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Joined August 2013
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"Sydney are Premiers!"
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And there is no worse place to be for a South African than a toilet.
A friendly message to all sub-130km/h Aussie quicks: Just give up
That’s not really the point of my post WCR. It was an observation of a peculiarity.
My point is that the whole comp is relying on a few diehards to drive the popularity of it, rather than those who have the financial and controlling interest. It has a minimal supporter base, perhaps because it hasn’t invested significantly enough in garnering the fans through promotion.
The Big Bash League should be a case study of how to drive support for brand new entities from scratch and of what to benchmark against.
If Fox are going to do a half arsed job (or quarter arsed) promoting it, then why bother having it televised at all?
But let me say this using the traditional marketing mix: I don’t believe the product is flawed – I think it is exceptional rugby and entertainment. It’s not the price, it’s cheap to attend and watch. It’s not the place – all the main Rugby nurseries and areas are represented.
I think clearly the promotion is seriously flawed, and that belongs to the controlling bodies. I fear it will be the death knell of the competition too. I don’t think it’s been given a fair chance to blossom by those who should have the most interest in it.
[VIDEO] North Harbour Rays vs NSW Country Eagles: NRC highlights, scores, blog
Sheek we need to have a beer together! I too bemoan the rise of rubbish cricket (T20), but I am desperate to see this comp do well.
Never a truer word spoken as “Appealing predominately to The Roar diehards & a few other diehard fans here or there is sadly not going to do the trick.”
This comp needs support where the money is. Fox Sports (apart from their commentators, particularly Gerard Middleton and Sean Maloney) have done very little, and the ARU have done little more to promote this. I have spoken to several coaches and players from different franchises who are wondering why their mates are texting them trying to find out where they can watch their games online. Why isn’t it covered in the Herald, promoted on Fox Sports etc?
You can’t buy any supporter gear unless you go to a game. That’s a considerable barrier. The ARU has an online shop. How hard is it to have a NRC section? They will argue supply and demand. Well there won’t be demand if there is no supply!
Bizarrely we can watch Hawkes Bay play Bay of Plenty live on a Saturday, but can’t watch our own equivalent.
If the ARU were so determined to create the third tier, why aren’t they promoting it? The BBL only works because Cricket Australia and their state franchises got behind it, promoted it, showed every game live, got a free to air deal done and gave it everything. That’s why it works – plus there is a market for it.
Why won’t the ARU and Fox Sports do the same with the NRC? If you want to create something, don’t keep it underground, have a massive swing at it! But perhaps there is not a market for it, so why bother having it?
I watched my beloved Rays play last night in a tremendous match of running Rugby against an excellent Eagles team. I think at least two future Wallabies were on show last night, and a few more future Super Rugby players. That to me is why this comp is so important. Nathan Grey and Tim Kelaher were in the stands last night watching. I bet they will be chatting to players such as Kellaway, Windsor and Angus, often over the next few months.
I love it, but you’re 100% correct. “Appealing predominately to The Roar diehards & a few other diehard fans here or there is sadly not going to do the trick.” The ARU needs to invest much much more, and so does Fox Sports.
[VIDEO] North Harbour Rays vs NSW Country Eagles: NRC highlights, scores, blog
EG I am with you, demand controls supply certainly and I think what you and others driving it is fantastic. I
t would be nice to see the dog wagging the tail here though rather than the other way around. This kind of guerrilla advertising via social media driven by a few Rugby fanatics is not good enough and I still think Fox Sports and the ARU have a far bigger stake in this than they are currently displaying. Fans want to be engaged, but they don’t make it easy. The NRL have Thursday night games coinciding. You think that’s a coincidence? Neither do I.
NRC broadcasting the key to success
I agree with the article regarding the complexities of Super Rugby. The 12 team comp was easily the best and most successful, notwithstanding 2014 when the most deserving super rugby team won its only flag.
This is a genuine rumination though.
I appreciate the ARU are the country’s governing body, but shouldn’t the individual clubs do more to ensure the code’s success? Each level is governed by an individual board/committee. Yet I hear a lot of whining from the levels below the Wallabies, all levels being professional, semi professional and amateur levels, about the ARU not looking after grass roots. It’s baffling.
I ran an amateur cricket club within the SCA for a few years in the 2000s, and we raised all money ourselves (except a small token grant for balls via cricket NSW) through subs and sponsorship. We weren’t blaming Cricket Australia for any financial or participation woes. And hiring turf wicket cricket grounds for 6 months a year ain’t cheap!
Why can’t the clubs do the same? Is it because of the 4 winter code competition (as opposed to cricket being Australia’s number one summer code)? There seems to be a lot of self interest and finger pointing rather than the occasional look in the mirror.
Time to pull heads out of the sand and admit Australian rugby is dying