Kiwis 'losing interest in rugby'

[Flamethrower]

Kiwis 'losing interest in rugby'
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Kiwis 'losing interest in rugby' - New Zealand's source for sport, rugby, cricket & league news on Stuff.co.nz


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 per cent.

[jono]

maybe if the all blacks didnt choke every RWC hey?

[GIGS20]

only 500 people....that's a small enough sample as to make it say anything you want statistically......unless that's everyone who's currently living in New Zealand!

[travelling_gerry]

I dont even have to do a survey to tell you that statistically the average number of legs per person in NZ is less than 2.

[Badger]

only 500 people....that's a small enough sample as to make it say anything you want statistically......unless that's everyone who's currently living in New Zealand!

I think that is all that is left in NZ the rest live here.

[shasta]

I dont even have to do a survey to tell you that statistically the average number of legs per person in NZ is less than 2.

Not if you count the WAGs.

[AndyS]

I dont even have to do a survey to tell you that statistically the average number of legs per person in NZ is less than 2.

Even that can be manipulated - you didn't say people legs, so the average number is huge if you include insects, cows and sheep.

[Flamethrower]

How about all those one legged people who have three or four false legs??

[tragic]

Kiwis losing interest in rugby??? The world has truly gone bonkers..

[KenyaQuin]

Coming off a World Cup year you would expect that. When you think about it there was a lot of rugby last year for the Kiwis. You had the S14, NPC, WC, Sevens Series, International Tours, not to mention the minor local comps..thats almost 12 months of rugby..I dare say I too would be rugby fatigued.

[glasgow_girl]

[QUOTE=Flamethrower;106414]Kiwis 'losing interest in rugby'


Say it aint so...

[jazza93]

i have talked to a few kiwis that went to NZ is the holidays and they said that rugby is bigger then ever over there.

[Jess]

Must have been a pretty slow news day on the 20th...

Rugby seemed as big as ever to me too when I was in NZ last December. Though soccer seemed to prevail but that was just because Becks was there in Wellington. But as soon as he left it was all back to rugby.

Didn't feel out of place wearing my Force scarf everywhere and lugging around my force gear bag.

Gotta show love for your team.

[frontrow]

As we know most kiwis live over here, and all the ones i know love thier rugby, so i reckon that survey is bollocks...500 kiwis surveyed, thats a share house in Bondi isn't it...

[Weebie]

Rugby is on the way down.

Very little kids play it and most NZers i meet over in london take more of an Interest in European Football Let alone Rugby.

Kiwis Also seem to have next to no interest in Cricket unlike straya!