Africans don't like rugby. For same reason there are not many if any really good NFL quarterbacks.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 29/01/2015 12:18:55    1687679

Soccer is by a very long way the biggest sport in South Africa, with cricket next due to the significant Indian population who play cricket but not rugby. Only about 6% of the country's population under the age of 35 is white, and they tend to play both rugby and cricket.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 29/01/2015 12:46:18    1687688

A quick search on Wiki says that soccer is the most popular sport in South Africa, with cricket second. Rugby union is third.

jason (Mayo) - Posts: 139 - 29/01/2015 12:58:22    1687696

I would nearly say now that Rugby is our "national game". Look at the huge interest in 6 nations/Heino cup etc. Even though it is not played by the majority. Soccer is by far the largest game played. The big business brigade IBEC like rugby eg Guinness, Bank of Ireland 3 etc
What can GAA do? Keep plugging away. The GAA own the summer. The Rugby lads the Autumn and Winter.I would like to see it go back to the Gaelic roots. Howabout calling teams by another name? Tipp could be the Premier, the Dubs the Dublin Metros and so on. Also finally how about watching the Superbowl and learning all about HYPE.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2625 - 29/01/2015 14:12:34    1687717

galwayford
County: Galway
Posts: 84

1687717
I would nearly say now that Rugby is our "national game". Look at the huge interest in 6 nations/Heino cup etc. Even though it is not played by the majority. Soccer is by far the largest game played. The big business brigade IBEC like rugby eg Guinness, Bank of Ireland 3 etc
What can GAA do? Keep plugging away. The GAA own the summer. The Rugby lads the Autumn and Winter.I would like to see it go back to the Gaelic roots. Howabout calling teams by another name? Tipp could be the Premier, the Dubs the Dublin Metros and so on. Also finally how about watching the Superbowl and learning all about HYPE.


this has to be a wind up
gaa is the clear no1 sport in ireland
if we need to be americanised and called micky mouse added on names il throw my hat at it

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 29/01/2015 15:55:41    1687754

are you having a laugh galwayford?..we will see how much interest there is in the heino the way munster and ulster are playing these days..would expect an empty thomond to become a regular thing like it used to be

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 29/01/2015 15:59:53    1687757

in what world are you living in ormond where rugby is the biggest sport in south africa?..it is ignoring the majority of the population..even cricket would be bigger than rugby over there....georgia havent beaten one side of note from either the home nations or tri nations..if they arent nobodies then why do we play a second team against them?...they are nobodies or minnows in every sense of the word..more people play soccer in wales than rugby..cardiff and swansea also get much better attendences than any of the club rugby sides...professionalism hasnt been good for welsh rugby

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 29/01/2015 16:02:55    1687759

hope u do realise galwayford that when the soccer terms gets a sniff of doing anything it blows the interest in rugby out of the water...sadly we have a very limited side in a very competitive sport unlike rugby where by default we are 1 of the best sides although to be fair schmidt and the players have turned us into a very consistent side in recent times

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 29/01/2015 16:10:03    1687764

29/01/2015 15:59:53 fabio8
you having a laugh galwayford?..we will see how much interest there is in the heino the way munster and ulster are playing these days..would expect an empty thomond to become a regular thing like it used to be You write the last sentence as if you want that to happen. Thomond wont be empty and Munster will still pull in big enough crowds quite regularly
29/01/2015 16:02:55 fabio8
in what world are you living in ormond where rugby is the biggest sport in south africa?..it is ignoring the majority of the population..even cricket would be bigger than rugby over there....georgia havent beaten one side of note from either the home nations or tri nations..if they arent nobodies then why do we play a second team against them?...they are nobodies or minnows in every sense of the word..more people play soccer in wales than rugby..cardiff and swansea also get much better attendences than any of the club rugby sides...professionalism hasnt been good for welsh rugby Oh from speaking to people who played and lived in south Africa. Wouldn't be so sure on cricket being bigger. What is the definition of a nobody?
Do you have a link to more people playing soccer than rugby in wales? Professionalism at regional level hasn't been great but with national team still strong rugby will always be no1 and welsh regions are getting closer to sorting their s*** out
29/01/2015 16:10:03
fabio8
hope u do realise galwayford that when the soccer terms gets a sniff of doing anything it blows the interest in rugby out of the water...sadly we have a very limited side in a very competitive sport unlike rugby where by default we are 1 of the best sides although to be fair schmidt and the players have turned us into a very consistent side in recent times usual clichés about rugby.....

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 29/01/2015 17:01:24    1687785

There are 1,469,000 soccer players in South Africa. Less than half of that in rugby players, 651,000. To suggest otherwise is ridiculous.

