Rugby's Rising Star set to Continue

Rugby's surge in national popularity will continue according to Australian Rugby Union (ARU) Managing Director Gary Flowers, following the release of the latest independent report into interest in sport in Australia.

The Sweeney Sports Report shows Rugby has surpassed Rugby League for the first time in the report's 18-year history and Rugby has significantly closed the gap on AFL over the past four years.

In that time, Rugby has pushed three percentage points past Rugby League and narrowed the gap with AFL from 20 points to 11 points.

"We have got a lot happening right now and I expect this surge to continue. The Qantas Wallabies play Italy in Melbourne this weekend, the new Western Force franchise looks like securing some 12,000 members in Perth, our Under 21 side is through to the Semi Finals of the Under 21 World Cup in Argentina, the Northern Territory has just successfully hosted Samoa in Darwin and the Queensland Reds take on the Junior All Blacks in Brisbane tomorrow.

"An expanded Tri Nations series and Super 14 kicks off next year, England and Ireland are touring, we are pushing for an Asia Pacific tournament involving our Super 14 provinces next year and of course the Rugby World Cup in France follows in 2007. "

"Importantly we have held onto the gains Rugby Union made hosting the 2003 Rugby World Cup and built on those gains. But we are taking nothing for granted and we are continuing to invest funds from the tournament into developing the game across Australia.

The Sweeney Sports Report measured interest in sports with a survey across a range of data:

• Personal Participation
• Match attendance
• Watch regularly on TV
• Listen regularly on the radio
• Read regularly in the newspaper

In terms of general interest, the sports were rated:

Four years ago the figures were: