If someone told you that rugby-playing numbers and sheep were in decline in New Zealand, you’d probably want to take them in for a concussion test.
But both are true.
It seems unfathomable that New Zealand, the greatest rugby nation of them all, could be in the grip of a participation slump. If fewer Kiwis want to play the game, then what hope is there globally? To qualify as a Kiwi you’ve got to strap on the rugby boots, right?
Male player numbers have been in a steady decline in recent times, with officials reporting that the 13- to 20-year-old age groups experienced a five per cent drop in 2018. Between 2014 and 2018, schoolboy rugby player numbers fell 17 per cent, from 25,841 to 21,532. Over the same period, school basketball’s popularity rose 41 per cent from 13,130 to 18,498.
Women’s rugby continues to grow in New Zealand.
While we’re pumping out the stats, there were 27.4 million sheep in New Zealand in 2019, compared to more than 40 million in 2000. That’s still a lot of sheep – and there are still a lot of rugby players for a relatively small population – so let’s call it a very light sanding back of Kiwi stereotypes.
Aside from the surge in popularity of other sports like basketball, a report commissioned by New Zealand Rugby and released early last year found that concern over the physical nature of the game was one of the reasons why some schoolboys were giving the game away.
(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
So it was interesting to note that a few weeks ago, New Zealand Rugby announced the introduction of a national competition for players weighing under 85 kilograms.
Weight-restricted rugby is already played in some Kiwi provinces, but this competition – called the Under-85kg National Club Cup – is the first to cover the whole country. It will run from May to August, and is open to all clubs, aside from the five professional Super Rugby teams.
It’s an intriguing concept and one that’s been championed by Graham Henry. The former All Blacks coach expressed his concern that rugby was in danger of going down the path of American football, which is played only by professionals after they complete their high-school education.
Weight-restricted rugby “can stop so many talented and passionate players slipping through the cracks”, Henry said in July last year. Auckland under-85kg competitions have been going for a while, and it’s become an attractive option particularly for school leavers who are too small for the professional or premier club ranks, but want to stay in the game.
In schoolboy rugby in Australia, many of the forwards boast imposing physiques nudging the 100kg mark. Within the top grades of club competitions in Sydney and Brisbane, there are few players across the park in all positions that aren’t over the century or at least close to it.
Halfbacks, five-eighths and the back three are the positions that attract players closer to the 90kg bracket. Who can you think of out of the professional ranks who would qualify for the under-85kg comp? Joe Powell is 83kg. Will Genia is 81kg. Jake Gordon would miss out at 87kg. Tate McDermott is 92kg.
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
At the elite level, it’s very difficult to mix it with the big bodies unless one is super speedy or crafty. The inclusion of all body types is one of rugby’s great selling points. That shouldn’t be underestimated. The lightweights playing at the Super Rugby level deserve praise for their bravery, but weight-restricted competitions at an amateur level could be a crucial cog in retaining playing numbers.
It will be worth keeping an eye on the success of the new Kiwi competition. Playing numbers are also a big concern in Australia, and these types of initiatives could be a smart way to keep players in club rugby.
Rugby Australia haven’t stood still in addressing weight and size issues in junior rugby. In 2018, it was instituted that all Australian junior rugby players between the ages of ten and 15 would need to be assessed for their suitability to their age group. An independent coach runs the eye over a player and takes into account their size, maturity, playing experience and fitness and whether they are in the right age group or need to be moved.
Many parents on the sidelines of weekend club rugby in Sydney still fret about their kid being steamrolled by an opposition weapon who is 20 kilos heavier. Weight worries are real. The current system doesn’t always seem to result in the bigger kids being elevated in age groups.
South Sydney Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe has over the years called for Australia’s junior rugby league competitions to be based on weight in order to make the game safer.
World Rugby this week released figures that showed a significant drop in concussion-related injuries during last year’s World Cup compared to 2018. It came after the governing body introduced a high-tackle framework just four months out from the tournament that produced a big crackdown on head contact and sanctions for those indiscretions.
