5 things Rugby needs to change in order to draw a global audience

rugby fans beer

One of my biggest disappointments when it comes to Betdistrict is how unpopular my Rugby tips are. I love the sport and International rugby betting provided me and the website with fantastic profits over the years. I usually hate pumping myself up, but let me do it just this time.

Look at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where I had a record of 20 wins and 13 losses, +86.78 units and return of investments of +18,5% in the group stages and +68,5% in the KO stages (link doesn`t include finals, both won). Not bad, right? This years’ Six Nations is also going well – last round I made a profit of +10.1 units, winning 2 out of 3 tips for a ROI of 37,5%.

You`d love a tipster that is so consistent, right? Well, apparently no. During the RWC2015 I was making killer profits, but still got plenty of angry hate mail because of a couple of puny 5-6 unit lost football bets.

Editors’ rugby tips on Betdistrict barely get half of the hits football tips get, sometimes less than one third. But can I really blame you? Probably not. While rugby is such a beautiful sport and hugely popular in many markets, fact is it needs change in order to appeal to wider audiences. In this article, I will focus on a few things that Rugby needs to change if it is to go forwards and gain more popularity at a global level.

1. Reform the Scrum

The defining element of rugby, which even novices recognize, is a hugely important part of the sport and needs to remain so. But in our day and age, scrum management needs to be improved. Scrums have become rugby’s own form of time wasting. Repeated resets are eating time on the clock and the nerves of the fans. It is boring!

Maximum number of resets is imperative! And stop the clock! All sports (except football) are aiming towards less dead moments, while Rugby keeps on going with 10 minute scrum resets. This is the most important thing that needs to change, because it is the easiest. Find ways to penalize teams earlier, penalize them both, but no more 5-10 scrum resets. It`s so easy it hurts, just do it!

rugby scrum rules

2. Make the game easier to understand & to play

Making the game easier is definitely more complex than just ONE thing Rugby needs to change. But I`ll treat it as ONE philosophy, rather than breaking it down in 50 subpoints.

While I did not grow up in Wales or New Zealand, so I did not learn the sport at the youngest possible age, I am an avid rugby lover – and even I learn new rules from time to time. For example, the amount of possible infringements at the breakdown is incredible and I suspect that even some professional players are not aware of them all (in fact, this has been proved). Knock a few infringements off the list. Small changes could make a difference.

For me, it’s all reduced to the inability of casual rugby fans to play the game. When`s the last time you saw kids playing rugby in the park, in countries where it’s not the main sport? How can you expect kids to understand and respect hundreds of rules? And if they don`t play, they won`t love it. They won`t start playing professionally and they will not watch the sport. This is the biggest problem rugby has.

Listen, you can`t change everything. Rugby 7`s is gaining popularity specifically because it`s faster and easier to play casually – Rugby Union needs to maintain its values and, obviously, the number of players on the pitch. But that does not mean changes can’t be made.

3. Change the prehistoric competition format

The fact that, for example, the Six Nations tournament does not have a promotion / relegation system (at least) is mind boggling. It’s understandable that the IRB wants to protect the big boys in order to milk as much money as possible – they need it, as rugby does not appeal to many markets. A Romania – England match in Bucharest will never draw 1/10 of the money and interest a Scotland – England match can produce. But this communist approach is exactly why rugby does not appeal to more markets. A vicious circle that IRB is afraid to break.

To have, in the year 2016, invitational Continental championships is simply out of this world. From this point of view, Rugby is living 2 centuries ago. It is, simply put, discriminatory. There are tens of countries that would benefit immensely from playing against top sides, they would improve and become large rugby nations themselves – drawing additional revenues as well.

Do we have to watch Italy in the Six Nations every year, when it`s obvious that Georgia will beat them at least 2-3 times out of 10 – but they are not allowed to do it? Can countries like Georgia, Romania, Kenya, Tonga, Canada, Russia – hell, any country which wants to play rugby – get some exposure? If they do, maybe they`ll build a couple of rugby fields for people to play casually. Maybe, just maybe, it will improve the sport?

Romania Italy Six Nations

4. Points system

Three points for a converted penalty, Five points for a try, Seven points for a converted try. It sounds reasonable and it is. However, European rugby has become rather boring because of this points system. Southern Hemisphere sides are always going for tries, but in Europe penalties are held in high regard and usually decide the outcome.

For me, the points system is Ok, but if it’s abused, something needs to change. European rugby games are now featuring 1-2 tries and are often going scoreless. I would score 2 points for a penalty and make the conversion just 1 point. That means 2 points for a penalty, 5 points for a try, 6 points for a converted try. Just a thought.

5. The Olympic committee needs to go f*ck itslef

The fact that rugby is not an Olympic sport is beyond words. I mean, pole dancing will become an Olympic sport in 2020, but Rugby will not. Yes, Rugby 7`s is on the list starting with 2016, but that only means that Rugby Union (rugby in 15) will not get in. One (the only?) explanation for its absence would be the lack of time, as you can’t play rugby every three days, but that could be managed pretty easily.

All in all, it can be all summarized in 5 words: Don`t Be Afraid To Change. It`s not like the IRB is doing a bad job, but they need to keep conceding symbols and traditions in order to make the sport more appealing to a wider audience. Just look at how well video worked. TMO has become, similar to tennis, a thrill for fans (though it tends to be overused). Nobody says to take the spirit out of the game, but compromises are needed and can be done. And maybe then I can post rugby tips without sacrificing hundreds of hits.

About Rostick

Born in '88. Running betting tips websites since 2007. Launched Betdistrict in 2013. Worked as a bookie for a year to spy on the other side. Rugby Union and NBA expert. Editor info & statistics.

4 comments

  1. And thats why football is the best sport

  2. Only just saw this article but you raise some interesting points. I watch a fair bit of rugby, particularly internationals but I’m far from the most qualified person to comment on the game. You’re right about the game being easier to understand. I regularly watch a game and see a penalty given and I have no idea why.

    I think the games appeal would be helped if northern hemisphere teams changed their mentality. They lack so much creativity when compared with the southern hemisphere. Even Uruguay played some great rugby against Wales in the first 15 minutes in last year’s World Cup.

    • That`s a fair point, I slightly covered it at No.4. I can see why casual fans would not be impressed by most NH matches. It`s probably one of the reasons for which rugby is far more popular in SH.

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