Which code is bigger in Australia - Soccer or Rugby Union?

Which is the best football code? Here you can have it out with other football fans.
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Which code is bigger in Australia - Soccer or Rugby Union?

Post by Beaussie »

Was interesting to see the tv ratings for the A-League Grand Final and the Super Rugby Grand Final this year.

The all Australian A-League Grand Final saw Brisbane Roar take on the Central Coast Mariners with the tv audience shown below.

Brisbane vs Central Coast - FOX - Sunday - 204,000

Meanwhile the Super Rugby Final saw the Queensland Reds take on the Crusaders from New Zealand.

Queensland vs Crusaders - FOX - Saturday Night- 518,000

http://www.talkingfooty.com/tv_ratings_2011.php

Crowds I'm guessing are bigger in Super Rugby than the A-League? With tv ratings and crowds taken into account, which code do you think is bigger in Australia? I was lead to believe Soccer had taken over from Rugby Union but was still well behind the AFL and NRL. Looking at the tv ratings I'm now not so sure. Thoughts?
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Post by TLPG »

I agree. Whilst the numbers at junior level may favour soccer in this contest, there is no doubt that local rugby union is outstripping the A-League. A-League's poor crowds plus a below par TV audience was a major factor in us not getting the Soccer World Cup in 2022 (thank goodness!).

There was another factor in that good showing for the Super Rugby grand final. There was a lot of sympathy for both sides - what with Brisbane's floods and Christchurch's earthquake(s). Could well have attracted a few extra viewers based on that alone.
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Post by Beaussie »

Must admit the crowd at ANZ Stadium didn't look great from what I saw on the tv highlights.
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Post by TLPG »

I agree on both counts.
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Post by King-Eliagh »

Depends how you define "Bigger". To me "Bigger" is put in very broad terms and I think Beaussie's usual argument that crowds and TV ratings tell all is very narrow, as usual.

I'd have to argue that soccer is bigger when we think in terms of interest level. Even though crowds are lower and tv ratings might suggest otherwise, soccer should be seen as a national sport in a similar manner to the Aussie Rules. It's played all over the nation and the numbers of players outstrip any other code in juniors and I think seniors also.

Also we have to realise the A-League still isnt the best product and I'm certain the majority of Australia's soccer fans are much more interested in following the European Leagues. The quality of players and viewing is just so much higher.

Perhaps we should be taking these things into account when discussing which code is "Bigger" :wink:
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xman wrote:
KE, why is an even comp important?
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Post by TLPG »

FIFA didn't agree - or we would have got the 2022 World Cup.
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Post by Raiderdave »

TLPG wrote:
FIFA didn't agree - or we would have got the 2022 World Cup.
the State of soccer in this country had nothing to do with wether we got the world cup or not

England is proof of this

they have the most organised Soccer scene there is
& still missed out on a world cup
because FIFA is run by organised crime

its nearly as bad as the AFL :wink:
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Post by TLPG »

England lost because they were wracked with scandal. FIFA put out a report taking our soccer state to so many pieces Parliament in Canberra felt obliged to try and respond to the report - and misread it in the process.

We were gone from the get go - because of the state of soccer in this country.
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Post by Raiderdave »

TLPG wrote:
England lost because they were wracked with scandal. FIFA put out a report taking our soccer state to so many pieces Parliament in Canberra felt obliged to try and respond to the report - and misread it in the process.

We were gone from the get go - because of the state of soccer in this country.
yeah ... sure thats what happened 8-[ :roll:
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Post by TLPG »

Yet again, Raider proves that he can't debate.
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Post by Raiderdave »

TLPG wrote:
Yet again, Raider proves that he can't debate.
please provide proof of your claim then
we'll see who can do what :wink:
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Post by King-Eliagh »

TLPG wrote:
FIFA didn't agree - or we would have got the 2022 World Cup.
So as part of FIFA's assessment of Australia's bid for the World Cup they checked whether Soccer was bigger than RU in Australia? #-o

In any case the World Cup bidding process was completely corrupt! #-o #-o
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xman wrote:
KE, why is an even comp important?
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Post by TLPG »

Wouldn't have made the slightest difference, KE, and besides it was the VOTING that was ALLEGEDLY corrupt - not the bidding process!

The McKinsey Report advised that our support of soccer in this country was not up to world standard's. If it was - we would have got the World Cup. That was my point. It stands to reason as a valid argument on topic.

If we went just on elite level, RU would kick soccer's rear end!
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Post by King-Eliagh »

We wouldnt have gotten the world cup because as you say the voting was allegedly corrupt.

I dont really care to read the Mckinsey report but as I cited earlier Soccer has thousands, probably millions more registered players in Australia than Rugby Union. What is this if not support for the sport?

Secondly our local league is not a strong indicator of support for the sport. The amount of people following European leagues in australia however is huge, obviously much higher than our local amateur rugby leagues here. Additionally at the elite level Rugby is not supported strongly across the nation, mainly just the Eastern seaboard and the minority of upperclass, private school toffs who reside there.

Soccer bigger for sure and us not getting the world cup means nothing in relation to the argument because, as Raider said, England also did not get the worldcup :wink:

Lets keep it relevant and focussed TLPG
:)
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KE, why is an even comp important?
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Post by TLPG »

FIFA disagreed - corrupt or not.
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