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
They revealed a 28 per cent reduction in concussions at the 2019 RWC compared to the 2018 elite competition average. Not surprisingly, they also recorded a 74 per cent increase in yellow cards at the tournament and 138 per cent rise in red cards.
It’s not perfect. The ridiculousness peaked with the penalty against Samu Kerevi – the ball-carrier – for high contact against Wales. But following that, it was clear that players were being more careful and accountable when it came to tackle technique. Some laws need to be refined, such as how does one avoid head and neck contact when a 180cm, 115kg prop carrying the ball buries his head into the defensive line.
But there are still enough big collisions and aggressive contact to please the average rugby fan. If there’s an appetite from any fan for a more gladiatorial spectacle, then UFC can top up that desire. World Rugby have rightly prioritised player safety.
Rugby has copped plenty of flak recently. Squabbles over a global international competition and calendar. Massive salary-cap breaches. The continued financial inequality for second-tier nations. The ruthless manoeuvring for richer TV deals. Israel Folau and contract restrictions and freedoms. Seasons starting too early.
So it’s crucial that there’s more discussions started on how to inject some positivity into the code. Conversations about boosting participation through such initiatives as weight-restricted competitions are important.
It’s also worth acknowledging World Rugby’s focus on reducing concussions through better tackling technique. This should trickle down through all levels of the game to improve player safety.
They are small steps but admirable ones.
Purdo
Roar Rookie
Monorchid: My son played a lot of Aussie Rules and had a lot of injuries. I think Aussie rules causes more hospitalizeable injuries than Rugby. This ought to be publicised amongst parents deciding on what code to encourage their children to play.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
Will, I am astounded that my post to this thread is the last after another two days. I think that your excellent and topical opinion piece deals with the two salient issues of interest to parents these days when they consider whether they want their children to play either of the rugby codes or AFL. Even soccer is problematical. I wonder how many of the Roar's contributors have ever headed a high kick from a soccer goalie. I have, and the impact on the head and neck can be severe. Potential immediate or long term head trauma is, at least in my opinion, of great concern to parents. The future for rugby is surely not with existing players, but with parents who can be assured that their children will survive their rugby careers with their brain function intact. If not, we'll all be playing tennis in the future.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
This is an excellent article Will about both issues. I've followed this story on this thread for a couple of days, and I'm very surprised that there haven't been a lot more comments. I have no medical training at all, but I've spoken with my GP about the concussion issue in football a few times over the years. My GP has the view that it's not only a blow to the head or neck, or the head striking the ground, that may cause concussion, but blows to the spinal column as well. The last point was a great surprise to me. My GP's view is that any blow to the head or neck is potentially serious, and repeated blows even more so. I can recall an interview on ABC radio several years ago with an Australian who'd been playing gridiron in the USA. The statistical potential for gridiron players to experience concussive injury revealed during the interview was staggering. I believe it was the USA situation which originally started Australian codes looking at the problem and, to their credit, they've all taken serious positive action. But the inference of available information seems to be that everyone who plays football in any code has a high chance of experiencing concussion over the years to some degree depending on the position they play. If that's anywhere near true, it may be one of the reasons why a significant number of parents seem to favour soccer. Junior soccer numbers, both girls and boys, have certainly been very high in the competition that my grandchildren (2 girls, 1 boy) have played in over the last few years.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
190 cm?
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Hey Will, I referred some U85kg games in Wellington a few years ago and it absolutely kept players who probably would have left if it wasn’t there. I’d love to see this happen here and also have weight based kids grades up to 2nd XV in schools. I have refereed games where a single player has dominated because of his size and it’s not fun. Also I find these players tend to fall by the way later as they don’t seem to develop and skills to go with their size and when higher skilled kids start catching up they tend to fall by the wayside. I don’t agree that the penalty given to Kerevi was wrong sorry. I have penalised players for exactly the same thing, and those who raise knees in a tackle as well. Using your forearm against someone es head or throat is and always has been dangerous play. The card was in line with the direction referees were given, not really their fault the Wallaby coaching and management were so inept they couldn’t pass this onto the players.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
I played in an Under 85 kg competition when I first left score. That grade gets you fit as it’s played at a high tempo. Also the grade across NZ is traditionally the best “off the field” grade. Those involved with the National Club comp will love it. On the drop of schoolboy rugby numbers I have seen that first hand. At the previous school I worked at we went from 4 teams in 2014 to 2 teams in 2019 (The between years we had 3). Reasons being a lack of staff involvement, a lack of coaches (and quality), we couldn’t compete against the more traditional powerhouses and the demographic of the school which had a large Indian and Asian population. NZ rugby is trying hard to engage more people with modified versions and some provinces taking away representative rugby at certain ages to keep youngsters more engaged in the sport. Sevens is popular as it’s tournament based as opposed to seasons.
