KEY POINTS:
Here is a further selection of your views:
Grassburnt
It's Cricket season! At least it was in Feb/March. The spreading out of the season has left 3 week gaps in some cases between All Black matches in the Tri Nations. I am a fan of condensing the winter international schedule and bringing the super 14 back to its original time slot. This would mean players and fans could enjoy a longer off-season.
Mike
With a collective 12 hours of TV game time per weekend, it is difficult to plan ahead and choose which games are to be watched. It is easier to just watch the tries highlights. Whereas I might have watched two, three or four games a weekend, now the tries and highlights by themselves is nearly that amount of time! Also, the talk programs (Reunion, Boots & All) are counted as "rugby time" by the wife, so those add to the time required. Lastly, the no rucking laws have meant that players lie all over the back of the rucks and slow the ball down right until the ref says "release the ball", without fear of being torn into by studs. This means that the defence is always organised, and points are slow in coming (witness the score lines this year - 3-9, 3-6, etc). If I wanted to watch a game where the score is 3-0 after two hours I would watch soccer!
Dolly
Rugby started far too early. I believe this was one of the reasons the All Blacks were rested, by the time they started playing, it was almost rugby season. 2. The Sky tv commentators are dreadful, in fact, almost as dreadful as the Sky tv rugby league commentators. BTW, I don't think comparing rugby league and rugby union is a particularly beneficial activity, they are two different sports, there is nothing wrong with enjoying one, both or none of them!
Bryan Sellers
I don't start watching Rugby until the Cricket season has ended.2. Too many games. I like my sport but I'm not a slave to it. There are so many games on now I have to pick and choose. It no longer matters if I miss a game because it's impossible for me to watch all of them anyway. So I tend to miss more games now than I would if there were fewer to watch.3. RU getting too greedy. They're trying to grab all the recreational spending power and time of viewers at the expense of other sports.4. The RU has sacrificed quality for quantity. This policy has backfired on them. The public is smarter than they think.
Darcy
Too many average games. The other night they had a super 14 game on and the NRL came on straight afterwards- the increase in intensity ,pace and skill was marked.
Admin
Even with the ABs back the game is too predictable now-not very exciting. The scrum law changes have not worked and there is little possibility of sides contesting the ball at the breakdown.The game resembles "Bullrush" with teams fanning out across the field.I have not watched a full 80mins this year-a first!!
David
Too much rugby too early in the season, A February start is ridiculous.
Tom
With the super 14 there is just too much football and you cannot watch it all. The lack of All Blacks has not worried me as the teams do seem to be a bit closer in performance and provide some unexpected results. I have no desire to spend the entire week- end in front of the TV watching rugby and so have become much more selective in the games and sports that I do watch. The assumption by the sponsors and powers that be, that all we have to do, or want to do, over a week- end is watch rugby is simply delusional. In my view there are just to many teams and to much football.
Terry
I have been a rugby fan for more than 50 years, but find myself less interested now, mainly because of the latest batch of rule changes, constant scrum resets even after the ball is out, confusion at the breakdown, all of which slows the game down. I now watch more league than rugby, less stoppages
Brian Felton
There is just too much Rugby now, and the same old teams keep popping up. You also get the impression that the Aussies are holding back for the big reward, the Rugby World Cup.
Anthony Meredith
If the number of fans tuning in has not improved with the returning ABs then News Corp cannot blame and extract money from the NZRU for lost revenue. The quality of rugby on offer is terrible through poor ball skills, low quality rugby and dubious refeering not to mention the new scrum laws, which make no sense. What is the purpose of the props to first bind, crouch, touch and pause before engaging? The two seconds spent after touching, then waiting before the ref gives the green light to engage is asking for more trouble. Remember the Blues vs Chiefs? If I have to pay for Sky then the last thing that I want to see are advertisements. Paying hard earned cash to get away from ads was the whole purpose of buying Sky in the first place. With revenue coming in from sky subscribers, advertisements and companies which sponsor the rugby, how much money is sky actually making? And if their projected viewer numbers are not tuning in, is that the fault of the public or Sky?
