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Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 1:19 pm
by Nieghorn
Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 1:37 pm
by Glaston
Nieghorn wrote:Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20
The boring commentators/pundits he refers to, any guesses?

SCW
Guscott
Jiffy
Sonia

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 1:42 pm
by Derwyn
The Hask is a bit of a boring plum and that is why he hasnt got regular punditry slots.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:02 pm
by Nieghorn
Glaston wrote:
Nieghorn wrote:Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20
The boring commentators/pundits he refers to, any guesses?

SCW
Guscott
Jiffy
Sonia
Harrison / Barnes still call matches, don't they?


He knocks the level of analysis, has a bit of a go at BT, yet I'd argue that Austin is one of the best out there at it.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:03 pm
by Nieghorn
I no longer follow American football, and will happily bow to American takes on it, but suspect that its popularity has more to do with the culture of the people that buy into it, as opposed to the NFL creating its fan base. Many high school games in the football heartlands get more fans than English rugby Premiership. College football is mad.

NFL is the pinnacle, and is a bit of a hype machine that you don't have to buy into for too long... maybe that's part of it? Was talking with someone down there yesterday about how baseball is nowhere near as popular as the NFL, though it used to be 'America's Past Time'. Perhaps it's not only just too slow of a game, it drags on for far too long (for me anyway, in both match play and season length).

But I can't see rugby - as has been mentioned by a few boardies lately - dropping down to something like 16 intense, hype-filled games over four months.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:03 pm
by sockwithaticket
Nieghorn wrote:Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20
This is the correct answer.

He's also being a bit simplistic about this. 6 Nations coverage is at least in part for ardent casuals, the millions(?) of people who only watch that tournament and world cups. Yes, to afficiandos like those frequenting a rugby board, the likes of Jiffy, Wood, Guscott, Butler etc. are old hat and offer very little by way of insight or analysis. However, that is not the majority of the 6 Nations audience and those people want the familiarity of the faces and voices they recognise. I'd also suggest in depth analysis might be slightly wasted on them since their the type of people asking where such and such a player is when it's fairly well known that they're injured or have been retired for 2 seasons...

He's also a bit weirdly fixated on the youth and their attention spans. Firstly, not all young people have short attention spans and secondly the audience is more than the youth. Yes new blood needs to be engaged to keep this whole thing rolling, but not by changing or pandering in ways that might put off existing support.

Woodward can be fired into the sun though. Please?

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:05 pm
by Ulsters Red Hand
Nieghorn wrote:
Glaston wrote:
Nieghorn wrote:Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20
The boring commentators/pundits he refers to, any guesses?

SCW
Guscott
Jiffy
Sonia
Harrison / Barnes still call matches, don't they?

He knocks the level of analysis, has a bit of a go at BT, yet I'd argue that Austin is one of the best out there at it.
I totally agree with his call that if you haven't been in a changing room within maybe 5 years you shouldn't be near the pundits box. I'm assuming that doesn't disqualify coaches as well, the current Ulster coach seems an interesting guy to listen to. He's big in to high performance/sports psychology.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:06 pm
by mdaclarke
It will never be football, but around the world I would put it as the number 2/3 team sport with Cricket.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:07 pm
by sockwithaticket
Nieghorn wrote:
Glaston wrote:
Nieghorn wrote:Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20
The boring commentators/pundits he refers to, any guesses?

SCW
Guscott
Jiffy
Sonia
Harrison / Barnes still call matches, don't they?


He knocks the level of analysis, has a bit of a go at BT, yet I'd argue that Austin is one of the best out there at it.
:x

Only for Sky, though, which basically means a handful of England games in the Autumn and Summer.

I'd take his opinion on BT coverage with more than a pinch of salt since he quite frequently admits to barely watching any rugby. Ugo and Dayglo are shite and resort to empty platitude and cliche far too often, but Austin, Kay and Flats all offer a great deal (unless the first two are commenting on Leicester).

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:08 pm
by Ulsters Red Hand
Tbf I have to say I like Brian Moore on comms during 6N. Is always funny for a rant or two :lol:

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:12 pm
by Nieghorn
sockwithaticket wrote:
Nieghorn wrote:Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20
This is the correct answer.

