CARDIFF CITY PROMOTION WOULD THREATEN WELSH RUGBY

By Delme Parfitt

SHOULD Welsh rugby regard the prospect of Cardiff City reaching the Premier League as a threat? Hell, yes.

Actually, I’ll rephrase that question: Should Welsh rugby regard the unprecedented boom in Welsh club football as a threat?

Hell, yes.

With the Bluebirds eight points clear at the top of the Championship ahead of this weekend, I just feel it is time to consider what effect their promotion to the top flight – not sealed yet but looking increasingly likely – could have on what is supposed to be our national sport.


I’m not suggesting Wales rugby matches would suddenly be played in front of sparse crowds at the Millennium Stadium because I don’t think the very elite end will be affected.

After all, those games are as much about the drink as they are the spectacle, so they carry an appeal even during times of fallow results.

Then you have the semi-professional Welsh Premiership, which is followed by diehards who will show up on a Saturday afternoon come what may.

But there must be grave concerns about the potential effect on the already beleaguered and poorly-attended regional game.

You have to look at the overall picture on the football front to get a true idea of what may lie ahead.

Swansea City are now an established Premier League club, and don’t look like relinquishing that status one iota.

In fact, on this season’s evidence, and taking into account chairman Huw Jenkins’ masterful knack for appointing brilliant managers, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Swans stayed where they are for the next 10 years.

By then the Liberty Stadium will have at least a 30,000 capacity, and a sizeable proportion of them will be people who have come on board because of the club’s success, people who, had regional rugby been worth the gate money, might have watched that instead.

It is already happening. I have a friend whose father has always been a rugby man first and foremost.

But so despairing has he become of benign, low-calibre Pro12 rugby that he is now a Swans season ticket holder.

OK, he’s just one example, but I’m assuming there must be others, and that there is a serious risk of contagion should Cardiff City manage, this time, to get across the line.

Potentially, they have a bigger catchment area than even the Swans and so could end up sucking a larger amount of money out of rugby.

Were they able to match their bitter rivals and hold on to Premier League status for a number of years, then watch their ground at Leckwith extend as well. Watch yet more casual sports fans, open to watching rugby and football so long as it’s worth the admission fee, opt for the edge and passion that league football offers and regional rugby doesn’t. Watch the Blues come under yet more pressure to put bums on seats at the Arms Park.

And let’s not forget also that we have two clubs currently riding high in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

If Wrexham regain their Football League status then North Wales being what it is, rugby can rest easy.

But not so Newport County.

It’s almost three decades since they were a fully-fledged Football League outfit, and no mugs at that.

In the 1982-83 season, when Len Ashurst’s Cardiff won promotion to the old Second Division, County went close themselves, topping the table at one stage with a certain John Aldridge banging in the goals. They finished fourth.

Well, Newport is a city these days, there are plenty of older football followers who remember those relatively heady days, and there would be plenty of younger ones seduced by the idea of following their local side in League Two.

So what will that mean for the Dragons? Let’s face it, they’re hardly a glamour draw as it is never mind having to compete with a Football League for what little money people have to spare on watching sport.

There will be those who claim rugby and football are followed by two distinct sets of supporters, that you can like one or the other, but never both.

Nonsense. Sport is more of a family attraction these days than ever, and mums and dads who want to treat their kids will look for the best value entertainment on offer, the event that’s going to give their little ones lasting memories.

And one thing has never changed – people want to be associated with success.

One way of looking at this if you’re a defender of rugby, is to take the long-term view, that the boom in football will increase participation levels in sport among kids and that can only have a positive knock-on effect for rugby.

You could also claim that if Cardiff City went up the surge in interest would only be temporary, that people would go for one season to see the Premier League superstars and then the novelty would wear off.

But that’s a somewhat rose-tinted, complacent way of viewing things in my opinion.

All this just further increases the pressure on the WRU and the regions to put in place measures to breath new life into the domestic situation.

Am I going to get into how they can do that here? Frankly I haven’t got the energy. But a flourishing football scene in Wales, and especially the unprecedented scenario of two Premier League football clubs in South Wales – represents clear and present danger for Welsh rugby unless it gets its act together.

