Supper or Tea .. a question of timing

Entering Cardiff Arms Park I find “Will I be home in time for supper Dad?” as ubiquitous a question as “Is Sam playing Dad?” Rugby in Wales and elsewhere is subjected to a plethora of kick off times usually at the behest of the television companies. The necessary money these companies bring to the table is never to be scoffed at nor be dismissed however there is a conversation to be had about the best time for a game to start or crucially for the parents amongst us, what is the best time for a game to finish.

Of course there are many examples of sports that move a game around the weekend, from Friday Night Lights to Monday Night Football it seems the only limit to schedule is the Marketing Director’s imagination and the television companies available slots. Sport as entertainment is now so ingrained that it seems odd to argue against it.  By exploring the notion of entertainment we will find that it covers the full range of supporter preference. If we look to European football as an example, it is common practice to see games starting at 8.45pm on a Sunday evening, though we do not have that culture in the UK, it is still of some concern that one day this will happen here. Concern? Well, yes, if we care for our sport and want to see it thrive in a cluttered landscape some concern must be expressed. Now sport is a strange beast, entertainment for some, ritual for others. Some like a hard fought 9-3 (guilty), some love a 55-47 and some even like it in the middle and of course the truism here is that the kick off time rarely has noticeable effect on quality – Thursday evening and Sunday evening in Newport delivers pretty similar results J

I have always been impressed with the work of Sky Television in creating the vibrant English Arriva Premiership, not wholly of course but I think contributing by sympathetic scheduling and an understanding that supporters need to be in the ground to create vibrancy. When Sky (or BSkyB as they were) first started covering rugby they had one live game a weekend and this was always on a Saturday afternoon starting 30 minutes before the rest of the league games. Being not on free to view ensured that an appetite was developed. Alas in Wales we have free to air coverage and find that Friday nights, Saturday tea times, Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons (late) are all on the hit list. It is wholly understandable why people do not stampede toward the 4 professional grounds, rugby in Wales is well on the way to becoming a television sport.

The only saving grace is that attending a game of rugby, with its ebbs and flows and lows and highs is still at its heart life affirming and hugely societal. The real shame is that there is not the consistent kick off times to make the games habit forming. Since the advent of live rugby in Wales it has been whilst not a monumental challenge certainly an effort to stay attuned to the live game. Moving around the weekend, even flirting with Thursday evenings does nothing to engender a sense of excellence that should be the bedrock of the professional game. Quite why a debate surfaces on whether there is competition with the community game is nonsensical; there is no competition in any sense except we are given to the plaintive cry, ‘only in Wales’.

Taking the current Saturday night slot as an example it probably suits some that rugby is at this time. Those who work during the day or play for a club for example. For me the idea of strolling into a ground at 7pm and walking out around 9pm, back through the ramping up city centre with my son is not appealing on any level. He plays rugby on Sunday mornings, so at best we would return home at 10pm – finally in bed around 10.30pm and maybe if we are playing away we have to be out of the house by 9am on the Sunday. Now I am quite happy to live on 6 hours of sleep but the recommended amount of sleep for a 9 year old is between 9 and 11 hours. If we believe that sleep is good for health and wellbeing it is not too much of a stretch to suggest that 7.30pm kick offs are not family friendly and certainly not optimum for junior rugby. It does seems odd to me the Welsh Rugby Union doesn’t take a view on the importance of good preparation for tomorrow’s professionals. Especially in light of the typical dietry offerings at rugby grounds these days, I would imagine time would stand still cartoon style if you asked for a salad and a mineral water or even some fruit and an energy drink!

Turning for a moment to football, research undertaken by Supporters Direct Scotland (SDS) shows the vast majority of supporters responding wanting Saturday afternoon games , a  thumping 95.09% from 1500 returns. (For greater analysis visit, http://www.scottishsupporters.net/kick-off-times-and-fixture-rescheduling/).  Returning to the Pro12 of course the complications of a 4 Country league, each with its own Broadcaster means the waters are undoubtedly muddied but above all there has to be an awareness of supporter wishes and views. This Trust has been set up for this reason, we can ensure that views are courted, collated and communicated to those who are charged with the development and broadcasting of the game.

A personal viewpoint is a Saturday afternoon game would make everything just that little easier, just that little bit more family friendly and just little bit more traditional. In a world that seemingly changes by the day there is an opportunity for rugby in Wales to stand for something, or maybe it would be a return to tradition and perhaps more importantly putting the professional tier at the centre of the sporting weekend. For too long the professional game has been moved around like an inopportune teenager at a wedding. Far more importantly the one question that should never be asked when entering a rugby ground is “Will I be home in time for supper Dad?”