He's also being a bit simplistic about this. 6 Nations coverage is at least in part for ardent casuals, the millions(?) of people who only watch that tournament and world cups. Yes, to afficiandos like those frequenting a rugby board, the likes of Jiffy, Wood, Guscott, Butler etc. are old hat and offer very little by way of insight or analysis. However, that is not the majority of the 6 Nations audience and those people want the familiarity of the faces and voices they recognise. I'd also suggest in depth analysis might be slightly wasted on them since their the type of people asking where such and such a player is when it's fairly well known that they're injured or have been retired for 2 seasons...

He's also a bit weirdly fixated on the youth and their attention spans. Firstly, not all young people have short attention spans and secondly the audience is more than the youth. Yes new blood needs to be engaged to keep this whole thing rolling, but not by changing or pandering in ways that might put off existing support.

Woodward can be fired into the sun though. Please?
Very good points!

In the twitter thread, someone even mentioned that Wilko brings advanced knowledge, but it was beyond him.

I haven't subscribed to a sports channel, but do they offer different feeds? I remember a time when they said 'hit the red button for...' Could you have your classic, simple-call announcers on one feed and the stattos, analysts, recently-retired pros on another for the 'nauses'?

Would that even make a difference as the game's become more about "building phases", looking for that one little mistake after 20 one-crash balls and/or eeking out a win through penalties and kicks to the corner?

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:13 pm
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:
Glaston wrote:
Nieghorn wrote:Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20
The boring commentators/pundits he refers to, any guesses?

SCW
Guscott
Jiffy
Sonia
Harrison / Barnes still call matches, don't they?


He knocks the level of analysis, has a bit of a go at BT, yet I'd argue that Austin is one of the best out there at it.
The Hask is someone who thinks he knows it all about media but doesn't really. Hence his "Youth have short attention spans" which ignoring recently mass popular events, Game of Thrones, the Marvel movies reward the exact opposite. Yes he is right rugby is well below football and can improve the product, but as always he has no idea. The biggest sports in Britain, football aside, work because they can create a sense of event, Athletics, Olympics, Wimbledon, etc. In the US they have 'The Super Bowl', elsewhere grand slams in golf/tennis, etc.

Rugby needs to follow the 6 Nations and create a sense of occasion for it's major club events. It needs to remember ongoing fan bases are built form the bottom up as well. It needs to adapt to making the game an adult social experience that doesn't for example takes hours and hours off your Saturday.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:16 pm
by Derwyn
I enjoy your Jiffys, your Moore's and your Guscotts.

There are too many sais rugger idiots who think they are much bigger than the game and love to rubbish it whilst it paying their wages. Two examples being the Hask and Marler.

They should fùck off and try their hand at reality TV. Then again, that hasnt gone too well for the Hask. He was kicked off pretty quickly on 'I'm a celeb' from what I I gather for being a knob.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:20 pm
by Salanya
The Hask talking about people in the 'real world'. Like he knows where that is.

And he wants change and 'punchy' product, but he wants the old school accessibility to the players (hint: that's hard to do if the sport were to get really big).

And talking about himself being so 'controversial' - no, you're big-headed and one-dimensional, and we don't need more commentators like that.

And though I don't disagree that the BBC rugby teams have gone stale, ITV is doing a pretty good job with Wilko and BOD, providing sharp insight in a positive atmosphere.

I'm not saying that this isn't a good opportunity to review rugby's set up, but the Hask is not the opinion to base a restructure on. Because he's a biased knob.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:22 pm
by Derwyn
Wilko can talk anyone to sleep tbf. And ITV let themselves down for serious punditry when they decided Gareth Thomas was someone who can offer serious insight.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:22 pm
by sockwithaticket
Nieghorn wrote:
sockwithaticket wrote:
Nieghorn wrote:Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20
This is the correct answer.

He's also being a bit simplistic about this. 6 Nations coverage is at least in part for ardent casuals, the millions(?) of people who only watch that tournament and world cups. Yes, to afficiandos like those frequenting a rugby board, the likes of Jiffy, Wood, Guscott, Butler etc. are old hat and offer very little by way of insight or analysis. However, that is not the majority of the 6 Nations audience and those people want the familiarity of the faces and voices they recognise. I'd also suggest in depth analysis might be slightly wasted on them since their the type of people asking where such and such a player is when it's fairly well known that they're injured or have been retired for 2 seasons...

He's also a bit weirdly fixated on the youth and their attention spans. Firstly, not all young people have short attention spans and secondly the audience is more than the youth. Yes new blood needs to be engaged to keep this whole thing rolling, but not by changing or pandering in ways that might put off existing support.

