New Zealand, home to the All Blacks and the next Rugby World Cup in 2011, cooled its interest in the national sport to the lowest on record, a poll said.
Sixty percent of the 750 people surveyed last month by UMR Research said they were either very interested or fairly interested in rugby, UMR said in a statement. That’s the lowest since the survey began in 1993. Thirty-nine percent said they weren’t interested, the highest reading over the same period.
The decline in interest was probably due to “disappointing All Black performances this year, too much rugby and the duller, more attritional brand of rugby served up to fans in recent years,” UMR said in the statement. The poll was conducted from July 16 to July 20 and has a margin of error of 3.6 percent.
PHOTO: EPA
The 31-19 defeat to South Africa on Aug. 1 was New Zealand’s third loss in six Tests this year. It’s the first time the All Blacks, who have won almost three-quarters of their international matches, lost three Tests in a year since 2000.
Back-to-back losses to the world champion Springboks in South Africa also dropped the All Blacks from the No. 1 spot in the International Rugby Board’s rankings.
The All Blacks, seeking a fifth straight Tri-Nations title, have four points at the halfway stage of their campaign and next face Australia in Sydney on Aug. 22.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Monday called for New Zealanders to “rally around” coach Graham Henry and his squad.
“The team is going through a pretty tough time,” Key said in a radio interview with Newstalk ZB. “The team is rebuilding and unfortunately with teams you get that from time to time. The philosophical view I’ve taken is that as long as they win in 2011 at the Rugby World Cup then that’ll probably work for me.”
Interest in rugby peaked at 79 percent during the Rugby World Cup in late 2003 and has declined since, UMR said.
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about ￡2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Less than a week after splashing out a world-record fee for Naomi Girma, Chelsea has spent big again to bring England midfielder Keira Walsh back to the English Women’s Super League. Walsh left European champions Barcelona after more than two years to join Chelsea for a reported ￡400,000 (US$496,000) on Friday. Walsh was the world’s most expensive player for two years after moving to Barcelona from Manchester City for a reported ￡400,000 in 2022. That status now belongs to Girma, the US defender who cost Chelsea a reported ￡900,000 to sign from the San Diego Wave. Still, it means 27-year-old Walsh — a technically
RSS