Isn't the soccer world cup quite big in the USA as well, what with them hosting it in 94, always qualifying and the relative success of the MLS? So that is 6 of the 10 biggest nations, hence the world cup being a major world sporting event.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 23/02/2016 11:32:37    1827417

Over a billion people watch The FIFA World Cup Final . That's big .

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6178 - 23/02/2016 13:30:39    1827471

I agree with Dustin the Turkey's tweet. Relocate RTE to Longford...as they both deserve each other :)

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 23/02/2016 13:42:40    1827478

No thanks!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 23/02/2016 15:11:33    1827516

The RTE 6.01 News and Sport descended to a new level of farce this evening when devoting a 15 second video segment to one of the IRFU Rugby Union team being forced to break open a raw egg on his head. Surely examples of this kind of 'lad culture' aren't worthy of such valuable broadcasting time. Colm Cooper is back in the Kerry squad for next weekend. No time to mention that of course.

mediaman (Antrim) - Posts: 355 - 23/02/2016 20:55:17    1827626

The top 10 populated countries, making up over half the world's population, in no specific order are;
China India United States Brazil Indonesia Pakistan Bangladesh Nigeria Japan Russia
My questions are;
(a) in which (if any) of these countries, is the 6nations considered a major event?
(b) in which (if any) of these countries, would rugby be considered even in the top 3 of sports, based on attendance, tv figures, participation levels, or any other relevant statistics?
extranjero (Wexford) - Posts:42 - 22/02/2016 17:12:07 Rugby isn't in top 3 in any of those but that doesn't mean much. Top3 is so generic and cant be backed up to make any kind of point as its so vague. Why top 3? Why not top 5/10/25 sports?

Ormond, The Six Nations is only a major event in the countries which feature in it. I wonder how big an event it is in Italy . I was in Madrid for The Champions League Final of 2010. We went in to an Irish bar before the game. Two games were being shown on different televisions. The Heineken Cup Final was being shown and The Championship soccer final in England was also being shown. A very small group of people which was made up entirely of members of our group watched the rugby . Everyone else in the bar watched the soccer. The Spaniards had no knowledge of and no interest in the rugby.
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts:4237 - 22/02/2016 18:04:30By what definition is 6 Nations only a major event in the countries that compete in it?

Janesboro you regularly, and sometimes correctly, criticise posters for their negativity to rugby but then pose questions the answers to which inevitably are negative towards rugby. You ask about examples of schools being elitist - I know of at least one rugby school where playing Irelands national sports is prohibited, and a number of more schools where it would never be considered because it is seen as a game not in keeping with the social status of these schools. Hardly much point raking over them coals though.
Soma (UK) - Posts:1301 - 22/02/2016 18:21:59 What schools specifically prohibit GAA?? Considering several compete in some form or another especially in Munster, Leinster and Connacht.

I refuse to name schools as that would never be posted. However why not look through the record books and count the number of schools that have produced more than one international. Now in a sport that only played about 8 internationals per year for a school to have a lot of internationals is evidence of A. genetic superiority B. Massive numbers of students C. Favouritism, elitism etc. WHICH ONE I WONDER? As for Swaziland and east Timor. To pick such examples displays a lack of class from the poster. Both have recently undergone severe internal strife so sport is well down their list of priorities. Why not try Cyprus where local football clubs regularly sell out their stadiums or montenegro or Slovenia?
sceptical (Cavan) - Posts:377 - 22/02/2016 19:26:26Generally the schools that have a lot of former pupils to play international rugby are very big schools and there is connections with bigger schools/clubs having better players as more competition etc.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 23/02/2016 21:15:33    1827635

Fair play janesboro, an honest answer to an honest question! In the past myself I've attended Ireland, Munster, Leinster rugby matches, and had good craic. But in my opinion, to describe 6nations as a major world sporting event is disingenuous. I'd consider it an important, international, regional competition (the region being north-west Europe), but I've seen no evidence of mainstream appeal in North or South America, Asia, central and eastern Europe, or Africa (outside of a few southern countries).
While there is/was a lot of coverage on rugby in Ireland, I'm not sure I'd consider there to be a huge bias in its favour. But ask anybody who's lived in Spain about biased sports media, and I'm sure they'd say irish sports media is very well balanced compared to the daily stream of crap thats released here under the name of "news" on real Madrid!
extranjero (Wexford) - Posts:42 - 22/02/2016 20:33:05And there has been European commission or could potentially be EU investigation into the actions of Spanish government funding and said club....
Ive seen/know of plenty of interest in North America in cities like NYC/Boston in the 6 nations as well as Argentina and parts of Canada....

