Popularity of Rugby in Australia

[dobduff11]

Rugby has apparently fallen to Australia's ninth most popular sport.

"A report by a brand analysis and research agency, Repucom says that when the 2007 Rugby world cup was taking place in France the sport had dropped from fourth to seventh.

Since that world cup rugby has again dropped going from seventh to ninth place. Ironically, even though rugby union dropped position on the rankings, interest in the sport actually increased by 3 per cent but it's opposition codes moved more."

The rest of the article is here, http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=28068

Not sure what to make of especially because of the three % increase. I would have thought that this years rugby might have boosted it a little above 9th.

Another point is that "in the avid fans sector rugby union cam fifth behind rugby league, Australian Rules, soccer and cricket which indicates that rugby union has genuine interest and that it is not passing through a phase."

I think the Full list is:
1. Aussie Rules
2. Cricket
3. League
4. Tennis
5. Swimming
6. Soccer
7. V8 Supercar ?
8. F1 Racing
9. Rugby Union
10. Golf ?

 

[en_force_er]

... i'd like to see how these statistics are taken.

Is it playing or viewing numbers because rugger is mostly only on cable.

 

[dobduff11]

Not sure yet if its participation, crowd numbers or television views.

On the western force forum they seem to think it is either average crowd or participation

 

[Ruggo]

Die hard rugby fans and administrators hold a somewhat over inflated view of the popularity of Rugby in Australia but that list does not suprise me at all. Rugby does not know whether it is a true proffessional sport or and old boys club. The amount of opposition that suggestion of progress still amaizes me. Promotion of the growth of the game in Australia is stagnant.

 

[sevenpointdropgoal]

It's worth noting that I've done some work with these types of Market Research firms, and their "process" is not exactly scientifically rigorous. The question of popularity doesn't necessarily equal turnover and positive development for the sport in question.

I don't think rugby is in too bad a place in terms of popularity. Aussie Rules, Mungo and Cricket have been the big Australian sports for many years, and I can't see that changing. Football is obviously undergoing a renaissance at the moment. Rugby has a solid and devoted fan base here, a robust international competition base, and a pretty exciting club format in the Super Rugby system. It still get better attendance numbers for club (Super) games than any other sport in Australia aside from AFL. It attracts comparatively excellent sponsorship money, and, unlike some of the other codes, is reasonably well managed.

Cricket is an interesting sport. When asking Australians to rate the importance of a sport to them, they'll generally place Cricket pretty high on the list, even naming it our traditional national sport. But looking at attendance of local or interstate matches, knowledge of players outside the national squad, and amateur participation in the sport itself, you wouldn't exactly be jumping for joy if you were an administrator of the game in Australia. Interest falls away pretty quickly once you get below international level.

At the end of the day long term revenue and popularity is determined by success. In this respect the administrators of swimming and tennis face a pretty daunting task. Swimming at a professional level is a thankless task for all but the very best. The number of people who ever make enough money to support themselves is extremely small, and the advantages in training facilities and techniques that we once had have now largely been eroded by gains in the European countries.

 

[en_force_er]

The A-League is experiencing some pretty poor crowd numbers this year, it's all just ebbs and flows.

 

[zeedok]

The A-League is experiencing some pretty poor crowd numbers this year, it's all just ebbs and flows.

I reckon it is the bandwagon phenomenon. We have a friend who has lifetime memberships to the SFS etc. She only comes to watch Rugby if they are winning -- or if there is nothing better going on.

I don't think it matters that much. Correct me if I err, but Australian Rugby is used to running on the smell of an oily rag, and increasing the number of teams (eg Rebels) will -- IMHO -- build the numbers of players. For example, there must be a bunch of young 18-20 guys who are faced with the prospect of playing reserve grade League, or joining the Super Rugby ranks (Eg Rocky, Berrick etc).

 

[TheTruth]

Tennis and swimming bigger - bullshit
.

 

[JJ]

I know I for one was jumping for joy when Qatar got the WC and not Australia. Call me unpatriotic but I've got Aussie Rugby's best interest at heart. How can they rate F1 higher when there's only one event a year in Aus? I doubt 99 percent of Australians could name another Formula 1 driver apart from Webber.

 

[Thomas]

I call bullshit on soccer as well may be they've got higher participation numbers for juniors but viewing and attendance numbers are well below most other sports. I also don't think F1 is more popular than rugby is it even shown on free to air?

 

[barbarian]

I think the survey is based on the idea of 'interest' which suits sports like Swimming and F1. A lot of people have an interest in them, but would never go to watch it or buy any merchandise. Both are good TV sports, and I (and many others here) enjoy watching them from time to time (swimming is on very rarely, and F1 is irregular as well). So if a researcher asked me if I have an interest in them, I would say 'yes'. But I wouldn't consider myself a supporter or a fan. Same goes for tennis.

 

[Set piece magic]

As a fan of all professional sport except AFL (i can't stand the way they shove their product down my throat, really SHITS me) I can say those numbers would have to be based on attendance, but in 2008 or 2009, not 2010.

