Me, You & The Rugby World Cup Investigate the sociological significance of a sporting event The 2011 Rugby World Cup Achievement Standard 2.6 → 3 Credits

What does “significance” mean? Important Having or expressing a meaning So….. What does it mean to us as individuals & New Zealanders

Task 1 (a) The effect of ‘The Cup’ on 1.YOU - eg you watch, participate, change behaviour/attitude, find it pleasing/repulsive/objectionable/rewarding… 2. OTHERS - they do any of the above things. Others may include family, friends, particular groups like youth, men, women etc 3. SOCIETY - eg affects attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, cultural practices, laws, campaigns eg “Push Play”

Task 1 (a) What effects does the RWC…. have on you, your family and friends, and New Zealand society in general? Self Others (friends & family) Society

Rugby World Cup impact on you? Parents/friends spend more time watching tv Less time on other activities Drinking and its associated problems Participation in sport takes a back seat Time to attend Socializing with friends School term changes

Rugby World Cup impact on others? Friends get together Income for players and businesses Could increase the participation in the sport due to positive role models Decrease participation because of watching rather than doing Lead to feeling out of the loop if not interested in sport Career path for some Draws in sponsors

Rugby World Cup impact on society? Players are treated as gods Media is rugby dominated Gender stereotyping of what the typical male should be like Men in rugby dominate other groups playing the sport Huge income generating business that reduces available funds for other sports Lots of sponsorship opportunities Dunedin Stadium, who was the driver of this and what is his business?

+ve Social effect of Spectators Relationships Family friends Common interest forms basis for conversation activities friendships Time spent together excuse to catch up and socialise Acceptance (shared ID with peers and region)

-ve Social effect of Spectators May feel that there is nothing in common with friends Peer disapproval due to lack of rugby knowledge Dominate social occasions (weekends) Discourage people form spending time with friends and family

Sport and culture Sport is a fundamental part of culture and identity It is a way we communicate who we are and what is important at that point in history Rugby is a big part of this in NZ

National Identity National ID is socially constructed set of meanings Something that makes us unique as New Zealanders How we view ourselves is attached to the success of Sporting teams –All Blacks –Silver Fern

It is death! It is death! It is life! It is life! This is the hairy person Who caused the sun to shine Keep abreast! Keep abreast The rank! Hold fast! Into the sun that shines! What is this ??

Ka Mate! Ka Mate! Ka Ora! Ka Ora! Tenei te ta ngata puhuru huru Nana nei i tiki mai Whakawhiti te ra A upane ka upane! A upane kaupane whiti Now do you recognise it

Let me become one with the land This is our land that rumbles And it's my time! It's my moment! This defines us as the All Blacks It's my time! It's my moment! Our dominance Our supremacy will triumph And will be placed on high Silver fern! All Blacks! Silver fern! All Blacks ! Does this have more meaning?

Activity What does it mean to you to be a New Zealander? How do you feel when the All Blacks perform the Haka? YouTube - Haka Edinburgh 7s All Blacks

Rugby and culture What has, having Rugby as part of the Kiwi culture done to other sports? All whites and socceroos tend to play a more physical game to other nations

Minority Sport N.Z men’s softball team has had world champion status for years.. Yet they receive very little recognition or media coverage.. and they receive a lot less funding than & rugby or cricket Why ??????

Sport ….. It’s just a game Is sport just a game? Is sport more than a game? Where is the line….. that a game becomes more important than just a game? Many arguments to this issue

Effect of commercialising sport Sport Entertainment Sport has gone from a game to a business commodity Rule changes, time outs, commercial breaks Players are less loyal to team and more interested in $ They are now viewed and treated as employees

Entertainment & Sport Sport is very pervasive Participants or Spectators Live or through T.V. Sport has become a major source of entertainment.

Spectators Either at the game or watching on TV Traditionally purist of the game was for the “love of the game” Modern spectators watch for the entertainment Increased spectatorship may have led to decreased participation

+ve Social effect of Spectators Relationships Family friends Common interest forms basis for conversation activities friendships Time spent together excuse to catch up and socialise Acceptance (shared ID with peers and region)

-ve Social effect of Spectators May feel that there is nothing in common with friends Peer disapproval due to lack of rugby knowledge Dominate social occasions (weekends) Discourage people form spending time with friends and family

Politics & Sport In what ways do governments use sport as a political tool? Are sport and politics able to be kept separate? Are there any physical activity issues that governments have an interest in? What politics exist at a local and regional and club level within sport?

Gender & Sport In what ways are women and men treated differently in sport? How are men and women represented by the media in sport? What are some possible future issues to do with gender and sport?

Masculinity & Feminity Sport continually tests limits of the human body “that we value” –who's values are these? Masculine ideals of those with $ and Power Traditions of England Historically rugby has always been backed by $... the amateur sport ideal

National Identity … Changing Rugby has been a defining feature of NZ and it’s Identity “is this changing?” All Blacks have gone from a national team to a corporate brand through Adidas & Sky The Haka is more than ever an entertainment commodity used all over the world All Blacks are media celebrities and distant from the average kiwi

Violence & Sport

Violence in sport is real but it is protected by the assumed good of sport. The rules of many male sport code legitimise the ideas that conflict is resolved by physical superiority & therefore violence. Often these codes have a sub-culture of violence. Ice hockey, AFL, Rugby, American football, League

Antisocial Behaviour The Yobbo effect Violent or abusive towards others generally in groups (anonymity) Often involves alcohol

Don't go down to Crusaderland, abused fan warns "I have never had an experience like this before and I've been to rugby all around the world," "And talking to people at work, everyone had a story to tell about Canterbury supporters." The man he was seated next to used obscene language throughout the match and wanted to fight me and "f send me packing all the way back to Wellington".

What is the effect of the Match on people in NZ, i.e. who is advantaged by the match and how? Males – rugby players and non players career paths and opportunities, status in community, income, life after rugby, effects of injury, pressure to maintain fitness, to perform, expectations of public and family commitments. Non players- employment opportunities in related jobs, prestige by association wives girlfriends, entertainment for the community, minor sports marginalised, stereotyping, lack of media coverage

What is the effect of the Match on people in NZ, i.e. who is advantaged by the match and how? Females – rugby players and non players Power by association, employment in business, training opportunities, stereotyped as butch or lesbian if they play or seen as supporters by males and take on the support roles ie cheerleaders or in the kitchen, used to sell the game by sexual exploitation ie on covers of magazines

What is the effect of the Rugby World Cup on people in NZ, i.e. who is advantaged by the Cup and how? Rugby - the business. Control of the media, huge financial resources, sponsorship, way for boys to develop their masculinity Are girls developing masculine traits

America’s Cup Syndrome In the name of nationalism and patriotism (or regionalism) you support events/projects which benefit corporations rather than every day people because news biases & marketing campaigns have made you think they benefit everyday people even if they don’t. Dunedin Stadium????