>>63161399Even though you're memeing and shitposting hard, I think rugby fans overestimate how popular our sport is (I'm a diehard rugby fan by the way).
So much emphasis is placed on the international game and fellow rugby fans often use this as proof of its 'relevancy' and 'global appeal', but if we're involving national teams then of course it will seem like a lot of people care. It's the fucking national team and people will come out to support them due to national pride. If rugby is so popular then how come just about every single domestic/regional club competition in rugby is a fucking joke?
We shit on league all the time in Australia, but truth be told I'm jealous of the fact that they at least have a relevant club competition in Australia. Do you know how shit it is having to follow the Super Rugby and now the NRC? And with Japanese and Argentina teams playing in Super Rugby next year (and thus more games held in foreign countries at godawful times for Australians), it will be even worse for trying to grow the domestic club game in Australia.
I love rugby test matches, but a little perspective is needed. I've said previously that club competitions dominate the sports world. Rugby seems to be the only sport that spends its time circle jerking over the international game while completely ignoring the garbage domestic club game (cricket might also be guilty of this, I don't really follow it so don't know how club competitions are perceived in that sport).
Rant over. I just wish we had our own union version of the NRL in Australia with the same kind of popularity.