Is rugby slipping in popularity in NZ?
Roar Pro
By Harry Kimble, 4 Mar 2010 Harry Kimble is a Roar Pro
Having just returned from a few weeks in New Zealand, visiting all major rugby areas except Wellington, it appeared to me that interest in the game is on the wane.
Looking at the crowds at the New Zealand Super 14 venues, they seem quite poor compared to last year.
It was only in Christchurch that there seemed any passion for their home team. It was there that anyone really wore the colours of their home team. There was also RWC2011 advertising in the main square, which showed that the locals cared.
I did not see a single Blues Guernsey being worn in Auckland or Rotorua, but did see lots of Warriors league Guernseys and English soccer shirts in both places. In Hamilton, a couple of Chiefs polo shirts were noticed.
Even at the All Black shop, the Warrior league strip was on sale.
However, in all places there was a smattering of black shirts. A lot had the words “All Blacks” under the silver fern, but then again, a lot simply said “New Zealand”.
There is a rugby channel on pay TV but I did not get the opportunity to see it. On the TV I did get to see, there was little rugby, only Super 14 and the European Six Nations.
What was being shown was replays of Australian league games and EPL soccer games. Pubs advertised to come and watch the EPL games on their screens.
The Manly league team has done a deal to have all their games shown on Maori TV, a sign that league is expanding quite well, particularly along the Auckland-Rororua axis.
Rugby posts could be seen in most schools and some parks, but a lot more soccer posts had appeared in open areas and parkland than I remember since my last visit.
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rugbyfuture said | March 4th 2010 @ 2:29am | Report comment
The problem as i see it, from a non kiwi view, is that the super 14 teams arent the home teams. the ANZC and heartland championship teams are. While technically it also isnt rugby season yet. It would be ignorant for me to state that rugby is equal, lesser or greater than it has been in previous years, but im feeling the super 14 is there for bragging rights over OZ only and otherwise the ANZC is the more focused tier. This should be handled through the reorganisation of the super 15, but thats a story sheek can talk about.
counterruck said | March 4th 2010 @ 3:46am | Report comment
after the initial euphoria of the first few years, i think rugby fans in all three countries are now bored with s14 and im sure the fake teams (sorry franchises) have something to do with that. crowds are pretty poor in all three countries – stadiums in south africa even look half empty, and im sure they will be pretty much up untill the semis.
another thing, is it has always amazed me that the kiwis allowed the NPC and Ranfurly shield become third rate competitions.of course due to the size of the nz economy they need to embrace other countries but at the expense of all that history it seems quite sad.
Lee said | March 4th 2010 @ 5:35am | Report comment
Here are the crowd attendance figures that I can find:
Averages by team for 2010 season(obviously home games only):
Stormers 37800
Crusaders 20700
Hurricanes 11700
Sharks 24600
Reds 18700
Highlanders 6700
Bulls* 31500
Blues* 23000
Cheetahs* 22100
* Can only find figures from one game or they have only played at home once
Waratahs, Brumbies, Chiefs haven’t played at home yet so no figures.
Can’t fin d figures for Force and Lions – not surprising when you see their log positions.
To me it seems that the attendance is fine in SA, the top 2 SA teams are going well as you would expect, but even the Cheetahs and Sharks are doing fine despite their bad runs. Even more impressive given the Cheetahs normally don’t do well.
NZ is disappointing, especially the Hurricanes, and Aussie is hard to judge but the Reds getting 18000 on average is pretty spectacular – for the same reason as the Cheetahs.
I have lived in NZ for about 6 years and have always been surprised by how unpassionate they seem about their rugby at times, in my experience it has only really been when the ABs lose that you realise how much they do care.
But all in all, I think at the moment those averages are fine( I would always be hesitant to dismiss SA as finding it boring when they have the highest crowd attendance and highest TV viewer ratings). Obviously if you are going to compare that to English Premiership or AFL etc, it’s not great but look at the population levels in those countries.
AndyS said | March 4th 2010 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Both home games for the Force have been near capacity, around the 20,000 mark.
Sam Taulelei said | March 4th 2010 @ 6:33am | Report comment
A poll conductged this week by the NZ Herald found that the majority of NZ rugby fans feel that Super rugby starts too early in the year and want to start it later.
Since the start of the competition has been brought forward to February, NZ crowd attendances have been on the wane. It’s still summer and with the warmer weather and longer days there are other attractions and sports to watch. The rugby season is too long and Kiwis need to have a break from the game as much as the players do.
A better gauge of public interest in the game in NZ will be when we reach the second half of the competition which will be in late March
Ora said | March 4th 2010 @ 6:38am | Report comment
Sam your right I went on to explain things in a similar light as well as touching on the network and league aspects of this article, but being a little long it’s been subjected to moderation.
this would have to be one of the most poorly written and researched articles I have ever come across on the roar.
