In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
No
No-one was talking about it at work today Tankie. Instead we were talking about Tyrone's chances of staying up in Division 1 next year and what our chances are in the Championship this year.
I've no doubt that Rugby will grow in popularity on the back of Ireland's success in the 6 Nations, but I cannot see it challenging the GAA as Ireland number one sport.
I doubt anything will ever challenge Gaelic Games for number 1 or 2 spot but I think 3rd is up for grabs for sure.
Had a rugby lover tell me yesterday that this was the GAA "f**ked" as he put it. Was speaking to him lunchtime and he predicted the half of Dublin would be out to greet the team, "maybe even half a million".
17,500 at the very most, Jesus there was more people at each of the last 3 Fermanagh Championship games I've been at.
Quote from: Gnevin on March 23, 2009, 10:03:44 PM
I doubt anything will ever challenge Gaelic Games for number 1 or 2 spot but I think 3rd is up for grabs for sure.
hold on there now Gnevin, i dont think GAA can claim 1 and 2, GAA as a whole can claim 1 but separately i think soccer could be bigger if GAA is broken up into Hurling and Football.
I do think rugby can make some serious in roads this year, especially if LEinster and Munster meet in the Heino Cup Semi - Finial in Croker.
Quote from: ExiledGael on March 23, 2009, 10:06:21 PM
Had a rugby lover tell me yesterday that this was the GAA "f**ked" as he put it. Was speaking to him lunchtime and he predicted the half of Dublin would be out to greet the team, "maybe even half a million".
17,500 at the very most, Jesus there was more people at the last 3 Fermanagh Championship games I've been at.
Was suprised at the low turnout, imagine if Dublin had won the All Ireland the day before how many would have turned up. Even when Tyrone won the All Ireland in 03 60,000 turned up in Omagh.
Hope that rugby takes over from soccer as soccer is pure dung compared to the technical, physical and disipline skills displayed by rugby players. Theres no fear of rugby taking over from our beloved GAA as a large quantity of Rugby fans are No. 1 GAA fans already.
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:07:42 PM
Quote from: Gnevin on March 23, 2009, 10:03:44 PM
I doubt anything will ever challenge Gaelic Games for number 1 or 2 spot but I think 3rd is up for grabs for sure.
hold on there now Gnevin, i dont think GAA can claim 1 and 2, GAA as a whole can claim 1 but separately i think soccer could be bigger if GAA is broken up into Hurling and Football.
I do think rugby can make some serious in roads this year, especially if LEinster and Munster meet in the Heino Cup Semi - Finial in Croker.
it depends how you define it . In terms of attendance GAA are 1 and 2 .
I know people get caught up in the excitement of Irelands success but do people really think its a good game? I always find it very scrappy and hard to understand.
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
There is a huge difference between rugby and soccer in the fact that Ireland/Munster/Leinster/Connacht/Ulster are actually Irish and play in Ireland - this has been one of the biggest success drivers of the GAA and could be what drives rugby forward.
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:11:34 PM
I know people get caught up in the excitement of Irelands success but do people really think its a good game? I always find it very scrappy and hard to understand.
40,000 + consider it a good enough game to have season tickets.
Rugby's been going well for quite a few years now. The heineken cup is raising it's profile.
It's like anything else though - it's only prevolent in certain areas. If you were to map out the rugby clubs in Ireland you'd see large gaps without clubs. You'd not see this in GAA or soccer.
I like watching the international rugby. There's 2 clubs within ~40 miles proximity of where I'm from though. Can't profess to knowing all the rules yet though...
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:11:34 PM
I know people get caught up in the excitement of Irelands success but do people really think its a good game? I always find it very scrappy and hard to understand.
Its a great game, but its like every game - if you dont know the rules how can you understand it?
Quote from: imtommygunn on March 23, 2009, 10:16:59 PM
Rugby's been going well for quite a few years now. The heineken cup is raising it's profile.
It's like anything else though - it's only prevolent in certain areas. If you were to map out the rugby clubs in Ireland you'd see large gaps without clubs. You'd not see this in GAA or soccer.
I like watching the international rugby. There's 2 clubs within ~40 miles proximity of where I'm from though. Can't profess to knowing all the rules yet though...
But this is exactly what the discussion is about, 20 years ago soccer was only played in certain parts of the country and now its in every town and city. The is probably not a pub in the country that do not show soccer on atleast of of their tv's every saturday and sunday.
i think the number of people looking to part-take in soccer would be a lot less inclined to be found in the middle of a scrum or a ruck. Different sort of men altogether. going from gaelic to soccer i think would be handier than the rugby - except your headers who just love the fightin and goalkeepers in general.
When England won the Rugby World Cup a few years back, there was a lot of talk that Rugby would over take Soccer to be the country's number one sport. After the excitement went away, Soccer remained the most popular sport in England. Same will happen here Tankie.
Rugby isn't played in vast tracts of Ireland. It has no penetration up North , very little in Dublin. Only Munster is a stronghold. Club rugby is on its knees. We've 3 professional teams all of whom have a number of foreign players. 15,000 turned up in Dublin to see them yesterday. Our club team had a bigger turnout last year for the All-Ireland. You've no idea of the old school network in leinster . Unless thats eradicated it won;t have a huge impact in Leinster.
Kilmacud won the all-ireland last week with 6 blackrock college lads. Blackrock college now field GAA teams. When the likes of BOD go we're going to struggle.
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:13:53 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
There is a huge difference between rugby and soccer in the fact that Ireland/Munster/Leinster/Connacht/Ulster are actually Irish and play in Ireland - this has been one of the biggest success drivers of the GAA and could be what drives rugby forward.
My point was the current popularity has been built on the success of a few teams. Once Ireland go back down the pecking order a lot of the current support will die away. Same happened soccer with the Ireland soccer team. In the early 90's the talk was soccer would destroy the gaa, it didnt happen and in my opinion rugby wont destroy it either or take over from it.
