KEY POINTS:
Nearly a third of New Zealanders are suffering from rugby fatigue, Research New Zealand polling shows.
Research NZ director Emanuel Kalafatelis today said the poll found 29 per cent of New Zealanders reported they would be taking less interest in the Super 14 this season.
Only 14 per cent said they would be taking more interest in the Super 14, and 54 per cent said their interest would be the same as in 2007.
The poll showed little variation between males and females, but there was variation in opinion among age groups, Kalafatelis said.
"Younger people were the most likely to take a greater interest in the rugby. In the 15 to 29 age group 23 per cent said they were more interested than last year.
"While people aged between 30 and 39 were the least likely to take a greater interest in the Super 14 this season, nine per cent said they would take more interest in the competition.
"It seems there's still a bit of rugby fatigue around following the disappointment of the World Cup loss and the huge amount of coverage of rugby last year."
New Zealand were eliminated in the World Cup quarterfinals last year after being heavily tipped to win the title.
"People's interest may grow as we move deeper into this season, or this could signal that Kiwis are becoming more interested in sports other than rugby," Kalafatelis said.
Polling was conducted between February 12 and February 18, during the first week of the Super 14, which started last Friday.
The poll of 500 people aged 15 and over had a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 per cent.
- NZPA
