Aussie Sevens women top fan connection rankings for rugby

Tue, Jun 16, 2020, 5:43 AM
AAP
by AAP
The Aussie women ranked third in a survey of the emotional connection between fans and national sports teams. Photo; Getty Images
The Aussie women ranked third in a survey of the emotional connection between fans and national sports teams. Photo; Getty Images

The Aussie women's Sevens side has been ranked a team with one of the highest emotional connection with Australian sports fans in a survey released on Tuesday.

Australia's women's Sevens team came in third overall, behind the Australian women's cricket team and the Matildas in the True North Research survey that ranked national teams on their emotional connection.

True North surveyed 4832 people from Australia and New Zealand and asked those familiar with the respective national teams about their connection, rating teams on their fans' pride, trust, enjoyment, respect and bond.

The Wallaroos were the next rugby side on the list, ranking 10th overall.

Despite the Wallabies being Australian rugby's major revenue generator, the men's side was rated 12th on the list, just ahead of the men's Aussie Sevens team.

That more of the community might be familiar generally, but possibly dissatisfied with the Wallabies off the back of some lean recent seasons is likely to have contributed to this.

True North director Georgie Maynard said women's sports overall were doing more in a challenging time to engage with their fans because they are acutely aware of the potential risks.

“Women athletes are particularly aware of the perilous situation that the pandemic has caused for their sport," she said.

"They have been active during isolation, recognising they had their own role to play in ensuring the future of their sport, be it through salary cuts, keeping fan engagement levels up and working with the sponsors of their sports.”

Across the ditch, the All Blacks were the frontrunners, finishing with a score of 251 among New Zealand fans, well above Australia's top performer in the women's cricket side (190).

RANKINGS

Benchmark EC score April 2020

1. Australian women's cricket team

2. Matildas

3. Aussie women's Sevens team

4. Diamonds

5.Australian men's T20 team

6.  Boomers

7. Australia men's Test team

8. Kangaroos

9. Socceroos

10. Wallaroos

11. Opals

12. Wallabies

13. Aussie men's Sevens team

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