Rugby has overtaken soccer as South Africa’s most popular spectator sport among the country’s consumer class.
This is according to new BrandMapp research.
BrandMapp director of storytelling Brandon de Kock said rugby now leads the country’s “Big 3” sports among the 14 million South Africans living in households earning more than R10,000 per month.
“Over the years, we have watched rugby become the most popular spectator sport for South Africa’s consumer class,” De Kock told The Media Online.
“We know that 95% of South Africa’s consumer class adults are interested in playing or watching some sort of sport. Forty-four percent of them watch rugby, 42% soccer and 29% cricket.”
De Kock credited the Springboks’ success, as well as the influence of captain Siya Kolisi, for helping rugby broaden its appeal.
“There’s what I call the ‘Siya Kolisi effect’, where we have seen teams, from the national to the youth level, become genuinely democratised, bringing South Africans from all walks of life together around rugby,” he said.
The research also found rugby has become South Africa’s most gender-balanced major sport.
“Currently 38% of women are watching alongside 49% of men – and I think that this is a major factor in rugby taking top spot on the podium,” De Kock explained.
The post Boks help rugby beat soccer appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Rugby has overtaken soccer as South Africa’s most popular spectator sport among the country’s consumer class.
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