RL playing numbers through the roof

[ParraEelsNRL]

http://svc002.wic103cx.server-web.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/3785/Default.aspx

ARL Participation Report

Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 2:48 PM

Victoria and NSW Country have headlined an impressive set of figures to come out of the Australian Rugby League’s annual participation report, which has demonstrated Rugby League’s ability to encompass a truly national playing base.

The Australian Rugby League’s concerted effort to develop the game within Victoria has resulted in a 138.7% increase in total participation in the region (20,495 participants in 2006, up from 8,587 in 2005), while Victorian school registrations alone have risen 161%.

The NSW Country region enjoyed similar success, with total participants in 2006 reaching 108,518, compared to 98,983 in 2005 – an increase of 9.6%.

The Australian Rugby League’s schools program continues to flourish, with the total participation rate in schools nationally rising by 16.8%, while junior club registrations have also enjoyed a national growth rate of 3.6%.

Significantly, an increase of 37% in total participation rates – i.e at junior and senior levels - within the ARL’s Affiliated States (Victoria, Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia) has contributed to a national total participation rate rise of 11.2% (371,557 in 2006, up from 223,204 in 2005), and shown that more kids are experiencing Rugby League than ever before.

Other figures of importance include the success of ARL Development’s Smaller Steps Program, which has resulted in 110,250 children participating in 22,874 clinics held in 2006, and a total of 190,649 taking part in Rugby League Gala Days such as the Legends of League competition and ARLD Cup.

Overall, a total of 874,258 kids received a rugby league experience of some capacity in 2006.

Source: NRL

Wow, this is great news, esp from Victoria, and just think, they have only just started down there and are yet to start pumping in that $23 million.

Nearly a million kids involved in RL in some capacity this year, well done to all the developement officers and others who put in the hard work.

Pity the Anti RL media never report the truth about the game, instead, telling us how every other code is taking over.

 

[pcpp]

How will the AFL/other trolls twist this? Its incredible that many here apply double standards to RL and AFL.

national total participation rate rise of 11.2% (371,557 in 2006, up from 223,204 in 2005)

Although that doesn't make sense. 11.2% rise isn't 150,000 people.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

How will the AFL/other trolls twist this? Its incredible that many here apply double standards to RL and AFL.



Although that doesn't make sense. 11.2% rise isn't 150,000 people.

I think they made a mistake with the numbers in the article, last year was the first time RL reached over 300,000, yet they had it just over 200,000 written there.

This is the 2005 report

Sponsorship:
- Club sponsorship revenue up 12%
- NRL sponsorship revenue up 39%
- Bundaberg Rum and Sony Playstation 2 have joined the main sponsor family which now includes Telstra, QANTAS, Kelloggs, Harvey Norman, Coca-Cola, Wizard (GE Finance), AAMI and Carlton & United Beverages.

Crowds:
- Crowds have grown by 27% over the past 3 seasons (more than 530,000 extra people)
- Crowd average of 16,484 sets the 3rd successive year of crowd records.
- Origin and Grand Finals both had their earliest ever sellouts

Licensing:
- Up 41% in royalities revenue, excluding the Rugby League video game by end of quarter 2
- Top 5 Selling Clubs are: 1. Bulldogs, 2. Roosters, 3. Broncos, 4. Dragons, 5. Eels
- NRL Merchandise to be expanding in the UK and will be sold in between 70 - 80 outlets by November 2005

TV:
- Origin has provided the top 3 rating shows of any kind in Sydney and Brisbane in 05
- NRL games account for 9 of the top 10 subscription TV programs in 05
- More than 3.9 million different viewers have watched RL match coverage on Fox Sports.

Radio:
- Commercial coverage expanded to Perth and Melbourne in 05
- ABC network takes coverage to more that 500,000 listeners across NSW, Queensland and ACT.

Participation:
- Junior participation up for the 4th year in a row
- All Sydney districts were up in numbers (except Manly who were steady)
- Jnr League increases: CRL (up 7%), NSWRL (Up 7.5%), QRL (Up 8%) Affiliated States (Up 11%)
- Including school figures (still to be finalised), Rugby League will have 12% growth in 05, and break the 300K participation barrier for the first time.

