Neil Francis

[Itchy]

Who came up with the idea of a scrum in Rugby. A bunch of big strong men, sticking their heads between each others arses and grabing each others crotches. Its like something out of a gay porn movie. I rest my case.

Is it? I have never watched gay porn to compare.

You should do your research before commenting on a rugby thread!

[Jinxy]

 

[Dinny Breen]

The ultimate issue here for the rugby set is that despite unprecedented success the game hadn't grown significantly. The relative lack of interest in the Melbourne game when soccer and Gaelic games were in full swing tells it's own tale. They are miles off soccers playing numbers, football's crowds and hurling cultural significance, and you can taste the hurt.

There seems to be an orchestrated campaign from the rugby heads to brand their game as the national/people's game. The harder they try, the sillier they look

You've enough to be worried about, without throwing your twopence worth in here!

[rosnarun]

can this not be moved to the non sport section.
in fact how about a separate section for the  peoples over reaction to shitstirrers in the press

the we can have a brolly , neil francis, Dunphy, wooly, ewan mckenna (add you own) and a break out wannabe section to cover the latest practioner not yet worjty of his own thread.
while the rest of us can ignore it and talk and bout football and stuff

[Baile Brigín 2]

The ultimate issue here for the rugby set is that despite unprecedented success the game hadn't grown significantly. The relative lack of interest in the Melbourne game when soccer and Gaelic games were in full swing tells it's own tale. They are miles off soccers playing numbers, football's crowds and hurling cultural significance, and you can taste the hurt.

There seems to be an orchestrated campaign from the rugby heads to brand their game as the national/people's game. The harder they try, the sillier they look

You've enough to be worried about, without throwing your twopence worth in here!

What?

[RedHand88]

The ultimate issue here for the rugby set is that despite unprecedented success the game hadn't grown significantly. The relative lack of interest in the Melbourne game when soccer and Gaelic games were in full swing tells it's own tale. They are miles off soccers playing numbers, football's crowds and hurling cultural significance, and you can taste the hurt.

There seems to be an orchestrated campaign from the rugby heads to brand their game as the national/people's game. The harder they try, the sillier they look

I can. And it is bitter. I was actually at the first Irish Australia test *cough friendly cough* out in Brisbane and if this is our sports biggest domestic competitor then the GAA is safe for years to come.

[thejuice]

When a certain tournament or sport is in its high point like the World Cup or this years hurling championship and it's getting all the headlines there will always be someone who has to come out and say they don't like it or let the world know how uninterested they are. I used to indulge in this kind of thing myself but like most people I did grow out of it eventually.

I'm a casual rugby fan and I'll watch the 6N, the World Cup and any of the four provinces if they get to the final but to be honest I wouldn't roll over in bed to watch the mid season internationals though most of the time I don't even know they're on.

[Dinny Breen]

The ultimate issue here for the rugby set is that despite unprecedented success the game hadn't grown significantly. The relative lack of interest in the Melbourne game when soccer and Gaelic games were in full swing tells it's own tale. They are miles off soccers playing numbers, football's crowds and hurling cultural significance, and you can taste the hurt.

There seems to be an orchestrated campaign from the rugby heads to brand their game as the national/people's game. The harder they try, the sillier they look

I can. And it is bitter. I was actually at the first Irish Australia test *cough friendly cough* out in Brisbane and if this is our sports biggest domestic competitor then the GAA is safe for years to come.

The IRFU really don't see GAA as a competitor, I have said this before, they would look at the GAA and see good things (volunteers, revenues club and national) and bad things, as an example everyone in rugby looks at GAA fixture schedules or lack off and just think they are a complete shambles. The IRFU are driven by the professional game, you were in Brisbane, in a sold-out stadium watching rugby, watching Ireland and you think they are worried about the GAA?  Seriously?

[Itchy]

The ultimate issue here for the rugby set is that despite unprecedented success the game hadn't grown significantly. The relative lack of interest in the Melbourne game when soccer and Gaelic games were in full swing tells it's own tale. They are miles off soccers playing numbers, football's crowds and hurling cultural significance, and you can taste the hurt.

