Rugby union is facing a looming crisis. The game is losing its appeal , with many turning to alternative sports like basketball due to perceived complexities and a lack of engagement.
Positively, match attendance at the Rugby World Cup in France reached 1.8 million with eight knockout matches left to be played, surpassing the 1.7 million total at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
But the decline in players and audience numbers of non-World Cup matches cannot be denied, with the likes of New Zealand Rugby forking out $15 million for NPC operating costs and only drawing in around 200,000 in total attendance. That is not sustainable.
There has been plenty of suggestion that New Zealand has fallen out of love with rugby, one of the sticking points being how hard to understand and follow the game is.
Recognising this challenge, the Herald has explored potential changes to the laws of rugby to make the game more appealing to viewers and fans. Let us know in the comments what you think would work and any suggestions you have.