Quote from: ziggysego on March 23, 2009, 10:35:02 PM
When England won the Rugby World Cup a few years back, there was a lot of talk that Rugby would over take Soccer to be the country's number one sport. After the excitement went away, Soccer remained the most popular sport in England. Same will happen here Tankie.
good post zig
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:39:06 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:13:53 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
There is a huge difference between rugby and soccer in the fact that Ireland/Munster/Leinster/Connacht/Ulster are actually Irish and play in Ireland - this has been one of the biggest success drivers of the GAA and could be what drives rugby forward.
My point was the current popularity has been built on the success of a few teams. Once Ireland go back down the pecking order a lot of the current support will die away. Same happened soccer with the Ireland soccer team. In the early 90's the talk was soccer would destroy the gaa, it didnt happen and in my opinion rugby wont destroy it either or take over from it.
I'm not sure how thins one will go, soccer never had any support at home so it was always going to drop in popularity s people do not feel connected. People in Munster are very much connected to Munster and Leinster has grown from an average attendance of around 2k in 2003 to around 16.5k now with 10k season ticket holders, that type of support generally does not dwindle away over night. The biggest challenge for Irish rugby will be the recession as it is a professional game in this country and need money to compete in Europe.
If there is a HEino Cup semi - final in Croker between leinster and munster I think the country will be ruby mad in the run upto after this and that has a serious affect on kids, just take a look at Hardstations example.
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:52:28 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:39:06 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:13:53 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
There is a huge difference between rugby and soccer in the fact that Ireland/Munster/Leinster/Connacht/Ulster are actually Irish and play in Ireland - this has been one of the biggest success drivers of the GAA and could be what drives rugby forward.
My point was the current popularity has been built on the success of a few teams. Once Ireland go back down the pecking order a lot of the current support will die away. Same happened soccer with the Ireland soccer team. In the early 90's the talk was soccer would destroy the gaa, it didnt happen and in my opinion rugby wont destroy it either or take over from it.
I'm not sure how thins one will go, soccer never had any support at home so it was always going to drop in popularity s people do not feel connected. People in Munster are very much connected to Munster and Leinster has grown from an average attendance of around 2k in 2003 to around 16.5k now with 10k season ticket holders, that type of support generally does not dwindle away over night. The biggest challenge for Irish rugby will be the recession as it is a professional game in this country and need money to compete in Europe.
If there is a HEino Cup semi - final in Croker between leinster and munster I think the country will be ruby mad in the run upto after this and that has a serious affect on kids, just take a look at Hardstations example.
If its going to have such an effect on children I guess as a gaa supporter you'll be hoping the match doesnt happen then?
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
When you see rain do you go looking for an Ark?
Quote from: INDIANA on March 23, 2009, 10:38:52 PM
Rugby isn't played in vast tracts of Ireland. It has no penetration up North , very little in Dublin. Only Munster is a stronghold. Club rugby is on its knees. We've 3 professional teams all of whom have a number of foreign players. 15,000 turned up in Dublin to see them yesterday. Our club team had a bigger turnout last year for the All-Ireland. You've no idea of the old school network in leinster . Unless thats eradicated it won;t have a huge impact in Leinster.
Kilmacud won the all-ireland last week with 6 blackrock college lads. Blackrock college now field GAA teams. When the likes of BOD go we're going to struggle.
Who doesn't count Connaught or Ulster ?
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 11:02:36 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:52:28 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:39:06 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:13:53 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
There is a huge difference between rugby and soccer in the fact that Ireland/Munster/Leinster/Connacht/Ulster are actually Irish and play in Ireland - this has been one of the biggest success drivers of the GAA and could be what drives rugby forward.
My point was the current popularity has been built on the success of a few teams. Once Ireland go back down the pecking order a lot of the current support will die away. Same happened soccer with the Ireland soccer team. In the early 90's the talk was soccer would destroy the gaa, it didnt happen and in my opinion rugby wont destroy it either or take over from it.
I'm not sure how thins one will go, soccer never had any support at home so it was always going to drop in popularity s people do not feel connected. People in Munster are very much connected to Munster and Leinster has grown from an average attendance of around 2k in 2003 to around 16.5k now with 10k season ticket holders, that type of support generally does not dwindle away over night. The biggest challenge for Irish rugby will be the recession as it is a professional game in this country and need money to compete in Europe.
If there is a HEino Cup semi - final in Croker between leinster and munster I think the country will be ruby mad in the run upto after this and that has a serious affect on kids, just take a look at Hardstations example.
If its going to have such an effect on children I guess as a gaa supporter you'll be hoping the match doesnt happen then?
Not a chance I think this will be a great day for Irish sport.
I dont think rugby has a chance in ulster either.
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:25:02 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on March 23, 2009, 10:16:59 PM
Rugby's been going well for quite a few years now. The heineken cup is raising it's profile.
It's like anything else though - it's only prevolent in certain areas. If you were to map out the rugby clubs in Ireland you'd see large gaps without clubs. You'd not see this in GAA or soccer.
I like watching the international rugby. There's 2 clubs within ~40 miles proximity of where I'm from though. Can't profess to knowing all the rules yet though...
But this is exactly what the discussion is about, 20 years ago soccer was only played in certain parts of the country and now its in every town and city. The is probably not a pub in the country that do not show soccer on atleast of of their tv's every saturday and sunday.
People always talk about soccer getting bigger after italia '90 but is that actually true? You hear about massive crowds going to Belfast Celtic v Linfield or Shamrock Rovers games back in the 50s and 60s, I've been told crowds of 50,000 would have went. Obviously no soccer game bar an international could possibly hope to pull that size of gate at the minute or in the forseeable future.
Tankie it also has to be remembered that you picked out the viewing figures from one of Irelands biggest games in 60 years. As you pointed out rugby has been growing in recent seasons, however even last season without the historic match or the prospect of glory none of the Ireland 6 nation games averaged more than the All Ireland Finals. It also has to be remembered that 30 counties have no direct interest in the All Ireland finals so your relying on neutrals.