There seems to be an orchestrated campaign from the rugby heads to brand their game as the national/people's game. The harder they try, the sillier they look

I can. And it is bitter. I was actually at the first Irish Australia test *cough friendly cough* out in Brisbane and if this is our sports biggest domestic competitor then the GAA is safe for years to come.

The IRFU really don't see GAA as a competitor, I have said this before, they would look at the GAA and see good things (volunteers, revenues club and national) and bad things, as an example everyone in rugby looks at GAA fixture schedules or lack off and just think they are a complete shambles. The IRFU are driven by the professional game, you were in Brisbane, in a sold-out stadium watching rugby, watching Ireland and you think they are worried about the GAA?  Seriously?

Everybody should be worried about their competitor or frankly they are stupid. Where will their players come from if they lose their young talent to soccer or GAA or whatever. In fairness I think Rugby clubs are very tuned into the idea of competition with GAA and do a lot of clever things at underage to make the experience enjoyable for kids.

[RedHand88]

The ultimate issue here for the rugby set is that despite unprecedented success the game hadn't grown significantly. The relative lack of interest in the Melbourne game when soccer and Gaelic games were in full swing tells it's own tale. They are miles off soccers playing numbers, football's crowds and hurling cultural significance, and you can taste the hurt.

There seems to be an orchestrated campaign from the rugby heads to brand their game as the national/people's game. The harder they try, the sillier they look

I can. And it is bitter. I was actually at the first Irish Australia test *cough friendly cough* out in Brisbane and if this is our sports biggest domestic competitor then the GAA is safe for years to come.

The IRFU really don't see GAA as a competitor, I have said this before, they would look at the GAA and see good things (volunteers, revenues club and national) and bad things, as an example everyone in rugby looks at GAA fixture schedules or lack off and just think they are a complete shambles. The IRFU are driven by the professional game, you were in Brisbane, in a sold-out stadium watching rugby, watching Ireland and you think they are worried about the GAA?  Seriously?

Wasn't sold out. Nor anywhere near it. Plus I would love to know how many of the Irish people there understand the rules or would go to a club game at home. They looked like they were there for the occasion.

[Dinny Breen]

The ultimate issue here for the rugby set is that despite unprecedented success the game hadn't grown significantly. The relative lack of interest in the Melbourne game when soccer and Gaelic games were in full swing tells it's own tale. They are miles off soccers playing numbers, football's crowds and hurling cultural significance, and you can taste the hurt.

There seems to be an orchestrated campaign from the rugby heads to brand their game as the national/people's game. The harder they try, the sillier they look

I can. And it is bitter. I was actually at the first Irish Australia test *cough friendly cough* out in Brisbane and if this is our sports biggest domestic competitor then the GAA is safe for years to come.

The IRFU really don't see GAA as a competitor, I have said this before, they would look at the GAA and see good things (volunteers, revenues club and national) and bad things, as an example everyone in rugby looks at GAA fixture schedules or lack off and just think they are a complete shambles. The IRFU are driven by the professional game, you were in Brisbane, in a sold-out stadium watching rugby, watching Ireland and you think they are worried about the GAA?  Seriously?

Everybody should be worried about their competitor or frankly they are stupid. Where will their players come from if they lose their young talent to soccer or GAA or whatever. In fairness I think Rugby clubs are very tuned into the idea of competition with GAA and do a lot of clever things at underage to make the experience enjoyable for kids.

Prime insecure GAA mentality. That's not the mentality of the IRFU, talent will follow the professional ranks, it normally does. Most rugby clubs work with local GAA clubs, pretty much different seasons. 

[Dinny Breen]

The ultimate issue here for the rugby set is that despite unprecedented success the game hadn't grown significantly. The relative lack of interest in the Melbourne game when soccer and Gaelic games were in full swing tells it's own tale. They are miles off soccers playing numbers, football's crowds and hurling cultural significance, and you can taste the hurt.

There seems to be an orchestrated campaign from the rugby heads to brand their game as the national/people's game. The harder they try, the sillier they look

I can. And it is bitter. I was actually at the first Irish Australia test *cough friendly cough* out in Brisbane and if this is our sports biggest domestic competitor then the GAA is safe for years to come.

