Australian Rugby / RA

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

I don't think you suddenly get a lot more people at games because you remove the conflicts with schoolboy rugby etc.

If you move one of those to Friday night or Sunday I don't think you really see much of a bump in crowd figures for either.

You don't think so? I truly reckon we would. From people who are Rugby fans, but have other rugby commitments on their saturdays, if they didnt have those they would defintely be going to go watch some prems.

I remember as a schoolboy, we would be interested in Easts down the road, but a lot of people would rather watch schoolboy rugby instead, due to the pageantry and atmosphere. But if the only rugby on was prem grade on a saturday, I'm sure interest and attendance would increase.

You may disagree, but to me I think it makes sense.

 

[Derpus]

You don't think so? I truly reckon we would. From people who are Rugby fans, but have other rugby commitments on their saturdays, if they didnt have those they would defintely be going to go watch some prems.

I remember as a schoolboy, we would be interested in Easts down the road, but a lot of people would rather watch schoolboy rugby instead, due to the pageantry and atmosphere. But if the only rugby on was prem grade on a saturday, I'm sure interest and attendance would increase.

You may disagree, but to me I think it makes sense.

No one cares about club rugby except the people directly involved. School kids barely even play rugby anymore - let alone support some random amateur club.

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

As someone which is assuredly younger than you, I can tell you, you're wrong.

 

[LeCheese]

I for one am shocked that someone with a name like @KentwellCup>ShuteShield believes club rugby is the messiah that will lead us to the promised lands

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

I dont think club rugby is the messiah to take us to the promised land. I just think it has more legs as a competition, to drive fan engagment than a Super Rugby "A" competition.

 

[Cole]

The biggest problem I see with the Club based system is you will create the Haves/Have nots. All the Rep/fringe rep players will end up at the strongest clubs who are most likely to play this comp each year, and the clubs lower down will find it almost impossible to attract talent and you will cruel the competition (SS/Hospital Cup). I think the Super Au style comp is a much better option run inline with current 16/19s

 

[LeCheese]

As someone which is assuredly younger than you, I can tell you, you're wrong.

I'm not much older than yourself but agree with Derp. Outside of some pretty specific circles relating to the neighbourhood you live, school you went to, or family you grew up in, there is pretty limited broader public interest in club rugby.

I dont think club rugby is the messiah to take us to the promised land. I just think it has more legs as a competition, to drive fan engagment than a Super Rugby "A" competition.

No chance imo. Too many teams in too small an area to capture a wide enough fanbase to be able to a) grow substantially, and b) be somewhat representative at a national scale

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

I agree, that why I said earlier in terms of players development, logistics and finance a Super Rugby A comp works better.

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

I'm not much older than yourself but agree with Derp. Outside of some pretty specific circles relating to the neighbourhood you live, school you went to, or family you grew up in, there is pretty limited broader public interest in club rugby.


No chance imo. Too many teams in too small an area to capture a wide enough fanbase to be able to a) grow substantially, and b) be somewhat representative at a national scale

Fair enough.

EDIT: but lets be honest, if you didn't go to a "rugby school" and you're already interested in Rugby, you defintely have a connection or live in area represented by a premier club.

 

[Wilson]

Yeah I don't watch and many people I know don't watch who would, because they have other sport commitments in the world of rugby union itself and other sports.

Coaching or involved with schools rugby, refreeing, subbies etc. If it had the correct marketing behind it, I think it would be a hit.

Tell me you wouldn't atleast get a couple thousand at Easts or North Sydney on a friday night after work? or even a sunday arvo, with them playing a Western Force XV or the Brothers club in Brisbane? In a competition game which actually mattered.

Those numbers aren't great, and they don't justify spending more to try and turn this into more of a "product" then the development focus.

If the Reds A didn't already draw a few thousand to Ballymore to play the Force A I'd consider it a failure, based on trial attendances this year. I'd expect games vs the tahs and Brumbies to both then be higher than that as a baseline.

The point of a comp like this is development first and foremost, any product is bonus. If you start spending to make product (and compromising the development outcomes) you need much better returns, probably crowds in the neighbourhood of 10k, better than half the super teams already draw. Don't forget super Rugby doesn't pull in enough revenue to be self sustaining, it's reliant on the Wallabies broadcast money to work (if it even does).

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

As someone which is assuredly younger than you, I can tell you, you're wrong.

Age has little to do with it. I actually played for a Shute club and the crowds are not there.

 

[Derpus]

The ageism in the thread is off the charts. Never have I been so insulted. Gosh.

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

Age has little to do with it. I actually played for a Shute club and the crowds are not there.

He said schoolkids have little interest, as someone most likely closer to school age to him, I know he is wrong. I'm not the one who bought it up.

 

[LeCheese]

EDIT: but lets be honest, if you didn't go to a "rugby school" and you're already interested in Rugby, you defintely have a connection or live in area represented by a premier club.

Again, I think that's a reasonably narrow view, but it's understandable and is no doubt reflective of your experience. In contrast, I've always had an interest in rugby, went to a rugby school, and have always lived within 20 minutes of various prem teams' home grounds - but I have zero allegiances to any club, nor do I follow prem rugby in any way (apart from sometimes chucking it on Stan on a quiet a Saturday arvo).

I'd suggest at least 80% of mates and family who are serious union fans are the same. In my experience, only those who played for a club at some point along the way follow the game at club level in any sort of capacity - and I don't think any permutation of a national club comp will change that.

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

So you're saying, If we had national third tier of clubs, which had pros playing in it. You would not take any interest in it whatsoever?

What do we work with instead then? We've tried the NRC, which was a fail. So what avenues are left?

 

[Dctarget]

He said schoolkids have little interest, as someone most likely closer to school age to him, I know he is wrong. I'm not the one who bought it up.

Derpus is one of our younger members going around, he still doesn't get a seniors discount like the rest of the folk here

 

[LeCheese]

So you're saying, If we had national third tier of clubs, which had pros playing in it. You would not take any interest in it whatsoever?

What do we work with instead then? We've tried the NRC, which was a fail. So what avenues are left?

Honestly, probably not - but even if I did, it's unlikely to capture a wider or more engaged audience (particularly of 'casual' fans - i.e., not someone posting on here) than any of the other options.

I disagree that the NRC was a failure, at least of its own doing, but that's been discussed ad nauseam so we won't go into that. The proposed 'A' comp is the most contextually suitable idea that's been floated imo.

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

Even by the virtue of supporting the team from your local area?

 

[Dismal Pillock]

schoolkids

Would people please stop posting this word, my ankle monitor has started setting off the buildings smoke detectors.

 

[LeCheese]

Even by the virtue of supporting the team from your local area?

My local area growing up had two QPR clubs that were a 5 minute drive from one another, and most of the QPR teams are within a 20km radius - the tribalism really isn't there unless you played for one of them. To be frank, I don't even think most casual rugby fans would know who the QPR teams are let alone where their home grounds are.