As for next year, you can rightfully expect rugby to take it's crown of at least being in the top 5 back. Being a world cup year there is bound to be a serious amount of hype done by channel 9 for the group stage and we could pull TV audiences of ~400k for each group stage match, 700k for ireland?
Quarters vs wales - 1m
semi's 2.5m

and of course if we make the final, given population growth from 2003 as about 800k or so we should be able to pull 5mill watching for the final. ( we got 4.25 for 2003 and we were written off)

Now that would be some good TV audiences and there easily achievable
As for bledisloe cup - everyone will naturally right australia off for the eden park match, but i think the stage is set for our first win their for a long time. We only lost by 10 in christchurch this year, and if it's close there's always a chance of magic happening from our backs. If we win that game (it's only a 2 match series cause of the WC) then you can expect a big TV audience for the suncorp game, which will be more than full? I mean, last time the bledisloe was at 'the corp' it was basically a dead rubber and we still got 52,498 people. Yeah two people from a full house which was most likely two corporates who missed their flight.

So I can reasonably see us getting some very nice TV figures which 9 will be very happy with, and long term putting us into a big money TV deal - A long term case to put us back in the black.

As for attendances, forget the amount we lost this year. Even if we lose some cash next year, there is no way in hell it will be as much. With more derbies, the local teams can expect to have some cracking matches and increased attendance figures. Everyone only really caught onto the Reds in round 10 this year, with five weeks to go. We play each team at home once and then four more home games. The other home games are against the crusaders, bulls, blues and cheetahs, all of whom except the cheetahs will attract a big crowd.
I can see this for the reds next year
a 30k average
40 - 45 k for the BIG home games i.e. waratahs
30 k for other aus teams
25k for the cheetahs game
30 - 45 for the crusaders, blues and bulls. Some big stars in those teams.
Oh
and if we get a home semi, home final...
Full house.


Now in comparison with the other 3 in QLD, the lions are hopeless and will get next to nothing for their crowds next year. Bet on it
The bronco's have no new signings and will continue on in their ho hum nothing special way.
The roar are top of the table and still draw pathetic crowds with pathetic atmosphere.
The reds will have the second most high attendance after the bronco's, or they will be in first place by a couple of hundred.
That simple.
Now obviously thats an estimated guess but believe me, A lot of people i go to school with had never watched a rugby game in their life, saw a game or two this year (i took five of my mates to Reds V Highlanders) and want to go to every game next year. I might be off with my crowd numbers by a small margin, but believe me it only goes up here in QLD.

So the Rebels have some excitement around melbourne, the waratahs have stopped people from going to sleep, the brumbies have a decent team to get decent crowds, and the force have some special names that draw crowds alone - how did they still fill that thing when they where coming last???

Crowds are going UP in 2011. The only question is by how much

TV audiences are going UP in 2011. THe only question is by how much

The game is going UP in 2011. The only question is by how much.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

With the extra team in the Super rugby comp next year, the crowds and interest level ought to go up. The expansion of rugby beyond NSW and QLD is one of the smartest things the ARU has ever done. Whatever the success of the Force and Brumbies (and soon to be Rebels) on the paddock, it's been a huge success off it. People over here in the west talk about rugby now and not just at the grass roots club level. Force games are reported on all the networks and there is actual brand recognition. This can only help.

When the Wallabies perform well, the same thing happens, the brand recognition is right up there. It's really only cricket and the olympic sports that enjoy the same profile internationally. I think we're heading roughly in the right direction and for me rugby doesn't have to be the dominant sport in this country. So long as the quality of the product continues to be good, as an average punter I will be happy.

 

[kambah mick]

Channel nine are crap at televising games, but they are superb at promotion. With the exceptional crop of good young players coming into the comp next year, I think it will be a great year for Rugby. I know I am absolutely hanging out for it all to commence!!

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Me too Mick. I can't wait for rugby in 2011, I reckon it'll be a ripper year regardless of the results.

 

[Set piece magic]

agree with that. Surely going to be the biggest year since 2003.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

......and when we bring back Bill, ratings and popularity will go right through the roof.

 

[RugbyFuture]

2016 will fix it too, then by 2024 we should be more popular than mungoball atleast

 

[daz]

(i can't stand the way they shove their product down my throat, really SHITS me) .

Perhaps, but looking at the numbers I'd say they are doing a pretty good job of spreading the AFL gospel.

For everyone like you who gets the shits, another 10 people are checking it out. Some of those 10 are staying. The ARU have wet dreams of being able to do what the AFL can do.

The AFL is not to everyone's taste, but you gotta admire they way they market themselves, especially in the die-hard mungo and Rugby territory. 2 AFL teams each in QLD and NSW (one in Western Sydney!) says it all......

 

[qwerty51]

I call bullshit on soccer as well may be they've got higher participation numbers for juniors but viewing and attendance numbers are well below most other sports. I also don't think F1 is more popular than rugby is it even shown on free to air?

Well I know just about everyone has a Premier League team to support