So WRU and regions, be warned.


Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynatio ... z2IVo9LJN1

For many years now club rugby in wales has been dead,the majority of the top players now play in France,like what was said the six nations is mostly about going out for a pint rather than going to watch the game,and those who do bother watching it,most of them don't even know the rules,long live our national sport lol

Delightful.

There you go! There's our excuse for not getting promotion. The WRU will pay the FA to not allow us to get promoted.

The biggest problem with regional rugby is you rarely see the best players, because of either resting or training for Autumn and six nations games. Why pay £20 to go and watch reserves, it's like going to City to watch Man U and they field a reserve side.

Welsh rugby hasn't been a credible alternative for ten years plus. That's when thousands and thousands of welsh working class males started to lose interest to be replaced by annoying women wearing cowboy hats, daffodil head dresses and red f*cking feather boas . There's a lesson to be learned here perhaps. One of the reasons for the decline in interest among working class males was the marketing and media men shoving rugby down our throats and the massive price hikes forced on the viewing public.... Sounds a lot like the premier league eh

Rugby is pricing itself out of the market 6 nations tickets up at £60 + plus a day out

its not a cheap hobby no more

Rugby is pricing itself out of the market 6 nations tickets up at £60 + plus a day out

its not a cheap hobby no more

Baz with what it would cost for a bloke and his misses for a day out they could have a week in Spain for less.
I see a piss poor six nations and us getting promoted being the deth knell for welsh rugby

I'd love it. I know you're meant to be proud of any Welsh sporting achievement but imagine us getting promoted, The eggers having a shit six nations. It would be amazing, maybe we'd finally have priority over the fixtures and the Eggers would have to play by our rules? Brilliant, just brilliant thoughts.

I'd love it. I know you're meant to be proud of any Welsh sporting achievement but imagine us getting promoted, The eggers having a shit six nations. It would be amazing, maybe we'd finally have priority over the fixtures and the Eggers would have to play by our rules? Brilliant, just brilliant thoughts.

Why are we supposed to be proud of any Welsh sporting success? Could not care less about any other sport. Or any other Welsh 'achievement', singers, actors, whatever. Only care about football; Cardiff City and the Wales football team. That's about as far as my 'Welshness' goes. Particularly hate the egg-chasers though.

Yes good article , the regions appear to be going backwards year on year . The players are being enticed away by the lure of the money in France and I can't recall the last time any of the regions got to the final stages of European cup.
The six nations IMO will still continue to fill stadiums but there are already noticeable drops in attendances for the lesser games at the Mil Stad.
The problem that Swansea and Cardiff football has is that they are not geared up with their capacity to take advantage of any migration of fans from rugby .

The Ospreys have seen a real drop since we went up, walking past the club shop after the match yesterday, all Ospreys merch is already 50% off. Attendances have plummeted, barely see people wearing Ospreys stuff anymore... All good considering the smugness we had off them when we first moved to the Liberty.

The Ospreys have seen a real drop since we went up, walking past the club shop after the match yesterday, all Ospreys merch is already 50% off. Attendances have plummeted, barely see people wearing Ospreys stuff anymore... All good considering the smugness we had off them when we first moved to the Liberty.

Jacks got 5,000 extra fans on promotion. Had to come from somewhere. No surprise it's at the expense of the Ospreys.

Wouldn't happen to the same extent here as we haven't got 5,000 spare seats, however if we did have them, then I'm sure they would be filled.

Tan needs to seriously think about emergency work to get the new
seating in. We will easily average 30,000 next season

I think its more of a case of professional rugby committing suicide rather than the effect football will have on regional rugby.

Like the article said there are too many good alternatives than watching regional rugby. Our semi-professional leagues offer good decent rugby at a fraction of the price of what you pay for regional rugby.

The national game will not be effected yes the prices are ridiculous but people will pay whether its for rugby reasons or your day out on the piss.

Regional rugby has to buck up its ideas now rather than worry what will happen if Cardiff got promoted.

