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Could the Bradford Bangla bantams idea work for the Bulls?


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There was a lot of talk about the Bulls really pushing down this path after Omar Khan took over the club.

But it seemed to get lost in the myriad of other problems and issues surrounding the Bulls at the time, and I don't think it ever really went anywhere...

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some anecdotal evidence from the education sector (especially in the West Midlands) that rugby (either code) and indeed full contact sports in general are a hard sell to the Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi communities - sweeping generalisation I know but backed up by traditional RU schools falling off as their make-up changes. Certainly when I was at school in Birmingham in the 1990s my friends from those communities didn't so much not have interest in rugby as face some family pressure not to play it because of the risk of injury/need to focus on academic studies to become a doctor* (pejorative but over 7 years I can think of about 8 people in my year who basically said that to me).

On the other hand, hockey and cricket clubs are doing very well.

IMO it's a seriously big job on to turn this round, and potentially existential problems ahead for West Mids RU and M62 RL in some towns if someone doesn't crack it.

My view is anything is worth a go, but what works for cricket doesn't *seem* to be an easy translation across into rugby.

None of this is to deny the obvious existence of investors from the south Asian communities (lumped together simply for speed of typing), or players, or fans; just that culturally they don't seem to be there in numbers and there are forces pushing against it.

*and yes, theoretically cricket should have the same issue with time not spent studying, but it doesn't - presumably because they're coming from a culture where cricket and hockey are culturally embedded.

My own (RU) club has had some success recruiting both 1st team fans and M&Js simply from marketing the 350-400 cover banqueting suite firmly at Hindu and Muslim weddings and other rites of passage. We're still not talking great numbers of conversions but some attendees realise where the ground is, and that they're welcome, and come back the following Saturday. 

Baby steps basically....

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People realise that Bradford Bulls don’t have to push RL down people’s throats, don’t they? I have no idea what the Bulls community work is like but they really don’t have to be solely RL based. Bradford and all clubs need to be focal points in the community, whether people want to watch Rugby League or not, they should be a place where people feel welcome and safe, regardless of their interests in RL, their race, religion, etc.

The Bradford Bulls Foundation (or whatever it’s called) could fund Asian dance classes, cricket lessons, Kabbadi events, language classes etc if that’s an area that they feel is under developed in their area. They don’t have to try and get kids to play Rugby League if it’s something they don’t want to do.

What’s the point in say, targeting young Asian kids to play RL, if historically, it’s not a sport they or their parents want them playing? Why not get Asian females between the ages of 3 - 18 years-old taking part in an Asian dance class? Why not get lads playing cricket year-round, if that’s what they’d rather be doing? They’d be doing this under the Bradford Bulls names and when taking part in events, competitions etc, they’d be representing the Bulls and be essentially advertising the club for free. 

 

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1 hour ago, The Future is League said:

I think we all agree that the more people we can get coming through the turnstiles from all backgrounds the better

Just not the ones that still sing racist songs at us.

Forever in our shadow, forever on your mind.

 

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On 3/14/2019 at 4:19 AM, Oliver Clothesoff said:

People realise that Bradford Bulls don’t have to push RL down people’s throats, don’t they? I have no idea what the Bulls community work is like but they really don’t have to be solely RL based. Bradford and all clubs need to be focal points in the community, whether people want to watch Rugby League or not, they should be a place where people feel welcome and safe, regardless of their interests in RL, their race, religion, etc.

The Bradford Bulls Foundation (or whatever it’s called) could fund Asian dance classes, cricket lessons, Kabbadi events, language classes etc if that’s an area that they feel is under developed in their area. They don’t have to try and get kids to play Rugby League if it’s something they don’t want to do.

What’s the point in say, targeting young Asian kids to play RL, if historically, it’s not a sport they or their parents want them playing? Why not get Asian females between the ages of 3 - 18 years-old taking part in an Asian dance class? Why not get lads playing cricket year-round, if that’s what they’d rather be doing? They’d be doing this under the Bradford Bulls names and when taking part in events, competitions etc, they’d be representing the Bulls and be essentially advertising the club for free. 

 

This is a pivotal point.

What industry is RL competing in? Entertainment I often hear?

RL authorities have far too long been positioning the sport as primarily an entertainment package. Neglecting the one simple USP RL and the clubs have over the cinema, PlayStation, theme parks, television, concerts etc which is the community.

A RL club’s success will be determined by its ability to provide the services of a club. A community. A membership of individuals with common values, goals and objectives under the one name. The ability for any club to engage with its existing membership and recruit new members by promoting their values, is its predominant vehicle for growth and survival.

If a sports club competes with other businesses on an entertainment level alone, then the club and its members need not be surprised when the new recruits are short lived and swayed by the next entertainment option marketed.

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I was told by an Asian guy who was a League player they the “booze culture” as he called it around many amateur rugby clubs was not attractive to young Muslim men 

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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10 hours ago, Phil said:

I was told by an Asian guy who was a League player they the “booze culture” as he called it around many amateur rugby clubs was not attractive to young Muslim men 

That may be the case for some but there are lots of younger muslim men who can pack it away with the rest and quite a few non-muslims who don't drink, so the stereotypes are there to be broken.

No team is an island.........................................

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31337109@N03/

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11 minutes ago, Bulliac said:

That may be the case for some but there are lots of younger muslim men who can pack it away with the rest and quite a few non-muslims who don't drink, so the stereotypes are there to be broken.

Oh absolutely mate, just reporting what I’ve been told 

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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