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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2020 Six Nations] Wales vs France (22/02/20)
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<blockquote data-quote="dullonien" data-source="post: 989888" data-attributes="member: 13739"><p>Is it? Dublin is a city of 1m+ (not far off the total population on the entirety of South Wales where all 4 Welsh regions draw their supporters from). Couple that with a lack of competition from other pro sport entities, a schools system in the province which produces a conveyor belt of talent, and a relatively wealthy demographic. I'm not at all surprised by their success.</p><p></p><p>Rugby is arguably Wales' national sport, but potential supporter numbers are quite low. Cardiff Blues have the largest catchment at roughly 360k, but there's a premier/championship football side competing for punters and a very large historical migrant population who probably don't care at all for rugby. Much of the old rugby heartlands in the valleys have been alienated, but they're also considered some of the most deprived in Europe. Finding the money to pay the going rate to attend regional rugby would be difficult for many. By going rate I mean the rate that is charged in Ireland and England where rugby is by and large a middle class sport.</p><p></p><p>The regions are still underperforming though. Even when we go back to the galacticos era at the Ospreys when they had a squad to rival the best, poor coaching let them down massively. A decent coach would have conquered europe with that squad imo, especially as they were equally as powerful up front as they were electric behind.</p><p></p><p>The best thing for Regional rugby would be to reduce down to 3 sides, maybe then 1 or 2 could potentially compete. However this would harm team Wales which would be far from ideal.</p><p></p><p>This is getting quite far off topic now though, so apologies.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="dullonien, post: 989888, member: 13739"] Is it? Dublin is a city of 1m+ (not far off the total population on the entirety of South Wales where all 4 Welsh regions draw their supporters from). Couple that with a lack of competition from other pro sport entities, a schools system in the province which produces a conveyor belt of talent, and a relatively wealthy demographic. I'm not at all surprised by their success. Rugby is arguably Wales' national sport, but potential supporter numbers are quite low. Cardiff Blues have the largest catchment at roughly 360k, but there's a premier/championship football side competing for punters and a very large historical migrant population who probably don't care at all for rugby. Much of the old rugby heartlands in the valleys have been alienated, but they're also considered some of the most deprived in Europe. Finding the money to pay the going rate to attend regional rugby would be difficult for many. By going rate I mean the rate that is charged in Ireland and England where rugby is by and large a middle class sport. The regions are still underperforming though. Even when we go back to the galacticos era at the Ospreys when they had a squad to rival the best, poor coaching let them down massively. A decent coach would have conquered europe with that squad imo, especially as they were equally as powerful up front as they were electric behind. The best thing for Regional rugby would be to reduce down to 3 sides, maybe then 1 or 2 could potentially compete. However this would harm team Wales which would be far from ideal. This is getting quite far off topic now though, so apologies. [/QUOTE]
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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2020 Six Nations] Wales vs France (22/02/20)
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