Mat King
New rules and dilution of rugby talent (outside NZ in particular) has meant the Super 14 has not been as exciting this year. Many people including myself have been tuning into the NRL as it has displayed a high level of competitiveness with some real hard fought battles. The scrums are taking almost a quarter of a game to set correctly which is hugely disappointing as well as taking the sting out of good packs. Surely the $$ lost in this age of 'professionalism' will have a say in the long run once pockets start to feel the pinch.
Kevin Archer
We,the rugby masses of NZ have had enough of the nonsense surrounding professional rugby. For a start the majority of the games this year have been boring with the scrums an exercise in stupidity. Allowing the no-brainers in the northern hemisphere to come up with the - touch, smile,crouch,pause,tickle,giggle ,engage nonsense is beyond belief.Having to watch that and listen to the childish prattle from the likes of Murray Mexted and Stu Wilson just gets too much.They both need tuition from John Drake who is light years ahead of the pair of them. SKY's propensity with deciding that ex-All Blacks with big mouths make good expert comments men shows just how pathetic they are. The same crowd also used an ex All Black Chris Laidlaw for about 3 seasons and he was on a par with Mexted and Wilson. The public have had their fill with the rape of rugby at all levels eg playing numbers are now so low in Taranaki that only a handful of clubs now have an Under 21 team. In my day there were 25 teams playing in this grade and yesterday I read the response from the Taranaki Rugby Union concerning this alarming situation.The spin coming out of the union was that things are a lot worse in Wanganui and King Country where they simply don't have Under 21 competitions. I played rugby for over 30 years and have been in various administrative positions for another 20 years and now I have had enough and I am totally sick of it all. I spend most of my leisure time on a new interest playing Bridge.At least it makes for a worthwhile game ona level playing field.
Tony Hurley
Viewer audiences would be the same whether or not the All Blacks were involved at the start. Many people I know didn't watch the early rounds as it started way too early. We now keenly watch games involving the NZ teams, but as soon as there is an Australian match up, or indeed a Sth African game, off goes the TV. They are just unwatchable. That's what's dropping the TV audience, not the absence of any All Blacks. Interesting that the crowd numbers in Australia have dropped by a third on last year. What does that tell you about the standard of this years Super 14?
Nick
Too many matches in too long a season. There are far too many "must win" games. The commentators are all so tedious. It's also boring. As I understand it Rugby League rules stemmed from a desire to make the game more attractive to paying spectators than Rugby Union. All of the recent law changes in Rugby Union have resulted in it appearing more like a confused version of Rugby League. Either go the full way and introduce a 10 metre rule or take it back to what it was when Bryan Williams used to play. Go the warriors!
Karl
Mike, I'm sorry if you don't see Rugby League as stopping after every single tackle made before someone plays the ball. I'm sorry if you haven't noticed that someone like Sailer who broke tackles all the time in league broke maybe 1 or 2 tackles in his entire time in rugby, and that was against the Japanese team. Rugby has been dulled down, but I think it's to do with the frustration with the Refs and their inability to be consistent with the rules. They penalise players for playing to the law and let another team go when they've infringed, and base their calls on the history of the teams from as far as I can tell. Rugby is still a great game, but no-one wants to watch someone with a whistle.
Geoff Ambler
Not as interested when AB's not playing for first half of season. Also, presentation is becoming tired - commentators often bigoted; too often sound like grumpy old men. Continual scrum resets are painful to watch.
Shep
Have to agree with the majority. The rules,have changed rugby.It is now boring,with all the stoppages. Also I think we need to include a team made up of Samoans,Fijians and Tongans,hey hang on that sounds like any kiwi team.Oh well you know what I mean.
Jono
I think everyone should give Sky TV the boot. It has a monopoly over new Zealand and the prices it charges are astronomical compared to the product you receive. For the basic subscription plus the sports package it costs $69 per month!! You cant just have the sports with no basic package what a rip off, and who wants to pay for an entire channel promoting the my sky.I myself am glad I have given it the boot, the world cup rugby will be on tv3 and I for one am happy about that. Go public TV!
