Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:24 pm  

I saw the mail on Sunday and going by their coverage they seem to think England won the 6 nations. 2 pages of coverage with a small amount on the wales game no doubt there is a Welsh edition. But it was truly a media frezy over one game.

As for italy I notice they now play all their games in Rome in the olympic stadium 2 questions how long have they been doing it. I thought it was just the odd game & 2 how the heck do they fill it with the rubbish that is served up.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:29 pm  

With regard to the press coverage in the Sunday papers....I suggest that the average 4.5 million viewers per game that the BBC attract during the competition, together with the 220,000+ fans in attendance for the 3 games on Saturday and overall, the 1,000,000 + people who will have paid an average of about 40 quid each for a ticket over the course of the tournament will have dictated the press coverage placed by Editors across the country.
Like it or not and it is patently obvious that old prejudices remain here, the 6 Nations is a massive sporting event in the British Isles....£40,000,000 split between the 6 nations in gate receipts alone for 5 weekends work is more money than other sports would make in a year from all sources.

Put it into perspective....other than the Wendyballers, what English team get's 80,000+ for internationals and 4,000,000 + viewers on FTA TV? Papers print what they believe people want to read......as Bi-product of this, they generate Advertising Revenue, which in turn keeps them in business.

The Italians, I believe, made the decision to move to the bigger Stadio Olympico as a result of getting close to capacity at the smaller Flaminio on regular occasions. InterESt in the Italian RU increased during the recent RWC and La Gazzetta dello Sport reported a crowd in excess of 10,000 welcomed them back to Rome after the tournament. Whilst Domestic RU in Italy is poor, the emphasis on National Pride lends itself to their culture.....

I constantly get shot down for saying this, but the RFL could learn a lot from the RFU and The Game in General from the IRB!

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:32 pm  

Just got back to Hull from the game in Cardiff, well done to a young Welsh team...but why are English Union fans such bad losers?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:41 pm  

V6Chuk wrote:

Just got back to Hull from the game in Cardiff, well done to a young Welsh team...but why are English Union fans such bad losers?

That's why...

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:00 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

I constantly get shot down for saying this, but the RFL could learn a lot from the RFU and The Game in General from the IRB!

You're right gf.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:02 pm  

Sale set to announce the signing of Danny Cipriani, the move to Salford and a name change this week.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:07 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

I constantly get shot down for saying this, but the RFL could learn a lot from the RFU and The Game in General from the IRB!

Without the resources & friends of the RFU, what exactly?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:15 pm  

Shark J wrote:

Sale set to announce the signing of Danny Cipriani, the move to Salford and a name change this week.

Cipriani is a walking headline. North West Sharks?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:28 pm  

Possibly yeah. I won't be supporting them if that happens. They're f*cking deluded if they think a name change is going to help attract a bigger fanbase. Steve Diamond has been quoted as saying something along the lines of Stockport being difficult to get to and that with Salford it'll be handy as it's so near The Trafford Centre. Stockport has direct trains from Manchester right through to London, there's 4 direct motorway exits. Access has never been a problem.

I'm from Manchester myself so it may seem stupid that Manchester Sharks or North West Sharks would annoy me but it's no respect for the history. I can think of at least 10 Football or Rugby clubs who don't play in the place their name represents. It's stupid. Sale FC have won every game this season with a bonus point and got promoted into North 1 West a couple of weeks ago. I'll probably go and watch them if they change the name.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:18 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

I constantly get shot down for saying this, but the RFL could learn a lot from the RFU and The Game in General from the IRB!

The one thing the RFU have managed to do very well, is sell an international game to the public as though it is some sort of unmissable 'occasion' - A sort of 'something you have to witness at least once in your lifetime' kind of thing that the middle-classes like to do, like trekking in South America, or witnessing the Northern Lights...

What's always obvious about these Six Nations games, Twickenham especially, is that a good percentage of the crowd always seem like they are 'tourists' with little knowledge or interest in the actual game....A regular glance at the scoreboard tells them all they want to know, what happens on the pitch is of minimal interest to them.