NZ rugby league out of doldrums

[Lossy]

By AAP via NRL.com:

NZ rugby league out of doldrums

The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) says it has evidence the country's domestic game has emerged from the doldrums.

NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle on Tuesday revealed player numbers increased by more than 50 per cent last year.

He said player data compiled by the NZRL showed participation numbers had climbed by 52 per cent since 2009, with the overall player total swelling to more than 24,000.

"It has been a tremendous year for the game at the highest levels with the Kiwis winning the Four Nations, Benji Marshall winning the Golden Boot, the Junior Kiwis doing so well and the Warriors also performing superbly in the National Rugby League and the National Youth Competition," he said.

"When the Kiwis won the World Cup two years ago, rugby league in this country was in crisis on a number of levels.

"Our mission was to rebuild it from the bottom.

"Our work has still only just started ... but knowing we now have more than 24,000 players involved is extremely satisfying. It's a sign we're making real progress."

 

[Skinner]

Frankly, I'm not really sure the figures stack up. This would indicate that in '09 there were only 12,000 players.....in Auckland maybe, but nation wide ???

Keep in mind that the player numbers always include juniors and schoolboy/girls (often double dipping I have to say).

 

[One Warrior]

I figure from those figures there were roughly 18000 in 2009, if numbers were 12000 in 2009 they would have to of grown by 100% to get to 24000.

 

[Jesbass]

Frankly, I'm not really sure the figures stack up. This would indicate that in '09 there were only 12,000 players.....in Auckland maybe, but nation wide ???

Keep in mind that the player numbers always include juniors and schoolboy/girls (often double dipping I have to say).

There's no mention of 12,000 players. It only says that the player numbers of 2009 plus 52% equals 24,000. That's closer to 15,800 players in 2009.

I have no idea how accurate that figure is to reality, but it's worth commenting just to correct your mathematic skills. ;-)

 

[Skinner]

There's no mention of 12,000 players. It only says that the player numbers of 2009 plus 52% equals 24,000. That's closer to 15,800 players in 2009.

I have no idea how accurate that figure is to reality, but it's worth commenting just to correct your mathematic skills. ;-)

I have none mate....that's the point :lol:

I had to sit School Cert Maths twice

 

[Lossy]

Frankly, I'm not really sure the figures stack up. This would indicate that in '09 there were only 12,000 players.....in Auckland maybe, but nation wide ???

Keep in mind that the player numbers always include juniors and schoolboy/girls (often double dipping I have to say).

According to SPARC, the NZRL always had difficulty getting accurate (or any) numbers from the various districts, and that they considered the methodology up until 2002 as flawed.

As you say, double counting was common - probably still happens, but a little less - as well as the averaged squad numbers in each team being quite generous.

Back in the 90s the Hillary Commission were given figures of between 30-40,000. The most recent NZRL stats were 16,728 in 2008 and 14,756 in 2007. In their NZRL review SPARC stated that there was no obvious reason for 2008's increase and that it "may not reflect a real increase but rather a different approach to statistic collection."

But if the way they collect data has remained stable then 24,000 still reflects a not-insignificant increase.

I'll take it.

 

[Lossy]

I had to sit School Cert Maths twice

Snap! (But Excel is my dearest friend.)

 

[Martli]

There's no mention of 12,000 players. It only says that the player numbers of 2009 plus 52% equals 24,000. That's closer to 15,800 players in 2009.

I have no idea how accurate that figure is to reality, but it's worth commenting just to correct your mathematic skills. ;-)

Just quoting for emphasis :lol:

 

[Lossy]

*Double.*

 

[Lossy]

To add to the picture, here are secondary school rugby league participation numbers based on survey data from the NZ Secondary Schools Sports Council. Direct links to Excel reports in headers of trend and regional.

Participation trend:

2000 - 1,479
2001 - 1,797
2002 - 1,253
2003 - 1,592
2004 - 1,367
2005 - 1,393
2006 - 1,100
2007 - 1,572
2008 - 1,961
2009 - 2,295
2010 - 2,794

2010 regional breakdown:

Aoraki - 0
Auckland (Auckland) - 318
Auckland (Counties) - 476
Auckland (Harbour) - 283
Auckland (Waitakere) - 157
Bay of Plenty - 12
Canterbury - 236
Eastland - 4
Hawkes Bay - 89
Manawatu - 63
Northland - 17
Otago - 0
Southland - 181
Taranaki - 150
Tasman - 0
Waikato - 161
Wairarapa - 0
Wanganui - 0
Wellington - 647

2010 gender split:

Girls - 191
Boys - 2,603

2010 extras:

Coaches total - 205 (111 community, 64 teachers, 17 support staff, 13 students)
Managers total - 120 (26 community, 56 teachers, 21 support staff, 17 students)
Officials total - 21 (8 community, 7 teachers, 6 support staff)

 

[Martli]

Do you have a link at all for that lossy?

 

[Lossy]

Do you have a link at all for that lossy?

In now, Martli. Was my last task for the post. Had too many windows open and was getting lost among them.