I think this reporter is slightly biased.

Rugby is pricing itself out of the market 6 nations tickets up at £60 + plus a day out

its not a cheap hobby no more

Baz with what it would cost for a bloke and his misses for a day out they could have a week in Spain for less.
I see a piss poor six nations and us getting promoted being the deth knell for welsh rugby

The last time me and the missus went we done 200 quid thats 2/3 of a season ticket at the city

I think its more of a case of professional rugby committing suicide rather than the effect football will have on regional rugby.

Like the article said there are too many good alternatives than watching regional rugby. Our semi-professional leagues offer good decent rugby at a fraction of the price of what you pay for regional rugby.

The national game will not be effected yes the prices are ridiculous but people will pay whether its for rugby reasons or your day out on the piss.

Regional rugby has to buck up its ideas now rather than worry what will happen if Cardiff got promoted.

I think this reporter is slightly biased.

Good post and that's the way I read the report, it was almost like DP was hoping that Cardiff City don't get promoted.

The semi-proffesional rugby union is excellent value and to some extent undermines the regional game because it is simply better value.

The regional game is in dire straits and having 2 South Wales based Premier League Clubs along side a thriving Semi-Pro game is going to hurt them big time.

I think its more of a case of professional rugby committing suicide rather than the effect football will have on regional rugby.

Like the article said there are too many good alternatives than watching regional rugby. Our semi-professional leagues offer good decent rugby at a fraction of the price of what you pay for regional rugby.

The national game will not be effected yes the prices are ridiculous but people will pay whether its for rugby reasons or your day out on the piss.

Regional rugby has to buck up its ideas now rather than worry what will happen if Cardiff got promoted.

I think this reporter is slightly biased.

Good post and that's the way I read the report, it was almost like DP was hoping that Cardiff City don't get promoted.

The semi-proffesional rugby union is excellent value and to some extent undermines the regional game because it is simply better value.

The regional game is in dire straits and having 2 South Wales based Premier League Clubs along side a thriving Semi-Pro game is going to hurt them big time.

I dont think the reporter is hoping Cardiff dont get promoted (though it can be read that way) I just think hes firing a warning shot after the damage has been done.

I think its more of a case of professional rugby committing suicide rather than the effect football will have on regional rugby.

Like the article said there are too many good alternatives than watching regional rugby. Our semi-professional leagues offer good decent rugby at a fraction of the price of what you pay for regional rugby.

The national game will not be effected yes the prices are ridiculous but people will pay whether its for rugby reasons or your day out on the piss.

Regional rugby has to buck up its ideas now rather than worry what will happen if Cardiff got promoted.

I think this reporter is slightly biased.

Good post and that's the way I read the report, it was almost like DP was hoping that Cardiff City don't get promoted.

The semi-proffesional rugby union is excellent value and to some extent undermines the regional game because it is simply better value.

The regional game is in dire straits and having 2 South Wales based Premier League Clubs along side a thriving Semi-Pro game is going to hurt them big time.

I dont think the reporter is hoping Cardiff dont get promoted (though it can be read that way) I just think hes firing a warning shot after the damage has been done.

Oh more damage is on the way

I think its more of a case of professional rugby committing suicide rather than the effect football will have on regional rugby.

Like the article said there are too many good alternatives than watching regional rugby. Our semi-professional leagues offer good decent rugby at a fraction of the price of what you pay for regional rugby.

The national game will not be effected yes the prices are ridiculous but people will pay whether its for rugby reasons or your day out on the piss.

Regional rugby has to buck up its ideas now rather than worry what will happen if Cardiff got promoted.

I think this reporter is slightly biased.

Good post and that's the way I read the report, it was almost like DP was hoping that Cardiff City don't get promoted.

The semi-proffesional rugby union is excellent value and to some extent undermines the regional game because it is simply better value.

The regional game is in dire straits and having 2 South Wales based Premier League Clubs along side a thriving Semi-Pro game is going to hurt them big time.

I dont think the reporter is hoping Cardiff dont get promoted (though it can be read that way) I just think hes firing a warning shot after the damage has been done.

