What position are you playing? On second thoughts, don't need to know - would be able to spot that sexxxy monobrow from a fair old distance.
that would be good, though i cant remember them having a challenge when waikato held it frequently through the noughties
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/7770662/Ranfurly-Shield-arrives-in-Hamilton Only 200 fans to greet the shield. Also a big eff u to everyone who says Waikato doesn't care about the shield. Hamilton is a capital of a very rural province. The shield was held in reverence when I grew up. http://www.expdev.net/htownwiki/index.php/Up_and_under:_the_song_of_the_Waikato_front_row
200 fans. Wow. Things have changed, mate. You and many others care more about Super Rugby than proper stuff - and the problem is largest in the metropolitan areas. Suck it up. I'd rather the Shield was held by a team that still appreciates it for what it is than Wellington.
Don't lump Waikato in with Auckland et al. If I'd been in town it would have been 201 fans. If you knew the Hamilton I know you would never make these claims.
Anyway, ITM Cup is much, much, much more exciting than Super Rugby - and that doesn't matter either. Apparently.
From what I see ITM Cup probably is more exciting. However, if something being exciting and getting good crowds goes together then why do the ITM Cup games not sell out? I was watching highlights of a game the other day - there was about 80 points scored but hardly anyone there.
1) People won't go mid week. 2) People view it as second class rugby - why watch Trent Renata when you can watch Cruden 3) ITM cup needs to improve its standard of play. The handling is cringeworthy at times. (Does not apply to ranfurly shield challenges where both sides come to play). 4) There are a couple of teams which don't capture the imagination not naming any names - and they taint the rest of the comp.
Go back to Div 1, 2 and 3 None of this Premiership, Championship and Heartland crap. Bring back the days of Promo and Relegation.
I also don't think it helps that teams can end up playing 3 times in 10 days. It's ridiculous if you've had a hundred-plus tackle game that you finish, cool down and then are boarding the next plane to the next game. To me, it's no surprise that the defensive play can be ropey at times. But really #1 is the biggest reason that attendances are poor, but games in the provinces have been fairly well attended still. Whangarei, Napier, Palmerston North and Nelson/Blenheim have had decent attendances (though I think Whangarei is the only one up on last year).
