57,744

[Jimmy_Tango]

Re: 57,744

Similar. Although I wouldn't say funny, but more than I am content in seeing the WRU punished and I think it'd necessary to bring about change.

Of the 57000, from what they said perhaps no more than 45000 were Welsh fans too.

I was at the game and I'd say there were as many if not more French fans in the stadium than Welsh.

I didnt hear one single Welsh song or even the annoying chant of "Wales" repeated over and over again.

I felt like was at an away game, the WRU should be ashamed at the state they've let Welsh Rugby get to. The contrast between them and the FAW is stark.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Re: 57,744

There were probably a few that couldn't go to the Rugby because Cardiff were playing and winning, how things change :-)

[North Cardiff Blue]

Re: 57,744

It was all a bit pathetic, though. I caught the last 10 minutes and the post match comments and you'd have sworn Wales had given the French a game with all the positive spin being put on it by the Welsh commentators/analysts. Imagine losing 7-2 at home and putting a positive spin on it.

That's how far they've dropped, they played a fair bit better than they have been.

[Jimmy_Tango]

Re: 57,744

The levels of effort from the players is there, they're giving it everything and at times make brave decisions over more conservative options (that dont always pay off). You'd think if they brought in a world class defence coach they could become competitive

[goats]

Re: 57,744

I was at the game and I'd say there were as many if not more French fans in the stadium than Welsh.

I didnt hear one single Welsh song or even the annoying chant of "Wales" repeated over and over again.

I felt like was at an away game, the WRU should be ashamed at the state they've let Welsh Rugby get to. The contrast between them and the FAW is stark.

How many tickets do away support normally? 5000? Looks like 1000’s more French fans took the opportunity they’ve never really had.
I reckon if Wales football team played the odd game there they would easily get 50/60,000. I think we used to when we first started playing games there? We have a far more successful team now too after qualifying for major tournaments, there’s definitely been a shift towards football in the last 10 years. My last memory of it was being empty and the dreaded horns mind…..I guess it’s pretty important if we qualify fir this summers World Cup and the next Euros which are here?

[NinianKnight]

Re: 57,744

It's not very odd... If we were playing shite week in week out we wouldn't have 20k plus.. they aren't playing well and hence nobody wants to watch them. It's not the end of welsh rugby for those that are wetting their knickers in delight :hehe:

Great point. I would add that considering the hammerings Wales have had recently to get 57,744 fans paying £60 (that is an estimate) through the gate is baffling, should be a lot lower

[BLUETIT]

Re: 57,744

Great point. I would add that considering the hammerings Wales have had recently to get 57,744 fans paying £60 (that is an estimate) through the gate is baffling, should be a lot lower

They should charge them to exit the ground, they’d make a fortune :hehe:

[NinianKnight]

Re: 57,744

They should charge them to exit the ground, they’d make a fortune :hehe:

:hehe::hehe:

[Bobby Dandruff]

Re: 57,744

I have a sneaking suspicion that Welsh exiles are far more bothered by the decline of Welsh rugby than the vast majority of Welsh football fans who actually live here.

Perhaps it shouldn't be that way considering the size of the country, but it's understandable if you are a born-and-bred Welsh football fan who still lives in Wales.

That seems completely irrelevant.

[jon1959]

Re: 57,744

I have a sneaking suspicion that Welsh exiles are far more bothered by the decline of Welsh rugby than the vast majority of Welsh football fans who actually live here.

Perhaps it shouldn't be that way considering the size of the country, but it's understandable if you are a born-and-bred Welsh football fan who still lives in Wales.

Probably true. I was forced to play rugby by an English games teacher - not a Welsh one (and in Cheshire!) so the scaring is different. But my concern for Welsh rugby is nothing to the angst I carry about Welsh tiddly winks!

[Garth Blue]

Re: 57,744

How could the decline of one help the other? Wouldn't it be better for both to be successful and popular as they were not too long ago.

I think it potentially benefits Welsh football in a number of ways:
1 Commercially - more people will attend Welsh football at all levels boosting income and attracting sponsors
2 Talent - more youngsters are drawn to football rather than rugby and when the time comes more will chose football over rugby boosting the Wales football talent pool.
3 Media coverage - we won'y have to put up with the traditional rugby bias in the Welsh media esp the BBC. It's been better in recent years but when I was younger the bias really got on my tits.

[The Bloop]

Re: 57,744

I think it potentially benefits Welsh football in a number of ways:
1 Commercially - more people will attend Welsh football at all levels boosting income and attracting sponsors
2 Talent - more youngsters are drawn to football rather than rugby and when the time comes more will chose football over rugby boosting the Wales football talent pool.
3 Media coverage - we won'y have to put up with the traditional rugby bias in the Welsh media esp the BBC. It's been better in recent years but when I was younger the bias really got on my tits.

Did 17000 more people attend football matches in Wales this weekend? They chose not to attend the rugby because its currently a crap product for the amount being charged. Most probably still watched the game bit not inside the stadium. I dont think it's a choice between one sport or another.
The media bias hasn't really been a big issue for years. If anything, in the past there was more an anti-Wales bias from London on all sports, rather than anti-Welsh football from BBC Wales.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Re: 57,744

Did 17000 more people attend football matches in Wales this weekend? They chose not to attend the rugby because its currently a crap product for the amount being charged. Most probably still watched the game bit not inside the stadium. I dont think it's a choice between one sport or another.
The media bias hasn't really been a big issue for years. If anything, in the past there was more an anti-Wales bias from London on all sports, rather than anti-Welsh football from BBC Wales.

At a club level [roughly] 320,000 have watched City at home this season compared to 65,000 Cardiff Rugby - which would include a good % of complimentaries. That's 5x as many, though we have had 16 games and the rugby team just 8. However aside from the obvious conclusions, it shows how much the rugby clubs rely on the WRU income, in the same way that county cricket relies on Test Match revenue. For the other Welsh rugby clubs it's a little as 50% of Cardiff's total..

[JamesWales]

Re: 57,744

The big thing at the moment is also people's feelings towards the WRU. Strongly related to the teams performance of course, but it goes beyond that. I could have gone on Sunday (obviously, we all could have) but I'm in the mindframe at the moment to not want to give the WRU a penny of my money.

I think to varying degrees many feel the same. I suspect the WRU sold very few tickets to fans from the Neath, Swansea area yesterday for example.

[Bobby Dandruff]

Re: 57,744

Funny is probably not a word I would use. But, it doesn't bother me one iota. And if I'm honest, if it helps Welsh football to grow, I would welcome it.

Exactly this.