Absa Currie Cup fans a no-show
30 Jun 2006
The not-so prestigious premier league of South African rugby saw poor turnouts in it’s opening week, and this weekend is set to see much of the same.
Rob Wagner, MD of WP Rugby has indicated that the poor attendance figures could be attributed to the poor performances of the Springboks, as well as the fact that none of those players will play Currie Cup rugby in 2006.
“I think that we underestimate the impact that the performance of the national team has on the psyche of the nation. And the three tests thus far haven’t set the nation alight with regards to the performances. Maybe that’s a reason,” the WP Rugby boss told Rugby365 editor Jan de Koning.
The figures really do put this sad story into perspective. The Sharks opening match against the Lions was the only encounter to draw over 10 000 spectators, with 15 180 paying customers attending the game.
In second place was the Vodacom Blue Bulls and Valke match which only attracted 7 492 of the usually impressive Loftus Versveld turnout. In Bloemfontein, 2 000 fans gathered to watch the central derby between the Vodacom Cheetahs and Griquas, whilst the numbers were even worse in Witbank with 2 000 being the official count for the Pumas and Province clash.
The old coastal rivalry is to be resumed tomorrow at Newlands, but Wagner fears that it may no be the big occasion it once was. The unions are said to be planning on budget cuts, as the takings at the gates are no longer sufficient.
“At this point in time, for a typical Currie Cup game, it is not good,” Wagner said. “We haven’t improved on years gone by, despite the fact that we’re in a so-called strength-versus-strength competition,” Wagner said.
“Again one has to ask, is the absence of leading players not the only reason why we have these poor attendance figures?
“”It will be interesting to see how the [rest of the] Currie Cup pans out, particularly from an attendance point of few. It had been a shock, and we’ll see what the crowd attendance is like here [at Newlands] on Saturday.”
By Jon Cardinelli
151 Comments
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30 Jun 2006, 13:48 pm
Fair enough cab – guess the farm in the kei will be about relaxation and not profit.
STM – highly unlikely those under achievers could string more than 10 passes together – for all the talent they just **** – reminds me of the Stormers
Futher more anyone who lists Darts as national spoting achievment really needs there head checked.
When can i expect a full itinerary for our end of year tour to mud island ?
30 Jun 2006, 13:51 pm
Portugal! Portugal!
30 Jun 2006, 13:51 pm
Eish Mr Wagner
The impact that you lot have on the Boks is more the point. You guys in the PC 14 call the shots so stop trying to tap dance your way out of it idiot!
Stop the BS and explain why you have black Boks you never play.
30 Jun 2006, 13:53 pm
Wat ook al sy naam is praat n klomp k@#$%^&*…Die mense kom nie Nuweland toe nie omdat die Stormers en Wp swak presteer die afgelope 2 seisoen en NIEMAND by die unie doen enigiets om dit beter te maak nie.EN as julle dit nieverstaan nie sal ek dit weer uitspel…Ons sal sien hoe lank gaan die idiote wat die tipe snert aan ons probeer verkoop nog daar wees as die geldjies begin uitloop?
30 Jun 2006, 13:56 pm
Hey Jonny –
VIVA PORTUGAL!!!!!
*england to be outplayed by far…
Can you say…’BIG HEADS!’
30 Jun 2006, 14:03 pm
StM,
what is the latest on the RFU vs. english clubs?
has the RFU sorted something out or is the oldest rugby union in the world still struggling to come to terms with true professionalism?
30 Jun 2006, 14:06 pm
St Micky – the master of trivial pursuits
Do you also keep score of your drunken hooligans arrest record on the continent?
Can you remember for how long mud island was banned from european soccer and why?
Is your idea of fair play the dreaded Graham Pohl referee of a life time?
Sometimes Micky I think that if brains were gunpowder you’ve not enough to blowdry your hair!
30 Jun 2006, 14:07 pm
Ah Micky. Sorry – you’re bald aren’t you. Never mind substitute eye brows for hair then
30 Jun 2006, 14:12 pm
StM, Just a fricken pity the Ashes are only competed by 2 teams.
I think the Aussies can lay the claim of great all round sporting abilities not the silly buggers who call that shithole of an mud island home.
30 Jun 2006, 14:20 pm
Redcard it is typical of a Saffa to pray at the altar of Australian sporting acheivement. But a sharp does of reality would suggest that right now the Aussies are only good at swimming.
