The Australian Rugby League says that an Australian Sports Commission survey does not accurately reflect the registrations and participation numbers which show that rugby league is continuing to grow by record levels in New South Wales.
The Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS) is a joint initiative of the Australian Sports Commission and the state and territory government agencies responsible for sport and recreation and is based on activities that were participated in by persons aged 15 years and over for exercise, recreation or sport during the 12 months prior to interview.
The survey shows that rugby league has continued its strong position in New South Wales and Queensland with rugby league numbers double that of both AFL and rugby union.
“Make no mistake, rugby league, both in terms of registrations and in terms of more concentrated introductory programs, is experiencing unprecedented growth,” Australian Rugby League Development General Manager, Mr Bill Palmer said.
“I also find it hard to believe that the AFL has 45,700 players in New South Wales given the limited number of grass-roots clubs in the greater Sydney region.
“The findings of this report are truly baffling.
“It is disappointing other sports like AFL use Auskick numbers as participation numbers because I think it confuses the whole picture for many people.
“The Australian Rugby League challenges sports to provide full season competition numbers without clinic based participations.
“These clinic based participations are very important to Rugby League and this year we have welcomed 42,000 children into the Rugby League world through the Harvey Norman Backyard League Program in just three months.
“Currently those 42,000 are separate from our participation numbers but if we included Backyard League as well as our other programs like Kids to Kangaroos and Joeys League our numbers would be just shy of a million nationwide.
“The report states that for any group, total participation rate is the number of persons who participated in the activity at least once in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of the population in the same group, so I don’t think it is an accurate reflection of the state’s sporting landscape.”
Some facts:
New South Wales (NSWRL and CRL) in 2009 – 18 and under
– Registered club players: 77,587
– Players in inter school competitions supported by Rugby League: 152,696
– Children involved in multiple session Rugby League programs: 193,745
– Children involved in inter schools gala day competitions: 58,021
– Number of school clinics: 12,831
– Schools engaged in RL programs: 3,439NSW (NSWRL and CRL) in 2009 – 18 and over
– Registered club players 19,194
Michael C
Roar Guru
This doesn’t count social/weekend players either. Jimbo, I just came across this, and, golly, the ERASS stats DO exactly DO that, i.e. count social/weekend players.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
AC That is true.Playing soccer as a kid is almost mandatory with the mums' influence holding sway(been there done that),despite the fact injuries in kids rl is no worse than soccer(I read in a report in the Terror). Where I live is a huge junior soccer area,but also has a large junior rl presence and a popular NRL team.Both codes get along. And as Nick pointed out the demand for rl remains strong on TV.That is a plus for the next Tv negotiations.the same funds needed to assist country rugby league.
Gallus
Guest
The Link Are you referring to the former unlimited tackle rule in RL or the current unlimited tackle rule in RU or the former 4 tackle rule (plus kick) in RL or the current 6 tackle rule (plus kick) in RL?
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
No, never occurred to me. :) ESPN is a very reputable sports website.
Sam H
Roar Pro
So they're playing a form of rugby league because of their interest in rugby union? Fine by me.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
ItsCalledFootball That number is just based on the one Seattle game (Seattle avg about 33k the best in the league). The ESPN stat's you posted arent up to date, weren't you sus no other team had hosted any games? And that the Average matches the total :)
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
I got my figure from here: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/attendance?league=usa.1&year=2010&cc=3436 Big jump because of the WC I guess :)
jimbo
Roar Guru
I found this http://www.scoresreport.com/2010/04/18/mls-average-attendance-higher-than-nba-and-nhl/
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Hutch, the actual figure for the MLS in 2010 is 16,558.12 http://www.mls-daily.com/2010/03/2010-mls-attendance.html
hutch
Roar Guru
wow thats a massive increase for the mls this year, whats the reason for such a huge jump?
hutch
Roar Guru
touch is a modified version of rugby league, whether you like or have even heard of rugby league before. the ball is rolled between your legs, and get 6 posessions, you have a dummy half. whether you mean it to be or not, it is a form of rugby league. the rlif should recognise this and join with the international touch organisation, but hey, our admin hasnt had a vision for 100 years, why would they start now?
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
2010 MLS average attendance to date = 36,300 2010 NRL average attendance to date = 16,122 MLS figures don't include playoffs attendances, which haven't started yet. 2009 NRL season avge attendance = 16,065 2009 MLS average attendance = 16,120 (not including playoffs) Just wanted to correct you… MLS attendnaces this season are already more than double last season's.
The Link
Guest
John, where did the 6 touch per possession rule come from?
The Link
Guest
Gallus, so you played unlimited touches per possession?
Nick
Guest
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/footy-takes-a-hit-on-tv/story-e6freck3-1225892366093 interesting report, showing memberships up but TV down for AFL yet strong demand for TV in NRL
AC
Guest
Lots of little kids play soccer or football when there are young for sure. That doesnt translate into playing or following it when they get older. In the USA lots of people the majority play soccer but they forget it and follow American football when tehy get older.
kovana
Guest
@MV dave MLS 2009 match Attd Avg = 16037 NRL 2009 Match Attd Avg = 16979 Just wanted to correct you... NRL has higher match avg, only slightly, but still higher.
jimbo
Roar Guru
MVDave, the 507,500 figure was for NSW only -doesn’t include the rest of the country. ERASS Report Page 62: Total Participants football in Australia – 1,252,600 Which is for 15 years and over. Total Participants football in Australia under 15 years - ABS survey 2009 - 437,300. That’s a total of 1,689,900 Australians who regularly played football in 2009 and the total keeps growing. This doesn’t count social/weekend players either. For the first time ever, football has overtaken netball as the most popular team sport in Australia.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Football hasn't been the most popular participation sport in the US for 40 years. When the World Cup was on there in 94, they didn't even have a national professional football league. Its only in the last 10 years that it has grown so much.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Beaver, apart from the bank account, the stuff in the backpack (and the backpack) would be worth over $100 - the ball, cap, T-shirt, 2 free tickets to a Swan's game, stickers, cards. Aussie Rules are really throwing money at the kids of Sydney to try and get them to play their game.