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 11:17:26 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 11:02:36 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:52:28 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:39:06 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:13:53 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
There is a huge difference between rugby and soccer in the fact that Ireland/Munster/Leinster/Connacht/Ulster are actually Irish and play in Ireland - this has been one of the biggest success drivers of the GAA and could be what drives rugby forward.
My point was the current popularity has been built on the success of a few teams. Once Ireland go back down the pecking order a lot of the current support will die away. Same happened soccer with the Ireland soccer team. In the early 90's the talk was soccer would destroy the gaa, it didnt happen and in my opinion rugby wont destroy it either or take over from it.
I'm not sure how thins one will go, soccer never had any support at home so it was always going to drop in popularity s people do not feel connected. People in Munster are very much connected to Munster and Leinster has grown from an average attendance of around 2k in 2003 to around 16.5k now with 10k season ticket holders, that type of support generally does not dwindle away over night. The biggest challenge for Irish rugby will be the recession as it is a professional game in this country and need money to compete in Europe.
If there is a HEino Cup semi - final in Croker between leinster and munster I think the country will be ruby mad in the run upto after this and that has a serious affect on kids, just take a look at Hardstations example.
If its going to have such an effect on children I guess as a gaa supporter you'll be hoping the match doesnt happen then?
Not a chance I think this will be a great day for Irish sport.
Just to clarify is gaa your number one sport? If so its a bit strange that you would want a match taking place that you believe could help rugby become the biggest game in the country. Personally I dont think it will have as big an impact as you make out. A month or 2 later up to 80,000 Irish men will fill Croke Park for a Dublin Meath 1st round game and there will be big crowds around the country at Cork/Kerry,Tyrone/Armagh,Monaghan/Derry games and many more.
Do you know what chance a dyed in the wool republicans son from coalisland area would have off playing for dungannon???
Would it matter??
Things have changed around the gannon then.
Quote from: aroundincircles on March 23, 2009, 11:20:58 PM
I dont think rugby has a chance in ulster either.
Have you told the 9,000 average who attend Ulster matches?
Quote from: Gnevin on March 23, 2009, 11:31:37 PM
Quote from: aroundincircles on March 23, 2009, 11:20:58 PM
I dont think rugby has a chance in ulster either.
Have you told the 9,000 average who attend Ulster matches?
Was talking grassroot level..
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 11:25:54 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 11:17:26 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 11:02:36 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:52:28 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:39:06 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:13:53 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
There is a huge difference between rugby and soccer in the fact that Ireland/Munster/Leinster/Connacht/Ulster are actually Irish and play in Ireland - this has been one of the biggest success drivers of the GAA and could be what drives rugby forward.
My point was the current popularity has been built on the success of a few teams. Once Ireland go back down the pecking order a lot of the current support will die away. Same happened soccer with the Ireland soccer team. In the early 90's the talk was soccer would destroy the gaa, it didnt happen and in my opinion rugby wont destroy it either or take over from it.
I'm not sure how thins one will go, soccer never had any support at home so it was always going to drop in popularity s people do not feel connected. People in Munster are very much connected to Munster and Leinster has grown from an average attendance of around 2k in 2003 to around 16.5k now with 10k season ticket holders, that type of support generally does not dwindle away over night. The biggest challenge for Irish rugby will be the recession as it is a professional game in this country and need money to compete in Europe.
If there is a HEino Cup semi - final in Croker between leinster and munster I think the country will be ruby mad in the run upto after this and that has a serious affect on kids, just take a look at Hardstations example.
If its going to have such an effect on children I guess as a gaa supporter you'll be hoping the match doesnt happen then?
Not a chance I think this will be a great day for Irish sport.
Just to clarify is gaa your number one sport? If so its a bit strange that you would want a match taking place that you believe could help rugby become the biggest game in the country. Personally I dont think it will have as big an impact as you make out. A month or 2 later up to 80,000 Irish men will fill Croke Park for a Dublin Meath 1st round game and there will be big crowds around the country at Cork/Kerry,Tyrone/Armagh,Monaghan/Derry games and many more.
What is it about people having a number one sports in this country, can kids not go out and play all sports and just for the fun of it and choose latter in life what game they may want to play or maybe they could be crazy and play 2 or 3 sports in their teens.
Yes gaa is huge in my life but i would love to see Leinster win a Heineken Cup just as much as I would love to see Dublin win Sam - and there are many members of my club that would feel the same way. I really dont se why I or people should have to choose and I would love to see rugby get bigger in this country but it doesnt have to be at the expense of the GAA.
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 11:34:30 PM
What is it about people having a number one sports in this country, can kids not go out and play all sports and just for the fun of it and choose latter in life what game they may want to play or maybe they could be crazy and play 2 or 3 sports in their teens.
Yes gaa is huge in my life but i would love to see Leinster win a Heineken Cup just as much as I would love to see Dublin win Sam - and there are many members of my club that would feel the same way. I really dont se why I or people should have to choose and I would love to see rugby get bigger in this country but it doesnt have to be at the expense of the GAA.
For the first time ever i agree with what Tankie has said above.
Im away to have a good wash.
Quote from: hardstation on March 23, 2009, 11:29:37 PM
Yes.
Not directly relevant as they're not from Dungannon but I remember reading Kevin Barry and DeValera were both rugby players and I think in Munster there was a battalion of IRA men that came from a rugby club.
Will never accept Irish rugby until the rightful national anthem is played at all matches and not that excuse of a song. The only thing it shows is that this island can be seen as a united one when north and south can in some way support the one Irish team. If they could do away with the N.I soccer team and play under the one jersey then who knows what could happen.
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 11:34:30 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 11:25:54 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 11:17:26 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 11:02:36 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:52:28 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:39:06 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:13:53 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
There is a huge difference between rugby and soccer in the fact that Ireland/Munster/Leinster/Connacht/Ulster are actually Irish and play in Ireland - this has been one of the biggest success drivers of the GAA and could be what drives rugby forward.
My point was the current popularity has been built on the success of a few teams. Once Ireland go back down the pecking order a lot of the current support will die away. Same happened soccer with the Ireland soccer team. In the early 90's the talk was soccer would destroy the gaa, it didnt happen and in my opinion rugby wont destroy it either or take over from it.
I'm not sure how thins one will go, soccer never had any support at home so it was always going to drop in popularity s people do not feel connected. People in Munster are very much connected to Munster and Leinster has grown from an average attendance of around 2k in 2003 to around 16.5k now with 10k season ticket holders, that type of support generally does not dwindle away over night. The biggest challenge for Irish rugby will be the recession as it is a professional game in this country and need money to compete in Europe.
If there is a HEino Cup semi - final in Croker between leinster and munster I think the country will be ruby mad in the run upto after this and that has a serious affect on kids, just take a look at Hardstations example.
If its going to have such an effect on children I guess as a gaa supporter you'll be hoping the match doesnt happen then?
Not a chance I think this will be a great day for Irish sport.
Just to clarify is gaa your number one sport? If so its a bit strange that you would want a match taking place that you believe could help rugby become the biggest game in the country. Personally I dont think it will have as big an impact as you make out. A month or 2 later up to 80,000 Irish men will fill Croke Park for a Dublin Meath 1st round game and there will be big crowds around the country at Cork/Kerry,Tyrone/Armagh,Monaghan/Derry games and many more.
What is it about people having a number one sports in this country, can kids not go out and play all sports and just for the fun of it and choose latter in life what game they may want to play or maybe they could be crazy and play 2 or 3 sports in their teens.
Yes gaa is huge in my life but i would love to see Leinster win a Heineken Cup just as much as I would love to see Dublin win Sam - and there are many members of my club that would feel the same way. I really dont se why I or people should have to choose and I would love to see rugby get bigger in this country but it doesnt have to be at the expense of the GAA.
I'm a bit confused. You were the one who brought the number 1 sport in the country up in the original posted in the thread. You then made out that the Leinster Munster rugby game could have a huge impact on kids and implied it could help rugby become number one sport. My point was simply if your a gaa fan why would you want to see another sport take over in Ireland.
The two things about rugby that may mean it never makes it quite as big are the class thing and religion in the north. Unfortunately while the latter isn't as big an issue now it will impede it being developed in schools. How can catholic schools teach rugby when none of the teachers ever played? Ok they can but to what sort of level...
I'd love to have played it at school to be honest.
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 11:43:08 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 11:34:30 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 11:25:54 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 11:17:26 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 11:02:36 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:52:28 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:39:06 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 10:13:53 PM
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on March 23, 2009, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: Tankie on March 23, 2009, 09:58:04 PM
In work today and there was nothing but rugby being discussed, Ireland are the grand slam champions and there is a possibility of an All Ireland Heino Cup Semi Final taking place in Croker in front of 83k Irish people. The game on Saturday has and average audience of 945k and peaked at 1.2m viewers.
Is there a possibility that Rugby will take over like soccer did in the 1990's and challenge soccer and GAA for the number 1 or 2 slot in Irish sport? What do people think?
All it shows is how the Irish like to jump on a bandwaggon. It happens every year in the gaa when a county does well. The only problem for rugby similar to the Irish soccer team is that Ireland/Munster wont do well every year.
There is a huge difference between rugby and soccer in the fact that Ireland/Munster/Leinster/Connacht/Ulster are actually Irish and play in Ireland - this has been one of the biggest success drivers of the GAA and could be what drives rugby forward.
My point was the current popularity has been built on the success of a few teams. Once Ireland go back down the pecking order a lot of the current support will die away. Same happened soccer with the Ireland soccer team. In the early 90's the talk was soccer would destroy the gaa, it didnt happen and in my opinion rugby wont destroy it either or take over from it.
I'm not sure how thins one will go, soccer never had any support at home so it was always going to drop in popularity s people do not feel connected. People in Munster are very much connected to Munster and Leinster has grown from an average attendance of around 2k in 2003 to around 16.5k now with 10k season ticket holders, that type of support generally does not dwindle away over night. The biggest challenge for Irish rugby will be the recession as it is a professional game in this country and need money to compete in Europe.
If there is a HEino Cup semi - final in Croker between leinster and munster I think the country will be ruby mad in the run upto after this and that has a serious affect on kids, just take a look at Hardstations example.
If its going to have such an effect on children I guess as a gaa supporter you'll be hoping the match doesnt happen then?
Not a chance I think this will be a great day for Irish sport.
Just to clarify is gaa your number one sport? If so its a bit strange that you would want a match taking place that you believe could help rugby become the biggest game in the country. Personally I dont think it will have as big an impact as you make out. A month or 2 later up to 80,000 Irish men will fill Croke Park for a Dublin Meath 1st round game and there will be big crowds around the country at Cork/Kerry,Tyrone/Armagh,Monaghan/Derry games and many more.
What is it about people having a number one sports in this country, can kids not go out and play all sports and just for the fun of it and choose latter in life what game they may want to play or maybe they could be crazy and play 2 or 3 sports in their teens.
Yes gaa is huge in my life but i would love to see Leinster win a Heineken Cup just as much as I would love to see Dublin win Sam - and there are many members of my club that would feel the same way. I really dont se why I or people should have to choose and I would love to see rugby get bigger in this country but it doesnt have to be at the expense of the GAA.
I'm a bit confused. You were the one who brought the number 1 sport in the country up in the original posted in the thread. You then made out that the Leinster Munster rugby game could have a huge impact on kids and implied it could help rugby become number one sport. My point was simply if your a gaa fan why would you want to see another sport take over in Ireland.
Well i dont think that Rugby will ever take over GAA but i really do think it could challenge soccer. you are looking at it very black or white but the may reason for my post was a discussion about will Rugby popularity explode like soccer did in the 90's but I think rugby has a chance of lasting as our best players still play in Ireland so people can feel apart of the team they support - like inter country teams.
But as i have said on many threads on this board I think kids should play all sports and not be made choose a sport by their parents.
Hasn't a hope Tankie. Not everyone can play it. When someone from Neilstown plays for Leinster I'll start to get worried -until then We'll be fine.
