OUTSTANDING viewing figures for televised rugby are playing a part in attracting visitors back to Edinburgh's rugby clubs.
But, at the same time as welcoming the outcome of a survey showing that football was knocked off the top of the sports viewing charts in a majority of television markets in 2007 – thanks mainly to a World Cup which saw an astonishing 18.3 million tu
ne in to England's semi-final with France – two Capital club presidents are convinced more needs to be done to stimulate the grassroots game.
"Compared to last season when the league programme was over prior to Christmas there is definitely more vibrancy about club activity nowadays," said Brian Buckner whose club, Currie claimed the title last year.
"When we followed on with a Super Cup featuring experimental laws in 2006-07 there was a sharp downturn in interest from sponsors and spectators alike.
"An expanded league programme of 22 fixtures for a season which saw us start as champions certainly had a positive effect.
"Provided there is no re-scheduling, our matches are generally well sponsored and the quality of rugby shown on television does pull supporters into our clubrooms when Currie are not in action.
"For example we took the decision to install a giant screen in each of our two function rooms so as to be able to cater for rugby followers should an event be taking place under our roof.
"One downside this season has been Boroughmuir's ability to run away with the title to the extent that the league was over with four matches remaining.
"Only pride is at stake in trying to fulfil our aim of finishing second but it is still better than last season.
"Having said that it is hard to see how adding incentive through qualification for a cross-border tournament would work, given the lack of resources in club rugby generally to be able to fulfil that type of fixture.
"That is brought home by the fact that we will be extremely keen to win our opening match in a Scottish Cup – which guarantees the Premiership Division One clubs enter with an away match. Only then can we think about trying to generate income with some meaningful matches with the league having already been decided."
According to Boroughmuir president Stan Watt, romping to the title has been a double-edged sword, purely in a financial sense. "For various reasons it is possible Boroughmuir will have only one home Saturday game between December 15 and when we kick off next season.
"That surely cannot be right especially with no prize money for domestic competitions nowadays. We were due to face GHA at the weekend in a re-arranged game held over because of frost on January 12 but, because our pitch was required for a women's international, the new date is Sunday March 9 – immediately after the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield."
Statistics show Sunday matches at club level are not nearly as popular as those held on traditional Saturdays. Watt added: "Unless we get a home draw at some stage in the Scottish Cup then our only remaining Saturday outing at home will be Edinburgh Accies on March 22 – hardly good business.
Perhaps the answer is to introduce a second Cup competition because it wouldn't be appropriate to expand the league beyond its present 22 matches yet we desperately need more home games to make ends meet.
"Of course there has been plenty of talk about cross-border competition and it is interesting that Otley, whom we play annually in a friendly, are currently doing well in the level immediately below England's national league.
"But these arguments seem to be going nowhere either from the point of view of entering Europe or a competition based on the Celtic nations. So, we have just got to do the best we can with the television rugby playing a part at bringing spectators in."
The latest viewing figures for the TV sports market according to Sports Business magazine certainly make good reading for devotees of the oval ball scene
Of the leading five markets, rugby had the most-watched events in the UK and France helped by the World Cup.
Champions league football drew top audiences in Italy and Spain but the biggest crowd puller in Germany was a world handball final which attracted an audience of 16.2 million.
Such statistics find an echo in Ireland where rugby has just become the first sport to draw over a million viewers – replacing Gaelic games in top spot.
Could they also explain the Murrayfield sell out for France compared with 16,000 empty seats when the Tricouleurs called two years ago – also on a Sunday?
The full article contains 793 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
