In a recent article, Richard Hinds joined the seemingly ever-increasing list of Australian media commentators jumping on the bandwagon to bash rugby union (think Patrick Smith, Mark Latham, Paul Sheehan etc).
In his most recent Herald column, Hinds has missed the mark yet again. Take, as a starting point, this quote: an “essential truth (of football is that)…fans of major football codes do not support “the game” or, even country, first. Their greatest devotion lies with their club.”
To evidence this he cites the case of international vs club soccer/football, as well as the lack of interest in the current Four Nations rugby league tournament and the International Rules series between the AFL and the GAA.
The most glaring error in this thesis is that he seems to have forgotten about the second largest international footballing code in the world – rugby union (American and Canadian football are essentially two different sports – at least in the opinion of the fans – and Test matches are extremely rare).
Other holes in his thesis include the fact that, firstly, AFL is largely unknown to the outside world, and rugby league internationally has been making extremely slow progress post-1907; thus, it is questionable as to whether these can really be called major football codes at all, particularly the former. Furthermore, the notion that soccer fans prefer club to country or even ‘the beautiful game’ itself is highly debatable.
It does appear to be the case in England, that the perennially under-performing and over-paid national side comes a distant second in terms of the rabid devotion that the clubs of the bloated premier league seem to attract, but this notion of club before the national side doesn’t seem so watertight if one removes the Anglo-centric goggles.
Do soccer fans in African nations, USA, Holland, Uruguay, Brazil etc really support their club first? I lived in Brazil for seven months, and I think from what I saw, devotion to “O Selecao” is paramount. Any time the international side (‘the green and yellow’) plays, petty club tribalisms are (easily) set aside – government officials and bean-counters regularly bemoan the loss of income (for the rich, of course!) during international fixtures and, every World Cup, a new samba is composed for the team!
Essentially, in a considerably poor journalistic effort – something which seems to be becoming more common for the formerly-reliable Hinds – it appears that he has based a sweeping assumption on: firstly, the English fans attitude to their perennially disappointing national team, and secondly, the popularity of clubs in the national competitions of internationally-minor rugby league and internationally non-existent Australian football.
I’m so tired of commentators either bashing union or, perhaps worse, ignoring it as if it isn’t there, as Hinds does here.
In an article which purports to be about major football codes, the omission of union is pathetic, especially when one considers that this weekend the Wallabies will play a match in Japan, the only other World Cup (of any real international competition and, thus, significance) will be held next year in NZ, and in 2012 the current Tri-Nations tournament will be expanded to encompass South America, in the form of Los Pumas of Argentina.
It’s unbelievable that Hinds declined to even mention union, whilst considering it relevant to reference the lopsided Four Nations rugby league tournament (which seems to have a revolving door of teams – one year PNG and the next year France), and even more ridiculously, the bizarre ‘Aussie-Aussie-Aussie Inc.’ bully-boys of the Australian sporting landscape, the AFL’s International Rules team (hopefully there won’t be a repeat of the shameful scenes of a few years ago, where ‘our boys’ practically assaulted the amateurs of the Irish code, a number of whom required hospitalisation).
Have any of these knockers posing as journalists actually watched any rugby this year, from the terrific, final Super 14, followed by the most exciting Tri-Nations series for years?
It seems to me that they haven’t in which case, I wish they would desist from lobbing grenades from the soap-box and, instead, leave it to people who actually know something about the game.
nick of manly
Guest
well Australia the best country in the world seem to watch iternational league rather than union!!!! you wana hear about a farce League under 20s outrate the Super 14
p.Tah
Guest
The ARU have a lot of catching up to do, but at least there are initiatives in place http://www.rugby.com.au/community_rugby/playing_rugby/indigenous_rugby,528.html
Crashy
Guest
Sheek - re indigenous have a look at this. Might cool you down a bit at what development our game is doing behind the scenes. http://www.westernforce.com.au/news/2010/community_rugby/20101026_rugbywa_says_hello_newman,59411.html/news/latest/section/50753
p.Tah
Guest
A great article on rugby at UCLA. Puts USA rugby into perspective with respect to the rest of the world, but highlights what's happening in the college scene. What I like about it is the inclusiveness, it's not all about the game but what the opportunity the rugby community can provide you http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/m/article/2010/10/ucla_mens_rugby_club_experiences_growth_spurt_in_athletes_and_interest
jus de couchon
Guest
The ARU should pull its head in a bit in these difficult times. The 4 nations farce that RL erroneously describes as an International Stage is a good example of missmanagement and delusionary Ideas of promoting their chosen sport.