Mike
Rugby is boring, boring, boring, life is too short to watch that crap, I'll watch rugby League any day other rugby. League players are definitely fitter, more skilful, have the unique ability to tackle and can play for 80 mins without stopping every 2-3 minutes for a drink, a chat with the referee, or a lie down.
Wayne Kirkland
My disinterest in Super 14 this year has nothing to do with the reconditioning of the All Blacks. The rugby I've seen is poor, the scrums are a mess, the refereeing understandably confusing and the season far too early. I've never had a strong allegiance to the franchise in our area (Hurricanes). While I like them to do well, I don't spend any time recovering emotionally from a loss (which is just as well, given their track record!). I have much more allegiance to my NPC side (though this is waning too, given that players are simply bought and sold on an open market - it's no longer a team of local players) and of course, the All Blacks. I start to get interested in rugby about the time of the TriNations. If the rugby in Super14 is exciting then I'll make an effort to watch it. If not, there's better things to do with my weekend.
Dampamn
It's easy enough for News Limited to say it's the NZRFUs fault because of All Black reconditioning programme, but the product itself needs to be looked at. Were the withdrawn ABs at fault for the Brumbies - Reds 6 - 3 stunner? The season is starting too early and the general offensive quality (which is what attracts viewers) was very poor. Oversaturation is another reason. I like watching rugby, but on Saturday I could only sit thru 2 consecutive games and had to give the TV up to the rest of the family. Lastly my overall feeling on rugby this year is that the real competition doesn't begin until September in France.
Wesley
Not everyone can get prime on their TV clearly. Yes it is free but the channel is hard to get if you only have a TV aerial not a TV ant. on top of your roof. Can't be bothered watching rugby black and white with poor reception. The ratings will go up if you return to TV3,the channel is easy to get clear picture with an aerial. I watch all the games on Sky but trying to watch the games at work just doesn't work anymore.
Drew
It has nothing to do with the ABs not being available. The quality of Rugby this year has been appalling. In fact you the decline in viewers probably runs parallel with the decline in tries.
Sir Les of Itaewon
Forget the absence of All Blacks - it is the general quality of the rugby that is woeful. I am seriously evaluating why I should spend 2 hours on such nonsense as endless scrum re-sets and players going off their feet at the breakdown. Has that rule gone out the rulebook? It is time that the IRB came to their senses and went back to the application of the Laws of 5 years ago. To keep viewers you need a great spectacle with quick ball to the backline. A 60 second "ruck" followed by a pick and go (repeat for 5-10 "phases") just doesn't cut it.
Scott
I've watched two full games this season and attended none whereas in almost every previous season I would've watched two games a week and attended two. This year, I just don't care. As a rugby fan, I'm pretty exhausted by the year round rugby shoved in my face. The final straw this year was the Sky billboards informing me that my summer was over and it was time for me to start watching rugby again. Because of this I decided to not watch any rugby at all till summer was over in my books, not Skys. All I can say is get a grip Sky and NZRFU, manufactured rugby is not interesting. I think I'll do what so many people I know have done and just start watching the NPC and ignore Super rugby, although the NZRFU has just fiddled with that too. Netball? Oh no, last season of that too, it's trans tasman professional... hmmm. I might just stick with mountain biking in my spare time and give the TV a miss.
R
Honestly? It's just too much rugby. I like a good game of rugby as much as any Kiwi and all of these players are a class act - but as a nation we're growing up. Our interests are diversifying in food, recreation, entertainment and now, I think, sport. Most of the New Zealanders I know have a love of (Soccer) Football but are starved of decent coverage via the media. I think the media are slow to realise that New Zealand's sporting interests have broadened a great deal over the last 2 decades so it doesn't surprise me to see enthusiasm for Rugby falling off a little. Hopefully the media will be more courageous now in choosing to cover other sports.
Barry
Rugby is a stop-start game full of technical rules which slow the game. We find it quite boring. NRL Rugby League games present faster action and therefore more enjoyable to watch.
Stephen Britland
I am watching less as a combination of three things - the AB's being out of the early matches; the application of the rules is confusing for the players and the public and compounded by inconsistent refereeing; and the standard of the rugby has dropped in pool play - the real rugby starts with the semis.