The RTE 6.01 News and Sport descended to a new level of farce this evening when devoting a 15 second video segment to one of the IRFU Rugby Union team being forced to break open a raw egg on his head. Surely examples of this kind of 'lad culture' aren't worthy of such valuable broadcasting time. Colm Cooper is back in the Kerry squad for next weekend. No time to mention that of course.
mediaman (Antrim) - Posts:290 - 23/02/2016 20:55:17Are you really that petty? Have you contacted RTE with this agenda of yours AS this is just getting ridiculous (your anti rugby anti RTE tirade)

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 23/02/2016 21:15:39    1827636

TV figures, average attendance, high quality of affair.... history of rugby etc makes it a major world sporting event

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts:10912 - 21/02/2016 11:19:54 

in which (if any) of these countries, would rugby be considered even in the top 3 of sports, based on attendance, tv figures, participation levels, or any other relevant statistics?

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts:42 - 22/02/2016 17:12:07

Rugby isn't in top 3 in any of those but that doesn't mean much. Top3 is so generic and cant be backed up to make any kind of point as its so vague. Why top 3? Why not top 5/10/25 sports?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts:10912 - 23/02/2016 21:15:33


So first you claim rugby/6nations is a major world sporting event based on TV figures and average attendance. Then you say rugby/6nations popularity can't be gauged on those statistics,as they are too vague and of no use to the argument. Do you realise you're contradicting yourself?

You've stated the 6nations is a major world sporting event based on certain parameters, now you say those parameters are irrelevant. Which is it? Could you make up your mind?

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts: 375 - 24/02/2016 09:14:14    1827658

This thread has reached the boredom level of a modern day Gaelic football match. It could go on like this for the next 10 years. You would swear RTE were the be all and end all of everything and that they had a special agenda against the gaa. Well they don't. Why are other media (eg the Independent) as strong as RTE in their rugby coverage? Because rugby sells. It is the zeitgeist. For the most part it has won the hearts and minds of the majority of our young people. And people can crib on here all they like about this but it won't change the reality that the media will go with what sells, and as a commercial identity, rugby is now the number one sport.

I should point out I am not a rugby fan. I would struggle to name more than 3 players on the Irish rugby team. And as a Connacht man I couldn't care less if Connacht rugby never won another game. But I also have an ever declining interest in Gaelic football and I can readily understand why the young people of today are increasingly being won over to rugby and why RTE and other media give the game such big exposure.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2010 - 24/02/2016 11:34:27    1827702

Great post, Poolsturgeon

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts: 375 - 24/02/2016 11:53:30    1827710

If you find the thread boring or embarrassing then simply dont post in it.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12295 - 24/02/2016 11:58:35    1827712

Thanks Breffni for that bit of useless advice. Actually I think that was just my second post on this thread. I reserve my right to add a third post in about 5 years time as ye go around in circles discussing the same points.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2010 - 24/02/2016 12:22:32    1827724

Wasn't just directing it at you Poolsturgeon. Lots of people seem to be bored of the topic yet have plenty to say on it.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12295 - 24/02/2016 12:29:21    1827729

I disagree entirely with much of that post PoolS. For a start, and journalists who have worked at these papers like Ewan MacKenna will tell you this, the main reason rugby gets so much coverage in these papers is because the most prominent people in the papers boardrooms had attended private schools where rugby forms part of the glue that keeps the old boys network together. If you really think the reason the Independent devotes so much coverage to the Leinster Schools cup rugby is because the country is fascinated by it then you really have bought all of the propaganda that comes with the rugby 'product'. Look at the map of the GAA clubs in Ireland, and compare it to a map of the rugby clubs in Ireland - which sport is really getting the attention of the youngsters? Compare the number of youngsters playing GAA against the number playing rugby - the fact that these figures are so overwhelmingly in favour of GAA but you say rugby has won the hearts and minds of the majority of young people shows that the imbalance in coverage levels on RTE can paint a picture quite different to the reality.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 24/02/2016 12:40:24    1827734

Extranjero

"So first you claim rugby/6nations is a major world sporting event based on TV figures and average attendance. Then you say rugby/6nations popularity can't be gauged on those statistics,as they are too vague and of no use to the argument. Do you realise you're contradicting yourself?

You've stated the 6nations is a major world sporting event based on certain parameters, now you say those parameters are irrelevant. Which is it? Could you make up your mind?"

That's the main reason this thread is so bloody long...coz he'd argue black was white & the next minute that white was black!
"those statistics,as they are too vague" says Mr. Vague who never backs up any of his claims with any evidence or statistics, unlike Mediaman.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 24/02/2016 12:56:34    1827748

If Ireland lose to England on Saturday in Twickers we'll see how much really rugby has "won the hearts and minds of our young people". Munster's attendances are way down & Leinster's have been impacted too. This is the first time since in many years we have no representative in the European quarterfinals & it looks likely that could become a trend well into the future. Many of these so-called rugby fans probably wouldn't even know where their nearest rugby club is.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 24/02/2016 13:10:26    1827754

So first you claim rugby/6nations is a major world sporting event based on TV figures and average attendance. Then you say rugby/6nations popularity can't be gauged on those statistics,as they are too vague and of no use to the argument. Do you realise you're contradicting yourself?
You've stated the 6nations is a major world sporting event based on certain parameters, now you say those parameters are irrelevant. Which is it? Could you make up your mind?
extranjero (Wexford) - Posts:44 - 24/02/2016 09:14:14 6 Nations is a major world event based on demographics. Look at the media and how much is it covered. link