 

[Martli]

Oh sweet, those links are better than I expected. Cheers.

 

[Lossy]

Oh sweet, those links are better than I expected. Cheers.

Your standards are too low.

 

[Lossy]

Longer (and better) NZRL piece from the Warriors website.

Huge growth for rugby league in New Zealand

New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Jim Doyle today revealed player numbers had increased by more than 50 per cent in 2010 capping off one of the best seasons in the game’s history in this country.
He said player data compiled by the NZRL showed participation numbers had climbed by 52 per cent since 2009 with the overall total of players swelling to more than 24,000.
“It has been a tremendous year for the game at the highest levels with the Kiwis winning the Four Nations, Benji Marshall winning the Golden Boot, the Junior Kiwis doing so well and the Warriors also performing superbly in the National Rugby League and the National Youth Competition,” he said.
“But while we’re all thrilled with those successes it’s just as pleasing for us to see the fantastic growth in the game at grass roots level.
“When the Kiwis won the World Cup two years ago, rugby league in this country was in crisis on a number of levels.
“Our mission was to rebuild it from the bottom, a job we started in earnest with the launching of our strategic plan in September 2009.
“Our work has still only just started and we have much more we want to achieve, especially in terms of development of the game at grass roots levels, but knowing we now have more than 24,000 players involved is extremely satisfying. It’s a sign we’re making real progress.”
The areas with the biggest increases were Manawatu (400 per cent) and Taranaki (109 per cent) in the Mid Central Zone, the Northern Zone (128 per cent) and the Counties Manukau Zone (108 per cent) while in the Upper Central Zone, Coastline showed a 90 per cent increase and Waikato 57 per cent. The Auckland Zone was up 49 per cent.
Doyle said the NZRL’s ability to gather player information had been significantly improved through the introduction of its LeagueNet player database.
“It has enabled us to compile far more accurate data but there is still room for improvement in the system. We know there are a lot more players involved that we still haven’t captured,” he said.
Doyle said the growth in the game had been achieved through a number of initiatives.
“Critical to our development have been the Junior Roots camps we have held throughout the country which have done so much to promote the game in the zones,” he said.
“We’ve also held a number of Junior Elite Kiwi Roots camps in Australia and also in Auckland aimed at winning the hearts of New Zealand-eligible players.
“Tony Kemp and the football department have performed outstandingly as they strive to create pathways for our players. There is tremendous talent in this country as well as in Australia and we want those players to know there is a pathway for them.”
The 2010 year has finished with:
•The Kiwis holding the World Cup and Four Nations Cup, trophies which the Kangaroos have almost owned (together with the 2005 Tri Nations, the Kiwis have had three major final successes against Australia in the last five years and were beaten in extra time in the 2006 Tri Nations final)
•Coach Stephen Kearney achieving a 67 per cent success rate with four wins in six Tests
•Kiwi captain Benji Marshall named the winner of the Golden Boot
•Marshall, Manu Vatuvei, Jason Nightingale, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Nathan Fien all named in the Team of the Year voted on by Golden Boot judges
•NZRL Player of the Year Kenny-Dowall named the Centre of the Year at the Rugby League International Federation’s annual awards and also in the RLIF Team of the Year
•The Junior Kiwis sharing their two-match series with the Junior Kangaroos
•The Kiwi Ferns holding the women’s World Cup
•Seven Kiwis appearing in the NRL grand final – Jason Nightingale, Jeremy Smith and Nathan Fien for premiers St George Illawarra and Sam Perrett, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for the beaten Sydney Roosters
•The Vodafone Warriors reaching the NRL finals for the third time in four years after finishing fifth in the minor premiership
•The Vodafone Junior Warriors winning the club’s first premiership by beating South Sydney in the NYC grand final
•The Vodafone Warriors winning the overall Club Championship for the first time (awarded to the club with the best combined record in the NRL and NYC)

 

[Rich102]

I must say I find this very heartening.
At long last League has a professional management system in place; things can only get better.
SPARC's involvement will lead to better funding which can only improve participation.
League will never die but it is good to see it get a huge dose of vitamins.

Good work Lossy!

 

[Jesbass]

I have none mate....that's the point :lol:

I had to sit School Cert Maths twice

Lol, don't let that hold you back. I somehow managed to get a few articles publishjed and I failed Bursary English! :sarcasm:

 

[Skinner]

Lol, don't let that hold you back. I somehow managed to get a few articles publishjed and I failed Bursary English! :sarcasm:

I managed 95% in that one.....horses for courses I guess LOL

 

[Jesbass]

Ha...and I just noticed my ironic spelling of "published" in that post... :lol:

 

[R2Coupe]

Hopefully the growth of rugby league in NZ continues.

Benji Marshall is a great ambassador for the Kiwis and his loyalty towards the Tigers is greatly admired in Australia.

The success of the Keebra Park programme which identifies talented RL and RU youth in NZ has also played a part. Ben Murdoch-Masila and Mosese Fotoauika are two players of great promise.