In rugby league they lost the 3N to NZ
In soccer they fell short at the last 16
In rugby union they came last in the 3rd in the annual 2 horse race of the 3N
In cricket they meekly surrendered the Ashes to a youthful England team.
But they do hae their swimming. Which is probably one sport more than a certain other nation I know!
Ig,
As a WP fan I consider them to be over-achievers. Which players in their squad would an English team covet? Perhaps a fit Burger. But that’s it
30 Jun 2006, 14:23 pm
PA,
The fight between RFU and the English clubs creates a healthy tension. England needs a healthy club scene and a strong national team. The national team in pre-eminant as the World Champs. It is the turn of the club scene to gain momentum.
30 Jun 2006, 14:26 pm
healthy tension?
the media calls it a ***** fight.
everyone to their own i guess.
30 Jun 2006, 14:26 pm
St Michelle,
what a over-ripe load of horse tripe. i have to give it to, you are amusing.
30 Jun 2006, 14:28 pm
and while we’re at it, the validity of the Ashes needs to be questioned as a series.
The english seem to have elevated it to the american notion of baseball’s “world series”, when in effect it is contest by two teams, 1 of which is a perenial lightweight.
Indeed, Sri Lanka, another cricket lightweight, recently crushed these pretenders with a white-wash of note, an obliteration of most satisfying proportions.
30 Jun 2006, 14:30 pm
You have to keep in mind that there is a shedload of international sport on at the moment, the World Cup is on, all the big countries are playing tests, SA played France at home.
the CC never takes off with a bang, but rather builds momentum through the season.
30 Jun 2006, 14:31 pm
Cab,
and its telling that the best two players in the lilly livered pom side are saffas.
30 Jun 2006, 14:32 pm
As a WP fan I consider them to be over-achievers. Which players in their squad would an English team covet? Perhaps a fit Burger. But that’s it……
Bit of a change of heart there STM – if we were to browse back through the archives – we find you selling Burger as a bit of a plonker …..
30 Jun 2006, 14:33 pm
the english need to stand their ground, they have become america’s poodle.
we may not be as powerful as the US just yet, but we are defiant in retaining our culture and originality. the english and australians can learn from us in this respect and not bow down to american dominance. show some spine for goodness sake.
30 Jun 2006, 14:33 pm
ig,
the english have very negotiable personal standards.
always have.
30 Jun 2006, 14:35 pm
I am aware of that BB – thought prehaps this fellow had a spine.
Still awaiting my itinerary STM……
30 Jun 2006, 14:36 pm
they all have spines, although from the way they slouch you can hardly tell.
its balls and heart they lack.
30 Jun 2006, 14:36 pm
bluebarb,
indeed, England are in an embaressing situation, their only chance of achieving sporting success is by foregoing their own for south african talent.
30 Jun 2006, 14:37 pm
Yeah cab, it’s not as if the English overplay their sporting “achievements” is it!!? ******, we’re still getting 1966 rammed down our throats here in the media – if England actually somehow manage to win the WC this year they will still be crowing about it when I am pushing up daisies!! I needn’t worry though, Portugal (the first real team they’ve played thus far) will show them up for what they really are tomorrow.
30 Jun 2006, 14:37 pm
Ig,
I dont rate Burger as a player but he’s undeniably an excellent athelete. With the right coaching he might do OK (its the lack of brains that you cant teach that worries me). And I was referring to an English club team of course not the national side. Perhaps after a couple of years at a side like Bristol or Wrocester it might make him ready for the step up to Test level.
30 Jun 2006, 14:39 pm
the names on the webb ellis and ashes trophies will need to be corrected, to what i am not sure, perhaps:
Combined England/SA B.
30 Jun 2006, 14:40 pm
Yeah the 2004 world player of the year needs to be shown how to step up to the next level by the English!
30 Jun 2006, 14:40 pm
jonny,
im not so sure. they beat the mighty Trinidad. and they beat Tobago on the same day!
30 Jun 2006, 14:41 pm
Hahah Never say die old chap…..i never bought a word you said without taking a kilo of salt.
30 Jun 2006, 14:41 pm
jonny,
it is difficult for us to understand such a strong sense of nostalgia, since we’re used to sporting teams that bring back the bacon so frequently.
30 Jun 2006, 14:42 pm
And on that Note, I was quite surprised to see that France was the only African team left at the World Cup..
and why do they call it a cup if its a statue?
