Is one of the reasons the Sth Island always under represented simply because Football just isn't as popular as the more migrant heavy Nth Island.
CHCH has a strong rugby culture and heritage.
Just a wondering.
Mainland usually does pretty well at National Age Group tournament; Pride always in top few women’s teams; Dragons finished 3rd and Youth Dragons topped the Youth League, Cashmere Technical have won Chatham Cup and Coastal Spirit NZ Womens Knockout in the last few years. Not sure what Canterbury rugby has to do with it.
Christchurch/Canterbury definitely has a stronger rugby culture than Auckland and Wellington - for pakeha anyway.
If you are a small but gifted athlete in Canterbury far greater chance you will stay with rugby, as many of your mates will be playing rugby etc etc. I bet Dan Carter was not the biggest kid, but doubt for a moment he ever considered playing ‘soccer’. The other 2 big cities with their heavy Polynesian popns I’d wager see a number of pakeha kids either switch to football, or never ever play rugby from the get go.
Have mates in all three cities and see this time and again. So yes must have some affect on number of South Islanders making age group football sides.
Sort of see this filter through to the Hurricanes with heaps of players non Wellington origin (Taranaki, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu esp), and of course Blues have huge number Polynesian players.
How many of the Dragons are born and bred Cantabrians?
As an aside Beauden Barrett’s farming family spent 1-2 years in Ireland when he was a kid. There he played a bit of football. Once back in rural Taranaki solely rugby. What might have been. Two footed lightning fast.