The Current State of Rugby
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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...
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@Nepia said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Steve said in The Current State of Rugby:
faingaanuku et al
Who are the et al? Fainga'anuku is pretty much an anomaly, like a Piutau or a Lucky Luke from earlier generations.
All the sabbatical boys…
The likes of Mo’unga , Victor Vito, Laumape , Luatua.
Anyone with another World Cup cycle left in their legs really.
Stevenson is/was on the verge too apparently.
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@Steve said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Nepia said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Steve said in The Current State of Rugby:
faingaanuku et al
Who are the et al? Fainga'anuku is pretty much an anomaly, like a Piutau or a Lucky Luke from earlier generations.
All the sabbatical boys…
The likes of Mo’unga , Victor Vito, Laumape , Luatua.
Anyone with another World Cup cycle left in their legs really.
Stevenson is/was on the verge too apparently.
Vito and Luatua were a rugby generation ago. The sabbaticals have been happening for years too. It's really not as bad as you're making out.
