Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Rugby has unfortunately become an invisible sport to the sporting public of Sydney. The mainstream media shows little interest, presumably because the think that their readers/listeners/viewers aren't interested - or so few of them are interested that they don't count.
For example in the Friday edition of the Daily Telegraph yesterday there wasn't one story on rugby in over 20 pages of sporting coverage. Today there were two mentions of rugby and neither mentioned any on-field action. One was a story in which Michael Cheika gave his views on whether TJ Perenara would make in the NRL - this was about 15 pages from the back. The other story was 22 pages from the back and was a short couple of paragraphs noting that RA's latest jersey sponsor had pulled out at the 11th hour. I can't recall the last time I saw a report in a news bulletin on commercial TV on a rugby game.
People simply aren't buying what rugby is selling, but unfortunately rugby seems to want to keep selling the same product and hope that former supporters and uncommitted sports fans will somehow start buying.
Murdoch paper doesnt cover rugby after rugby turn down Murdoch money.
Shock.
SMH is covering Rugby plenty. From what ive seen of the numbers viewership is up broadly. Hardly a surprise no one in Sydney is too fussed given the state of the Tahs.