I know this is a bit rugby bashing. ..
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And I know many folks here are very fond of both codes. But I had to mention this:
The WRFU has started making derogatory claims about the personalities of young people just becasue their junior and youth numbers are on the decline. This kind of analysis seems very poor and I seriously doubt that a serious psychological study into this was carried out. I'm (cynically) inclined to think their judgement of young people is reactionary and misinformed.
Has the WRFU considered that perhaps number are down becasue younger folks are exposed to more options now? You simply don't have to play Rugby to be accepted anymore (tot he degree that it used to be 'integral' to NZ culture). I wonder what the RFU would make of participation trends in other sports (snowboarding, surfing) that have experienced massive growth in this age group.
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if you want to play rugby at a high level, let's face it - you have to be huge nowadays. What fun to be average size, play rugby and get hammered. I used to play rugby as a kid, and the only time it was really fun was when it was weight-restricted. I can't say i'm surprised that skinny kids don't want to get pummeled by teenagers that are the size of large adults...
I like tautologies because I like them.
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Yet football numbers are increasingly, and have been for some time, on the rise...
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not rugby bashing, just good news 
my respect for Gen Y (or whatever letter we are up to now) has just increased immensely
good that rugby is seen to slam them - that'll help 
not so good if they rugby union follows up on some of the recommendations
still, even if they do ... a clever dinosaur is still a dinosaur
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ive read that article phil and i didnt take it as rugby blaming kids for not playing. i took it they commissioned an independent study to see why kids arent playing rugby, these are the factors of generation y.
i played rugby until 3rd form in rotorua until i got injured in a scrum and took up refereeing. i didnt really enjoy the whole geting smashed by big black boys but it was an experience and a challenge.
www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com
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I played rugby once. Then realised it was a game for homosexuals.
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I played rugby once. Then realised it was a game for homosexuals.
hahahaha 
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The answer is quite obvious. There's one group of players whom happen to be very large and strong and play rugby but you very rarely see one of their number trying to play football because of the very same big physical size. Wellington and Auckland stand out in this area.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
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I played rugby once. Then realised it was a game for homosexuals.
thats a pretty ridiculous comment.
agree with the point about smaller kids not wanting to get hammered by the bigger ones. with all the options they have now for sports, and more acceptance of other sports, im guessing the ones who dont want to get smashed round just choose another one or dont play a sport.
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The fact that the rugby boys were twice my weight in school was exactly why i never played "thugby" - the modcern game is designed for big sting men, sadly I wasn't blessed with that gene - which is why i love footy and cricket - the games the average man can play and succeed at.
Queenslander 3x a year.
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I played rugby once. Then realised it was a game for homosexuals.
Also hapenend with me. They get up to some dodgy stuff in those scrums
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