My AMNRL Vision

[Woods99]

So... what's your AMNRL vision woody?

Well, Copa, my AMNRL vision would be heavily based on reality. I am aware that there are quite a few rugby union players who enjoy playing league during the league season, so that is a good starting point. Any expansion of rugby league has to be bottom-up.......that is surely a truism for any sport. There are absolutely no short-cuts. Put some development people on the ground, to coach and encourage new teams. This costs money, of course. Who will pay?

The fact that league followers here and elsewhere believe that league is the more attractive game is neither here nor there. What matters is that people on the ground want to play it, and watch it. That cannot be forced on people, and frankly exhibition games like the Kangaroos one in New York are virtually useless.

At the end of the day, if rugby league wants to expand internationally the powers that be have to want it to happen (which they don't at the moment) and have to be prepared to fund it (which they don't at the moment).

 

[screeny]

The IRB website is very funny in terms of its statistics.

I used to live in the Caribbean on an island the IRB claimed was a thriving hotspot of RU action when in reality it was a load of retired British pigs geteing up to what boorish RU types get up to, in one club house.

Good luck to 'em, they enjoyed themselves and that's what 'sport' is all about, but RU outside the top few nations.....well, it's a piss up.

 

[iggy plop]

Taipan,


6. Finally, I have played both games, and have a fair grasp of the history of both. Rugby union was a minor sport in Australia when I first started playing and following it. It has grown enormously in both player numbers and support over the years. That is not a dream, sunshine.

The fact union is the least popular football code in its Australian heartlands must be worrying for you Woods. I think the fact we can't see Super 12/14 on FTA says a lot about yawnion's place in Australia. The Wallabies (union's flag bearers in this country) have about a 50th of the popularity of the Australian cricket team and about the 20th of the socceroos (and they only play a couple of meaningful games every 4 years).

Wallabies matches broadcast live around the country on FTA didn't last long after the World Cup. :lol:

 

[Woods99]

The fact union is the least popular football code in its Australian heartlands must be worrying for you Woods. I think the fact we can't see Super 12/14 on FTA says a lot about yawnion's place in Australia. The Wallabies (union's flag bearers in this country) have about a 50th of the popularity of the Australian cricket team and about the 20th of the socceroos (and they only play a couple of meaningful games every 4 years).

Wallabies matches broadcast live around the country on FTA didn't last long after the World Cup. :lol:

Iggy,

1. The fact that we cannot see Super 12/14 or the soccer A-League on FTA says something about the realities of sport funding in Australia (and other countries). I don't watch much FTA, frankly, only the ABC and SBS. The commercial channels seem to thrive on catering for the lowest common denominator in taste. Each to his or her own.

2. Rugby union in Australia is far more popular today by any measure than it was 15 years ago. The trend is our friend, Iggy.

3. I think the facts about the Wallabies' popularity are that they are the most recognised sporting brand in the country (Sweeney), and the Wallabies jersey is the countries largest selling piece of sporting apparel. Sounds like good news for "yawnion".

4. The Wallabies still manage to sell out most of their home games, as do the Waratahs. When will the Kangaroos sell out a game????

 

[JW]

I4. The Wallabies still manage to sell out most of their home games, as do the Waratahs. When will the Kangaroos sell out a game????

When will any game outside a handful of Wallabies and Waratahs games reach double digits?

 

[Woods99]

When will any game outside a handful of Wallabies and Waratahs games reach double digits?

JW,

I think you will find that every game played next year by the Wallabies, the Waratahs, the Brumbies, the Reds, and the Western Force will comfortably exceed double digits in thousands, if that is what you mean. And many of them will be full houses. The Force already have over 20,000 members.

When will the Kangaroos get a full house?

 

[Calixte]

I think the "Woods99 vision" for the AMNRL would involve a large explosive device given his views on rugby league generally.

Try getting back to the point of the thread (for once)...

 

[Woods99]

I think the "Woods99 vision" for the AMNRL would involve a large explosive device given his views on rugby league generally.

