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#Post#: 20670--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: Chipstead Quin
Date: April 1, 2019, 5:30 am
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Quins Ladies are doing really well and that's great news for
them and the Club
Perhaps someone that follows the Ladies section closer than I
could advise on what should be done to support those teams in
the bottom half that don't seem to have the resources or players
of the top half .
The League needs to be more competitive to be sustainable in
the long term doesn't it ?
#Post#: 20717--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: Mayor West
Date: April 1, 2019, 1:58 pm
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It’s hard for most of the teams which have limited resources.
The teams supported by prem clubs are always going to have the
pulling power for the better players as they can afford the best
resources. Richmond , who were the best and probably most famous
women’s team, lost half their squad to us. I’m sure this has
happened with other women’s teams that were previously packed
with quality. Aylsford Bulls became Harlequins, litchfield were
a big force too. I think the biggest problem is prejudice. It
doesn’t cost much to watch the games, ours included in our
membership, they are still entertaining and usually of a good or
high standard. There are a lot of people who just won’t because
it’s women but will never bother seeing for themselves.
#Post#: 20718--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: honkytonk
Date: April 1, 2019, 2:02 pm
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I think the licensing period is up for review next season, so
that could see a change or two. Exeter are apparently applying
to join the league
#Post#: 20724--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: April 1, 2019, 3:59 pm
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I think Litchfield got screwed over didn't they? Really
successful club but didn't get granted a franchise.
I agree that a lot of people won't go just because it's women.
But quite a few possibly don't go because going to the men's
team once a fortnight is enough of a commitment as it
Don't they have three years without relegation to enable the
weaker teams to establish a squad and catch up?
#Post#: 20729--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: Blucherquin
Date: April 1, 2019, 4:43 pm
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--- Quote from: Mayor West link ---
>
> It’s hard for most of the teams which have limited resources.
The teams supported by prem clubs are always going to have the
pulling power for the better players as they can afford the best
resources. Richmond , who were the best and probably most famous
women’s team, lost half their squad to us. I’m sure this has
happened with other women’s teams that were previously packed
with quality. Aylsford Bulls became Harlequins, litchfield were
a big force too. I think the biggest problem is prejudice. It
doesn’t cost much to watch the games, ours included in our
membership, they are still entertaining and usually of a good or
high standard. There are a lot of people who just won’t because
it’s women but will never bother seeing for themselves.
>
--- End Quote ---
True on the teams - guess it’s always got to be someone once you
slowly start to professionalise.
But on the prejudice/lack of interest/lack of time - they don’t
need us (existing male rugby fans).
The big motivator for all (clubs, sponsors, etc) is women coming
to sporting events.
The crowd on Sat was lots of first time rugby attendees, lots of
women and lots of young girls / family groups with daughters.
They’ve all got cash they don’t currently spend on going to see
sport - surveys generally still find women feel it’s “not for
them” due to a combination of stereotypes, upbringing, lack of
role models, etc
Change that and you rake in the untapped cash.
#Post#: 20735--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: poorfour
Date: April 1, 2019, 6:33 pm
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BQ, that comes across as very condescending. Women’s rugby for
girls only? As a male member of a family in which more females
than males both hold Quins season tickets and play the game, one
of the huge attractions of rugby is that it’s a far more family
friendly sport than soccer or even cricket. There were a higher
proportion of women in the stands than usual on Saturday, but
mostly because a lot of girls’ youth teams had turned up to
watch it.
The women’s game does need our support. In many ways it’s where
the men’s game was in the late 1990s, except that the backers of
the clubs are older and wiser and being more cautious with their
money - so there’s no injection of cash to kickstart everything.
If fans start turning up to the games on a regular basis, then
the revenue will start to enable more fully pro players and the
quality will rise. Some of the skills on display from Quins at
the weekend were on a par with those of their male counterparts,
but there are only one or two teams with enough pro players to
reach that level. If we want that to change -and I think as fans
of the game we should, because it’s another way to get players
and supporters into the game - then we need to vote with our
feet and our wallets.
