Rugby in Australia has never been stronger according to participation statistics released by the ARU today.
The statistics highlight improvement in areas across the board, most notably the increase in junior numbers in New South Wales and Queensland and senior players in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.
ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill welcomed the record participation figures.
“These represent historic highs for our game and are very pleasing,” Mr O’Neill said.
The figures are just reward to the ongoing commitment given to the sport over the last four years and O’Neill believes Rugby has and will continue to develop.
“They (the statistics) also reinforce the fact we are continuing to grow the game of Rugby across the country, winning the hearts and minds of the Australian sporting public.”
The performances of the national side last year encouraged a higher level of interest. The Wallabies, in winning their first Tri Nations title in a decade, reinvigorated a passion for the sport in Australia that had seemingly been lacking.
In terms of figures, an overall record of 261,437 people played Rugby in 2011, which was an increase of 52,404 on 2010. Of those, 47,430 were junior participants, reinforcing a positive future for Australian Rugby.
New South Wales and Queensland continue to be the driving force behind player development in Australia, accounting for 73.02% of the participants in Australia (41.78% in NSW; 31.24% QLD). Elsewhere, ACT 10.12%, WA 8.57%, VIC 4.33% SA 2.66%, NT 0.80% and TAS 0.49% make up the remaining numbers.
John O’Neill believes people will continue to at least investigate what Rugby has to offer.
“There is a lot of competition among the football codes in Australia but I’m confident people will look at what Rugby can offer them and choose to join our great game in 2012.” Mr. O’Neill said.
The announcement marks the beginning of a National Registration Day, to commence on Saturday around the country. Rugby’s future players will have the opportunity to meet and greet some of their international heroes as well as those from the FxPro Super Rugby league.
The figures will give confidence to everyone involved in Rugby as they lead into a big season. The Super Rugby competition, Rugby Internationals in June and The Championship kicking-off in August headline an exciting year in the sport.
John O’Neill hopes the sport can “capitalise on the buzz surrounding the game”.
p.Tah
Guest
GTW, they are begining to work more effectively at this level. The Try rugby program has delivered much of this growth. The Reds have started a "Rookie to Red" program for schools. Still a very long way to go, but the signs are encouraging.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
There is no dount that RU is experiencing a resurgence in Australia. from the water cooler to the daily telegragh, rugby is getting a huge run of exposure. Record tv ratings. huge crowds. record memberships. 7 out of 10 all time top pay tv events. there is plenty of positives associated with RU at present.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Johnno, The reason I claim the AFL is better managed than rugby league is that it is better managed than rugby league. Of course, rugby league is still several streets ahead of the schmozzle that is the administration of rugby union in Australia.
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
So it sounds like JON and all are hoping that winning a tri-nations will boost playing numbers. Hope is not a plan. Where is the plan to get rugby into schools like NRL, AFL and soccer do? What chance have you got once the kids are indoctrinated in another code? For the love of god, start at the bottom and work up, not go for the flashy and easy top down method. Have a look at what the kiwi's and saffer's do.......I'm tipping it's not the top down method.
The Old Girl
Guest
This would be great for adults but the place their needs to be some real action is at the junior level up to about under 19. Up until then, boys of the same age come in all shapes and sizes. We have a half back who is a head and a half shorter than anyone else on the field, he is probably half the weight of many of the guys he plays with and he is just less developed than some of the other guys. But he gives it a red hot go. That's gutsy against boys who are a lot more mature. The playing field levels out a bit as they become men but boys hit puberty at different stages. I think most clubs with junior teams would support some weight classes. Particularly those clubs without a lot of depth who don't have 6 11 year old teams, but who might have one team of small guys. I guess from a mother (and rugby fan) I want my boys to be able to enjoy the physical aspects of playing rugby without getting the tar whacked out of them. The Old Girl
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Matt, There's an U85kg division in Sydney from memory. Not too sure about other places though.
