This week I’m taking a deep dive into rugby scheduling and how it could be improved.
I have been watching all rugby for 20 years.
I watch almost every single game, both because I love rugby and because I am a punter. I have noticed quite a lot of scheduling issues that could have been avoided with a bit of common sense.
Schoolboy rugby
My son, now in grade nine at a rugby school, is obligated to remain behind after his match is played, often for a couple of hours or more to watch the first team play.
This, all while the whole school sits in the stands and sings war cries, anthems and cheers. It’s a spectacle that happens ten or so times a year.
My problem with this is that since I started coming on a Saturday to watch my kid play and sit around and watch the first team, I am missing Super Rugby games.
Sure I will miss the odd game, but locally in South Africa the school games are at 3:05pm, 5:15pm and 7:30pm.
This causes a problem.
They are playing first-team games at around 3:30pm. So by the time you get out of the school district with traffic and walking back to your car, it’s 5:15pm.
At this point, the afternoon Super Rugby game is gone. Maybe you followed it on Twitter or a score website, or maybe you recorded it to watch later. Then, the 5:15pm Super Rugby game is gone, you will never get there in time.
The stadiums are making a big issue to get people to come and watch the rugby, but if you do not have access to the thousands that align schoolboy grounds, what chance do you really have?
I have noticed crowds in the region of 3,000 to 5,000 at my kid’s school for a first-team game.
I have no doubt this happens at every big rugby school in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, England, or France.
My problem is: why do the local Super Rugby teams not engage with the schools and play the games earlier or later? Work together and you will achieve something.
Waratahs in Durban and Reds in Cape Town
On the eve of the first cricket Test between South Africa and Australia, I was having a beer with some Aussie cricket journalists when the conversation ultimately jumped to rugby (as it always does with me in attendance).
We spoke about the Waratahs game on Saturday and a couple of them suggested it would be nice to watch the game as natives from Sydney.
When they heard the game was at 3:05pm, they quickly realised they were not going to get to see it live, even though it was less than 3km up the road?
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Similarly, with the Reds game last weekend, fans of both would have had to miss some cricket or rugby as they were not going to be able to watch both.
My issue with this is simple, if you have another country competing in town in cricket, surely you move the rugby game to suit two opponents that are from the same country. This to me is a no-brainer.
South African rugby has all the power to move games around the timeslots available to us, in SA we can effectively start a game anytime from 2:00om to 8:00pm – that is six full hours to work with.
Jaguares vs Lions 9:40pm or 11:40pm
Last week there was much confusion as to what time the game was starting in Buenos Aires. It was until 9:40pm we all thought the game was coming on at 11:40pm.
This is quite poor.
I do not know who is to blame, but I know loads of people that missed it completely. The problem is that the Jaguares are not in time with anyone. They play at a time suitable to the country of the opposition, while 9:40pm in the case of the Lions was correct – it was not marketed properly.
Six Nations and Super Rugby clash
Every year, Six Nations games are played at exactly the same time as Super Rugby games. This is ridiculous, it is 100 per cent a South African rugby issue and nothing to do with the Aussies or the Kiwis. Something can and should be done about it.
England, Ireland, Italy and France play their home games at the same time so why not have Sunday Super Rugby or have Friday night games while the Six Nations is on?
Why stick the Bulls versus Hurricanes at the same time as Scotland versus England? It’s just silly. You are both fighting to get my viewership. I want to watch both games, not bits and pieces of each one.
Pro 14
This one is very surprising. Why are you trying to play three or four games at the same time? Silly. I am new to Pro 14 and quite frankly, while I have watched almost every single Super Rugby game, the same cannot be said for Pro 14.
Spread the games out. Come on, there is more to sell – more to watch. I am sure I speak for many – I love watching rugby. I will watch more if you let me. One weekend, the Kings and Cheetahs played at the same time. Are you joking?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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