Utah Warriors Rugby’s Post

Sky Sport has just announced the introduction of free-to-air Friday footy, and I couldn't be more thrilled about it! 🏉 This is a significant move, especially considering the current challenges facing rugby viewership in New Zealand. Over the past few years, we've seen a decline in Super Rugby viewership, coupled with stiff competition from other sports like NRL. But with this new initiative, there's hope for a resurgence in interest and support for rugby in our country. Let's delve into why this initiative is so crucial. Firstly, there's the matter of our international performance. Gone are the days of All Blacks dominance, and now we find ourselves battling for a top-three position in the world. Additionally, there's a noticeable rise in rugby's popularity in the northern hemisphere, with World Rugby actively seeking to break into the US market. However, one of the most concerning aspects is the decline in local participation numbers. Currently, there are only 32,429 adults playing rugby in New Zealand, compared to a staggering 73,000 participating in football. This trend underscores the urgent need for action to revitalize interest in the sport at the grassroots level. But here's where the silver lining lies: history has shown us that exposure plays a pivotal role in boosting participation. Just look at how cricket and football saw a surge in participation following major events like the World Cup in NZ. By showcasing rugby on free-to-air platforms, we have the opportunity to reignite interest and drive participation from the ground up. So, a huge shoutout to Sky for taking this bold step forward. Let's all rally behind this initiative and hope that it serves as a catalyst for positive change in the rugby landscape. 🌟 https://lnkd.in/gCvzmmgh

Sky Sport has just announced the introduction of free-to-air Friday footy, and I couldn't be more thrilled about it! 🏉 This is a significant move, especially considering the current challenges facing rugby viewership in New Zealand. Over the past few years, we've seen a decline in Super Rugby viewership, coupled with stiff competition from other sports like NRL. But with this new initiative, there's hope for a resurgence in interest and support for rugby in our country. Let's delve into why this initiative is so crucial. Firstly, there's the matter of our international performance. Gone are the days of All Blacks dominance, and now we find ourselves battling for a top-three position in the world. Additionally, there's a noticeable rise in rugby's popularity in the northern hemisphere, with World Rugby actively seeking to break into the US market. However, one of the most concerning aspects is the decline in local participation numbers. Currently, there are only 32,429 adults playing rugby in New Zealand, compared to a staggering 73,000 participating in football. This trend underscores the urgent need for action to revitalize interest in the sport at the grassroots level. But here's where the silver lining lies: history has shown us that exposure plays a pivotal role in boosting participation. Just look at how cricket and football saw a surge in participation following major events like the World Cup in NZ. By showcasing rugby on free-to-air platforms, we have the opportunity to reignite interest and drive participation from the ground up. So, a huge shoutout to Sky for taking this bold step forward. Let's all rally behind this initiative and hope that it serves as a catalyst for positive change in the rugby landscape. 🌟 https://lnkd.in/gCvzmmgh #RugbyRevival #SkySport #FreeToAirFooty

Premiership Women's Rugby scores multi-year deal with TNT Sports! TNT Sports has inked a ground-breaking multi-year broadcast deal with Premiership Women’s Rugby, marking a historic moment for women's club rugby in England. Starting this season, TNT Sports will showcase 20 live matches per season, including one match every weekend, semi-finals, and the grand final on June 22, 2024. This deal extends into the digital space too, with the TNT Sports app becoming the go-to destination for highlights, match reports, and exclusive interviews from Premiership Women’s Rugby games. This multi-year strategic partnership promises to create a weekly rendezvous for fans and clubs, with the aim of transforming the league's profile. Speaking with Insider Sports, Belinda Moore, CEO of Premiership Women’s Rugby, shared her enthusiasm, highlighting the pivotal nature of this collaboration, as it creates a weekly appointment for the 1.5 million dedicated women’s rugby fans in the UK to view the game they love. Further demonstrating the enormous potential of this partnership, with the numbers of viewers it will serve to reach. This significant broadcast deal also complements TNT’s expanding portfolio of rugby content, including men’s Premiership Rugby and European Club Rugby. Serving as a complimentary significant commercial step in the rebrands that both TNT Sport and the Premiership Women’s Rugby have undergone this year. #womeninsports #rugby #premiershipwomensrugby #TNTSport #sportsbusiness #digital #sportsbroadcasting

** THEY'VE ONLY GONE AND DONE IT AGAIN ** 🎬 Beautifully written piece, pulling together the word-smithing, historical context (dating back to 1872) and data insights from the power trio - Alastair Sledge, James Stringer, Louis Williams. 👏 The following quote is particularly interesting: "Innovations on and off the pitch have been constant, and this has enabled the development of many of world rugby’s finest talents and teams" 👨💻 I think it's important to note these innovations are also enhancing the development of expectations among the fan-base of the game. There is a continuous evolution to what the overall match-day, fan engagement and digitally driven experience needs to be, in order to compliment the on-field entertainment. 🌟 United Rugby Championship x Elixirr