Lorry
Guest
As Brett suggested, please write an article on this stuff. Im too young to remember how the game was played in 1992 (although I do remember seeing horan and little and carozza getting his face smashed by that Kiwi thug!)... ao I'd be interested to hear how it has changed. So, what laws are different and what is the result of these law changes on play? At school I remember having a few years where rucking was allowed: -I think the reason my team turned over as well as stole possession all the time was because it was such a mad scramble and noone knew what they were doing! - Im sure the wallabies knew what they were doing so Id be really interested to know cheers
Lorry
Guest
The Link, It seems you've missed the point of my article entirely... have you actually read it? I give more examples of country over club than just Brazilian soccer Also, by definition, rugby union is a major code both in Australia and internationally thus Hinds talking about "major football codes" without mentioning rugby union is nonsense and just plain lazy... It is Hinds who should've given some examples of club over country!
Jock M
Guest
Jedda, I have seen a game where there were 18 bloody phases in one passage of play-how could anyone beleve that there is competition at the breakdown when that can occur? The best way to sort this is to play some exhibition games under pre 1992 Laws.
Jerome
Guest
Lorry, Rugby Union is not the second biggest footballing code in the world. I am not a fan of American football but it is clearly a far bigger sport than rugby (even though it is essentially played in one country). Rugby union is the biggest sport in NZ, Wales and a few pacific islands, very very ttiny countries in deed. I suppose next you will tell us that rugby union's world cup is the second biggest sporting event in the world. Baseballl, basketball and ice hockey to name a few are much bigger sports. There are probably 20 or so soccer tournaments which would eat rugby's world cup for lunch.
jeznez
Guest
spot on - swimming is the same (at least in this country) I assume that all the swimmers have clubs, maybe I'm wrong, but I couldn't tell you where they are from but come the Olympics or Pan Pacs I'll be listening for Laurie Laurence and getting very excited! Vale Big Kev (and I am not talking about Horwill)
Dave
Guest
awesome games would be good if they show the nz school 1st xv games which i heard on the radio is getting big ratings.
p.Tah
Guest
This year is the first year I have watched NZ provincial rugby. The standard of rugby is fantastic and they are usually very entertaining fast paced games of end to end running rugby. It’s filled a big void for me since Super rugby finished. I watch a lot of NRL but I crave rugby as well. Most of the games are live on Fox (pay TV), but some are delayed. I usually stubble across them and watch them if I have time or record them for later. It’s a good rugby fix. One HD (free to air sports channel in Oz) should try and get a game or two of the next season. I don’t follow a particular team. I enjoy it as a neutral. It’s great seeing the ABs and the super players running around. It gives you an appreciation of the up and coming players who are pushing for AB selection or who have been picked up by the Australian super rugby franchises.
AC
Guest
GO STAGS! ;)
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Jackson Chile has a reasonable Rugby playing base. According to the IRB figuresw a little over 16,000 registered players. However, a former school mate of mine who like your student is Chilean and has recently returned to Santiago (and is a avid Rugby fan) relayed that they have seen record interest in the game participation wise in the last couple of seasons.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
CBS News in the States recently did a story on the Hyde Charter School and their mentoring of the game at the Model School for the Deaf in Washington D.C. It's not the first time the game has featured of late. Slowsly but surely its making head way.
AC
Guest
I think if you go watch a subbies game you'll see a lot of turnovers at the break-down. Why? The players aren't as drilled and skillful because it isn't their full-time profession. Knocking players off their feet who're set at a ruck defending their ball isn't an easy task. All you have to do to guarantee 95% of your rucks are won is make sure you have at least 2 players in support who know how to get into a strong body position and a ball carrier who is strong going into contact. Sounds more or less like all professional rugby players now-days right?
Boulty
Guest
Can someone in Australia tell me how many games are shown live or delayed coverage of the NPC in New Zealand per week.As its games are played from Thurs night to Sunday and if you do get them do you enjoy watching them.Is there a team that you follow like my team in the NRL is the Tigers?
AC
Guest
I have! Thank heavens for Foxtel and the Internet...
JF
Guest
Lol, the fact that Rugby is even mentioned in this story, in the same sentences as baseball and lacrosse is testament to the strength of the sport in the US college system. Good news indeed.
Sports guy
Guest
It's great to see how 7's Rugby is helping grow the game internationally, it has a great future. On the other hand, League is going backwards every year internationally which is a shame since it could be provided as a alternative in the numerous countries rugby is played in. It would be nice to see League and Union on the same plateau but it will never happen.