colin love talk on RLWC upsets union bosses. : Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:56 am  

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html Discussing the potential growth of the league World Cup, Love said in November: "We've never tried to compare ourselves with the soccer World Cup, but if you cast your minds back to when the rugby World Cup started in 1987 and one of the semi-finals was played at Concord Oval in front of 15,000 people. "I think that event was a moderate success, but in 21 years it has now become a major international sporting event. I believe the product we've got in rugby league is as good as any other code and there's no reason we can't head in that direction in a much shorter period of time." Carr added: "This has got the potential to be a lot more competitive than the rugby union World Cup."

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html Discussing the potential growth of the league World Cup, Love said in November: "We've never tried to compare ourselves with the soccer World Cup, but if you cast your minds back to when the rugby World Cup started in 1987 and one of the semi-finals was played at Concord Oval in front of 15,000 people. "I think that event was a moderate success, but in 21 years it has now become a major international sporting event. I believe the product we've got in rugby league is as good as any other code and there's no reason we can't head in that direction in a much shorter period of time." Carr added: "This has got the potential to be a lot more competitive than the rugby union World Cup."

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:19 pm  

To be fair, I agree with everything the RU guy says except the fact that the RUWC is in the top 5 World sporting events which I'm not sure about. The only thing is that this feels like its the first RLWC to me, it feels like the dawn of a new era. Whether it can be built upon though I don't know

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:32 pm  

Considering 4billion people tuned into the rugby world cup in 2003, I would say its in the top 5 sporting events in the world

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:09 pm  

Eurob0y wrote:

Considering 4billion people tuned into the rugby world cup in 2003, I would say its in the top 5 sporting events in the world

Using the IRBs own figures, which were based on absolutely no research at all.

I'm pretty sure it will have had virtually zero viewing figures in China and India for example as well as the majority of South and Central America, which takes a big chunk of the planet's population out of the reckoning.

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:42 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Using the IRBs own figures, which were based on absolutely no research at all.

I think he's being sarky!

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:53 pm  

As someone who works for Alzheimer's Australia I find his use of the illness to take a potshot very disappointing.

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:16 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Using the IRBs own figures, which were based on absolutely no research at all.

I'm pretty sure it will have had virtually zero viewing figures in China and India for example as well as the majority of South and Central America, which takes a big chunk of the planet's population out of the reckoning.

You are either a very poor troll or stupid.

28 billion watched the football world cup.

Now have a think about "viewing figures" and then come back.

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:31 pm  

33 million is the real figure for the RUWC final.

and thats with a final in a very good time slot for england and france, and with england in the final.

lets see how many watch the nz final, especially if its australia vs NZ.

the success of this RLWC is that it tapped into the large TV markets in australia.

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:51 pm  

A nothing story. Love has said that this years RLWC has averaged crowds similar to RUWC in 1987. The hidden meaning being, RL is finally taking baby steps and beginning to grow internationally. By comparing the two tournaments, Love has basically admitted League is behind Union but is on the right path.

Then the ARU Chairman has had another play at the local sport of at League Bashing.

"Look, there is a little bit of corporate memory gone missing there, a bit of alzheimers.

"This was their 13th World Cup, and it must be said there hasn't been a lot of progress in the tournament.

"Yet the rugby union World Cup is growing exponentially, and is genuinely in the top five sporting events in the world."

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:59 pm  

dally messenger wrote:

33 million is the real figure for the RUWC final.

Source?