Where for art thou, Ardie?........As a New Zealand kid, growing up dreaming of the All Blacks jumper, but eventually finding my role as an ardent supporter, cheering from the sidelines for every match. Now, my allegiance is wavering. I find myself tuning into maybe just one game a weekend, if that, and limited to Super Rugby finals and major internationals.
What's clear is that sports which emphasise the entertainment factor like UFC are quickly encroaching on the attention and support once exclusively held by rugby. And it's not hard to see why - they deliver consistent excitement, engage fans, and offer fresh narratives and personalities.
It's worth mentioning that we've even seen homegrown UFC champions emerge from New Zealand, without significant support and even a reputable gym or two. Rugby's hold isn't as firm as it once was, and it's time to acknowledge the rising popularity and potential of these alternative sports.
Any idea if Billy Guytons family will look at possible CTE links? I’d imagine it’s an awful time and hard thing to consider, but donating his brain could go a long way for further establishing the link between NZ rugby and CTE, and more importantly giving them so closure.
Where for art thou, Ardie?........As a New Zealand kid, growing up dreaming of the All Blacks jumper, but eventually finding my role as an ardent supporter, cheering from the sidelines for every match. Now, my allegiance is wavering. I find myself tuning into maybe just one game a weekend, if that, and limited to Super Rugby finals and major internationals.
What's clear is that sports which emphasise the entertainment factor like UFC are quickly encroaching on the attention and support once exclusively held by rugby. And it's not hard to see why - they deliver consistent excitement, engage fans, and offer fresh narratives and personalities.
It's worth mentioning that we've even seen homegrown UFC champions emerge from New Zealand, without significant support and even a reputable gym or two. Rugby's hold isn't as firm as it once was, and it's time to acknowledge the rising popularity and potential of these alternative sports.
Any idea if Billy Guytons family will look at possible CTE links? I’d imagine it’s an awful time and hard thing to consider, but donating his brain could go a long way for further establishing the link between NZ rugby and CTE, and more importantly giving them so closure.
No, I don’t have any information on that sorry.