Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:42 am
Catalancs wrote:
You're right gf.
People have been burnt at the stake for far less than that
Seriously, if ever there was an example of contrasting fortunes in similar businesses, simply look at the activities of the 2 codes governing bodies since 1987.
Pre 1987, I am fully aware of the "history"....but since the first RWC and then professionalism in 1995, it's almost as if RL has been running through treacle when compared to the IRB
tigertot wrote:
Without the resources & friends of the RFU, what exactly?
Conspiracy theorists need not apply.
Since 1995 Rugby Union has been professional and professionally run.........regardless of what you perceive to be a bias or anti-league stance by the world and his wife.....
I would love to hear your conspiracy theories as to how the Amateur Rugby World Cup on 1987 has morphed into the professional money making machine it is today at the expense of Rugby League.....how the RFU receives billions in aid from the Government, syphoned away from the funds intended to buy back the RL grounds that were flogged off by the RFL in the first place.
To whine about the money and resources available to Union goes far deeper than simply a sporting divide....it opens up a class debate. Given that in the 1970's most houses had 1 bread winner, 1 car, 1 TV , 1 Holiday by the seaside etc, it could be argued that toffs who played Union were better looked after, but by the time Thatcher had conned the entire country into believing that home ownership wasn't just for the middle classes and houses had 2 cars outside, with a TV in every room and Spanish people fled the costas in fear of their tapas, then there were no favours being done.
The IRB, managed to get national governments to fork out money ($100,000,000 in 2011) for the right to host their tourney.....then they go on to sell the TV rights, sponsorships and merchandise, whilst the host nation has to attempt to recover their outlay, through ticket sales and increased tourism dollars.......the Rugby Football League were touting the naming rights to the 2008 4 nations for 30 grand.........without the continued support of Gillette, the England set up would be sponsored by brains faggots.......
The IRB, seeing the potential, lobbied hard to get the shortened game accepted to the Olympics.....as a direct result of this success, the USA networks have begun showing the 7's on FTA TV.......800,000 watched the RWC Final in North America....miniscule audience by their standards, but a start. The RFL have bounced their showpiece mid-season event around to the highest bidder....getting embarrassing attendances over 2 days.....less people than the Italian RFU managed to attract to 1 game of Union for the right not to finish last in a tournament they wont win for at least another 20 years.........
I can't think of many international sports that need to have double headers in their tournaments so as not to be shown up for getting terrible crowds........yet the last 2 x 4 nations have had them, attracting 45k to games.......why is it the Italians can attract 50% more to 1 game of Union when their domestic comp is a pile of crap?
The IRB are a cash rich organisation that is in no way beholding to TV money. Individual Unions are more so reliant on TV money and the clubs even more so...........Rugby League would be f()(&3d without Rupert Murdoch.....and that, is a cold hard fact.
$115,000,000 is what the IRB will get from each of the next 2 hosts of the RWC......that's $230,000,000 over 8 years for letting them host it..........do you reckon all those Public Schoolboys in Japan are to blame? Is it the BBC's fault...or the Times or Telegraph because they don't give RL the coverage you think it deserves.
Rugby League is popular in NSW, Brisbane and along the M62.....It has always been a professional sport that at times in its history, could have rivalled Soccer........
Rugby Union used to be an upper middle class pastime......it gave League a 100 year head start and in 17 short years has overhauled it due to good business sense and hard graft.......
I am a Rugby League supporter, but it drives me mad that because someones Uncle Tony was shunned in 1965 and Aunt Mildred ran off with a Taff, Union is held up as the reason for the woes of TGG.
The trouble started and continues to be a lot closer to home.
Dita's Slot Meter wrote:
is that a good percentage of the crowd always seem like they are 'tourists' with little knowledge or interest in the actual game....
do you think the RFU give a toss? 82,000 paying punters.......+ beer, +food+ replica shirts........and the fact that tickets are as rare as hens teeth. How many Wembley RL Double headers would it take to generate that amount of revenue?
The Green Eyed Monster is alive and well eh Dita
