National Sport - Football or Rugby?

After a dramatic cup run which saw an historic win at Anfield, euphoria at Stamford Bridge, and mass hysteria over a ball boy, Swansea's league cup success almost culminated in anti-climax in the Capital One Cup Final as they strolled past league two side Bradford at Wembley.

Goals from Nathan Dyer (2), Jonathan De Guzman (2) and Miguel Michu secured a 5-0 win for Michael Laudrup's men.
 

Statistics prove a point

The Swans' success completes a remarkable turnaround for a club, who, in May 2003, were famously 45 minutes away from going out of the football league. Their story is significant on so many different levels. Not least, because it has reinforced a growing belief that football, not rugby, is now our leading domestic game.
 

And unfortunately for fans of regional rugby, the statistics are there to show it.
In the Premiership this season, The Swans have averaged a crowd of 20,329 and, plans are in place to add an extra 12,500 seats to the stadium for the next campaign.
And lest we forget Cardiff City, who, barring an amazing capitulation, will be promoted from the Championship this season.
 

They average 22,371 in the league, a number that will inevitably increase if they reach the Promised Land. To put those figures into perspective, the average attendance for a Rabo Direct Pro12 league this season is 7,802.
Indeed, the ill-fated stadium share between the Cardiff Blues and their footballing neighbours last season spoke volumes about the allegiance of the public.

 

Where have all the top players gone?

Many cynics will point fingers at the WRU for failing to provide incentives for fans and top players to indulge in regional rugby but, in reality, the authorities in Wales now face an irrepressible tide. The funding required to compete with player wages in England and France simply does not exist so as the influx of our leading players abroad begins to grow, attendances will inevitably drop.
 

Furthermore, the loyal band who do regularly watch their respective region are now under no illusions about the level of appeal of the Rabo Direct. In terms of quality and exposure, it is not on the same level as domestic leagues in England and France. Compare that with the English football Premiership, where fan bases are spread across the World. The top players are global superstars and the top earners make millions.
 

Indeed, would a sports-mad youngster rather watch the likes of Robin Van Persie or Wayne Rooney play at the Liberty or Cardiff City stadium, or a top Irish or Scottish rugby province? There is no contest.
 

Where Welsh rugby is still light years ahead

Where however, Welsh rugby is still light years ahead of football in terms of stature is at international level. Aside from that surreal Euro 2004 qualification campaign, our football side has seldom threatened to join the World elite.
In contrast, despite discontent over extortionate ticket prices, loyal fans continue to pack out the Millennium Stadium for Six Nations and Autumn internationals.
 

Gareth gives his view

But that does not mask the problems facing  the domestic game, and at a recent event at Haverfordwest RFC, former Wales coach Gareth Jenkins gave an interesting take on the current decline.

“One of the problems rugby faces right now is it is not attractive to watch,” he said, “There are too many scrums and too many lineouts slowing up the game. “There is no fluency or continuity. The laws need to be tackled to make it more appealing for spectators.
“Everything works in cycles but right now, football is clearly growing in Wales.”
 

Success inevitably brings support

Of course, success does bring support. Phil Griffiths, organiser of the Pembrokeshire Jacks, admitted that demand for tickets increased vastly after Swansea were promoted to the Premiership.

There is a core who have been on the bus for the four years we have been running, he said.
But as soon as we were promoted demand really increased.

We take more than 50 people on the bus to every home game, and I now get a lot more calls for tickets from people I don't know.

Incidentally, the same group took three buses and 133 fans from the county to Wembley.
 

Kevin comments on Osprey crowds

What regional rugby desperately needs is success in the Heineken Cup. It would not solve everything, but it would be enough to reinvigorate interest, albeit in the short term.

But until then, expect many more to echo the sentiments of Swansea announcer Kevin Johns, prior to the second leg of the Swansea v Chelsea semi final.
 

That night, Johns was given the job of introducing corporate guests to the Liberty. They were scheduled to arrive at 6pm, but heavy snow rendered the majority late. When Johns belatedly did take the microphone, he said: “Well I turned up here on time and there was only two fans, I thought the Ospreys were playing.”
 

The joke brought laughter, but the undertone was clear.

 

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