Re: IMG : Tue Nov 05, 2024 11:46 am  

Smiffy27 wrote:

I have to agree with you. I have stood in many Rugby Union Clubhouses telling people that I am a Rugby League man, it's a miles better game & it is in the blood. They look at me and shake their heads & question the strange wriggling that tackled players do to stand up & play the ball and the tiny crowds. I love RL but I have little optimism that our game is going to suddenly catch on no matter what is done.
RU, mind you, has improved considerably over the last few years. It used to be all kick to touch but not anymore. They also have loads more money.

I wouldn’t say it’s massively improved, I mean look at the big name clubs that have gone. All well and good that Union as more money in the sport than we do but they are for sure better at mismanaging it than League.

The points Wires 71 makes is more the problem the main one being the international game. Now it’s not dominated by the All Blacks and Australia and other nations getting better at it it draws more attention and hence better crowds. I’m not sure our sport will tap into that in my lifetime but we need to get better as a sport internationally. Even the NFL which is massive in USA is getting out in the world more and more. If eventually a team is based in the UK this is just going to take more people away.

Re: IMG : Tue Nov 05, 2024 2:14 pm  

The previous point about RU no longer being kick and clap is an accurate one. In the last round of fixtures before their international break, every game had either 7 or 8 tries in it, with points from kicks making up far less of the totals than you would expect. RU have used a bonus point system well to encourage more fluent rugby.

Whilst it might not be everyone's cup of tea, saying that RU is a dull game to watch is outdated.

[Uncle Rico]

Re: IMG : Tue Nov 05, 2024 6:22 pm  

I'm probably a bad egg but I actually like it and it has indeed improved, the internationals are a proper day out and there's less snobbery about since the likes of Inverdale and Gusscott had their well publicised views aired. Added to this there have been plenty of RL guys coaching at high level in various capacities, Phil Larder, Jon Clark, Kevin Sinfield and of course Andy Farrell....

Whilst I like RU, it doesn't diminish my passion for RL and I still have that innate mistrust of the establishment and understanding that we aren't on a level playing field. However, I think these days, our disadvantage, well certainly the continuation of it, is as much about us as it is them IMO

Re: IMG : Tue Nov 05, 2024 7:25 pm  

Uncle Rico wrote:

I'm probably a bad egg but I actually like it and it has indeed improved, the internationals are a proper day out and there's less snobbery about since the likes of Inverdale and Gusscott had their well publicised views aired. Added to this there have been plenty of RL guys coaching at high level in various capacities, Phil Larder, Jon Clark, Kevin Sinfield and of course Andy Farrell....

Whilst I like RU, it doesn't diminish my passion for RL and I still have that innate mistrust of the establishment and understanding that we aren't on a level playing field. However, I think these days, our disadvantage, well certainly the continuation of it, is as much about us as it is them IMO

Wow not like you to make sense

Re: IMG : Tue Nov 05, 2024 8:29 pm  

It does make me smile a bit when RU is portrayed as a "posh" sport cos they obviously haven't been to some places I've been. RL will always have a problem when it's crowds are so low. Sky threw money at us in the early days but I'm afraid they have other options now.

Re: IMG : Tue Nov 05, 2024 11:16 pm  

Smiffy27 wrote:

It does make me smile a bit when RU is portrayed as a "posh" sport cos they obviously haven't been to some places I've been. RL will always have a problem when it's crowds are so low. Sky threw money at us in the early days but I'm afraid they have other options now.

Is this not why IMG have been brought in, to help grow and make it more appealing. It’s going to take a long time for sure it’s not an over night thing. The continued bleating by clubs over grades etc they just need to get on and work on the improvements required and let IMG get on with other stuff.