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May the FORCE be with you!
Fascinating! Of the 2.5million players in England, only 6.5% are senior male players! That's staggering!
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
But, that's still more than most other countries have for "total players". Only France and SA have more "total players" than England's senior males.
I think we need to take these stats with a pinch of salt. There certainly aren't over 2m registered juniors in England. I'm guessing the numbers a made up by school players and rugby being played in PE lessons. USA is interesting though. If they played their season opposite the NFL, they might find a niche market. Sports in the US command the biggest TV audiences.
Just on player numbers and e l a s t i c i t y of statistics - did we not celebrate record registrations two or three years ago (I think the figure was 10.5 billion players - just in the metro area)?. I got out there today at 11.30 with my new chair purchased from Rays outdoor - with soft drink holder, and I waited, and waited. Until I saw a few guys who looked like under 18, 19s, or even 20s, as there were a few different ideas bandied around pre-season I was unaware of the strategic competition structure that had been enacted and composed. When I asked the young lads, they said they were 2nd graders and would be playing in about an hour or so - they said they were the next grade from 17s?????. Could this be true?, I didn't hang around - straight to spudshed, and back at 3:30 for the prems - just because that cup is so big - what's it called/ the Premier Cup or something?, why didn't they call it the Emperors Cup., it would be more fitting..
World Rugby used to publish registered player numbers for each country on their website but don't seem to do it anymore.