Maggie stressed entertainment value. I would humbly suggest, sir, that people are voting with their feet.
RL - 3 English counties, two Australian states and token presences in France and Papua New Guinea.
So has it been for as long as I can remember including failed experiments in London, Adelaide and Perth.
I see no growth therefore popularity for RL is at best stagnant and exists only in traditional hotbeds. Outsiders/others are not taking it up.
Freely admit that it is a game for super fit hard bastards and admire it for that. Has never and will never make the hair stand on the back of my neck like the national anthem at Twickenham, Parc des Princes etc. does.
Still, if we all liked the same things............................................