Welfare and Education:
- Over 110 players have recieved grants from the NRL to help with the completition of Uni or TAFE courses
- Rookie camp to be kept for next year
- Career transition program has helped 25 players nearing the end of their career help secure their financial future
- All 15 clubs have completed the 'Playing by the Rules Workshop' dealing with sexual ethics
- Alcohol and sexual ethics education programmes have been taken to all U/20's squads.

Community
- NRL has helped 450 charities, clubs and schools with fundraising in 05.
- Legends relay raised $334,419 for the Make a Wish foundation
- Tsunami appeal - over $100,000 raised
- Heart Foundation - $75,000 raised
- Breast Cancer Foundation - $110,000 raised

From NRL

And this was the final result

RUGBY LEAGUE JUNIOR PARTICIPATION 2005

> up for the 4th year in a row (18,000 new players since 2002)

> total participation in clubs & schools for 2005 is 322,560

Actual junior numbers (ie aged 6-18):

> Queensland (QRL) - up 8% - 33,765
> New South Wales - up 7% - 71,283 - (NSWRL 32,681; NSWCRL 38,682)
> Affiliated States (NT WA SA VIC) - up 11% - 3,552

My maths isn't what is used to be, but I think it's closer now

 

[Ronin]

How will the AFL/other trolls twist this? Its incredible that many here apply double standards to RL and AFL.

Haven't you heard, the only sport that is growing is AFL. Get with the picture.

 

[Hornet]

Haven't you heard, the only sport that is growing is AFL. Get with the picture.

Good news for RL in Victoria and just goes to prove how much of a sports mad state we are.

AFL will always be No.1 and will continue to grow but that doesn't mean other sports can't. This news is great and comes on the back of Victory's growing popularity as they break all sorts of domestic soccer attendance records, which has prompted a re-think on the size of Melbourne's yet to be built rectangular stadium . . . which will also benefit the Storm.

Victoria is a great place to be atm

 

[1908]

Exactly Ronin, AFL people wrongly assume that while AFL is making plans to grow in the north that all other sports are just going to just let them come on in and takeover.

Hornet I would say Melbourne is a maturing sports city, after all they have only just accepted other football codes. Things that cities like Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra etc did decades ago.

 

[Hornet]

Hornet I would say Melbourne is a maturing sports city, after all they have only just accepted other football codes. Things that cities like Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra etc did decades ago.

True to a point as you can only accept what you're given. Decades ago there was only AFL and Soccer in this town and only recently have we begun to embrace the Rugby codes through the NRL's (growing slowly) commitment to the Storm, and now the Wallabies have become a permanent fixture as well to the point that we decided to (unsuccessfully) bid for a S14 team.

AFL started to branch out to non-heartland areas in the early 80's but it has taken rugby/league over a decade to follow suit and as a result, we're at the at the same stage the AFL was in the northern states in the early 90's. I think you'll find that in 20 years time with the right level of commitment from the governing bodies, all four football codes will be firmly entrenched down here.

 

[1908]

True to a point as you can only accept what you're given. Decades ago there was only AFL and Soccer in this town

Why was rugby, particularly league, non existant in Victoria? What caused it?

 

[Hornet]

Why was rugby, particularly league, non existant in Victoria? What caused it?

Lack of exposure???

IMO lack of forward planning by governing bodies to expand and promote their codes to non-heartland areas. In the 80's the ever increasing TV audience and corporate $$$ changed all that which is why AFL and both Rugby codes began to expand. Soccer is the odd one out as it spread mainly because it was the main game played by newly arrived immigrants.

Most people don't understand how blessed we are in this country to have such a wide variety of sports to choose from and I really can't understand this one-code mentality that most Australians seem to posses. We are the only country in the world that I can think of that has four professional football codes to choose from and sure we all have a favorite, but to limit yourself to just one and dismiss the rest is just plain ignorance.

 

[1908]

As the AFL/VFL would sell alot of newspapers in Vic would you not think that they would assist one another in keeping a rival code out? Ask why if you went to a private school you can play most sports except one, which just happens to be the main rival of their chosen sport, rugby union. Coincidence? I think not?

 

[copa]

The figures are wrong...it's full of typos.

 

[Jack Bridge]

The figures are wrong...it's full of typos.

That's the strategy, cocenrrate in the typos. Despite your apparent education, your posts do beg certain questions, that only an amateur would allow.


If snartarzism is you thing, maybe you're in the wrong sport. And I'm being kind, so far. Betr youyt can't

 

[Jack Bridge]

As the AFL/VFL would sell alot of newspapers in Vic would you not think that they would assist one another in keeping a rival code out? Ask why if you went to a private school you can play most sports except one, which just happens to be the main rival of their chosen sport, rugby union. Coincidence? I think not?

Some sound like experts on VCFL/AFL hostory. You don't. Cuttamundra [sp] is south of Bathurst. Read Copa carefully, he's a tvvat, he even allows DM (Mr no-nowt) to get under his skin.

Noticew the amount of posts of his that are ignored. IRONY!!!

 

[copa]

That's the strategy, cocenrrate in the typos. Despite your apparent education, your posts do beg certain questions, that only an amateur would allow.


If snartarzism is you thing, maybe you're in the wrong sport. And I'm being kind, so far. Betr youyt can't

Congratulatons.

Now you tell me how 223,204 to 371,557 is an 11.2% increase.. as stated in the article above.

 

[copa]

Some sound like experts on VCFL/AFL hostory. You don't. Cuttamundra [sp] is south of Bathurst. Read Copa carefully, he's a tvvat, he even allows DM (Mr no-nowt) to get under his skin.

Noticew the amount of posts of his that are ignored. IRONY!!!

It seems I've upset you somewhere.... DM's alright..... heaps better than DR.

 

[Hoops]

As the AFL/VFL would sell alot of newspapers in Vic would you not think that they would assist one another in keeping a rival code out? Ask why if you went to a private school you can play most sports except one, which just happens to be the main rival of their chosen sport, rugby union. Coincidence? I think not?

Why do you NRL types think their is this ongoing conspiracy to shut RL out.

Yes us Victorians are very protective of our game, due to the fact that if it ceases to exists in it's realtively small (world scale) heartland than the game ceases to exists, it what helps define Melburnians, it was born out of a city only 20 - 25 years old at the time, a radidly growing vibrant city that was making its mark on the world stage.

But to suggest that people from Victoria are more incline to have a one-code mentallity than any other State is unfounded it's just that other states namely NSW and Qld one-code mentallity is spread more evenly across different codes.

 

[Hoops]

The figures are wrong...it's full of typos.

not only is it full of inaccuracies it's clearly has a very obvious Rugby League spin. But I expect no less from sport and/or Bussinesses, including the AFL.

Why can't they just have tables with figures for us to draw our own conclusions from?

 

[gaelictiogar]

Congratulatons.

Now you tell me how 223,204 to 371,557 is an 11.2% increase.. as stated in the article above.

Such a jump in such a short period can not be true and we all know whatever growth in kids playing say at least 6 games a year is far lower than that. Clearly they are counting elastically. However why not blow your trumpets?

 

[1908]

Up until this year RL only counted registered club players, unfortunately our fair minded rivals ie. union and rules chose to count anyone that touched a ball and then bragged about it.

 

[Ronin]

Up until this year RL only counted registered club players, unfortunately our fair minded rivals ie. union and rules chose to count anyone that touched a ball and then bragged about it.

Exactly. Apples with Apples.

 

[copa]

Up until this year RL only counted registered club players, unfortunately our fair minded rivals ie. union and rules chose to count anyone that touched a ball and then bragged about it.

Rugby League's figures are amazing when they use AFL and ARU accounting standards..

 

[Rus13]

The figure should have been 322,000 or so not 220,000. On another site the 2005 figure was revised to 334,000. So the 362,000 for 2006 would well within the percentage increase range.


I am glad a AFL fan pointed out some of the ridiculous participation numbers the football bodies are releasing. Some AFL fans seem to think their are twice as many AFL juniors in Queensland as their are RL juniors.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220410&page=7
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220410&page=8

Anyway I queried the RL figures & here are the replies:

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=159934

...Why have you highlighted the clinics / gala day / school contact numbers of the report and stated these are B/S ?

They are real figures based upon the work ARL Development does. Unlike AFL or Union these numbers aren't included within the Participation numbers which only include those players who take part in Rugby League school and club competitions.

So as we can see, 370,000 played League in 06, but then an additional 110,250 participated in clinics, 190,649 in gala days, both two very important figures, cause regardless whether those kids play any more league or not, at least they have had a taste of it, and may now become fans, future sponsors or what not

On the RL clinic numbers:

Well ARL Development alone has around 63 Development Officers, throw in Queensland DO's, CRL DO's, Affiliated States, ARL and the few NSWRL DO's there is well over 100 of them out there.

