0
http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=28068
Rugby in Australia has dropped to being the ninth most popular sport in the country which is well of the high point it achieved in 2004.
The sport of Rugby Union reached it's all time high of being Australia's fourth most popular sport in 2004 after Australia hosted the 2003 Rugby world cup and reached the final.
However since that time the sport has dropped to fourth to seventh and now to ninth in sports rankings over the past seven years.
A report by a brand analysis and research agency, Repucom says that when the 2007 Rugby world cup was taking place in France the sport had dropped from fourth to seventh.
Since that world cup rugby has again dropped going from seventh to ninth place. Ironically, even though rugby union dropped position on the rankings, interest in the sport actually increased by 3 per cent but it's opposition codes moved more.
The big movers in Australian sport have been Soccer (Football) and Formula One motor racing as they were not even in the top 10 sports in 2004, but they are now ranked sixth and eight respectively.
Soccer (Football) has enjoyed a higher than normal profile as Australia were bidding to host the 2022 World cup and in Formula One Australian driver Mark Webber's on-track success has also raised the profile of the sport.
Soccer recorded the biggest increase with 11 per cent, jumping from 19 per cent to 30 per cent, while Formula One went up by 6 per cent.
Both codes could now drop in the rankings as the circumstances have changed.
The Australian Rugby Union are hoping that the new expanded Super 15 Rugby series, which includes more local derbies and having the world cup across the Tasman next year will increase the profile and popularity of the game.
It will however be difficult for rugby union which recorded a 23 per cent interest to regain it's previous fourth place but there is a possibility that the game could go as high as sixth or seventh.
On a positive note in the avid fans sector rugby union cam fifth behind rugby league, Australian Rules, soccer and cricket which indicates that rugby union has genuine interest and that it is not passing through a phase.
The top-ranking sports, AFL and cricket, scored 39 per cent interest, while rugby league, tennis and swimming scored in the low 30s.