Quote from: INDIANA on March 24, 2009, 12:15:13 AM
Hasn't a hope Tankie. Not everyone can play it. When someone from Neilstown plays for Leinster I'll start to get worried -until then We'll be fine.
You mean someone like this guy? right he may not play for leinster but I was shocked reading this - Aguy born and raised in Ballymun flats playing rugby.....
QuoteAn Irishman's Diary
Dean King: the Ballymun-born teenage star of Unidare RFC is off to New Zealand later this month on a rugby scholarshipDean King: the Ballymun-born teenage star of Unidare RFC is off to New Zealand later this month on a rugby scholarship
Frank McNally
THE Ballymun flats have never been one of the heartlands of Leinster rugby, I think it's fair to say. The schools cup has rarely set pulses racing in those parts. The problem of how you might rock the 'Rock, in the unlikely event of such an opportunity arising, has not detained the locals unduly.
But bastions are falling everywhere these days. Not even Ballymun and Leinster rugby are mutually immune. A former GAA player from Louth – God help us – is currently holding down the full-back spot, not just for Leinster, but for Ireland too. And although Ballymun is a much more distant outpost than that, except in purely geographical terms, who's to say it couldn't be next? Enter Dean King. Or, in the short term, exit. The teenager is pure Ballymun: born 19 years ago into an eight-storey block of flats in a suburb synonymous with poverty and deprivation. But his unlikely love affair with rugby will take him to New Zealand at the end of this month, on an even more unlikely scholarship.
Courtesy of a link-up between his club, Unidare RFC, and the New Zealand Ireland Association (NZIA), the teenager will spend six months in the home of rugby, playing for an outfit in Waikato province, North Island. Unidare hopes exposure to the soil that grows All-Blacks might rub off on him too. He hopes it will further his long-term ambition: to play professionally for Leinster.
At the very least, it promises to be another fruitful chapter in a life that could have been wasted. King had not yet been born when, in 1987, Bono sang: "I see seven towers but I only see one way out". Soon afterwards, however, he was getting a much closer view of the towers than Bono ever had, and of all the problems that went with them.
Full article:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0311/1224242658382.html
Lads, Rugby or any other sport should not be viewed as a threat. I take pleasure in the growth of any sport in the country
I love it when we beat the aussies in the international rules
I loved it when we won the grandslam
I love it when a new irish kid who looks like he's the next big thing breaks through in the premiership
I loved Germany, USA 94 and Japan/South Korea
I loved it when Ireland beat Pakistan in the cricket world cup
I loved it Bernard Dunne became our latest world champion on Saturday night
I loved Harrington taking on the world on the biggest stages for the last two years
I loved watching an Irish sprinter making it to the Olympic semi finals
I loved watching O'Sullivan take on the Africans against all odds
I loved watching Michelle Smith win 3 golds (I now despise her)
I loved watching Lord Clifton Wrottesley III slide down the hill on a tray just because he was wearing green
I loved watching Ulster win the European Cup in 1999
Call me a band wagoner or claim that by supporting these other sports I am supporting the downfall of the GAA. My God, Croke park has now hosted about 10 'foreign sports' games and we're still alive! (Despite the protestations of the Ulster Council and the rest of the peak cap brigade that are scattered around the country).
Its 2009, the GAA is so intertwined into the culture and mindset of our country that there can never be any threat. It's simply not possible.
There are 3 times more people in Australia than there are in Ireland - It is not a particularly highly populated country. However, they compete at the very highest level in so many sports. This is what we should aspire to!
Tankie- I'm a life long rugby fan I even played the game for a while. I know the divide that exists. Believe me when I say it no-one from a working class area will play for the Leinster first team, there are people in the Leinster branch who will make sure of it. Its an elitist game in Leinster and will be for the forseeable future. Maybe more schools are playing it but blackrock college and terenure college now field gaa teams. Thats a victory in itself for the Gaa.
Quote from: Donagh on March 23, 2009, 11:39:15 PM
Quote from: hardstation on March 23, 2009, 11:29:37 PM
Yes.
Not directly relevant as they're not from Dungannon but I remember reading Kevin Barry and DeValera were both rugby players and I think in Munster there was a battalion of IRA men that came from a rugby club.
I remember Dick Moran saying that one night in Glenroe also.
QuoteI know the divide that exists. Believe me when I say it no-one from a working class area will play for the Leinster first team, there are people in the Leinster branch who will make sure of it.
You haven't a clue have you, Sean O'Brien, Trevor Hogan, Trevor Brennan (he was a milkman for godsake) Niall Ronan all off the top of my head. In fact Des Kavanagh the President of the Leinster Branch is the head of the Irish Psychiatric Nurses Union, would love to see you have a conversation with him.
Leinster Rugby is far from perfect but it has moved on from your stereotype a long time ago.
Which of ye is Tom Humphries ? ;)From The TimesMarch 21, 2009
Ireland grand-slam bid fails to unite nation
For older generations, the prospect of victory in Cardiff today will do little to stir the sporting soul
Drinks all round? Not every bar will be packed with Ireland fans
Tom Humphries
If you are Irish and you like rugby, you will be loving this entire grand-slam business. The old boys of 1948 getting dusted down and wheeled out. The big claims for rugby's centrality to Irish culture. The sense that a grand slam may be one last, grand blowout before the country throws itself down the economic garbage chute.
If you are Irish and indifferent to the rugger hullabaloo, well, you won't be short of company, either.
This has been an interesting month for Irish sport. For a few days at Cheltenham we masqueraded as "the racing Irish", a loveable, all-drinking, all-wagering tribe of codgers pretending that they still had some money left. Here we come clutching a form guide and rosary beads in one hand and a creamy pint in the other. The sport of kings. It's in our blood, see.
Tuesday was St Patrick's Day and Croke Park hosted the All-Ireland club hurling and football finals. If there is a unit of Irish sport that feels itself securely tied to the soul of the nation, it is the GAA.
