Why is rugby more popular than football (soccer) in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa but not in the UK?

Question

Rugby appears to be preferred over football in these southern hemisphere countries in which the UK had a large influence historically. Football is a bigger sport in the UK - with the UK influence shouldn't one expect football to have grown as the dominant sport in Aus, NZ and SA?

Answer 1

In South Africa, Rugby has in the past been used as a political tool by the colonial Whites to discriminate against the Black population. Whites would refer to Football as Kaff-r Rugby and Black people were not allowed to participate in their Rugby Clubs. As a result Football is the most popular sport amongst Black people and many young white South Africans are now taking to football because of the TV coverage of the sport there. They are still, however, forced to play Rugby at school as this is the sport with all the economic muscle behind it. Football or soccer as they still call it is still regarded as a Black sport and therefore does not attract the same amount of investment as Rugby. It is a real shame because there are many talented African players who do not realise their potential because of the lack of investment in facilities and opportunity at youth level.

Answer 2

I am not convinced that if the media did not hype it up as much as they do that soccer would be as "popular" as it appears to be in the UK. Thankfully Oz and NZ do not have to put up with our media.

I have no interest in soccer and I live in the UK.

Rugby is more interesting to look at as a spectator sport than soccer in my opinion.

Answer 3

Because Rugby is closer to the real (American) Football.

Answer 4

Football was invented in England.  I think that has something to do with it.

Answer 5

because you a t**t

Answer 6

crazy how rugby is seen as an upperclass sport else where, but here in NZ class structure doesn't even enter the picture. No better equalier (if such a word exists) than rugby cause it depends on talent and hardwork.

Answer 7

Rugby is largely an upper class sport in the UK but not so in these other countries.

Answer 8

For NZ its reverse situation of England. Here all the money is in Rugby.

Answer 9

Soccer is very highly hyped by both sponsors and media in the UK.  That's all the difference is.

Answer 10

Because in the SH rugby is played by all and is not seen as an upperclass sport like in England.

Plus we are pretty c**p at soccer,Australia excluded of course.

Or it could even be that we have a hard time idolising poncey overpaid prats.

Answer 11

in uk its played by ""upper class"" people. (farkin cat shite if u ask me) an in nz oz and sa is a game for the people, everyone. an i think its the game the majority of the setlers brought with them. an these countrys r built on physical labour farming etc so i guess its natural for us to play such a sport. plus socccer whimps cant seem to stand up once the get the ball. always falling over for no reason bunch of ******* if u ask me.

Answer 12

its stupid in it. i no tat all those countries hav also won the world cup to but we have won it the most recent and the shocking performance of  the the ENgland Footie club just shows it. we havent had a decent football team for like..

no for 40 years. there all dead or near it so why the **** are we still puting our backs and our necks behind the football team who cant conrol them self (no names ROONEY cough cough). i no that the rugby team has started to slipp down but our rugby team is still on top more than that womens game of football

Answer 13

aarongray45, i really don't want to call you a t**t but i might have to, football was NOT invented in England, despite the fact that they believe they've invented everything. football was invented by the inuits who used to play with the head of a walrus, although this theory is being disputed. something that was invented in england was rugby itself. one of the three good things to ever come out of england. that, mr bean and red dwarf.

Answer 14

Because Australians are better at Rugby, then they are at football, based on results of course.

Answer 15

Uk is a country of hooligans and thats why football is popular there...NZ,australia and SA are gentlemen hence they prefer rugby...

Rugby is a game of hppligans played by gentlemen while football ia a game of gentlemen played by hooligans and thatn is why in football matches where england is involved there must be a clash

Answer 16

UK suck at it

Answer 17

Soccer is more popular in South Africa, but there's more money in rugby (because its the fav sport of the most rich people) that's why rugby seems bigger and SA also hosted a rugby world cup already but not a soccer world cup yet(and the one SA will host in 2010 is rumoured to be a failure)

The Ausies have an own sport wich is very near to rugby "Australian Rugby"

Don't know about New Zealand

I'm not making this up, I'm an South African myself.