Popularity of Rugby in Australia

[WorkingClassRugger]

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......

At least in NSW TV ratings would argue otherwise. IronChef regularly out rates the Swans and their isn't exactly a buzz about GWS entering the competition.

 

[Jnor]

But Iron Chef is AWESOME~!

More seriously I have pretty serious doubts about the verifiability of any of this sort of 'research'; it's like the supposed 534 billion people who watched the diveball WC or olympics or West Wyalong Badminton Championship. Also, depends who's behind it too.

 

[Scotty]

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.

I think you have hit the nail on the head there. Issue with rugby is that it has very high barriers to entrance, from a viewer point of view. Mainly to do with the large number of laws/rules needed to be understood to know what is going on. That and the elitist view it has with the non rugby public.

 

[grievous]

We can spin it all over the shop, either way it isnt good news. Still too many rugby people in this country working against each other

 

[Langthorne]

It isn't about the quality of the product, it is about perception and marketing.....

Come on Barbarian - where is the ad that will end all our woes?!

 

[wamberal]

It isn't about the quality of the product, it is about perception and marketing.....

Come on Barbarian - where is the ad that will end all our woes?!

The product at the elite level is pretty good now - unfortunately, it was pretty dreadful for a few years, and the wider populace will take a while to forget the sh*t that was on their screens during the 2007 RWC, and even some fairly recent Super R seasons.

Shute Shield can be fairly good to watch, it would be even better if the match of the round could be televised from a decent venue every week.