Sean John
Too much exposure, and the entertainment value has been lost. The quality of rugby has definitely decreased and therefore detracting viewers. The NRL is far more entertaining, with a tight hotly contested competition. In my opinion there is absolutely no comparison between a Warriors and Blues game, pity, as these were 2 games I looked forward to over the winter weekends.
Andrew Robertson
The All Blacks being rested has had little effect I think on viewer numbers. I am a big fan but I can only really watch 1 or 2 games per weekend maximum. Games are simply too boring with confusing laws and at times teams who are playing a game of attrition rather than heart and flair. Super 12 was at times super but Super 14 has never quite lived up to its tag - too boring and should be 12 teams.Aussie can't field 4 teams.
RobRoach
"You've got to wonder if there is just too much rugby and whether the quality is not good enough either. Especially when you have got the Australian teams going so badly - they are just unwatchable." Maybe the Corperatisation of footie - all for profit - the plunder of our passions, is killing the passion.
Diane McIvor
I personally think it has more to do with Sky rather than the rugby. The rugby is losing fans because not everyone has sky sport or sky rugby which eliminates a large number of the population. Therefore, the fans are starting to lose interest in the super 14. On the subject of Sky. I am not surprised that people sign off over summer and dont resubscribe. We could well do that next summer, unless they change their programmes a little more frequently. I was a great fan of the documentary channel and, being a newish Sky subscriber, thought the content would be changed after a month....wrong.
Jason
There are two primary reasons I have stopped watching the rugby this year - not only is the rugby of a poor standard which of course not sky TV's fault but the broadcasting team are well past their use by date. In particular Melodie Robinson, Ian Jones, John Drake and Tony Johnson. It is hard to believe that in this nation of intelligent rugby people that we are lumbered with these clowns week in week out. I could provide descriptions of each one personally but am hesitant to insult people who I have not met. They need to be replaced at once - but one word of advice do not replace them with Willie Lose!
Jacqui Middleton
Since the start of Super 12 my interest in rugby has waned - for me it is rugby over -load now. While the children were at home I have had to battle to keep the family interests going - it would have been all too easy just to curl up on the couch all weekend !!and have no family life.
I keep in touch with the scores thru the radio or paper and pick up interest during the end stage of Super (12)-14 as it is now. This is a view shared by many of my female friends.
John May
Too much rugby. End of story.
Tom
Let me get this straight you are complaining that less people are watching TV yet we go on about how our children and adults are starting to get obese come on people make your mind up.
Pdm
The early start to the season means it has impinged on the summer sporting season. I refuse to watch rugby before about the 20 March. Rugby is not the 'be all and end all' of New Zealand sport and the arrogant way they treat other sports needs to change.
Simon James
I think there are a number of reasons why viewers are turning away from Super 14 coverage and this could be mainly down to an increased choice of entertainment of which popularity is lifting: More TV channels, Broadband internet, Video games - new XBox and Playstation, Eating and drinking out.
Chris
I think people are tired of the amount of rugby there is these days on TV. I used to watch the super 12 (now super 14) but got sick of rule changes & now I feel I see to much rugby & don't tune in at all. As for Sky, it's a rip off, they keep moving the goal posts & charge too much for what you don't watch.
Maude McDonald
We are faithful watchers of Super 14 games on a Friday night (we are a household of 6 people) - I would like to know where they get the stats from regarding the number of viewers tuning in, because I don't believe they are accurate. If Sky can the live screening of the Friday night games then this will be one household that will be protesting hotly! We became Sky Digital subscribers because of rugby!
Kaumatua
Because there is too much rugby...its become a boring game. No fun to watch...and a big waste of money.
Russell Ward
There is now too much inferior rugby being screened and we are fed up with stupid IRB rules ie scrums, tackled ball etc. Sky is also pushing too much advertising for a pay to view provider at half time and even between overs during live cricket. We are considering cancelling Sky sport completely.
David Maggs
Rugby is suffering with an overdose at the moment. The super rugby season started way too early when the cricket season was still in full swing. I, personally, would rather watch our domestic competition than see Australian and South African teams repetitively. I am bored with seeing the same rugby year after year and even the Tri-Nations is starting to get a bit tedious. Bring back tours. And with all the constant changes to the rules comes more dissatisfaction. Professionalism has ruined rugby for me.
