5 Aug 2009

Fewer people interested in rugby

3:16 pm on 5 August 2009

A new survey has found only 60% of New Zealanders are still interested in rugby, the lowest number since polling began in 1993.

The UMR poll was conducted during the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup match against Australia, and before consecutive losses to South Africa.

The 60% who said they were interested in rugby is down from 66%in April and from a high of 79% during the 2003 World Cup.

UMR Research director Stephen Mills says fans appear to be voting with their feet after a lackluster start to the All Blacks' 2009 campaign.

The poll surveyed 750 people between 16 July and 20 July and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.