Post subject: Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup?
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2015 6:20 pm
Dropkick Murphy
Player Coach
Joined: Aug 18 2009 Posts: 2900 Location: Heald Green, Cheshire
ninearches wrote:It was reported on national news programmes earlier this year that the plan of the RFU was to establish their game in every school in the land.
The "plan" of the RFL is probably to do that as well. It doesn't mean it's going to happen.
Post subject: Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup?
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 7:41 am
Asgardian13
Player Coach
Joined: Oct 31 2005 Posts: 3726 Location: Northamptonshire
Dropkick Murphy wrote:The reason why most people don't care much about RL is because they don't have a team of any note in their area - and suddenly franchising one in isn't the answer to that - and the international game is extremely weak. Their really isn't any more to it than that.
It isn't in our genes in Warrington, Wigan, St Helens etc that we will like RL, it's simply a fact that we grow up with it because it's been part of the fabric of our towns since the inception of the game over a century ago. Therefore we're exposed to it in the same way people in Leicester, Bath and Bristol are exposed to union. The reason why people who don't have local teams in either code might get involved at World Cup and Six Nations time is because RU has a strong international game that is relevant in all four home nations plus the three southern hemisphere powerhouses and then a handful of other countries as a bonus. It is a far cry from a truly global sport like football, but it absolutely dwarfs anything RL can muster and that's what captures the imagination of the more casual sports viewer who sees it as an event, because it most certainly is. Other sports like cricket operate much the same way - the international game completely underpins it. In RL we watch our clubs but no one can pretend the internationals are great. The best we've ever had has been the GB V Aus tours, but since both leagues started operating concurrently it has been impossible to truly get them back. Sad but true.
There will be plenty of people in Ireland who firmly believe GAA sports are "The Greatest", and similarly people in Melbourne, Perth etc will deem their " footy" to be superior to the codes played in the east of their country. For one reason or another the rest of the world doesn't agree with them though does it?
Personally I'm happy to just enjoy RL for what it is and not concern myself about what it isn't.
This is accurate, as is Lefty's analysis. We do have a genuine chance to capture interest with GOOD international matches, though, if they are seen on terrestrial TV. Several non-RL friends down here watched the England v NZ semi at the RL world Cup and were blown away. One said to me : 'who are these heroes?' He'd simply never seen RL as a sport that represents the country until that match. We won't grow as big as Union internationally but we can continue to improve. There's another reason, to Lefty's points, that folks go to Union internationals. There is a genuine 'sense of occasion' at them. I went to a few games ( corporate entertainment of clients ) last time the RU WC was in UK, including the final. It's like the old joke: 80 minutes of thrilling atmosphere and entertainment - then the match kicked off. The NZ series next month is a GREAT chance to pick up where the WC left off.
Post subject: Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup?
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 12:37 pm
Dropkick Murphy
Player Coach
Joined: Aug 18 2009 Posts: 2900 Location: Heald Green, Cheshire
Asgardian13 wrote:He'd simply never seen RL as a sport that represents the country until that match.
That's a fair comment too, and is the same for every other minority sport. RL fans always compare the coverage it gets with RU - and some advocates of either code even compare them to football which is another stratosphere altogether - but it does okay compared to other minority sports. England RL is seen as representing English RL fans, in the same way as the national hockey team for example would only be viewed by most people as representing fans of that sport.
The only way to change that is for it to become a much bigger contest. England football, RU and cricket teams are seen as representing the whole country because you don't need to be a regular viewer of any of those sports to enjoy the big international occasions. RL is seen as representing northerners and ultimately being won by Australia. The average armchair sports fan in Reading or Watford isn't going to connect with that in the same way the equivalent viewer in Hull or Leeds who has absolutely zero interest in their club Premiership probably can still connect with the England RU team at tournament time.
A competitive GB V Aus series would be bigger than the World Cup but I don't really see how it's going to happen so personally I'll stick to just enjoying Super League and let the more popular sports get on with it. Much as some would like to pretend it is, it really isn't rugby union's fault that rugby league isn't more popular!
Unfortunately, most sports on the world stage that UK international teams are involved in usually finish up with the same regular permutations of winners & not including the British sides. A masterstroke was pulled for the RLWC seemingly by employing the lady who was the mastermind behind the organisation & marketing of the competition. We could do worse than make her an offer she couldn't refuse to take Rugby League in general by the scruff of the neck & drag it as a business into the 21st century.
Post subject: Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup?
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 7:49 pm
lefty goldblatt
Player Coach
Joined: Feb 05 2010 Posts: 8019 Location: South Stand.....bored
[quote="Dropkick Murphy]
A competitive GB V Aus series would be bigger than the World Cup but I don't really see how it's going to happen so personally I'll stick to just enjoying Super League and let the more popular sports get on with it. Much as some would like to pretend it is, it really isn't rugby union's fault that rugby league isn't more popular![/quote]
Perfect
In 13 pages, I think we can sum the whole debate up in this one paragraph.
Let's not get a chip on our shoulder because the 3 point code gets a lot more people through the turnstiles, than our sport. Yes, I wish more people came and viewed the product, but, you can't press gang people into turning up. For some reason, International RL hasn't "floated some people's boat" in the last couple of decades. This can be explained by
a) lack of English/GB superstars. We don't have Edwards/Hanley/Gregory (x2)/Davies/Schofield/Lydon/Sculthorpe/Farrell playing for us, anymore. In recent years, we've simply had v. good SL players who just aren't International quality, or have just not shown it at International level. I give you Sinfield and Ellis. Sinfield, despite his importance to Leeds, has barely had any good games for England. They've just been above average. Likewise Ellis. He "tore it up" in the NRL. Not so, in an England shirt.
b) Lack of success. People will simply give up on sides that aren't getting results. The biggest fluff up on GB'S behalf, was not winning that 1997 series against the Aussie SL squad, when hardly any of the "names" came over. That's the worst touring Aussie side I can remember , yet they still won the series.
c) We only really have the Aussies and Kiwis to play. You're not going to get too excited about playing a load of Championship players donning the red of Wales ,are you. Likewise France. Half the Catalans squad (who don't travel well at the best of times) and a bunch of makeweights.
Let's not get too downhearted. We all know we have the best game on the planet, but the majority of the public aren't exposed to it. I like a certain band, who will remain nameless. Their stuff isn't fashionable or even catchy, but, their stuff is a thing of beauty, and even the majority of critics (not that I pay ANY attention to them) say they're superb, but they've sold only a few records (one Top 10 album). Contrast this to Peter Andre. Complete 5h1te, yet numerous hit records/albums.
I'll stick to my product being better, just not as popular.
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