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© 2019 AFPAlarm at New Zealand's falling schoolboy rugby numbers
By Neil SANDS WELLINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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© 2019 AFP
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seadog538
To make the game more "inclusive" they should encourage more participation by the LBGQTI etc community. Doing this could well attract more spectators drawn by the diverse spectacle.
goldorak
The number of players has been dwindling for quite some time and not only in nz (oz, france & i think SA are experiencing the same phenomenon; in all those countries only 7s & girls are doing ok/well, boys/men not so much. Not too sure about Brits & Irish though?).
Doesnt bother me tbh. Rugby's not for everyone, never was/never will be (and that's part of its charm i guess).
@seadog, there's actually a gay rugby wc & a few gay rugby clubs scattered around the world (sydney convicts). Pretty sure they'd make you feel verrry special/welcome ;)
CMander
Schoolboy rugby helps keep the modesty of NZ rugby players, and why I think they're the most respected both on & off the pitch.
Fingers crossed it does not turn into a sport where only the elite can compete.
Also, plenty of LBGQTI clubs out there.
Jaymann
There are a lot of reason for this. As someone who teaches at NZ's #1 ranked High school team I can tell you that the elite competition has taken over from the traditional role that the clubs once played in NZ. This has meant that the middle of the road high schools have turned away from rugby as their students don't want to face the endless thumpings that the top 20 or 30 teams give the when they play.
Whilst the numbers ARE dropping the level and professionalism is actually rising; and there is still a role for the great athlete that takes up rugby seriously at a later point. NZ certainly doesn't need to worry about this. It is simply the way professional rugby has evolved.