Scott Lelievre
For me the early start to the season has been a big turnoff. I think rugby should start in March, it is after all a winter sport, and end in September. At the moment the rugby season goes 10 months in the year -- that is simply too much rugby and no wonder people are turned off. Rugby is trying to be too dominant. The sport needs to allow space for other sports -- cricket for example in the summer. Rugby in the winter, cricket and tennis in the summer -- that was the way things used to be and it provided a nice rhythm to life. Who needs all year rugby? Rugby administrators need to start acting less like business man chasing year-round revenue and more like administrators of a winter sport.
Warwick Sickling
lthough I have watched Super 12/14 games in past seasons, there are three reasons why I have actively avoided them this season.First, it's Rugby World Cup year, and I am concerned that if I follow the Super 14 games, by the time October rolls around, I will be sick of rugby. Secondly, I don't have a Super team that I want to support. In provincial rugby I support North Harbour with a passion, but I refuse to support an Auckland team. When North Harbour gets a Super franchise of their own, with or without Northland, I'll be a lot more interested in Super rugby. Thirdly, and most importantly, my viewing time is currently spent in front of the Cricket World Cup. No Super rugby game is going to be better viewing than the current cricket, especially when New Zealand has its best chance to go all the way in the whole history of the CWC.
John McNeil
The answer is simple. 1st, too much Rugby; 2nd, dull games. My wife deserves more of my time than Rugby does.
NeillR
I'm not surprised that viewing numbers are down, but I don't think it's got much to do with the AB's on reconditioning. Instead SANZAR (especially SA and AUS) need to finally admit that they don't have the player depth to field extra teams. The sooner this charade is put to bed the better, but I fear it won't be until we're served up another couple of years of this dross.
Dave Smith
What is happening here is exactly what happened in the UK with snooker. After colour first came in there was a boom in snooker coverage. Each year the amount grew indiscriminately ("snooker good, more snooker better") until, very suddenly, viewers overdosed: a tipping point had been reached. Watching most rugby now is like being asked to stomach yet another horrible reality TV show. Unreal.
S
The issue isn't around whether the All Blacks are playing. It's with the amount of rugby. The season is so long now, why bother with the early season games? The fans need 're-conditioning' too, we're saving ourselves for the business end of the season. Quality over quantity any day.
P.Howley
Two things have made super 14 not worth watching.1.The debacle of the scrums,irritating,boring,taking the competition out of scrumaging.
2.The shocking display from many referees,no policing of professional fouls,pedantic decisions that are slowing down the game.How can three referees miss so many forward passes,cheating at rucks and mauls etc.
Viewers want to see tries,only the referees can put an end to professional fouls when hot on defence.
Boyd
Saying that the viewer drop is due to the All Blacks being missing is pure BS. There are 2 reasons for it: The over-saturation of rugby we have on TV, both super Rugby and Tri-nations have got bigger yet a lot of us had got sick of playing so many games against the same people every year. ersonally I don't mind the super 14, but stuff playing the South Africans every year in tests let alone 3 times and some years a one off Bledisloe cup game would be better than 3. Also we need to sort out the referring and the rules, bring on the Stellenbosch rules and create a referring school or something so there is no interpretation by referees just the application of the rules.
T
There is too much rugby and what is shown isn't always good to watch.
Kris Rogers
Too much rugby on these days, plus the quality of the matches sucks. Bored, bored, bored!
Eduardo
The rules of the game have now become so confusing, nobody including the players no what the hell is going on at the muck also the ridiculous crouch,pause,touch,engage, has made the scrums worse. I frequently now flick of the game and only come back for the last 20mins, and if it is particularly awful and messy give it a miss completely.
Mossy
Ibelieve that the range of referees interpretation of the new rules has had a major impact on the viewer numbers. I for example am a very dedicated rugby follower, who is so frustrated at the new scrum rules and referees decisions that i now watch the league...someone please save me from incompetent referees ruining the game