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
I used to play it in the 90’s in Auckland, originally they had under 77 and under 85 grades. After a while the u77 grew to u80, and a couple of years later they merged u80 and u85. They were good fast games and the only way a 77 kg forward could continue playing.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
For junior rugby, we had weight restrictions in school though I think they have gone now. Even in junior rugby, players can drop back a year because of their size (or go up).
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Smart concept I mean
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Good article, d sad mart concept
piru
Roar Rookie
I'm still conflicted on this one. I get the idea of the weight classes and the focus on safety, but on the other hand, some of the biggest thrills of my younger playing days were bringing down a much bigger player. The ultimate test of your tackling technique was 'did it work when you needed it to?'
From 15 to 3
Guest
Sure, players are bigger and stronger these days, but it is their improved acceleration over the first 5 to 10 metres that's turning tackles into 'hits' that is doing the real damage.
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Auckland had an under 80kg grade when I was living up there in the late '80s. I was borderline 80 kegs back then and had a couple of runs, it was ball in hand, fast and furious. Auckland club rugby also had restricted and open weight for age grade teams. I helped coach the same club side for 2 years, u12 restricted then u13 open. We had the boys doing a lot of skill drills at u12 and that really paid off at u13 open level the following year with a squad that contained 7-8 kids who were still restricted weight eligible. Our team lost half it's games but the biggest losing margin was only 10pts. A lot of the kids in that u13 comp wouldn't be eligible for this 85kg grade mentioned in the article! This was post 1987 RWC, NZ had fallen in love with the game again and junior grades were bulging. New Image rugby (non-tackle) had been introduced at u8 level with the emphasis on skills and team work. In hindsight, this junior level ground work layed some of the foundation for NZ's sustained success in the pro era.
jeznez
Roar Guru
We had an 85 kg comp in Sydney years ago, not sure if it's still running. I only found out about it because I stopped seeing a mate who played for Mosman when we played them. When we finally caught up I asked him where he'd been and he told me he'd switched to the weight restricted comp. I'm all for anything that lets people continue enjoying the game. My only question is does it work for forwards, as well as it works for backs? I know when I first came to colts rugby, I was a 6'2" 73 kg open side, I used to get paired at training with our halfback who was 75 kg but only about 5'7" he used to cut me in half in opposed sessions. By the time I finished growing I was playing at 114kg, needless to say I wasn't an openside anymore - and certainly not getting bossed by halfbacks!
Ian Knightly
Guest
U85kg rugby is as fierce as any other rugby and really competitive. It is like 15 flankers going for it. Scoring is often low, a bit like the old days where it will be 6-6 at halftime and then final score 13-9 after a winning runaway try against tiring defences in the 78th minute following a 50th minute droppie to the other team to nudge ahead. Lots of footage online. This will be really popular and several local club teams in my region are plotting national glory already.
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Check out the corresponding rise in dairy herd numbers Chook, for the answer to that question. I'll let you draw your own conclusions from there. Yes basketball isn't for the effete. The worst sports related injury I received was playing b-ball.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Very good. And very worrying. I think that we may be playing too many games irrespective of the level.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Now that is a tall lad. He'd be as skinny as a piece of spaghetti!
marfu
Guest
Thanks Will for your piece which certainly warrants discussion as some of these juniors are huge considering the price of meat. Maybe it's because they start heavy gym work at a younger age than a few years ago? Also you may want to check Tate McDermott's weight as I think that 92 kg is a typo instead of 82 kgs?
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
130 kilos and 1.90 meters tall too!