The Current State of Rugby
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@MN5 said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Kiwiwomble said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Nepia its pretty stark comparison to other sports as far as promotion, good rugby might be what will get us down there....but not the casual fan, they want the hype
@MiketheSnow i do think there are still lots of people like myself that are on it but dont tweet, generally do it for live updates as it still works well for that, Wimbledon live tweets the games, which keeps people engaged when theyre doing something else
NZ rugby is pretty rubbish at things like supporters gear, jerseys...then maybe a beanie or cap and a scarf and thats it....so if its not the type of cap that suits you then tough luck, they make it tough to support you team even when you cant watch
we got given Caps on Saturday night. Caps never look good on me, combined with the beard it gives me a real “duck hunter” look. I much prefer Beanies or pesky blinder caps.
There was a bloody decent canes hoodie that my mate was wearing though, it was terrific.
I don’t think NZ rugby is rubbish though, there was a sea of Canes jerseys in the crowd.
Yeah, I think you can get lots of decent AB merch (I often get kids stuff for when my mates pop out sprogs), my issue is with promoting the actual games and seasons from the Super franchises themselves.
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@MN5 but jerseys are no good for lots of us that are just the wrong shape, sometimes you feel like a bit of a flog wearing a jersey around if you're not actually going to a game, you're just trying to show some support
Ab's do much more than the super teams but i think the ABs still do less than afl or football teams, i just think its an easy way to keep visibility up outside of the actual stadium
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@Kiwiwomble said in The Current State of Rugby:
@MN5 but jerseys are no good for lots of us that are just the wrong shape, sometimes you feel like a bit of a flog wearing a jersey around if you're not actually going to a game, you're just trying to show some support
Ab's do much more than the super teams but i think the ABs still do less than afl or football teams, i just think its an easy way to keep visibility up outside of the actual stadium
Round is still a shape bro, don’t let instagram fitness experts set unrealistic goals.
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I think the game is in a really bad place......
English clubs going belly up at an alarming rate.
International teams littered with poaches while local players who came up through the systems lose out.
Watching super rugby to empty stadiums. There is nothing worse than seeing the teams run out to empty stands. It's so deflating.
How are we supposed to think that this match matters, when nobody is there watching it live.
We are being sold a pup.
Rich countries like France and Japan poaching up and coming talent (faingaanuku et al) when it used to be the older players cashing in for retirement.
Im falling out of love with it all.
You follow a kid through NPC and Super Rugby hoping he makes it to international level and if the AB's don't show him immediate and everlasting love he drops his lip and ups sticks.....and potentially you see him wearing another nations colours 3/5 years later.
The lions being managed by a coach from a non lions nation.
The lions picking poaches like Ricky Flutey or Bundee Aki.
Puke.
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@Steve I'm not sure the empty stadiums are quite as much of an issue, however it may well be, as you say, it isn't a great look on TV, and with media painting a picture and then empty stadiums...?
I think the broadcast dollar rules, meaning the bums on seats matters little in that aspect, but rugby has moved off from being a big part of everyone's lives to people watching on TV if they don't have anything else on.
I know in my late teens-early 20s, a Friday night home game for northland was huge, we all went, smuggled a hip flask in, got sloshed and hit the town after
I personally haven't been to a super game for, I can't remember actually (but will probably be last time the Blues were up here, although don't think they have been here since 2013 which was my last super game at EP) but i go to every northland home game and the odd one away.
I watch club footy every week, so I still love the game, but I would say my interest from the top down has waned, particularly at super level, for the ABs, probably since 2019 things have been rocky in that relationship.
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@taniwharugby said in The Current State of Rugby:
probably since 2019 things have been rocky in that relationship.
2017 for me, found the media and fans around the Lions hard work. Post Lions I think the coaching and selection for the ABs really started to drop off
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@nzzp said in The Current State of Rugby:
@taniwharugby said in The Current State of Rugby:
probably since 2019 things have been rocky in that relationship.
2017 for me, found the media and fans around the Lions hard work. Post Lions I think the coaching and selection for the ABs really started to drop off
Yeah looking back that Lions series was a turning point for me too. I'd add the rush defence employed by the Lions to your list. Can't argue about how effective it was because it worked a treat, but for me it changed the way rugby was played ball in hand and I am not sure I like it. We (NZ) still haven't worked out how to play it apart from those annoying kicks.
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It’s a bit like politics
If you don’t vote, shut the fuck up
Now the reason(s) for not voting is a different matter
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The level of dickheadedness creeping in among players and coaches. Sexton's antics and McDermott's comments after the Chief's game being examples. I have a mate who Llanelli thru and thru, attends the post-match drinks and often talks about how an increasing number of today's players act like dickheads compared to previous generations off the field. Not a huge number, but growing.
Which is a shame as I think the game itself has improved hugely over the years and the administrators deserve credit t making it better and safer - even if they don't always get it right.
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It's not just rugby it's all sports. I think it's a result of sports becoming more and more professional where it's all about the result.
Watch an nba game and see how they are constantly at the ref asking for fouls.
This idea of 'rugby values' is cringe worthy and laughable.
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@Victor-Meldrew What did McDermott say?
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@KiwiMurph said in The Current State of Rugby:
This idea of 'rugby values' is cringe worthy and laughable.
Not sure I agree with that.
There are values that rugby, rightly, prides itself on - respect for the Ref and vice-versa, supporters sitting together, players friendship and beers after the whistle, dirty & dangerous play and cheating pretty much frowned on.
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@KiwiMurph said in The Current State of Rugby:
It's not just rugby it's all sports. I think it's a result of sports becoming more and more professional where it's all about the result.
100%
This idea of 'rugby values' is cringe worthy and laughable.
Agree, but also disagree - in that we should be using that "laughable idea" as a crutch to fight back against the "professionalism" (read: "cynicism").
Yes - it's always going to be a losing battle... but ... worth fighting.One thing cricket has going for it - is that whole "against the spirit of the game" being written into the base laws... so teams know that if they go too far... they can actually be slammed for it, no matter what other laws exist. Should be a foundational law in all sports.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in The Current State of Rugby:
@KiwiMurph said in The Current State of Rugby:
This idea of 'rugby values' is cringe worthy and laughable.
Not sure I agree with that.
There are values that rugby, rightly, prides itself on - respect for the Ref and vice-versa, supporters sitting together, players friendship and beers after the whistle, dirty & dangerous play and cheating pretty much frowned on.
Johnny Sexton would beg to differ...