And then this weekend the stage is boisterously commandeered by the rugby people - big, bluff practitioners of a sport that a rabid RTE commentator asserted a couple of years ago to be the "heartbeat of our nation". It was a claim that set many of us sniggering into our skinny cappuccinos. You either love rugby or loathe rugby, but in Ireland it is also possible to ignore it, even in a week such as this.
Rugby is slowly changing its demographic and the success of Munster, in particular, has provided a sort of gateway drug for those who wish to explore matters farther. For many of us, however, it is too late. We grew up in a time when rugby in Dublin and in Ulster was the preserve and the sporting means of self-expression for the privileged classes.
Even in other regions the game was, as the great Irish writer Breandán ÓhEithir put it, "distinguished from other popular sports by the fact that it was played by Protestants and by the sons of the small-town businessmen who had been sent to the rugby- playing academies of Blackrock, Castleknock and Clongowes Wood, to ensure that they were kept a cut above the buttermilk that surrounded them at home and to make useful business connections".
Irish rugby remains a sport from which generations of us have felt excluded and disenfranchised. Whatever happens in Wales today, it will be a private function. A large swath of us will be at home watching something else or doing something else, not out of ill will but just because rugby does not concern us or stir us. The game does not still the nation in the way that Ireland football matches in World Cup finals do, clearing those streets that have previously been festooned with flags and bunting. And rugby does not stir that deep, atavistic pride inside us like an All-Ireland hurling final.
Even rugby's high feast days leave lots of us cold. I was dispatched to see Ireland play France on the day when Croke Park belatedly opened itself up for business to foreign sports. My journalistic services were not needed for the England game a couple of weeks later, so I went to watch some hurling instead. I am glad my byline did not appear over some of the frothy foolishness that was committed to print and hurled down the airwaves that weekend. Corny, misplaced jingoism was dispensed in industrial quantities by people who should know better.
What a bizarre occasion of self-celebration that was. Rugby people at their hectoring and sanctimonious best, giving hard evidence to the old truth that as "a great sporting nation" we are merely a race of big-event addicts and international sport comes with the added incentive of giving us the chance to get a pat on the head from elsewhere. We are obsessed with seeing ourselves as others might see us, addicted to pointing out cloyingly our charm and our passion. Aren't we the greatest supporters in the world? Aren't we? Say we are. Puh-leese!
Lawdee! February 2007. What a time we had of it. The business of the Union Jack being run up a flagpole at Croke Park and of God Save the Queen being sung in the old place was held up to us peasantry and a bemused international audience as an example of how things should be done. Our little Mandela-Pienaar moment.
We were asked to stand back and let the rugby folk take care of the healing. The old oppressors' anthem had been played and the flag run up and down the timber many times during the Special Olympics at Croke Park a few years earlier and nobody had died of apoplexy, but this, we were told, was our history in the making, the final proof that as a nation we had matured.
The rugby chaps had done it. They had planted the flag on the peak of national adulthood. The final stage of our evolution as a race was complete. We were walking on two feet and with a straight back at last. And wearing blazers with shiny buttons.
Of course, we speak out of both sides of our mouths. Beating our new best friends, the English, at Croke Park was the least that could have been done for the GAA. The chaps had sorted out that nasty old Bloody Sunday business once and for all, given payback for the days when the English took the corn out of our foamy mouths while the spuds rotted in the fields and soothed the seething peasantry who were gathered somewhere else in a parish hall, brandishing cudgels and scythes and baying about the feckin' Brits being in the good field again.
Cry god for Croker, Ireland and the oval ball, one reporter concluded before passing out in a state of religious ecstasy. There was plenty more guff to the tune of rugby being the heartbeat of our nation and this being a point that divided our history in two. The rest of us expressed our maturity by placing our tongues between our lips and exhaling so as to make farting noises.
But the truth is that all Irish sports need occasional sips of this nationalist soma to sustain themselves. An Ireland win today would be a nice punctuation mark to place at the end of the bizarrely vulgar Celtic Tiger years, but perhaps the real measure of our maturity, as a sporting nation at least, will come when we can play games without the constant need for external validation and self-congratulation.
Meanwhile, good luck to the boys. Some of us will be passionately checking Teletext later to see how ye got on.
†Tom Humphries is a columnist for The Irish Times and has twice been nominated for William Hill Sports Book of the Year prize
Quote from: imtommygunn on March 23, 2009, 11:48:11 PM
The two things about rugby that may mean it never makes it quite as big are the class thing and religion in the north. Unfortunately while the latter isn't as big an issue now it will impede it being developed in schools. How can catholic schools teach rugby when none of the teachers ever played? Ok they can but to what sort of level...
I'd love to have played it at school to be honest.
So you also accept protestant schools can't teach GAA to any decent level?
Well unfortunately that's the way it is...
Quote from: aroundincircles on March 23, 2009, 11:33:45 PM
Quote from: Gnevin on March 23, 2009, 11:31:37 PM
Quote from: aroundincircles on March 23, 2009, 11:20:58 PM
I dont think rugby has a chance in ulster either.
Have you told the 9,000 average who attend Ulster matches?
Was talking grassroot level..
Most would be involved in a grassroots
Quote from: Hereiam on March 23, 2009, 11:41:46 PM
Will never accept Irish rugby until the rightful national anthem is played at all matches and not that excuse of a song. The only thing it shows is that this island can be seen as a united one when north and south can in some way support the one Irish team. If they could do away with the N.I soccer team and play under the one jersey then who knows what could happen.
With your attitude a United Irish soccer team will never happen. Your attitude of let them do all the compromising won't work.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 24, 2009, 09:31:54 AM
QuoteI know the divide that exists. Believe me when I say it no-one from a working class area will play for the Leinster first team, there are people in the Leinster branch who will make sure of it.
You haven't a clue have you, Sean O'Brien, Trevor Hogan, Trevor Brennan (he was a milkman for godsake) Niall Ronan all off the top of my head. In fact Des Kavanagh the President of the Leinster Branch is the head of the Irish Psychiatric Nurses Union, would love to see you have a conversation with him.
Leinster Rugby is far from perfect but it has moved on from your stereotype a long time ago.
