Kiwis 'losing interest in rugby'

Kiwis 'losing interest in rugby'

February 20, 2008 - 1:58PM


New Zealanders are supposed to be rugby-mad but research shows nearly a third of Kiwis are suffering from rugby fatigue.

It seems last year's latest Rugby World Cup disappointment for perennial favourites the All Blacks may have left a lingering hangover.

Research NZ director Emanuel Kalafatelis said his company's poll found 29 per cent of New Zealanders reported they would be taking less interest in the Super 14 competition this season.

Only 14 per cent said they would be taking more interest in the Super 14, and 54 per cent said their interest would be the same as in 2007.

The poll showed little variation between males and females, but there was variation in opinion among age groups, Kalafatelis said.

"Younger people were the most likely to take a greater interest in the rugby. In the 15 to 29 age group 23 per cent said they were more interested than last year.

"While people aged between 30 and 39 were the least likely to take a greater interest in the Super 14 this season, nine per cent said they would take more interest in the competition.

"It seems there's still a bit of rugby fatigue around following the disappointment of the World Cup loss and the huge amount of coverage of rugby last year."

New Zealand were eliminated in the World Cup quarter-finals last year after being heavily tipped to win the title.

"People's interest may grow as we move deeper into this season, or this could signal that Kiwis are becoming more interested in sports other than rugby," Kalafatelis said.

Polling was conducted between February 12 and February 18, during the first week of the Super 14, which started last Friday.

The poll of 500 people aged 15 and over had a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percent.

� 2008 AAP
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i lost mine about 6 years before i lost my virginity

that's great news - ginger e

I think people have had enough. Especially as their stars are not that approachable.

I lost interest in watching rugby (never played it) about the time I got Sky Sport and could watch football again, which also coincided with starting to play again. Then the Phoenix came along and justified it all.

Did the hurricanes really only get 8000 people to the game tonight? That is average. Maybe some people have had enough. I feel sick.

It was like watching 15 aside touch rugby I thniks that is what is putting people off. It might be faster but tactically it's predictable. There's no more rucks, you see all the forwards dropping off and getting in the way of the back line players.

"People's interest may grow as we move deeper into this season, or this could signal that Kiwis are becoming more interested in sports other than rugby," Kalafatelis said.

Exactly ,i watched a game of underwater hockey at Kilbirnie pool the other day ! now theres a game that easily beats football and rugby hands down as a spectator sport ,whistles goes and everyone in the team disapears (a bit like the Phoenix defence last season) i found the off side rule a bit difficult to understand and why the ref abndoned the game due to the pitch being waterlogged confused  me a bit ,but thats sport for you i suppose!!
Kiwi Jambo2008-02-23 11:08:00