Matt
Guest
I think is will definitely be something that will need to develop in most rugby playing countries to make sure it is a game for all sizes but where all sizes are able to play safely. NZ has developed a very popular U85kg rugby grade in the recent decade(s). It tends to be a game played by smaller white guys who have great skill levels and high fitness. The pace of play is fast and the penalty rates at the breakdown etc seem to be low. But most importantly it allows guys who would struggle against 100kg+ monsters to play the game they love and excel at. And it's a fact that strong participation does have a strong link to strong supporters. So keeping more people in the game means they'll keep an interest in viewership of the professional level. Tours are often formed against sides from Asia, who tend to also have the smaller body mass. I believe that these kind of weight restricted competitions are the way forward for rugby, to provide a more enjoyable game to all. Contact sports like Boxing and MMA have developed numerous weight divisions to make for more fair competitions. Time for rugby to do the same. This way the big kids get to play against equally big kids and therefore learn to use skills to win (rather than domintating smaller players). It will also keep more smaller guys in the game who might develop size later on. And if there are some extremely talented smaller guys, they can always go up a grade to find a level of opponent to match them. This will require a reasonably high level of participation density, and it really only seems to require major implementation where you have kids of different ethnic backgrounds where some (like the Poly boys) genetically grow up bigger sooner.
The Old Girl
Guest
I'm a mum with 2 boys who both play rugby. One is big, one is small. They play against a lot of teams with a lot of pacific islander boys the same age who are twice their size. 'Don't get me wrong, the islanders are lovely boys but the size difference means that you are playing apples with oranges and the smaller kids lose interest. It's not fun getting hammered and beaten every game. Bring back weight divisions to let slow developers stay in the game. The Old Girl
Johnno
Guest
I agree KPM Australian rugby is it's own worst enemy. Australian rugby will lose more players to the NRL, and Frnech rugby and other european rugby and Japan. And all that ARU boss JON will be remembered for KPM is putting Australian rugby 20 years behind where we could be at it is pathetic.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Johnno it's unbelievable: Australian rugby is its own worst enemy.
IronAwe
Guest
Johnno, Last year I was in Adelaide visiting my brother. We were hard pressed to find a pub playing the rugby. The one we did find wasn't even that packed, even though a few big wigs were there. (David Nucifora etc) I'm not so sure SA is ready for a team yet, although I would absolutely love to see it.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
That's incorrect - the AFL does not count a one hour lesson at school in its participation numbers. A select few on this and other forums go to great lengths to try and explain away the AFL's excellent metrics - in doing so, we learn a fair bit about the individuals who do that sort of thing.
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Good to see player numbers going up. But I can't help noticing that 83.14 per cent of players come from NSW, Queensland and the ACT. Just like always.
Johnno
Guest
Ian i agree , i do happily boast rugb'y virtue. But you won't like this but im not sure you are always consistent. You proudly boast about the AFL's better management than the NRL all the time, as Aussie rules is a code you like and you form time to time point out the better management skills of the AFL than the NRL sometimes too. So consistency is not lacking in your repertoire either Ian.
Johnno
Guest
KPM I hope so too. Adelaide and south australians like rugby union, and 1 millions plus people in Adelaide are crying out for a team. Aussie rules and soccer must be laughing at rugby league and union's , ignoring of Adelaide and south australia. Especially rugby as it is bigger there.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
'I expect there to be a big increase in Vic with a pathway there now to pro rugby' And what do you think would happen therefore if there were a team in Southern Australia?
Bakkies
Guest
FTA treats rugby poorly and a massive percentage of Rugby games aren't in prime time viewing slots so the ad revenue goes down.
Bakkies
Guest
I guess with the success of the Reds + WA and Vic growing as Super Rugby bases it makes sense.
Jock M
Guest
Can't help being skeptical.
Prince of B-Town
Guest
I'm not anti rugby... But the crap the three major codes bring up with player numbers is a joke. My son had Oz kick (AFL) at their school last yaer. The school all had a 1 hour AFL lesson... Guess what all 550 are counted as playing AFL. It's the same with League. I'm sick of the spin coming out of John O’Neill. Rugby needs to do more at grass roots.