30 Jun 2006, 14:45 pm
i cannot watch the roundball tournament, it affects my constitution.
the mere sight of a group of poms acting out their patriotism and hugging and kissing one another, makes me retch uncontrollably.
30 Jun 2006, 14:45 pm
No question that if it wasn’t for Pietersen (and Flintoff) the English cricket team would be average at best. Ask yourself how many times Australia have failed to beat Sri Lanka in a test series at home?
Not that I think the current Protea team is up to much, but at least we know it’s just a temporary dip not an absolute trend!
Back to the topic, if I were in CT I’d be going to Newlands this Saturday – I’d probably have a season ticket in the Railway Stand in fact. The CC is only beginning, wait for it to warm up before questioning whether the old magic is going!
30 Jun 2006, 14:46 pm
Let us quickly evaluate the current english cricket team…
Kevin Pietersen… South African
Andrew Strauss… born south african
Geraint Jones… born in papau new guinea… grew up in australia and qualified to play for england through a welsh grandfather….
Thats 3 out of 11 off the top of my head.
30 Jun 2006, 14:50 pm
its coming home…its coming home…roundball’s coming home.
what is this rubbish? its meant to be a carnival-type tune, they don’t have a carnival bone in their bodies.
surely something by that misanthrope Morrisey would be more relevant?
30 Jun 2006, 14:51 pm
Yeah
Panic on the streets of London… panic on the streets of Birmingham.. etc etc
30 Jun 2006, 14:51 pm
Vindaloo,
Vindaloo,
Vindaloo, Vindaloo, Ay Yay!
Vindaloo,
Vindaloo,
Vindaloo, Vindaloo, Ay Yay!
I’ve developed a deep distrust in asda this world cup after running that stupid supporters song day and night.
30 Jun 2006, 14:51 pm
lol
30 Jun 2006, 14:53 pm
cab,
we have an italian technician working in our building and i walked past him towards the boardroom the other day. One of the accountants came out of their office suddenly and I swerved to avoid walking into him, brushing up against the italian by accident. With this he shrieked in agony and dived through the air clutching his knee, rolling around cursing and flailing.
it may be a genetic thing.
30 Jun 2006, 14:54 pm
Or they could just be little tosspots with too much oestrogen pumping through them…
30 Jun 2006, 15:01 pm
Did Ig just censor a comment?
30 Jun 2006, 15:08 pm
Nah – just removed a double.
30 Jun 2006, 15:09 pm
LMAO jonny
30 Jun 2006, 15:09 pm
Vinnie – so Uk Muppit evening – we probably not going to do anything to organised – IE charge you buggers for the evening as we did back in Cape Town……..
So you got a decent venue to hook up so we can drink a few pots and talk **** ?
30 Jun 2006, 15:12 pm
Rob Wagner, MD of WP Rugby:
“the poor attendance figures could be attributed to the poor performances of the Springboks, as well as the fact that none of those players will play Currie Cup rugby in 2006.”
Maybe it is because the stormers finished 11th [4/13] in the super 14 and WP have not even PLAYED IN A FINAL SINCE 2001.
For the wealthiest union in South Africa, that is pretty dismal.
30 Jun 2006, 15:12 pm
Lol. Oh ja. That was my double! Dunno how it happened!
Dude – we got plenty spots here! From real dutchie corners to really sheek bars.
Gonna be good fun. I’ll round up some of the boys for a few ngihts on the cans. Sure cab will also tag along.
Whereabouts you gonna be staying?
You guys got your tickets yet?
30 Jun 2006, 15:13 pm
Ig,
StM has invited us to his gaff, i have already invested in some gloves so as not to leave fingerprints on any valuable that might go missing.
30 Jun 2006, 15:13 pm
sean123… you’re pretty dismal if thats all you have to say mate.
Go grow your moustache or something.
30 Jun 2006, 15:16 pm
Vinnie, such venom?
If the kids are all hooking up in London, it’ll be great… but if StMichel is there, then sign me up… I need to meet the man who has provided me with more solid laughs this year than Mark Lamarr, Billy Connolly and Paul Merton put together.
30 Jun 2006, 15:18 pm
Vettie,
He’s always a bit coy when the subject of hooking up comes around.
As soon as the announcement is made of when the boys are coming over SM will disappear for a few months and then resurface when they return to SA.
You around for a bevvy or 5 with the boys in november?
30 Jun 2006, 15:19 pm
100! Still playing thsi game I see Vinnie
Get in the bag you dirty little ****.
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