Has the game grown

[formerlyfastwing]

We are about to start the WC, and it makes me wonder if the sport has grown and spread internationally, and by that I mean has it increase it's player base world wide and viewership. While there is not doubt it has increased in the "major" nations I wonder if that is the case once you drop out of the top 10 of the world rankings.

I look at other sports, and there is an increase in the results of "non-traditional" contries:

Soccer (sorry I hate the sport, but it's useful) it can be argued the Asian nations have increased the profile in the last few world cups.

Hockey (God Love You) it can be argued that the Swiss, US, to some extent the belorussians have made great strides, also the Finns.


Is this true of rugby?

 

[DorceOutSide]

the pacific nations have done well eg.fiji especially in the last two world cups.

 

[icsulescool]

Japan, Russia, Georgia increased. But they need support.
Japan can't increase more if he doesn't plays more matches against strong teams.

 

[Blackie252]

I think viewership has increased more, player base however I think remains the same, I really dont think that a better profile and more show time leads to more/better players getting found.

 

[smartcooky]

Argentina has achieved considerable growth in player numbers since 2007. Some estimates are as great as 30%. This is largely put down to how well they did at the 2007 RWC, where they finished third, ahead of Australia, New Zealand, France, Wales and Ireland. Their inclusion in the Four Nations won't do them any harm either, so long as they perform creditably and don't cop a series of hidings. IMO they will prove difficult to beat at home, particularly if they have had their squad together for a few weeks.

Kenya has had a real explosion in player numbers, largely due their relative success in Sevens. In 1999, Kenya had round 2,000 players. By 2008, their player base had grown to around 15,000 and current estimates have them at around 22,000.

PS: ignore the iRB's player numbers stats as they are wildly inaccurate. e.g. they have Argentina listed have having 387 Clubs with ZERO players in any category. They have England listed as having 2.55 million players at 2099 clubs, which would mean on average over 1200 players in each club, and each club having 60 teams, This is clearly an utterly preposterous figure.

 

[DonBilly]

Before RWC2007, the FFR had roughly 250 000 licencees, it has now 413 000. Their objective is to reach 500 000 in 2013.

 

[formerlyfastwing]

Before RWC2007, the FFR had roughly 250 000 licencees, it has now 413 000. Their objective is to reach 500 000 in 2013.

I get that it's growing in "rugby" markets.....but it ain't any bigger in Canada or the US for example

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Really?
I was under the impression that it had gotten more popular in the states in the past four years
Rugby Sevens, at least

 

[best_fullback]

Yeah Rugby has got considerable larger worldwide since the last world cup.

This is an official report from the IRB discussing the rise in participation worldwide:
http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/NewsMedia/MediaZone/02/04/22/88/2042288_PDF.pdf

You may be surprised by who figures in the top 10!

 

[psychic duck]

hard to see a real significant difference in only four years