CmonAymonow (Laois) - Posts: 160 - 29/01/2015 17:02:12    1687787

And by the way, theres's around 90,000 registered soccer players in Wales and around 51,000 rugby players.

CmonAymonow (Laois) - Posts: 160 - 29/01/2015 17:09:31    1687791

Using that criteria of what the media report Galwayford then you are probably right - it would be between rugby and Premier League soccer as Irelands national sport. Since Fergie retired and Man Utds fortunes took a tumble rugby has certainly closed the gap, perhaps that is why RTE had David Moyes sacking as the headline news of the day? However, if you were to judge it on what the population are interested in then gaelic football and hurling are the nations 2 sports.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 29/01/2015 17:16:21    1687793

speaking to people from south africa?..always seems like you know somebody when your argument gets lost underneath the facts..how come you have no evidence to support your claims?..do you have any links?..look at the participation numbers and attendances for the number of people playing the sport in wales and in south africa as well as attendances where wales club soccer is very big for a country of its size.rugby national side is more popular of course as much more successful but sure our own national rugby team has got better attendances in recent sides than the soccer team but nobody would suggest rugby is anything close to soccer in this country...well the regions are in bad need of sorting it out as they are a mess..attendances at thomond have declined as its natural to happen as attendances grew with success and lack of success they will decline...they are a minnow or nobody..they arent a competitive side in rugby...they are beaten out the gate when they play the top rugby countries similar to what happens to andorra or san marino in soccer

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 29/01/2015 17:21:04    1687797

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 9045

1687590 county man
As for showing the Ireland vs Engalnd 2nd teams rugby match on Friday, there is an audience for it despite what most people here may think.

and is there not an even larger audience for the national league ?

Hill16 - RTE do not have the rights to the National League so can't show it live. Another existing national broadcaster TG4 which receives a portion of the TV licence fee, plus Setanta, have the rights.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1156 - 29/01/2015 17:32:42    1687804

Soccer is by far the most popular sport in Ireland using any criteria you like. Far ahead of Gaelic football and rugby.

RangersFan (Dublin) - Posts: 117 - 29/01/2015 17:33:31    1687805

Galwayford, are you having a laugh? There is no way that soccer is the largest sport in the country. It a annoys me when people say this because they have more than likely not witnessed many rural parishes. If you look at every parish in Ireland, there is a GAA club, whether it be Football or hurling. Id say there is a soccer club in one in every five parishes. That is a ridiculous statement to make. And your reference to Super Bowl and hype. I believe that this is what the whole thread is about. I admire the Americans, the way they love their national game and they promote it so well, something we fail to do with such an influence from updates in the premier league every hour on the radio. The Americans love their sport even though to be honest it is nothing when compared to Gaelic football or hurling where excitement levels are concerned. The last thing I want to say is to OrmandBannerman. I have only started posting on this forum recently but I have been reading it for the last few years. I have noticed you appear to always have a negative opinion about the GAA and I'm just curious as to why you are on this website?

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 29/01/2015 17:35:18    1687806

they would get them if they wanted to..they have a much larger budget than tg4..it would also bring much greater viewing figures than the wolfhounds for instance which only rugby die hards would have an interest in mainly..the tg4 viewing figures speak for themselves

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 29/01/2015 17:35:46    1687807

England is the home of rugby union but even there participation levels in rugby union are low. It comes in at number 11.
Participation in Sport in England (figures for 2014)
1. Swimming 2.69 million
2. Athletics 2.16 million
3. Cycling 2.07 million
4. Soccer 1.90 million
5. Golf 730,300
6. Badminton 490,000
7. Tennis 384,200
8. Equestrian 304,400
9. Bowls 243,400
10. Squash 196,500
11. Rugby Union 178,000
If you look at the BBC Sport site the coverage tends to reflect these numbers whereas in Ireland RTE stands the Irish figures on their head promoting Rugby union to No.1 ahead of football and hurling which are of course more popular sports. The figures don't lie.

mediaman (Antrim) - Posts: 355 - 29/01/2015 17:42:56    1687808

to be fair to rugby union some of the stats there for some of the other sports look highly questionable...what counts as swimming or cycling i wonder?

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 29/01/2015 17:46:22    1687810

Anyone saying that rugby is the most popular sport in S Africa and Wales is pure wrong.
In Wales 47% of children play soccer and 32% rugby - Wales Sport website.
In SA 78% of those who play sport play soccer. 47% play rugby. - South Africa web.
Even in NZ where rugby is most popular among adults, the stats have started to turn for children. The popularity of soccer is really gaining momentum among U 18s in New Zealand.

Plasticman (Dublin) - Posts: 26 - 29/01/2015 17:49:51    1687815