Does Rugby have a Superstar?

[Chris B.]

Out of interest and aside from rugby - has New Zealand ever had a sporting superstar? Someone who couldn't walk down the street in multiple countries.

I see Israel Adesanya is by far the most popular on social media - ahead of Little Kane - who probably can't walk down the street in India.

Sir Ed is probably the most famous ever in terms of name recognition, but most people outside NZ probably wouldn't have recognized him. I guess he was probably massive in 1953.

[taniwharugby]

@Chris-B at Tigers peak, Steve Williams was probably up there as one of the more recognizable 'sportsman'.

[scribe]

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Christchurch’s own, Ben Stokes.

[Duluth]

@Chris-B said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

I see Israel Adesanya is by far the most popular on social media - ahead of Little Kane - who probably can't walk down the street in India.

Google trends is another way of judging that too

Adesanya in blue, Kane in red, worldwide searches in the last 5 years

Or by region who has more searches

I suspect no NZ sportsman would come close

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The All Blacks as a team beat him

[Bovidae]

How does Steven Adams compare?

[Duluth]

@Bovidae

Well beaten again and losses every region

KW v Adams is a slight edge to Kane

[MN5]

David Tua fought one of the absolute GOATs in Lennox Lewis. Admittedly before the days of widespread social media though.

He was pretty well known at his peak.

[Chris B.]

@Duluth I suspect Adesanya has everyone in NZ covered - not just sportsmen.

I've tried a few of the most famous NZers I can think of - and he's well ahead.

He gets beaten by someone like Taylor Swift, but he's competitive - or at least, not completely dwarfed!

[Dan54]

@Bovidae said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

How does Steven Adams compare?

I imagine fairly well Bov, he is probably pretty well known, but just wonder if he is outside basketball circles?

[Wurzel]

Forgetting globally, I wonder who's the biggest rugby star in NZ? And would they have stronger recognition than Shaun Johnson, or even DWZ, currently?

[KiwiMurph]

@Wurzel i'd say Ardie Savea and yes

[Bones]

@Wurzel said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

DWZ

Who

[mariner4life]

@Bones said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

@Wurzel said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

DWZ

Who

[Bovidae]

From ER to the NRL. What a talent!

[Bones]

@mariner4life Carribbean queen is top notch.

[antipodean]

I've given this some thought and I can't think of a player who stands out sufficiently from his peers to be a recognised superstar of the game.

[antipodean]

@mariner4life said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

Agree with MR, Tupou is a classic case. A prop with ball skills and running ability. All the tools to be must-watch

Gives up penalties and isn't fit enough so rugby people have written him off as a bit-part player

Perhaps the rules are to blame.

His inaccuracy and laziness aren't the fault of the rules. The only place he's currently a superstar is the buffet.

[mariner4life]

@antipodean said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

@mariner4life said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

Agree with MR, Tupou is a classic case. A prop with ball skills and running ability. All the tools to be must-watch

Gives up penalties and isn't fit enough so rugby people have written him off as a bit-part player

Perhaps the rules are to blame.

His inaccuracy and laziness aren't the fault of the rules. The only place he's currently a superstar is the buffet.

lol i was waiting for you to come in. No one hates on Tupou like you.

[Catogrande]

@Chris-B said in Does Rugby have a Superstar?:

@Duluth I suspect Adesanya has everyone in NZ covered - not just sportsmen.

I've tried a few of the most famous NZers I can think of - and he's well ahead.

He gets beaten by someone like Taylor Swift, but he's competitive - or at least, not completely dwarfed!

And yet I had to Google him 😳

That might say more about me than him though.

[Chris B.]

@Catogrande He wouldn't have been my first guess. According to google trends, he's bigger than Tyson Fury!