Why would that be? How would leading global nations like France, Italy, Japan and USA compete?
Cheers m8
Tim - How many professional rugby players are there? Or do you have a link to such info.
Take womenās number out of the equation and hereās what your looking at % wise of playing numbers of union v population
Australia 85k / 23m = 1.6%
New Zealand 130k / 4.4m = 2.9%
England 1.4m / 54.7m = 2.5%
France 350k / 66m = 0.5%
Ireland 140k / 6.4m = 2.2%
Wales 50k/ 3m = 2.5%
A small elitist game played on a world stage by a small elitist group.
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Experience
Is it true the IRFU include tag players in their numbers of those actively playing rubby? 
Would you believe thereās an international Tag Rugby team 
Not true ref Long.
Played soccer throughout underage & was always rated.
Donāt mind him.
In Australia they include kids playing tag in school for PE as part of their number of rugby players nationally 
Ure really pushing this global thing.
Can you explain why Africa, Asia and South America only have 3 countries represented in the World Cup while Oceania have 4? In the football equivalent South America, Africa and Asia get 15 teams while Oceania get 0.5 team which seems a bit more realistic when dealing with population/number of countries.
Japan has a semi professional league of 16 teams with a mix of amateurs and professionals. They also have a team in the Super Rugby competition. Japan also have professional sevens squads for men and women. They are hosting a Rugby World Cup and put up a host fee of over 150m euro.
France have two professional leagues. Two pro sevens squads. Have hosted a RWC.
The US has a professional league launching. Two pro sevens squads. They host a popular Sevens event in Vegas attended by over 80k. They are also bidding for a RWC.
Italy have a semi pro league as well as two teams in the Pro14. They are also bidding for a RWC.
Thereās only 350m Americans, give him a break.
Have you the numbers of pro players tho?
There is no way 2.5% of English people play rugby. Is that men only?
How the fuck do they come up with that?
Imaginationā¦will make a fool of youā¦
I donāt know, mate = these rugby chaps are forever skewing numbers ā I think if you handle a rugby ball they include you.