By Zippy
October 18 2004

A www.CelticWarriors.co.uk report can reveal that crowds have not increased, despite the WRU's decision to go to only Four professional sides, for the full report read on

Here are the raw facts, up to the same weekend last season.

 

2003/04 - 62,160 people through the gate

 

2004/05 - 59,687 people through the gate

(Source www.celticleague.com)

So last season MORE people paid to watch professional rugby in Wales, this is surely a bizarre finding I mean last season:

- There was a world cup taking place, all the best players were over in Australia, most of the attention was on the World Cup and other rugby was taking a back seat.

- It was the first year of Welsh "Regionalism" many people still had club loyalties and the regions were completely new entities.

- The sides had been struggling in the Celtic League and being defeated heavily by the Irish

Why should have the crowds been higher this season?

- The 4 Sides have the very best of the Welsh players, 1-15 the sides have quality players

- There are only 4 rather than 5 sides, only 4 pro sides in the whole of Wales, the combined support for the first 2 months of the season is not even that of a Manchester United home game.

- The sides have had 1 year to generate support for their new sides, season tickets could be offered from the end of last season with fans knowing what they are buying.

- The sides performed well last season, the 5 filled 6 of the top places with only Ulster breaking the Welsh dominance, supporters have sucessful teams to watch.

Zippy Comment

Interesting findings, I'm sure you can come to the conclusion as why I think this result has happened.

What do you think this means?

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