Messages
212
miguel de cervantes said:
I wouldn't put too much faith in this quote.

RL in France has made some small gains, mostly associated with the Dragons, but it has gone sideways in many other respects. The best thing to happen to rugby league in France would be without a single grain of doubt the inclusion of Toulouse in super league. If they can do this, the public awareness of the game will go up another notch and Paris with Stade Français will likely become interested in creating a XIII section to go with their XV club.

Union in France has certainly gained in popularity after the WC2007, but I don't think it is bowling over the population like some here would suggest. I personally believe that the Top14 is dangerously unstable, with players paid too much, too many foreigners playing and clubs relying heavily on public money to keep them competitve.
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Good post. But remember the dragons also receive government funding. The french have lowered the salary cap this year (or is it next year?). In addition they are audited by the LNR every year to make sure they can pay all their bills. If clubs go under they are automatically relegated no matter were they finish in the table.

32K for a second division games is fantastic.
 
miguel de cervantes

miguel de cervantes

First Grade
Messages
7,487
Kurt Angle said:
there's no new wave of 'young guns', even though there does appear to be an increase in the number of people playing.
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The French youth teams have recently beaten Australian AIS and U18 teams. See other thread.

SteveM providing a does of reality can do no harm. But 32k at a Grenoble rugby game is the exception, and far far from the norm. There must have been a helicopter ticket dump with free saucisson handout or something.
 
H

Heritage XIII

Juniors
Messages
1,162
I wonder if the promotion was similar to the ones stad francais' sugar daddy does. Hires out the big stadium, free tickets for all, and the chance to win a dozen cars. Attracts 80,000 but when they go back to their 12,000 seated, the crowds go back to 7-8,000 usually.
 
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H

Heritage XIII

Juniors
Messages
1,162
I wonder if the promotion was similar to the ones stad francais' sugar daddy does. Hires out the big stadium, free tickets for all, and the chance to win a dozen cars. Attracts 80,000 but when they go back to their 12,000 seated, the crowds go back to 7-8,000 usually.
 
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M

manoj p

Juniors
Messages
744
Heritage XIII said:
I wonder if the promotion was similar to the ones stad francais' sugar daddy does. Hires out the big stadium, free tickets for all, and the chance to win a dozen cars. Attracts 80,000 but when they go back to their 12,000 seated, the crowds go back to 7-8,000 usually.
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Twas exactly the same. Freebies.

Lyon has never really had a lot of interest in union.
 
S

SteveM

Juniors
Messages
212
miguel de cervantes said:
The French youth teams have recently beaten Australian AIS and U18 teams. See other thread.

SteveM providing a does of reality can do no harm. But 32k at a Grenoble rugby game is the exception, and far far from the norm. There must have been a helicopter ticket dump with free saucisson handout or something.
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It's an exception of a second division game. RU games have held been at Grenoble a few times and sold well (though not sold out as they have tended to be between two neutral teams). Grenoble is a fair sized city and there is a lot of RU clubs there. So it's a good sign if they manage to get to the Top 14 in the future.
 
S

SteveM

Juniors
Messages
212
Heritage XIII said:
I wonder if the promotion was similar to the ones stad francais' sugar daddy does. Hires out the big stadium, free tickets for all, and the chance to win a dozen cars. Attracts 80,000 but when they go back to their 12,000 seated, the crowds go back to 7-8,000 usually.
Click to expand...

Both Stade and Racing Metro are building new stadiums of about 25k so they must think they can increase their crowds.
 
H

Heritage XIII

Juniors
Messages
1,162
Just stating what is the current situation. But French union seems to be about which clubs can be bankrolled by the sugar daddy. Some famous clubs who can't, are/will struggle. I hope French league clubs can gain a bit more financial clout but remain community based, not the domain of rich patriarchs.
 
miguel de cervantes

miguel de cervantes

First Grade
Messages
7,487
SteveM said:
Both Stade and Racing Metro are building new stadiums of about 25k so they must think they can increase their crowds.
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Nope, they are just after grounds more suited to rugby (ie minus athletics track). Stade can always play at Stade de France if they need more space.
 
miguel de cervantes

miguel de cervantes

First Grade
Messages
7,487
SteveM said:
It's an exception of a second division game. RU games have held been at Grenoble a few times and sold well (though not sold out as they have tended to be between two neutral teams). Grenoble is a fair sized city and there is a lot of RU clubs there. So it's a good sign if they manage to get to the Top 14 in the future.
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SteveM said:
Lyon has always had an interest in RU.
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The heartlands of both rugbys in France do and will always lie in the southwest.

There are not a lot of RU clubs in Grenoble.

Lyon has an interest in union as it does in league, though admittedly more so in union.
 
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