Sam Taulelei said | March 4th 2010 @ 6:42am | Report comment
Ha, ha Ora
Don’t worry there will be plenty more that will stir controversy and attract a lot of criticism. It’s one of the reasons why I love this site. Check out the other thread about Sonny Bill Williams. That will be sure to get a lot of hits today.
Ora said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:15am | Report comment
Your right there this site does offer a lot of entertainment.
Ora said | March 4th 2010 @ 6:36am | Report comment
Lets put this into perspective for you and correct you on one or two things.
You say in Rotorua you did not see a Blues Jersey (yes we call them jerseys not Guernseys) well that could simply be for the reason Rotorua is in the Bay of Plenty which is part of the Chiefs franchise!!!
Most people in New Zealand are against the competition starting so early as it starts in the middle of summer when rugby is a traditional winter game. People are still going to the beach and having barbecues at home not to mention watching the Black Caps giving the Aussies a crack or two.
The Jerseys are not exactly made of light airable material so why the hell would anyone want to wear them around in the heat????
Franchise teams do not gather the same support as our provincial teams as someone has already pointed out they are not truly representitive of each area.
This All Black shop you are talking about is this the same All Black shop that is actually an Adidas registered shop by any chance or even yet a Rebel sports? The All Blacks shop as you call it is purely a marketing gimmick to get punters in and I think you’ll find on closer inspection it is a Champions store!
You talk about rugby on TV ah hello what nights were you watching Sky shows all Super 14 matches live and replays them during the week as well as a selection of HC, Top 14 and Magners league games. You have given a extremely lop sided and provocative view of NZ rugby and have totally mis informed people on what is shown on the Sky network in New Zealand. You then also touch on league well hello another bit of reality for you, Rugby League has had a stronghold in the Maori and Pacific communities for years so it’s no surprise maori tv which already hosts one of the best League related shows “Boil Up” has secured rights to air Manlys game. Manly have always gained alot of support from Maori and this in turn could also be put down to Matthew Ridge having played for the club. Rotorua has a large Maori poulation so it’s no surprise league is popular there. What is surprising though is that they are not exactly power houses in the New Zealand game that mantle still rests in Auckland and Christchurch.
Soccer has increased in popularity but it has been the code of choice for 13 and unders for many years. Soccers problem is it cannot hold onto it’s players who turn to other codes many of them to Rugby in their pre-teen to teen years.
While the crowds are down at the moment as the summer concludes and winter kicks in I think you’ll find the crowds will improve. As is the School or Club competitions haven’t kicked off yet once again reiterating the fact rugby is just not on the mindset of Kiwis at the moment give it another month and there will be a change.
True Tah said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:45am | Report comment
Ora
Matthew Ridge is of partial Armenian heritage, not Maori as far as I know.
Ora said | March 4th 2010 @ 4:35pm | Report comment
Yes that he is for some reason I thought he was part Maori well me and thousands of other Kiwis lol,
Well anyway Tawera Nikau did extremely well in Melbourne, Benji Marshall at the Tigers and Issac Luke at Souths, league is extremely popular among Maori and Maori TV and Manly will be rubbing their hands with glee at this deal
Pete said | March 4th 2010 @ 6:58am | Report comment
Its funny when I go to NZ I’m amazed by how much they love their Rugby. My sister is law has moved to Auckland from Sydney, 5 months ago. She had no interest in Rugby what so ever before she went, she can now name many of the All Blacks, tell me how well the Crusaders and the Blues are doing in the Super 14… and she is really looking forward to the RWC in 2011. If they can get her interested in Rugby, then I think Rugby is doing OK in NZ
True Tah said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:14am | Report comment
Didnt the Hurricanes play a trial match in a town of a few hundred and the crowd was over 7,000?
The crowds at last years Air NZ Cup were generally pretty good, especially for teams like Hawks Bay, Southland and Bay of Plenty.
I think that Kiwis are getting sick of Super rugby and would love nothing better to go back to Air NZ Cup.
Ora said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:18am | Report comment
You’ve hit the nail on the head there TT, Super rugby is boring it just doesn’t grab us like the ANZC does.
Unfortunately being such a small country we need the money generated from Super 14 as does Australia.
I miss the days when the NPC was strong our All Blacks were strong.
Pajovic said | March 4th 2010 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
I agree with you there Ora. Super 14 just doesn’t have the fire that other more tribal competitions have. No relegation really just leaves the bottom half of the comp just festering away for the season in dead rubber purgatory. meanwhile the boys in the suits scramble to change the rules in order to keep bums on seats.
Ora said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:28pm | Report comment
While I said the competition is boring it’s not because the rugby isn’t of a high standard it’s more that the NZ teams are not truly representitive of the areas they claim. Hurricanes territory for example covers pretty much half of the North Island yet is dubbed “Wellington Hurricanes” maybe the Central Hurricanes would have been a more apt term to draw on the supporter base a little more include more fans.
Secondly at present local derbies are few and far between and they are the games the fans want to see most. To be honest I personally am not engaged as much when NZ teams are playing Australian or SA teams. Don’t get me wrong I still watch the game but it doesn’t have that something extra that local derbies attract.
