RiverBlues77 says...

It's frustrating to see how these small rugby-mad countries are ignored by the IRB.

Rugby is also a major game in Georgia and in Senegal - in both countries big games can draw 40,000+ spectators. These are three potential resources for the game that would extend the reach of the sport and open up new markets and new stores of talent.

I am sure IRB funding is limited, but at the least they could work on development in those countries and send talent scouts in to source talent for franchises and clubs. Instead we see countries like Namibia and Romania at the RWC - nations where big games are watched by a couple hundred people.

Posted 10:57 13th July 2012

atg77 says...

Thats an awesome scoreline... clearly defense was left out of the game-plan. I remember SA vs NZ about ten years ago came up with a similar score... like to see it again. I was shocked to hear it was their national sport. With a population of 20 million they could pose a real threat with the right funding.

Posted 13:54 12th July 2012

rico says...

didn't even know madagascar played rugby...yet it is their national sport.

any chance of sending someone down there Ed. to do a story (Me?), 3 weeks at least it will take to delve into the madagascar beach scene, I mean rugby scene....

seriuosly though, good to here rugby is thriving everywhere!

Posted 13:10 10th July 2012

DaveJ says...

what sukkadoits said

Posted 08:44 10th July 2012

sukkadoits says...

Wow 40,000 packed to see Madagascar v Namibia, that is awesome for rugby.

Posted 02:23 10th July 2012