They are all full time employees, so are meant to be doing something each day which could easily be constituted as a 'clinic', so each doing roughly 200 a year isn't all that unrealistic.

I know some areas with schools can get 2-3 clinics done in a day, throw in an afternoon clinic with a club and the numbers can be done.

 

[akazie]

As Parra Eelsnrl showed in the 1st two or three posts, the numbers add up, RL is now played by 370,000, you AFL people should just give it up, if it was 320,000 last year and it's grown around %10, IT ALL ADDS UP.

 

[Rus13]

For the life of me I don't know why the ARL/NRL don't form an alliance with the Touch Football Association. I believe in Australasia there is something like 400,000 players.


Here is something from the recent Beach Touch Tournament in Cronulla:

http://www.austouch.com.au/index.php?id=13&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=860&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=45da6c2eb4
The Australian Women's Invitational Beach Footy Team has performed extremely well on the first day of competition in the Inaugural Harvey Norman Beach Footy Challenge at Sydney's Maroubra Beach.

The Australian Invitational team featuring some of the hottest young players in Australian Women's Touch Football, recorded narrow 4-2 defeats in their first two games against a Pacific Island combination and a Queensland Maroons Team top heavy with stars from the National Rugby League.

Playing in the purpose built stadium with non-stop music and a fantastic festive atmosphere, the Aussie girls have won a legion of fans with their spirited efforts in attack and defence.

Playing to unfamilar rules, which include a marker in defence, and a kicking option, and a liberal interpretation of the late pass rule, the young stars of Australian touch are doing remarkably well against their star studded opposition.

The Pacific islander Team featured champion All Black Rugby Union superstars Jerry Collins and Ma'a Nonu, and former Rugby League and Touch International Adrian Lam, showing silky hands and feet in the opening exchanges.

The Aussie girls scored two slashing touchdowns to Alyce "the Rat" Hulbert and Dearne "Bangers" Cooper and made some great defensive efforts before going down 4-2 to the fleet of foot Pacific Islanders.

The second game of the day at 12.00pm was a real highlight for the players and spectators alike with the girls taking on a stellar Queensland team led by the World's best Rugby League player and Australian Rugby League Captain Darren Lockyer.

Kangaroo Tri-Nations and NRL Premiership winning Broncos Brent Tate, Karmichael Hunt, Justin Hodges, and Shaun Berrigan were among the names that lined up on the half way line against the girls.

In the game of the day, the girls began brilliantly and surprised the boys with their exceptional fitness, handling skills and tactical prowess which moved the boys around the field in attack, and deprived them of time and space in defence.

Captain Giselle Martin led from the front and after some great lead up work from Alyce Hulbert, scored a great touchdown to put her team in the hunt at 2-1 down at the break.

The crowd was sensing an upset and got right behind the girls and shortly after half-time Nicole "Sero" Beck snaffled a dive over touchdown to put the girls in front.

The Maroons hit back, to make it two all and the two teams battled hard to gain the decisive edge.

That man Lockyer donned the red cape and again proved the difference conjuring a sensational solo touchdown when his team needed it most for a 3-2 lead.

The Maroons got a touchdown right on full time to take the game out to a 4-2 scoreline.

The Maroons were full of praise for the girls, none more so than the mercurial Lockyer who rated the girls performance highly.

"The girls were magnificent, they went really well. They have great fitness, excellent hands, and they dig in in defence - very impressive. No wonder they have such an outstanding International record." Lockyer enthused.

The girls next game is scheduled for 2.00pm this afternoon against a Billy Slater led Young Guns combination.

Results will be updated at the close of play today.

Competition recommences tomorrow at 11.00am with the Women's Team taking on the Blues and the Celebrities at 1.25pm to try to qualify for the semi-final series.

Here is the Aust. Touch Website:
http://www.austouch.com.au/

 

[Rus13]

Here is something from Africa on the Touch numbers - I still think someone is getting a little carried though:

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=iol1168939804257R213
...In the past 15 years, Touch has developed to the point where South Africa now has around 10 000 registered players competing in 12 leagues across nine regions of the country. Compare this to the numbers in Australia - over 940 000 participants - and New Zealand - more than 150 000 registered players – and the future and growth of the sport in South Africa looks bright.