I played senior cup rugby at schools level. i know what its like. I've seen the bullshit that goes on first hand. I know the criteria for selection for the Leinster academy- you don't. So don't start telling me what I do and what I don't know. Ask yourself how many of the first 15 for Ireland last week came from club rugby. 3- John Hayes-Marcus Horan and Ferris. Every single other player on the team went to private school. The very odd exception comes through club rugby if you go to Blackrock College, Clongowes etc you've got a headstart.
It is still dominated by the old school ties. And I 'll argue that all day.
QuoteI know the criteria for selection for the Leinster academy- you don't. So don't start telling me what I do and what I don't know
Indiana if you really want to pursue this arguement with me I better point that I am a Level II coach in Leinster rugby, I coach schools, youths and club, I have been involved in identifying young rugby talent in Kildare and know many of the Leinster Academy members and coaches personally. The head of the Leinster Academy is Colin McEntee, a working class lad who went to Naas CBS who played Leinster Youths, Irish Youths and professionally for Leinster, do you honestly think that he only looks at players from Section B schools.
Just because you played SCT 20 odd years ago does not make you all of a sudden an expert, going to Clongowes or Blackrock only gives you a head start because you are exposed to high level coaching 4/5 times a week for 6 years, Clongowes doesn't even produce that many Internationals. Newbridge College whose fees are nominal produces as many interantionals as Clongowes.
To be honest since you didn't respond to the working class arguement I don't see any point in pursuing a debate with a guy who just argues with Cliches and sterotypes and tells me quite flippantly that he knows the selection criteria for the Leinster Academy when he painfiully doesn't.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 24, 2009, 10:27:54 AM
QuoteI know the criteria for selection for the Leinster academy- you don't. So don't start telling me what I do and what I don't know
Just because you played SCT 20 odd years ago does not make you all of a sudden an expert, going to Clongowes or Blackrock only gives you a head start because you are exposed to high level coaching 4/5 times a week for 6 years, Clongowes doesn't even produce that many Internationals. Newbridge College whose fees are nominal produces as many interantionals as Clongowes.
To be honest since you didn't respond to the working class arguement I don't see any point in pursuing a debate with a guy who just argues with Cliches and sterotypes and tells me quite flippantly that he knows the selection criteria for the Leinster Academy when he painfiully doesn't.
Flipping eck I agree with Dinny :) . Really good analysis of this in The Outliers : The story of success by Malcolm Gladwell.
Humphreys does not reflect my opinions in this instance but i have to say he was spot on in the ambivilence from a lot of gaels i know
Quote from: The GAA on March 24, 2009, 11:01:07 AM
Humphreys does not reflect my opinions in this instance but i have to say he was spot on in the ambivilence from a lot of gaels i know
Gerry Thornely had a comment at the end of his celebratory piece on Monday, that I think was directed at his colleague Humphries.
"Pity those who won't enjoy it.
Someday"
That's extraordinarily bitter, mean spirited stuff from Humphries. I generally enjoy his anti-rugby rants - they're usually funny and every man is entitled to his prejudices, sporting and otherwise and I even thought I shared some of what I thought were his attitudes to rugby.
However this piece reveals that his antipathy is more deep-seated and mean. I find it embarrassing as a GAA man the he feels the need to disparage another sport in order to seem to be standing up for the GAA. We can be proud of ourselves without needing to bad mouth others or assume the worst in their motives. I certainly haven't detected any condescension from rugby people or been offended by their behaviour since we rented them the use of Croke Park.
And I burst out laughing at the fact that he then can't see the irony of a statement like "Corny, misplaced jingoism was dispensed in industrial quantities by people who should know better." It certainly was in your article, Tom.
And then the final piece of unconscious self parody: "perhaps the real measure of our maturity, as a sporting nation at least, will come when we can play games without the constant need for external validation and self-congratulation".
Indeed, Tom.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 24, 2009, 10:27:54 AM
QuoteI know the criteria for selection for the Leinster academy- you don't. So don't start telling me what I do and what I don't know
Indiana if you really want to pursue this arguement with me I better point that I am a Level II coach in Leinster rugby, I coach schools, youths and club, I have been involved in identifying young rugby talent in Kildare and know many of the Leinster Academy members and coaches personally. The head of the Leinster Academy is Colin McEntee, a working class lad who went to Naas CBS who played Leinster Youths, Irish Youths and professionally for Leinster, do you honestly think that he only looks at players from Section B schools.
Just because you played SCT 20 odd years ago does not make you all of a sudden an expert, going to Clongowes or Blackrock only gives you a head start because you are exposed to high level coaching 4/5 times a week for 6 years, Clongowes doesn't even produce that many Internationals. Newbridge College whose fees are nominal produces as many interantionals as Clongowes.
To be honest since you didn't respond to the working class arguement I don't see any point in pursuing a debate with a guy who just argues with Cliches and sterotypes and tells me quite flippantly that he knows the selection criteria for the Leinster Academy when he painfiully doesn't.
You didn't answer my question did you. I've noticed that about you you're good at answering the questions no-one asked. 12 out of the 15 starters for Ireland on Saturday came from private school. 75% of Leinster academy players go to private school. Do you want me to take out the list of the Irish u20 team this year and detail where they are from as well? Do you want me to put the Leinster u20 team and detail where they are from as well. I go to all the leinster games- I even go to the A games- I doubt very much you know more about the leinster rugby team than I do.
Lets start with the leinster senior team
Rob Kearney- clongowes
Luke Fitz- blackrock
BOD- blackrock
Darcy- Clongowes
Sexton- St marys college
Donohue- belvedere
Healy- belvedere
Heaslip- newbridge college
Jennings-st marys college
MOK- st marys college
Toner- Castleknock College
Cullen -Blackrock Colllege
Dempsey-Terenure
Brown- Blackrock College
Keane- belvedere college
That leaves Horgan , Jackman and O Brien as the only 3 players from club rugby. Now Dinny do you really want to debate the inequities the system seriously. Its a debate you're going to lose from all angles. Tell me how many of those schools above you don't have to pay to attend?