#Post#: 20742--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: April 2, 2019, 3:02 am
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Interesting point. One of the reasons Men's rugby helped along
the Ladies side of things was to get a wider audience for the
mens game (yes Bluch I know it doesn't matter as its all going
to be on TV..).
Now it would seem they are supporting the Ladies. We need to be
reciprocal mebbes.
#Post#: 20746--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: Blucherquin
Date: April 2, 2019, 3:20 am
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--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> BQ, that comes across as very condescending. Women’s rugby for
girls only? As a male member of a family in which more females
than males both hold Quins season tickets and play the game, one
of the huge attractions of rugby is that it’s a far more family
friendly sport than soccer or even cricket. There were a higher
proportion of women in the stands than usual on Saturday, but
mostly because a lot of girls’ youth teams had turned up to
watch it.
>
> The women’s game does need our support. In many ways it’s
where the men’s game was in the late 1990s, except that the
backers of the clubs are older and wiser and being more cautious
with their money - so there’s no injection of cash to kickstart
everything. If fans start turning up to the games on a regular
basis, then the revenue will start to enable more fully pro
players and the quality will rise. Some of the skills on display
from Quins at the weekend were on a par with those of their male
counterparts, but there are only one or two teams with enough
pro players to reach that level. If we want that to change -and
I think as fans of the game we should, because it’s another way
to get players and supporters into the game - then we need to
vote with our feet and our wallets.
>
--- End Quote ---
It's not condescending in the slightest, it's the opposite.
It's the entire driver behind the growth in the game and why
companies/sponsors/etc who obviously want to project (or
actually have) an interest in equality but also want to make
money have finally got off their behinds and started doing
something about.
I've spent a lot of time talking to people like Maggie Alphonsi
and other female sporting role models who are working in the
field as part of my job.
It's a success story.
The point is they don't have to convert lots of middle aged men
with "traditional" views who (and some lurk here) post
disparaging comments about women's sport. They have a massive
audience out there who haven't been encouraged to go to live
sport who are now starting to do so. If existing fans do it's a
bonus, but that's not where they see the potential for growth.
The women's rugby world cup in France was a massive success, and
the tickets were sold in large numbers to women and teenage
girls not to existing rugby fans - it is entirely
uncondescending and in fact vital to the future direction of the
sport to note that this is a very difficult demographic to get
to go and watch live sport.
Many women (such as Maggie) will tell you that they talk to
hundreds of women who say they didn't grow up being encouraged
to go to watch team sport, that they felt it "wasn't for them",
for reasons of culture, stereotypes and a lack of role models.
There was some great rugby played at the Stoop on Saturday - and
yes "male" rugby is a highly family-orientated sport compared
to, say, football - but the normal Stoop crowd is nonetheless
male dominated (and 35+).
On Saturday the crowd was noticeably different (as it was at the
women's world cup) - and Levi thingy the membership manager said
he met tonnes of people who had never been to a rugby match
before.
It's entirely a good thing that there is a big unexploited
market of potential fans because that's why commercial companies
will reach a tipping point and help the game grow - and nothing
to do with saying that women's sport is for women.
If more of us go then great -- I really enjoyed it. The point is
that's not where those actually involved in growing the sport
think the growth is going to come from.
And if they can therefore avoid having to try to attract dull
middle aged rugby bores who maintain that women can't play sport
at the same standard as men then it can't be bad.
#Post#: 20752--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: poorfour
Date: April 2, 2019, 4:30 am
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Thanks for clarifying BQ - I agree with lots of that (though I
would like to break down the attitudes of middle aged rugby
bores).
#Post#: 20753--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Game Changer
DIR By: InsertQuinsPunHere
Date: April 2, 2019, 4:30 am
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So one can't take a punt on some odds, but one can take the
lord's name in vain... odd censorship!
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