I disagree entirely with much of that post PoolS. For a start, and journalists who have worked at these papers like Ewan MacKenna will tell you this, the main reason rugby gets so much coverage in these papers is because the most prominent people in the papers boardrooms had attended private schools where rugby forms part of the glue that keeps the old boys network together. If you really think the reason the Independent devotes so much coverage to the Leinster Schools cup rugby is because the country is fascinated by it then you really have bought all of the propaganda that comes with the rugby 'product'. Look at the map of the GAA clubs in Ireland, and compare it to a map of the rugby clubs in Ireland - which sport is really getting the attention of the youngsters? Compare the number of youngsters playing GAA against the number playing rugby - the fact that these figures are so overwhelmingly in favour of GAA but you say rugby has won the hearts and minds of the majority of young people shows that the imbalance in coverage levels on RTE can paint a picture quite different to the reality.
Soma (UK) - Posts:1302 - 24/02/2016 12:40:24 Conspiracy level equivalent of saying moon landings were faked. Yes all the most prominent people in running newspapers attended fee paying schools and they want to knock all other sports and just promote rugby. Newspapers are interested in sales. They cover what they know will make sales. Why did the red tops for years have half naked women on page 3. Because it sold copies of the paper.

If Ireland lose to England on Saturday in Twickers we'll see how much really rugby has "won the hearts and minds of our young people". Munster's attendances are way down & Leinster's have been impacted too. This is the first time since in many years we have no representative in the European quarterfinals & it looks likely that could become a trend well into the future. Many of these so-called rugby fans probably wouldn't even know where their nearest rugby club is.
keeper7 (Longford) - Posts:2666 - 24/02/2016 13:10:26Munsters attendances are down for a variety of reasons and yes success does play a part just like in the GAA. Your allusions about supporters and their knowledge of club game is nonsense.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 24/02/2016 13:29:50    1827764

"Your allusions about supporters and their knowledge of club game is nonsense"
Really? Then how come club attendance figures have plummeted this millennium despite the massive coverage rugby gets in our national media?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 24/02/2016 14:34:48    1827806

Im sorry Soma but your completely and utterly mistaken.

I come from a country GAA Club, ive never played a game of rugby in my life. All through my years at the club i never had team mates who played rugby and im 38 years of age, Now however its very different. Ive coached all underage grades in the club and at every level young lads are playing rugby. We would have on average 20 plus kids per age group and we have on average 5 kids per age group playing rugby, thats from a base of zero. We have another 4 or 5 who play at adult level, in fact we have lost 2 players completely to rugby at adult level. That situation is mirrored at most rural clubs that form and surround our town district where we have a decent rugby team. Secondly with my job i travel the country and deal with numerous GAA clubs and GAA people who tell me the same story. My secondary school where i attended forbid any rugby or soccer at the school and are now taking part in rugby and getting to finals etc. This whole idea that its propaganda and some form of conspiracy is typical GAA head in the sand stuff.

Also im not sure what sort of business a lot of people are involved in but this idea that a business is just going to cater for the whims of its employees and show and talk more about rugby etc because people in the business are more inclined to rugby is farcical at best. Business exists to make money and rugby sells these days. Honestly, i work for quite a big well known company who sponsor a GAA county and i can categorically tell you that the CEO and none of the company directors have zero interest in GAA, in fact less than zero but because of where the CEO is from originally it looks good to be sponsoring the county team.

Either way surely this whole thread is a wind up which we all have fallen for, i mean seriously who still looks at the six one news never mind sits there with a stopwatch?

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1484 - 24/02/2016 14:39:33    1827809

tearintom the picture I have painted there is the reality, have a look at the IRFU annual accounts for playing numbers and it will support it completely. Your anecdotal evidence is different, and actually with a couple of high profile rugby internationals coming from Wexford I would well believe that rugby may be seeing increases in participation levels there, which obviously is no bad thing. Actually here are the rough figures, you can find the exact ones on the IRFU website if you wish. Total number of rugby players 2009: 160,000, in 2015 it is 161,000. Total male adult players 2009: 24,000, in 2015 it is 13,000. Total underage 2009, 26,000, in 2015 26,000. Total mini rugby 2009: 25,000, in 2015 it is 31,000. The gap in the middle is filled by those playing in schools - as far as I know if you do a single training session in school you are counted. So the only increase is in mini rugby players, and obviously tv has a huge influence on this age group - just look at how many kids will play tennis for the 2 weeks Wimbledon is on etc. The drop in adult males playing the game from 24000 to 13000 in 6 years is a sign that rugby is now seen more as an entertainment 'product' to be consumed rather than a sport to be played for many. It is a huge issue in rugby that many prominent rugby people are rightly concerned about, but if you just get your information from RTE you would think there are padded goalposts going up at every crossroads in the country!

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 24/02/2016 15:30:01    1827831