Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So rugby might be on a bit of a revival.
Role player registration numbers, new numbers. Registrations are up six
percent on the year. We got one hundred and fifty
six thousand registered players across the country, Heartland provinces. They're
run setting new records which is good. Now the ends
it ours Community Rugby General manager Steve Lancaster with us.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good morning, morning White. Tell you what if you watch the.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
MPC final, which I did, that makes you want to
play rugby, doesn't it all?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I would hope. So, I mean we had we had
two finals and two weeks that went to extra time,
so across the in fact, across the farre par Mer Cup,
the Heartland Championship in the NPC. We we've got some
great advertisements for the community game in the last month.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
What what drives registration.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
The participants experience more than anything, right so, and that
speaks to retention as much as anything. But if people
are having a good time and coming back, they're really
telling other people about it, speaking positively about the game,
and that draws more people. So a lot of our
focus is on ensuring that our participants, be they players, coaches, referees, volunteers,
are enjoying their experience.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And is it school or is it club?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
It's all of that and the numbers that we've released
this week, we've seen growth across all segments really pleasingly.
We've seen just over five percent increasing teenage boys, which
is an area that is often called out as a
declining area forticipation, but we're also seeing club growth across
the spectrum as well.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Geez, that's exciting, isn't it. And in the Heartland is
it different and you're seeing success there because of the
community aspect of it or not?
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, I said so. I mean the numbers across the
heart of the unions are at a record high. So
we've got more people playing rugby and Heartland provinces than
ever had before and that's really exciting. And I think
that is true that there's a slightly different experience in
rugby holds a slightly different place than those communities. So
we're really pleased with that result as well.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So have you turned the tide or was the tide
never needing turning? Because the reputation or the myth or
the whatever you want to call it, was that rugby's dying.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
People don't play it anymore.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
They all get injured, Mum and dad can't take you
across to the game, so the whole thing's in trouble.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Was that ever true?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
No, I don't think so. I think the rhetoric of
that outweighed the reality, if we're honest. Although look, we
don't shy away from the fact that we have had
declining numbers in some segments, and so it's nice to
see them all rebounding after COVID. But you've touched on it.
There's perceptions, particularly perceptions around injury that actually just aren't accurate,
and so a lot of our work now is on
(02:23):
ensuring that we're putting factual information out there about those
sort of things as well.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
And do you see the connection between more people playing
and the All Blacks the elite level of the game,
or are they completely separate things. A great player is
going to be a great player, whether you know a
bunch of kids play it at school.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
No, we do see a connection, and it's something we've
actually we've debated a lot internally, is whether, in fact,
the long term success that the All Blacks is dependent on
the game being the game of choice for the Zelanders.
But way we've blanned is that it is that you know.
It can only enhance the prospects of the All Blacks
continuing to an on the world stage if more people
are playing the game at all levels.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I think that's true.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Steve go Well, Steve Lancaster ins at our community, Rugby
General Manager, looking forward to the weekend. Of course, in
Britain brought back memories.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
There are the Shirley under sevens.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
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