Woodward can be fired into the sun though. Please?
Very good points!

In the twitter thread, someone even mentioned that Wilko brings advanced knowledge, but it was beyond him.


I haven't subscribed to a sports channel, but do they offer different feeds? I remember a time when they said 'hit the red button for...' Could you have your classic, simple-call announcers on one feed and the stattos, analysts, recently-retired pros on another for the 'nauses'?

Would that even make a difference as the game's become more about "building phases", looking for that one little mistake after 20 one-crash balls and/or eeking out a win through penalties and kicks to the corner?
That could be because Wilko sometimes talks like he should be in a monastery atop a remote mountain somewhere in the far east.

I'm not currently subscribed either, so not really sure. From what I recall the red button was usually for an alternate match during the European Cup or for 6 Nations stuff it was to carry on watching the post-game forum while the main channel went to Strictly or some other such shite. The forum, though, was just Inverdale/Logan and the talking heads doing more of the same rather than going in depth.

You're possibly right. Having Austin interject into the main commentary when a team pulls off something complex really works, but an awful lot of the game now is either crashing up or kicking until an error is made (are players too good at the basics now?) and there's not an awful lot to comment on while that's happening.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 3:57 pm
by CrazyIslander
Derwyn wrote:I enjoy your Jiffys, your Moore's and your Guscotts.

There are too many sais rugger idiots who think they are much bigger than the game and love to rubbish it whilst it paying their wages. Two examples being the Hask and Marler.

They should fùck off and try their hand at reality TV. Then again, that hasnt gone too well for the Hask. He was kicked off pretty quickly on 'I'm a celeb' from what I I gather for being a knob.
That's one thing that I don't like about The Hask or some players who don't respect the history of the game. Maybe it's just an act but he tries to put out that he knows nothing about the history and doesn't care etc. And openly admits he doesnt watch most games on tv.

LeBron James is the opposite when it comes to basketball. The guy knows the history and always has something good to say about past greats/teams etc.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:06 pm
by anonymous_joe
Nieghorn wrote:Didn't see this elsewhere ... he covers a lot of different things in a few minutes, but over-all, is rugby in a bubble of delusion? Is it missing a trick or two to grow as big as football (either UK or US version) or is it grasping at straws to think that it'll ever be more than a niche sport?

https://twitter.com/miketindall13/statu ... 24166?s=20
Haskell being a massive cúnt aside, this is about as bland a story as is possible.

Rugby is a small sport. It always has been.

Football is far and away the dominant sport in the world, not least because anybody can understand it - broadly - and it's playable by anybody.

Rugby is complicated, technical and requires a referee to play it any meaningful sense. (As in, you can play tip rugby with your mates, maybe even 7s, but you can't have rucks without a ref.)

Rugby's real danger is that in some countries, there seems to be a growing disconnect between the sport itself and the fan base. It's pretty clear that in England, there's a desire to create a ring-fenced competition and to try and ape the Premier League. That's not really ever going to be possible. In Australia, the sport is in dire straits, but that's largely due to isolating itself from the general fanbase.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:17 pm
by Nieghorn
I see that at the grassroots in Canada as well. Most provincial unions will talk the talk when it comes to 'growing the game' but it really does seem like the majority of their focus is on the representative teams. Overseas tours, interprovincial competitions, regional development 'academies' ... yet most of it is user-pay, so they're not even getting 'the best', just the good ones whose parents can afford it.

Some schools have pulled well beyond the others, and so those tired of getting thumped are dropping their teams. Yet when those 'dominant' ones go abroad, they get spanked because no one's challenged them to be any better than 'better than average'.

It sounds like this sort of disconnect is happening elsewhere as well, being shown in dips in numbers of adult males playing around the globe. A friend who's a professor in sport and leisure studies said it's a global trend, people opting for lower-commitment and/or solo activities over clubs/teams, but what's rugby doing to address that? They won't make major rule changes, but what about re-structuring seasons or offer alternatives (what about the limited contact version old boys play for the rest of us?).

It's my bias, but I think if you focus on making the grassroots better, the professional game does better as those people are invested and want to be part of something bigger.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:01 pm
by anonymous_joe
Unfortunately, schools rugby brings problems with it as well.

There are approximately 700 secondary schools in Ireland, educating kids from 12 to 18. That's the age group where most people will learn how to play rugby.

Unfortunately, because rugby is quite complex, it greatly favours wealthier schools.