The ANZC is our competition and that is what makes it unique, it’s where New Zealanders are making history and the Provincial rivalries are unmatched in S14, the Ranfurly Shield is in a league of it’s own where every province from the Heartland through to the ANZC can have a crack at it.
I will support the S14 while it’s here but the ANZC and Taranaki are where my loyalties lie
allblackfan said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:15am | Report comment
u have to remember that rugby in NZ next year will go into overdrive with the RWC (so glad the Russians will be there!)
I know membership of the NZ S14 franchises are all up on average 10-15 % due in part to the RWC.
Grahem Lowe can say what he likes about NZ rugby but why then is he living in Manly?
allblackfan said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:17am | Report comment
PS Got to say, even I’m looking forward to the Air NZ Cup more than the S14 and I live in Parramatta!!
Ora said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:20am | Report comment
Alot riding on this years ANZC abfan so I’d expect huge crowds as it could be that difference for tseam getting across the line and if they stay Premier or go to first Division, only 7 will make the cut. The best thing about it is even the S14 bases are also in the same boat don’t perform and First Div it is for you. With the reinstalling of the automatic promotion relegation interest will once again go up. I’m excited as to what this tournament (ANZC) can potentially offer.
allblackfan said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:31am | Report comment
What’s really got me excited about the Air NZ Cup, Ora, is that the smaller sides like Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Tasman (yeah!!) and Southland had been a real joy to watch; it’s not the usual suspects (although I can’t wait to see how Phil Mooney handles Otago, with David Latta as his sidekick).
If Umaga and SBW can link with Counties, it may just give CM’s season the kick in the pants it needs (and draw more people in). RL can crow all it wants in NZ but the sight of SBW running around in the Air NZ Cup will send a strong message to RL fans there as well.
katzilla said | March 4th 2010 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
‘smaller sides like Hawkes Bay’
Don’t lump us in with those other losers
We will roll all before us this year.
The thing with Graham Lowes comments (doing his job well so far i spose), is that maybe rugby is in a little bit of a lull (but still in a different universe to any pretender to the throne), yet it isn’t league thats expanding its little piece of the pie, its Soccer. The Warriors were super sh!te last year and i’d be very surprised if they didn’t prop up the bottom of the table this year. Soccer has had many great things happen this year and can use this to carve themselves a nice little niche within NZ sport.
One sport will always remain at the top though, its culturally ingrained into the NZ psyche.
Like Japan without Sumo wrestling.
Ora said | March 4th 2010 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
Isn’t Taranaki one of if not the smallest union in the ANZC ?
True Tah said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:29am | Report comment
The other thing to remember is that the RWC 2011 is in town next year.
Im not sure about the other stadiums, but Eden Park has pretty much sold all of its corporate boxes for the tournament and 90% of those were to NZers.
Maybe 2011 is going to help revive NZ rugby?
The other issue here is that there are plenty of other sports for people to follow in NZ these days. The Warriors, the Phoenix, 20/20 cricket, motor sports are huge. Whilst rugby is still the national sport, it shares the stage with all these other players, and I personally think that sporting diversity is a good thing.
Redb said | March 4th 2010 @ 7:42am | Report comment
Just an onservation. Judging the popularity of a sport from the number of people with or without their jerseys is fraught with danger. Quite often in a area dominated by one sport, fans of others sports wear their jumper (sorry
) as a look at me I’m different/exotic.
Chris said | March 4th 2010 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Precisely, I would never wear my Brumbies jersey “about town” in Canberra (except at games of course) but rest assured when I am in Sydney I almost always wear it. Likewise you are liable to see people in Canberra wearing every NRL jersey but the Raiders.
Redb said | March 4th 2010 @ 8:07am | Report comment
The major exception to this rule is when the team is the premier or winning lots of games. Sick of bluddy Geelong.
katzilla said | March 4th 2010 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
I got given a Swans Jersey (Guernsey) last year and wore whilst in the Gold Coast. People were genuinely peeved with me.
I didn’t think the AFL had that kind of penetration there. Pretty impressed.
Sam Taulelei said | March 4th 2010 @ 8:01am | Report comment
The popularity of rugby is not as high in NZ when it was unchallenged as the premier sporting code particularly during the 1950′s and 1960′s.
It’s still the dominant sport in NZ and from Harry’s perspective he’s only gauging it on his firsthand observations visiting the country and having a different experience to what he may have expected so he’s calling it as he saw it.
Any quotes or articles predicting the demise of rugby as the no.1 code in NZ because of the fluctuating fortunes of the national side in football and league being touted as a sign that those codes are on the rise in NZ should be taken at face value and nothing more.
Rugby will never lose it’s place as the number one sport in NZ. It’s overall popularity may rise and fall dependent upon the state of the game at domestic and international level but over 100 years of excellence and success will not be easily or quickly replaced by any flash in the pan achievements from other sports.