Four Asian Rugby Unions Join Forces for Unions Cup to Boost 15s Rugby Growth As we wrapped up the Singapore Rugby Sevens, a landmark event took place that promises to enhance the landscape of rugby in Asia. The Singapore Rugby Union, alongside the rugby unions of Thailand , Chinese Taipei, and the Philippine Rugby Football Union Inc, have signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 🤝 The Unions Cup: A New Chapter for Rugby in Asia Set to kick off from June 28 to July 6, 2024, the inaugural Unions Cup aims to boost 15s rugby and increase playing opportunities across Eastern and Southeast Asia. This marks a significant commitment to nurturing close-border rivalries, increased playing opportunities and the potential to expand to women's games next year. 🔄 Rotating Hosts, Building Traditions Each participating country will take turns hosting the annual tournament, enhancing the engagement and excitement around #rugby in the region. This collaborative effort not only aims to strengthen the #sport but also to attract commercial partners and align with the broader goals of World Rugby. 🌏 A Unified Vision The aspiration for the Unions Cup is to grow into a six-country tournament to become the equivalent of the Six Nations Rugby. As we look towards the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, initiatives like the Unions Cup are pivotal in promoting the 15s game.   The future of rugby in Asia is stronger, united, and more exciting than ever!   RugbyDAO Web3 Sports Ventures #AsiaRugby #RugbyUnion #UnionsCup Photo Credit: Asia Rugby

🚨 🇦🇺 🏉 ✊ “Nothing could be more important at this time than a focus on winning the hearts and minds of Australian rugby fans” Australian Rugby Think Tank Report: Insights and Innovations for a Thriving Future. As Australian Rugby stands at a pivotal crossroads, the RugbyDAO has spearheaded an essential dialogue through an Australian Rugby Think Tank, uniting key stakeholders to deliberate on the future of this storied Australia. With the 2025 Lions Tour, the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, and the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup on the horizon, the imperative to fortify the sport's foundation and propel it toward a prosperous future has never been more urgent. This report encapsulates the insights, recommendations, and strategic pathways discussed during the think tank. Delving into critical areas such as grassroots engagement, performance pathways, and fan engagement, offering a blueprint for a commercially viable, globally competitive, and community-centric rugby ecosystem. The report reveals passion and optimism in a fragmented landscape and highlights the necessity for a unified strategy that prioritises community development, leverages technological innovation, and redefines fan engagement. This is a call to action for immediate change but also a platform for deeper investigation into cultivating a thriving rugby culture that resonates with Australians from all walks of life. We invite the entire Australian and global rugby community—players, coaches, fans, and stakeholders—to engage with the findings and participate in a constructive dialogue. Together, we can address the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead, ensuring a vibrant and resilient future for Australian Rugby. Feel free to start or join the conversation in any of our channels by commenting below, joining our discord or following us on twitter (X). Links in the comments. Explore the full report below and join us in helping to shape the renaissance of Australian Rugby. #AustralianRugby #rugby #sport #RugbyDAO #RugbyRevival #FutureOfRugby #rugbyrevolution

🌟 Exciting News Alert! 🌟 Hey there, Rugby Enthusiasts! 🏉✨ We've got some thrilling updates to share with you all! Our latest newsletter is hot off the press, packed with exclusive content, insightful articles, and exciting announcements about everything rugby-related. Click the link below to dive into all the latest and upcoming news, and insider insights. Trust us, you won't want to miss out on what we've got in store for you! https://wix.to/N9RALqM Stay tuned for more updates, and don't forget to hit that subscribe button to stay in the loop with all things rugby! #RugbyUpdates #Newsletter #StayInformed #RugbyCommunity 📰🏉

An invaluable few days at Rugby Australia engaging with some quality people. Rugby in Australia is poised for a transformative decade with landmark events on the horizon: the 2025 Lions Tour, the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, and the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup. These events are set to elevate the game both domestically, in the Pacific and globally. Since Rugby Australia’s strategic reset & recharge last year, it is evident that planning and execution towards achieving their goals on and off the field are well underway. The forward-thinking concepts, initiatives, and programs within their performance and community development efforts are world-class. In one of the most competitive sporting landscapes this is a significant undertaking by one of our key Member Unions. With the continued alignment of vital stakeholders and the ongoing support of valued partners, the journey ahead for rugby in Australia and the Pacific looks both exciting and promising. #leadership #partnership #movingthegameforward World Rugby Oceania Rugby

Coordination of the game calendar like this is going to be essential in bringing the finances of the game into better shape. The different set-ups of the various stakeholders make it challenging, but the commercial logic (no, necessity!) is compelling. I suspect the bigger challenge is yet to be solved, and that's how to pool commercial rights in such a way as to spread the value of rugby's iconic events - Six Nations Rugby, The British & Irish Lions etc. - across the professional club game. That's where the value is.

Today marks the end of another intriguing Six Nations Tournament. Rugby is my Go-To metaphor for understanding how teams work best, what creates real success. So, what does this great sport continue to teach us about team dynamics and organisation? (At least) Five things spring to mind........................................ 🏉 It has a place for everyone: The 15-person lineup demands members of all shapes and sizes, strengths, backgrounds and abilities. You literally cannot win with a One Size Fits All pool of talent. 🏉 It's a team of subteams: Within the match-day 23, there are forwards, backs, the pack, the kickers, and various permutations forming rucks, mauls and line-outs. The game depends on Agility of Collaboration. 🏉 It's a squad of many leaders: The Head Coach, the Forwards Coach, the Backs Coach, the Captain, AND every team member that draws everyone in for a huddle or shares a sideword of advice before a key decision. Rugby creates Leadership Magnitude. 🏉 Heads-up rugby is a lesson for everyone: Moving away from traditional ways of organising, heads-up rugby means playing what's in front of you not expecting or playing to a predictable pattern. Heads-up rugby always responds to the needs of the Here and Now. 🏉 When rugby teams win, heritage wins: To credit the sport's greatest winners, the All Blacks and the Springboks, rugby is never about points on boards, it's about the Maori culture, the spirit of Ellis Park, June 24, 1995, Nelson Mandela. So, whether Ireland become likely tournament winners today or agonisingly pass up the chance at the last minute, I will remain rugby's lifelong fan and student. #rugby #irishrugby #teamdynamics