The Leinster Senior Cup has 16 schools competing in a given year. About the same number again compete in the Vinnie Murray Cup and the other lower tier competitions.

Now, Leinster makes up about 40% of the population, so if you've 40 schools playing in Leinster, you might have 100 schools across the country that play rugby. Most of those will not take rugby all that seriously.

You're thus talking about a sport that reaches less than 10% of students.

That's similar to what happens in most rugby playing countries. The sport needs to focus first on ensuring it retains that core group and then needs to look at expansion. Unfortunately, at schools level, the good teams are often so good that this becomes impossible for the reasons you're outlining.

Michaels (semi-finalists this year) beat Temple Carrig (winners of the second-tier schoolboy competition in Leinster) 67 - 0. Temple Carrig is quite unusual in that it's the first ever Protestant school established in Ireland since independence. They're also from a wealthy suburb. In that regard, their student base would be "culturally" prone to playing rugby. Even still, that shows the gap they will need to surmount to make themselves a force in rugby.

A small, elitist sport is always going to struggle to survive, let alone grow.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:06 pm
by Varsity Way
Derwyn wrote:Wilko can talk anyone to sleep tbf. And ITV let themselves down for serious punditry when they decided Gareth Thomas was someone who can offer serious insight.
Wilko is comedy gold. His psycho babble is barking. Thomas is there for inclusivity clearly, bless him.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:11 pm
by Kahu
CrazyIslander wrote: That's one thing that I don't like about The Hask or some players who don't respect the history of the game. Maybe it's just an act but he tries to put out that he knows nothing about the history and doesn't care etc. And openly admits he doesnt watch most games on tv.

LeBron James is the opposite when it comes to basketball. The guy knows the history and always has something good to say about past greats/teams etc.
Good post. I enjoy sports personalities who are immersed in the culture and have a broad knowledge base which is why I don't mind pundits who aren't just retired pro's. A love and knowledge of the game counts the most.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:13 pm
by Plato'sCave
Hask is an attention whore.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 7:19 pm
by frankster
Plato'sCave wrote:Hask is an attention whore.
[/thread]

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:31 pm
by blindcider
Plato'sCave wrote:Hask is an attention whore.
He is, and I hate his laddy persona but when you cut through that shite he is a pretty intelligent bloke and often talks a lot of sense.

and the irony of edf calling anyone out for being a know-it-all who doesn't have a clue surely hasn't been lost on everyone?

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:35 pm
by Demilich
Rugby has too many rules/laws/complexities to properly compete with soccer's global domination.

Doesn't mean they shouldn't try to expand the appeal, but it just lacks the intrinsic qualities that allow soccer to be so universally supported and played.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:55 pm
by croyals
Rugby has wild delusions of grandeur and it will bankrupt the sport before too long. I think it is a cultural cringe that comes from being a number 2/3 sport in most of the major rugby countries. Accept our place and work with it.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 10:16 pm
by DragsterDriver
croyals wrote:Rugby has wild delusions of grandeur and it will bankrupt the sport before too long. I think it is a cultural cringe that comes from being a number 2/3 sport in most of the major rugby countries. Accept our place and work with it.
Yep.

And for all the hasks new MMA/DJ persona he’s just the sort of rugger bugger people hate.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:13 pm
by Ulsters Red Hand
Plato'sCave wrote:Hask is an attention whore.
I don't quite get why he said he is too controversial, bit of an odd thing to say when he's really not.

He epitomises a "rugby lad". I suspect if you took a look below the surface he would most definitely be the wrong sort

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:23 pm
by eldanielfire
Ulsters Red Hand wrote:
Plato'sCave wrote:Hask is an attention whore.
I don't quite get why he said he is too controversial, bit of an odd thing to say when he's really not.

He epitomises a "rugby lad". I suspect if you took a look below the surface he would most definitely be the wrong sort
I'm not sure wrong sort is Haskell. I thinks while he's wrong here and he likes to boast about his media and social media observations while not adding anything much, he's a good lad who means well and his passionate defences of LGBT causes and anti-bigotry rants dosed with some common sense about jokes and anti-offence cultures shows a decent, normal guy.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:23 pm
by mdaclarke
croyals wrote:Rugby has wild delusions of grandeur and it will bankrupt the sport before too long. I think it is a cultural cringe that comes from being a number 2/3 sport in most of the major rugby countries. Accept our place and work with it.
Agreed, this is why I am of the "hold on to what you've got school" keep rugby a major sport in the tier 1 nations and a significant minority sport in the tier 2 nations, but don't spread too thinly.

