'Whither Rugby?' 05/06 - Tykes Tumble
By BrianC
July 3 2006
After five seasons in the top flight and with a couple of scares along the way Leeds have been relegated this season. This is a shame not least because they at last looked like developing a decent audience.
| Season | Average Att. | Position (Out of) |
Final GP Position | Percentage Growth |
| 01-02 | 4143 | 12th(12) | 12th(12) | |
| 02-03 | 4516 | 12th(12) | 5th(12) | 9.0% |
| 03-04 | 4198 | 11th(12) | 11th(12) | -7.1% |
| 04-05 | 5573 | 12th(12) | 8th(12) | 32.8% |
| 05-06 | 5900 | 12th(12) | 12th(12) | 5.9% |
Leeds time in the top flight has been a precarious one. In their first season, 01/02, despite putting up a good fight they finished 12th. They avoided relegation however as it was deemed that the ground of Rotherham, the club who topped ND1 that season was inadequate for Premiership rugby. In the 04/05 season they appeared down and out but staged a quite remarkable comeback, winning their last five games. Their best season on field was 02/03. They came 5th and qualified for the Heineken cup.
Those Yorkshiremen who are interested in rugby do claim that their county has more rugby clubs per head of the population than any other in the land. Whilst this may be the case Leeds have struggled to draw in the crowds. That said, there were signs of that changing. Significant growth was recorded in 04/05. That was consolidated and built upon last season. The worry must now be that all the hard work put in to attract an audience in a part of the country more naturally supportive of football and rugby league will be wasted.
| Variation '97-'06 | 142% | 10th(13) |
| Crowd Growth Absolute | 1431 | 12th(13) |
| Average Growth | 10.1% |
Headingley is always one of the attractive rugby venues to visit. Crucially it has plenty of capacity and is in a part of the country where RU could do with establishing a major base. I do hope that the Tykes bounce back from this