The logical conclusion of this race to the bottom will be you can only tackle around the ankles. Then they'll complain about the amount of knee injuries...
147,434 community rugby players in 2023, up 7% on 2022.
Women and girls’ rugby participation up 20% on 2022.
Community rugby participation in New Zealand has continued its post-pandemic recovery, spurred by the growth of women and girls’ rugby.
NZR has today confirmed 147,434 players for the 2023 season, an increase of 7% on 2022, with women and girls’ participation up 20% to 29,448 participants.
Teenage participation grew 11% to 34,173 players, community coach registrations increased 4% to 9,242 and referees by 8% to 1,564.
NZR General Manager Community Rugby Steve Lancaster said the results were pleasing given it was the first uninterrupted rugby season since the global pandemic began in 2020.
Community Rugby in New Zealand: 2023 key stats
147,434 players: 7%+ on 2022
9,242 coaches: 4%+ on 2022
1,564 referees: 8%+ on 2022
61,539 junior club players: 1%+ on 2022
34,173 teenagers: 11%+ on 2022
38,015 senior club players: 5%+ on 2022
29,448 women and girls players: 20%+ on 2022
11,540 junior club girls: 36%+ on 2019 (+14% on 2022)
4,515 senior club women: 40%+ on 2019 (+28% on 2022)
49,999 junior club boys: -2% on 2022
140,000 girls’ rugby activator engagements in 2023
@Bones I decided to fact-check that and, unsurprisingly, you're talking out of your arse again.
McClutchie started in 5 games for MP this year and played four of them for the full 80 minutes. In one game, he was replaced by Leuila, not Havili, and that only happened in the 69th minute. Can't have been that bad if Leuila came on that late in the game.
Our of how many games?
8 (of 14)
Leali'ifano started 9 games at 10 and played 6 of those games for the full 80 minutes. The MP coaches clearly didn't use the bench to cover 10, because they had William Havili at fullback, but they never moved him.
Similarities to 2019 are creepy. Pakistan needed to beat Bangladesh by about 300 in their final round robin match to push us out of the semis. Instead we made it and played top seed India.
If we make it, it'll be a remix of the 2015 semis. That time we played South Africa and Australia played India.
@Chris-B I watched that Proteas v India match and I think the conditions plus a combination of inspiration from the birthday boy had more to do with things.
The wicket deteriorated and the ball was hardly coming on to the bat in that second innings.
Netherlands living the dream after qualifying for World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024 | World Rugby
Community rugby bounce-back continues, tackle height trial extended