If rugby neglects the tier 1 nations then this would cause more damage than anything else. For example Australia and Italy need to be supported.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:59 pm
by eldanielfire
croyals wrote:Rugby has wild delusions of grandeur and it will bankrupt the sport before too long. I think it is a cultural cringe that comes from being a number 2/3 sport in most of the major rugby countries. Accept our place and work with it.
I think what's best for Rugby is to keep developing the grassroots of tier 2 nations. A fair few of them have small but passionate grassroots that can expand and build upon. And help develop their elite games as well to close the game and make what we have in rugby stronger.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:02 am
by Kahu
Demilich wrote:Rugby has too many rules/laws/complexities to properly compete with soccer's global domination.

Doesn't mean they shouldn't try to expand the appeal, but it just lacks the intrinsic qualities that allow soccer to be so universally supported and played.

*Thinly veiled Soccer appeals to stupid commoners post :thumbup:

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:04 am
by JM2K6
sockwithaticket wrote:He's also a bit weirdly fixated on the youth and their attention spans. Firstly, not all young people have short attention spans and secondly the audience is more than the youth. Yes new blood needs to be engaged to keep this whole thing rolling, but not by changing or pandering in ways that might put off existing support.
It's also important to note that youngsters have ridiculous attention spans. When they like something, they're absolutely obsessed by it. As they get older, they hit the sweet spot of being really invested in something and having the lack of responsibilities that essentially allows them to be completely consumed by it.

It's the older people who find themselves less able to dedicate the time and effort to a singular pursuit, unless it's their job.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 11:40 am
by eldanielfire
JM2K6 wrote:
sockwithaticket wrote:He's also a bit weirdly fixated on the youth and their attention spans. Firstly, not all young people have short attention spans and secondly the audience is more than the youth. Yes new blood needs to be engaged to keep this whole thing rolling, but not by changing or pandering in ways that might put off existing support.
It's also important to note that youngsters have ridiculous attention spans. When they like something, they're absolutely obsessed by it. As they get older, they hit the sweet spot of being really invested in something and having the lack of responsibilities that essentially allows them to be completely consumed by it.

It's the older people who find themselves less able to dedicate the time and effort to a singular pursuit, unless it's their job.
Agreed. I disagree with the whole Hask assertion "youth = no attention span" because dedication to long book series,complicated TV boxset plots, etc show this. I mean modern video games are made to be life consuming these days. The issue is to ensure there is a popular and easy gateway to the activity, hence why the 6 Nations being free to air is so important in my opinion, especaily given the 6 Nation has achieved Event TV status and has huge audiences.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 11:42 am
by DragsterDriver
Youth- attention span until Fanny and Beer come along.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:01 pm
by JM2K6
DragsterDriver wrote:Youth- attention span until Fanny and Beer come along.
That's also way too simplistic - turns out that people up until their mid-20s in general have plenty of time for that plus their own obsessions.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:26 pm
by DragsterDriver
JM2K6 wrote:
DragsterDriver wrote:Youth- attention span until Fanny and Beer come along.
That's also way too simplistic - turns out that people up until their mid-20s in general have plenty of time for that plus their own obsessions.
That’s the main drop off point in rugby participation unless players are playing at a higher level. Some of course play Wednesdays at further education rather than the weekend.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:49 pm
by sockwithaticket
Partcipation's a separate issue to what Hask was discussing on HoR. What put me off that after school and college:
- developing physically a lot later than everyone else, I was a scrawny 5'6 and 8.5 stone when I completed my A-levels, which meant the contact element got less and less enjoyable from about year 9 onwards. Weight banding would have been a godsend for me.
- uni rugby boys being complete cunts
- other interests that took up time like music

Never lost appetite as a viewer, though, because that's a lot easier to work around the rest of your life.

One thing that still comes up time and again with people is that they just don't understand what's going on a lot of the time. They'll think thet're getting a handle on it and the ref will call something in a way that undermines the understanding they thought they had. Ref inconsistencies due to the sorry state of actual law enforcement are a massive barrier. That has fark all to do with spurious assessments of attention spans and is a problem within rugby's control.

Re: Hask: Burst Rugby's Bubble

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:58 pm
by Nieghorn
Add to your reasons, long time fans who are sick of the tinkering that also causes them to either not know what's going on or rage about things not being called that are in the laws.