The IRFU really don't see GAA as a competitor, I have said this before, they would look at the GAA and see good things (volunteers, revenues club and national) and bad things, as an example everyone in rugby looks at GAA fixture schedules or lack off and just think they are a complete shambles. The IRFU are driven by the professional game, you were in Brisbane, in a sold-out stadium watching rugby, watching Ireland and you think they are worried about the GAA?  Seriously?

Wasn't sold out. Nor anywhere near it. Plus I would love to know how many of the Irish people there understand the rules or would go to a club game at home. They looked like they were there for the occasion.

Laws not rules. So professional product sells tickets, do you think the IRFU are worried about spectators understanding the laws? Do you think the GAA are worried about the average Dublin supporter who doesn't know where his or her local club is?

[guy crouchback]

the gaa has nothing to worry about from rugby, and visa versa. will the gaa lose players to professional rugby? probably, but not so many as to worry about, will they lose any to the club game , again maybe a few but a good few less than rugby will lose to the gaa.

take an example of a very successful vibrant rugby club near me. Ballina RFC. this year at senior lever it won ever competition it entered and has now been promoted back to the AIL, it has had massive success at underage at all age groups, both male and female. a number of previously gaa only local secondary schools now have successful rugby teams across the age groups.

its facilities have improved dramatically, new astro pitches revamped club house and a brand new 4g pitch being laid as we speak.

it is flying high at the moment and those involved would say these are the clubs greatest days. it is particularly proud of its underage set up where it has unprecedented numbers taking part. as an example at present they over 30 under 8 boys
training.

now compare this to the local gaa scene.  those 35 players above are taken from a catchment area that would cover probably in the region of 17 gaa clubs that would conservatively have 350 under 8's at present.

the local soccer team has about 40 under 10's (or the soccer equivalent which is really under 8, its very confusing) this year, who would only draw from a catchment of about 5 gaa clubs.

ballina is a town with a long rugby heritage and a strong rugby base but even with that its tiny in comparison to the GAA.  all of those 35 rugby under 8's play football as well as rugby.

[Dinny Breen]

the gaa has nothing to worry about from rugby, and visa versa. will the gaa lose players to professional rugby? probably, but not so many as to worry about, will they lose any to the club game , again maybe a few but a good few less than rugby will lose to the gaa.

take an example of a very successful vibrant rugby club near me. Ballina RFC. this year at senior lever it won ever competition it entered and has now been promoted back to the AIL, it has had massive success at underage at all age groups, both male and female. a number of previously gaa only local secondary schools now have successful rugby teams across the age groups.

its facilities have improved dramatically, new astro pitches revamped club house and a brand new 4g pitch being laid as we speak.

it is flying high at the moment and those involved would say these are the clubs greatest days. it is particularly proud of its underage set up where it has unprecedented numbers taking part. as an example at present they over 30 under 8 boys
training.

now compare this to the local gaa scene.  those 35 players above are taken from a catchment area that would cover probably in the region of 17 gaa clubs that would conservatively have 350 under 8's at present.

the local soccer team has about 40 under 10's (or the soccer equivalent which is really under 8, its very confusing) this year, who would only draw from a catchment of about 5 gaa clubs.

ballina is a town with a long rugby heritage and a strong rugby base but even with that its tiny in comparison to the GAA.  all of those 35 rugby under 8's play football as well as rugby.

Yep pretty much nailed it. You touched on secondary schools, that's where the IRFU see growth potential, a lot of resourcing going into schools, way more than clubs.

[rosnarun]

the reason Tugby would not be that worried about the GAA is the natural catchment areas are so very different .  protestants, professional, wannabes and shopkeepers make up the majority of the rugby senior teams team in the west of Ireland with a few corrowed from the winter from the GAA,
I used to play/ train with ballina for a few winter in a vain attempt at staying fit and thin and its a fine club very welcoming and were very early in importing foreign coaches and players who made a huge difference to the club , But there is always a sense of those who belong v tourists  and the bar afterwards was always like the vicarage tea party .
also interesting to note they now employ a fine GAA journalist as a PR agent how many GAA clubs with a paid PRO?