Williams, PJ 2012, 'Any Given Saturday: Competitive balance in elite English rugby' , Managing Leisure, 17 (2/3) , pp. 88-105.

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Abstract

Competitive balance (CB) is a key consideration for those who administer professional sports leagues. This paper examines CB in elite rugby union in England since leagues were formed in 1987. Using a range of established and sport-specific metrics, results indicate that levels of CB have been broadly responsive to a combination of externally imposed and internally generated developments in rugby’s competitive environment. The implications for policy-makers suggest that, while rugby union compares well, competitively, with other English professional team sports, reconciling the need to manage for a viable domestic league, while accommodating the aspirations of its strongest clubs, is likely to be problematic in the longer term.

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