Welcome, as soon as once more, to the Weekend Version.
This week, I’d like to try the Tremendous Rugby crowd numbers one among our discussion board members initially posted in 2019. I’ve added the final 5 years as finest I may, however with restricted data and the Waratahs transferring round to completely different grounds, it’s been troublesome piecing issues collectively. Additionally, I may be plain incorrect in some circumstances. Keep in mind that crowd numbers had been understandably decrease in the course of the COVID pandemic.
Reds (from 2005 all dwelling video games at Suncorp)
2003 – 18,425* (dwelling video games at Ballymore)
2004 – 19,730** (5 dwelling video games at Ballymore and 1 at Suncorp)
2005 – 18,130
2009 – 18,647
2010 – 22,826
2011 – 33,253
2012 – 34,479
2013–31,836
2014 – 28,489
2015 – 21,780
2016 – 16,605
2017 – 15,115
2018 – 12,101
2019 – 11,351
2020 – 9,075
2021 – 18,699
2022 – 13,713
2023 – 12,582
2024 – 14,527
Brumbies (the persistently finest performing Aust workforce – all video games at Canberra/Bruce/GIO Stadium)
2003 – 21,536
2004 – 21,450
2005 – 22,895
2009 -17,160
2010 – 15,520
2011 – 13,303
2012 – 14,419
2013 – 14,247
2014 – 12,410
2015 – 12,445
2016 – 12,135
2017 – 9,886
2018 – 8,391
2019 – 8,798
2020 – 4,716
2021 – 7,396
2022 – 7,568
2023 – 9,213
2024 – 8,025
Waratahs
2003 – 30,521
2004 – 34,500
2005 – 33,739
2009 – 22,430
2010 – 20,204
2011 – 20,493
2012 – 20,936
2013 – 16,949
2014 – 19,500
2015 – 22,415
2016 – 20,322
2017 – 14,499
2018 – 13,511
2019 – 13,690
2020 – 5,265
2021 – 5,170
2022 – 8,265
2023 – Too small a pattern measurement
2024 – 12,615
What can we take from my rubbery figures?
If you happen to appear like you’ll be able to win Tremendous Rugby punters will come and watch! The Brumbies is ’04, the Reds in ’11 and the Tahs in ’14 all had good common crowds and saved these crowds within the yr after.
Making the finals and being constant isn’t sufficient. The Brumbies have been Australia’s most constant membership with out being excellent for 20 years. In truth, they haven’t performed within the ultimate since that win in 2004. Nowadays, they will’t appear to attract a crowd for a house quarterfinal, and I’m undecided why. Are the followers disillusioned with by no means getting the large prize? Is it the climate in Canberra in June? No matter it’s, they draw no additional followers for a ultimate than they do for a daily season recreation.
Crowd numbers are recovering after COVID, however being a real contender would assist immensely.
Tappe Henning On Scrums
It’s uncommon for South African Rugby to consider they’re being persecuted or picked on. So after they stated that they thought that their scrum was being unfairly being focused by world rugby’s new regulation my ears instantly pricked up. As I looked for this new afront to this humble rugby nation, I discovered an article quoting Tappe Henning… Checks notes… A South African, claiming that the choice to not enable a scrum from a free kick had nothing to do with the Springboks choice to take a scrum from a good catch throughout final years world cup.
The previous South African referees boss claims the regulation change, on account of come into impact on 1 July, is all concerning the spectacle and the blight of groups calling for one more scrum after a collapse and has nothing to do with the wonderful awesomness of Springbok rugby.
“A free-kick from a scrum, which is a technical infringement, brings one other scrum, then one other scrum. We’ve had events the place each groups – when making an attempt to get scrum dominance – would choose one other scrum from a free kick.
“It’s one thing spectators don’t take pleasure in they usually have spoken about it.
“World Rugby has finished analysis about what number of occasions that occurs in a recreation. The choice was primarily based on that, it wasn’t primarily based on one workforce or one choice.”
“Scrums and mauls create area – bringing 16 gamers right into a small area and leaving area out extensive. It’s an integral a part of the sport that ought to stay.
“It’s what makes rugby union completely different from different sports activities – not simply the competition for the ball, but in addition the set-piece contest – like rugby league and different sports activities much like our recreation.
“We’ve to make some changes to make it extra engaging, however a great scrum and a great maul can also be engaging. We, the purists. want to see that keep within the recreation and we help that.
“Nonetheless, these resets have gotten irritating, even for the purists. We’re defending that and it stays in integral a part of the sport. I consider it’ll by no means disappear from the sport.”
Have a terrific weekend and I’ll see you within the feedback.