Oh more damage is on the way

lol well I dont like mocking other sports but I do like the idea of Cardiff getting promoted so here is hoping with fingers crossed

all irrelevant if the capacity remains at 26,000 and we're only up for one season

I'd love it. I know you're meant to be proud of any Welsh sporting achievement but imagine us getting promoted, The eggers having a shit six nations. It would be amazing, maybe we'd finally have priority over the fixtures and the Eggers would have to play by our rules? Brilliant, just brilliant thoughts.

Why are we supposed to be proud of any Welsh sporting success? Could not care less about any other sport. Or any other Welsh 'achievement', singers, actors, whatever. Only care about football; Cardiff City and the Wales football team. That's about as far as my 'Welshness' goes. Particularly hate the egg-chasers though.

I have sympathy for that view.

I do think though that any success for any of the Welsh football teams (even the Jacks) could be a good thing for the Welsh national football team - i.e. if they were to stay in the Premiership for a decade or so (as the article suggests), then there's more chance of an academy, good training facilities etc down west as well as with us - that can only be a good thing for the possibility of unearthing some good Welsh talent who might otherwise go unnoticed. That wouldn't bother me too much, as lomg as we're up there with them, and doing better than them in the long run.

I agree with you entirely about the egg chasers

Tan needs to seriously think about emergency work to get the new
seating in. We will easily average 30,000 next season

I agree 100%. He should give the go ahead as soon as promotion looks certain, which could be mid April. Gives us 3.5 months to get the second tier up. Let's start a campaign

As much as i want this great country of ours to do well at all sports, i do get totally pissed off when our home games get moved because of the egg chasers. Surely when we get to the premiership this cannot continue to happen on the regular basis as it does now

Just read this article in the paper and thought what a load of crap - regional rugby is suffering and has been for some time, if the City go up it will have a marginal impact as regional rugby has been in massive decline for a number of years.

Not an expert, but English clubs play in their old club format, not regions - I have always been a Cardiff rugby supported, have no affection for the Blues. English clubs also have promotion and relegation - Welsh regions don't.

I go to most Wales home games (unless they clash with the City of course!) and some away - don't know many Welsh rugby supporters who like the regions or the way rugby is set up.

Im Cardiffian, not Welsh.

British by passport, Cardiffian in my heart.

The English are surprised up here in Aber how little I care about the egg chasing.

'But you're Welsh, you're supposed to like rugby'.

If I had a pound every time I have heard that I would be able to pay off Langston myself.

The sooner egg chasing dies the better.

Never understood the anti-rugby views tbh. If you don't like the egg, fine. But, wishing for Welsh rugby to fail is just single minded spite. Just daft.

I think the rugby should accept that the money isn't in welsh regions and concentrate the next ten years on increasing the attendance and viewing figures.......that will only happen by going to a larger league pyramid system.....which means they need more than 4 teams.

Im Cardiffian, not Welsh.

British by passport, Cardiffian in my heart.

The English are surprised up here in Aber how little I care about the egg chasing.

'But you're Welsh, you're supposed to like rugby'.

If I had a pound every time I have heard that I would be able to pay off Langston myself.

The sooner egg chasing dies the better.

bit pathetic all that really to be honest

no one is holding a gun against your head making you watch rugby

dont like it dont watch it

wanting rugby to die, it takes a lot of effort to have those sorts of feelings but I suppose your thoughts will make you popular with certain circles.

expecting a welshman to like rugby is like expecting an englishman to like cricket, its a social stereotype. A stereotype youve bought into more than most by the looks of it

We lost about 5 boys from our senior squad to the jacks, be losing me next year give me an excuse to finally retire, i wouldn't worry about the national side yet but junior rugby is in a terrible state teams struggling to raise sides every week.

Im Cardiffian, not Welsh.

British by passport, Cardiffian in my heart.

The English are surprised up here in Aber how little I care about the egg chasing.

'But you're Welsh, you're supposed to like rugby'.

If I had a pound every time I have heard that I would be able to pay off Langston myself.

The sooner egg chasing dies the better.

This