Is Italy a true Tier 1 Nation?

[Kiwiwomble]

Argentina numbers are way better. Even better those of Scotland.

Italy is outlining with a very poor performance since its promotion..

....i mean great for Argentina.but also...so what?...is this just an attempt to get people to say Argentina is better than italy?

 

[lagoerson]

....i mean great for Argentina.but also...so what?...is this just an attempt to get people to say Argentina is better than italy?

no i would love italy to be better. sadly it is not.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Does Argentina have areas where rugby is bigger than or at least comparable to soccer? I was always under the impression that pockets of Buenos Aires were rugby strongholds.

I don't think Italy has that at all and rugby is so small on a global scale that even having an area or two accounting for 75 - 100,000 people will be a massive boost.

If you look at the current top 4 in the world, rugby is a bigger sport than soccer in NZ, bigger in a lot of regions in SA, bigger in the capital city in Ireland and bigger in the entire southern region (amd massively so in the 4th largest city) of France.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Does Argentina have areas where rugby is bigger than or at least comparable to soccer? I was always under the impression that pockets of Buenos Aires were rugby strongholds.

I don't think Italy has that at all and rugby is so small on a global scale that even having an area or two accounting for 75 - 100,000 people will be a massive boost.

If you look at the current top 4 in the world, rugby is a bigger sport than soccer in NZ, bigger in a lot of regions in SA, bigger in the capital city in Ireland and bigger in the entire southern region (amd massively so in the 4th largest city) of France.

Through in Ireland is Rugby bigger than the Gaelic sports in Dublin and across the country?

 

[lagoerson]

Does Argentina have areas where rugby is bigger than or at least comparable to soccer? I was always under the impression that pockets of Buenos Aires were rugby strongholds.

I don't think Italy has that at all and rugby is so small on a global scale that even having an area or two accounting for 75 - 100,000 people will be a massive boost.

If you look at the current top 4 in the world, rugby is a bigger sport than soccer in NZ, bigger in a lot of regions in SA, bigger in the capital city in Ireland and bigger in the entire southern region (amd massively so in the 4th largest city) of France.

Rugby is the second most popular sport in Argentina, despite gap with football is immense obviously. Rugby is strong in buenos aires metro and the northern provinces.

in NZ rugby is the most popular sport

in south africa it's second too after football.

in australia idk sixth? massive loss of interest due to league

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Through in Ireland is Rugby bigger than the Gaelic sports in Dublin and across the country?

Not across the country no. In South Dublin rugby probably edges out Gaelic football although it's close. Many kids would play both and the skills are far more transferable than woth soccer though so there's a benefit in the rivalry.

It's not uncommon that u18 county footballers / hurlers make provincial academies. And in reverse a former Leinster player (name escapes me) recently captained Cuala to the club All Ireland in football.

As a school sport, rugby isn't nearly as far behind gaelic games as it is on a broader scale in the country. Which is a big factor too.