Try getting back to the point of the thread (for once)...

Calixte,

If you look back a few posts you will see my thoughts on the AMNRL, and on the expansion of rugby league in general.

 

[hutch]

JW,

I think you will find that every game played next year by the Wallabies, the Waratahs, the Brumbies, the Reds, and the Western Force will comfortably exceed double digits in thousands, if that is what you mean. And many of them will be full houses. The Force already have over 20,000 members.

When will the Kangaroos get a full house?

dont even try to compare crowds in this country. league absolutely destroys union in this aspect. you dont even rate champ!!!

 

[iggy plop]

Iggy,

4. The Wallabies still manage to sell out most of their home games, as do the Waratahs. When will the Kangaroos sell out a game????

Wallabies only sold out about half their games this year.

v Italy half full
v South Africa in sydney non sellout
v France non sellout (close)
v samoa (less than half full)

Considering union only gets about 20-25 'crowds' a year in this country those wallabies numbers are poor. Much better than the Kangaroos of course but we do have a 26 round comp invloving 14 aussie teams (plus finals) and of course the origin. The fact the Kangaroos get better tv ratings than the wannabies in the heartland areas must be a worry for you woody.

 

[iggy plop]

JW,

I think you will find that every game played next year by the Wallabies, the Waratahs, the Brumbies, the Reds, and the Western Force will comfortably exceed double digits in thousands, if that is what you mean. And many of them will be full houses. The Force already have over 20,000 members.

When will the Kangaroos get a full house?

2004 ANZAC Test v NZ.

You don't have to go back too far.

 

[taipan]

Calixte,

If you look back a few posts you will see my thoughts on the AMNRL, and on the expansion of rugby league in general.

And has been shown in the past,those thoughts can be taken with a grain of salt.Bit like Namibia being a powerhouse.

 

[taipan]

JW,

I think you will find that every game played next year by the Wallabies, the Waratahs, the Brumbies, the Reds, and the Western Force will comfortably exceed double digits in thousands, if that is what you mean. And many of them will be full houses. The Force already have over 20,000 members.

When will the Kangaroos get a full house?

Quite possibly at Eden Park Auckland next year,when NZ (with SBW and Benji Marshall)takes on the Kangaroos.Then again you only watch 4 minutes of rugby league,so will hardly have time to view the crowd.

 

[taipan]

Woods99 keeps harping on about Singapore,no one said it was going to suddenly take over the hearts and minds of the population.Its there albeit in its infancy,just as union is there in some of those outlandish outposts .Your record is stuck.You bombed out brilliantly on Ireland,dont do a repeat performance.

 

[taipan]

Iggy,

1. The fact that we cannot see Super 12/14 or the soccer A-League on FTA says something about the realities of sport funding in Australia (and other countries). I don't watch much FTA, frankly, only the ABC and SBS. The commercial channels seem to thrive on catering for the lowest common denominator in taste. Each to his or her own.

2. Rugby union in Australia is far more popular today by any measure than it was 15 years ago. The trend is our friend, Iggy.

3. I think the facts about the Wallabies' popularity are that they are the most recognised sporting brand in the country (Sweeney), and the Wallabies jersey is the countries largest selling piece of sporting apparel. Sounds like good news for "yawnion".


4. The Wallabies still manage to sell out most of their home games, as do the Waratahs. When will the Kangaroos sell out a game????

Rugby union is not more popular today by any measure, eg club rugby is nowhere as popular as it was in the past.The ABC coverage has appalling ratings figures for that segment.I watched years ago a St George(before they became Southern Districts) v Randwick match live at Hurstville oval,and the crowd would leave for dead the bulk of the games on today.
If the Wallabies continue their abysmal form the bulk of their home games apart from the ABS ,would have difficulty selling out their games.Melbourne with the biggest Italian pop in Oz, could only get the telstra Dome half full in a match against Italy,when the walls were winning.