National Game Influence on Grass Roots and Champ

[Rothoik]

I read in the RP that Sweeney is contemplating putting the 6N behind a paywall with Amazon Prime. I think, as a Roth Fan, we would like to up our gate and get the crowds in but the National game is the shop window to the leagues. Rugby fans are often ex players, parents of players, current players, referees (current or retired) and of course coaches. many potential spectators are involved in lower league matches, we dont have the same 'free' fan base of other sports that have simply grown up supporting their local team. So Rugby needs every assistance it can muster. The Blaze TV contribution has been great this season, giving some taste of the Champ to other potential fans. I live a long way from Roth on the south coast but the Blaze TV (free) and Clubber (£10 a match) are good ways to get to see the match when you can't make it to the ground. I was at Richmond and I will be at Mennaye Field and others and I will have a couple of Dorset based newbie fans with me who have caught the bug (and bought merch). I think putting 6N onto prime is a bad move as the BBC and ITV have done a good job in airing the gold standard rugby tournament. It seems to be more about bonus payments than growing the game (particularly the men's game).

[jblee]

I'd rather Sweeney and his yes men were behind a paywall. Or better still just behind bars.

[Rothoik]

[Rothman2]

Great comments above.

I totally agree.
This is what a lot of football fans think about our great game. Rugby Union or Egg chasing as our local football teams supporters call it is an elitist sport. So to put barriers like paywalls in and remove it from the Terrestrial Channels would be a gargantuan error of the highest proportions. They keep banging on about growing the game. How are they going to do that if Jo public can’t get access to the game?

The powers that be ought to join the real world and make the game available for all. Fans are the life blood of the game but it seems they are being treated as punters only.
I think they treat fans like plebs and I hope the day comes that some of the International games are played to half empty stadiums.

They are making it nigh on impossible for clubs without a billionaire owner or a corporation with limitless resources to reach the Prem. They put the Prem behind a paywall & now it seems, internationals are going the same way.
Oh and now I am on a rant. The champ is known as the proving ground. Proving for what exactly? Proving that it’s not possible to get in the Prem?

[Cheshire Exile]

I’m biased because the Pirates have been in the Championship for over 20 years, but to me the “Prem” and, even more so, the international game are a different sport, given the money involved, the insane cost of attending internationals, the often moronic media coverage and the lack of interest on the part of administrators and club management in anything around the game which doesn’t help them.
On the other hand , watching the Roth/ Pirates match yesterday courtesy of Blaze TV (still don’t know who they are) there is still hope for the sport and for those who continue to follow the club which intrinsically and genuinely means something to them, over and above social media clicks.

[Kimbo]

Blaze has been around for over ten years now (Freeview and Sky), so pretty well established.

[Rothoik]

I’m biased because the Pirates have been in the Championship for over 20 years, but to me the “Prem” and, even more so, the international game are a different sport, given the money involved, the insane cost of attending internationals, the often moronic media coverage and the lack of interest on the part of administrators and club management in anything around the game which doesn’t help them.
On the other hand , watching the Roth/ Pirates match yesterday courtesy of Blaze TV (still don’t know who they are) there is still hope for the sport and for those who continue to follow the club which intrinsically and genuinely means something to them, over and above social media clicks.

I agree that Prem and international levels represent a gulf from the Champ and if you go to Rotherham or Richmond and Plymouth Albion and I will be at the Mennaye Field in February yo ustill have that amateur/family feel to proceedings. I think Clubs like Worcester and Ealing are still important and have great fans and a substantial following that probably know eachother but When I watch Bath play on occasion, you can feel the machine behind the club, its still a great club and a good experience but it is vastly different from having a beer with the players. However, that said, for the unanointed, rugby is a dark arts mystery and we need an accessible international "Store front" to attract people who are looking for an exciting alternative to Man U, Man C and Liverpool etc. With Borthwick in charge that might be a struggle but the 6N as a whole is the best that Northern Hemisphere (and arguably the world) can provide at the moment. So this need to be accessible to grow our sport beyond the faithful fans. Blaze tv is great though and I enjoyed Roth/Pirates (not the result so much) but it was a great game to watch.

[jblee]

Blaze has been around for over ten years now (Freeview and Sky), so pretty well established.

Indeed and it is the place to go if you missed various reality TV programmes the first hundred times they were broadcast!

[SamLee]

With the cheapest England Six Nations tickets pushing £200 from what I am told (and that's assuming you can buy any ahead of the corporates) it seems to me even more essential that the tournament remains free to air.

[Rothoik]

Twickers is a great experience but it is not the most comfortable seating and I last paid about £114 to watch Eng vs Wales when Arundell got yellow carded and it was a terrible match. These games are easier and better to watch on TV and so free to air is essential to get the viewership up. I dont know what fiscal shennanigans go on behind the scenes in terms of what the RFU get out of any particular deal but I know that some of my football based friends have recently switched allegience to rugby becauses of watching England in the 6N with a few beers and snacks. The picture quality and filming is usually top notch on a decent screen, the commentary is subjective and opionions vary but to the novice it is quite a spectacle. I therefore have concluded that 6N works in terms of recruiting. Paywall rugby seems spread out for the prem and AIs so I am glad that Balze and Clubber are keeping the National leagues and the champ on screen. Clubber is a paywall but is good for us exiles who can't get to the home games when Blaze are also elsewhere. I dont mind paying a tenner in that situation. I had a mare with TNT in the Ai's so won't be doing that again!