Jamie Hagan and Eamonn Sheridan are the only 2 academy players that haven't attended private school.
I love my rugby but I detest the inequities of the system that don;t make it a game for the masses and when i see working class lads representing leinster on a regular basis the I'll start to believe.
Quote from: hardstation on March 23, 2009, 10:27:00 PM
Have 2 nephews (10 and 7) who have been mad into GAA this last 2 years. They never gave soccer a second look.
Came home today and saw a rugby ball in the garden. My ma said they were looking to go out and play rugby every time the rain stopped today. Found that weird. A few pile drivers on Saturday should sort that out.
i wouldnt worry to much, sure the tennis rackets come out during wimbeldon and the darts during the lakeside...
That's a bit like shooting a man in the back when he's walking away, Indiana. We had the same when people from other sports were coming in here to accuse the GAA of sectarianism and bigotry at the very time when we were repealing Rule 42 and the other one about British soldiers and police.
It seems clear, from the examples given, that rugby is spreading its base and no longer consciously confining itself to its traditional privileged enclave, so this seems like a funny time to be attacking it for that perceived fault. A century or more of tradition won't collapse overnight, however, so short of a ban on players from traditional rugby schools, I imagine it's reasonable to expect to see a few from Blackrock, Clongowes, etc. on the Leinster team for a while yet.
(Why am I defending rugby left right and centre, all of a sudden? Am I a bandwaggoner?).
Dinny,
I have a brother who was involved with the Ulster U-18's set up last year.
They created a squad that did not include those who played for the 'traditional' schools teams.
The whole set up was a complete joke. No training, No communication, kits that were years old when they went ot play a match, i could go on.
Our U-12's have more organisation about them.
Most of these lads were from Catholic schools and from Protestant Working class schools in the North
Now the brother also knows some of those involved in the other U-18 squad based on the schools players.Play's a wee bit of club rugby with them.(when they are allowed)
Again this squad was made up from 'traditional' rugby schools of the North, (RBNI, Potora, Methody, Inst,etc...........)
Night and day was the difference. It was shocking.................
Quote from: INDIANA on March 24, 2009, 12:17:31 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 24, 2009, 10:27:54 AM
QuoteI know the criteria for selection for the Leinster academy- you don't. So don't start telling me what I do and what I don't know
Indiana if you really want to pursue this arguement with me I better point that I am a Level II coach in Leinster rugby, I coach schools, youths and club, I have been involved in identifying young rugby talent in Kildare and know many of the Leinster Academy members and coaches personally. The head of the Leinster Academy is Colin McEntee, a working class lad who went to Naas CBS who played Leinster Youths, Irish Youths and professionally for Leinster, do you honestly think that he only looks at players from Section B schools.
Just because you played SCT 20 odd years ago does not make you all of a sudden an expert, going to Clongowes or Blackrock only gives you a head start because you are exposed to high level coaching 4/5 times a week for 6 years, Clongowes doesn't even produce that many Internationals. Newbridge College whose fees are nominal produces as many interantionals as Clongowes.
To be honest since you didn't respond to the working class arguement I don't see any point in pursuing a debate with a guy who just argues with Cliches and sterotypes and tells me quite flippantly that he knows the selection criteria for the Leinster Academy when he painfiully doesn't.
You didn't answer my question did you. I've noticed that about you you're good at answering the questions no-one asked. 12 out of the 15 starters for Ireland on Saturday came from private school. 75% of Leinster academy players go to private school. Do you want me to take out the list of the Irish u20 team this year and detail where they are from as well? Do you want me to put the Leinster u20 team and detail where they are from as well. I go to all the leinster games- I even go to the A games- I doubt very much you know more about the leinster rugby team than I do.
Lets start with the leinster senior team
Rob Kearney- clongowes
Luke Fitz- blackrock
BOD- blackrock
Darcy- Clongowes
Sexton- St marys college
Donohue- belvedere
Healy- belvedere
Heaslip- newbridge college
Jennings-st marys college
MOK- st marys college
Toner- Castleknock College
Cullen -Blackrock Colllege
Dempsey-Terenure
Brown- Blackrock College
Keane- belvedere college
That leaves Horgan , Jackman and O Brien as the only 3 players from club rugby. Now Dinny do you really want to debate the inequities the system seriously. Its a debate you're going to lose from all angles. Tell me how many of those schools above you don't have to pay to attend?
Jamie Hagan and Eamonn Sheridan are the only 2 academy players that haven't attended private school.
I love my rugby but I detest the inequities of the system that don;t make it a game for the masses and when i see working class lads representing leinster on a regular basis the I'll start to believe.
You seem to have already moved a fair distance already from your original position:
Quote from: INDIANA on March 24, 2009, 12:28:09 AM
Tankie- I'm a life long rugby fan I even played the game for a while. I know the divide that exists. Believe me when I say it no-one from a working class area will play for the Leinster first team, there are people in the Leinster branch who will make sure of it. Its an elitist game in Leinster and will be for the forseeable future.
Reading your opinions on other topics indiana you certainly have a high opinion of your own expertise in a variety of subjects.
QuoteI know the divide that exists. Believe me when I say it no-one from a working class area will play for the Leinster first team, there are people in the Leinster branch who will make sure of it.
Since I pointed out that working class lads do actually play for Leinster you have completely changed track and are now going on about inequalaities which I agree with to an extent but as BC mentiioned the theory behind outliers explains this, Section B schools, many of whom offer scholarships to youths players (Bob Casey, Tony Buckley, two examples) train 4/5 times a week with full-time coaches, will be on strict conditioning and nutrition programs, they are so far in advance of your average youths rugby player in terms of basic skills it can take years to bridge the gap but the likes of Ferris, Horgan, Hayes etc have shown the gap can be closed with the proper coaching and attitude from the players.
Quote75% of Leinster academy players go to private school.
Which means you awkowledge 25% didn't, what was it like before rugby professional, I would say 100% private and in that situation yes your old school tie was important, Leinster Rugby is moving forward but the IRFU deliberately fund Blackrock, St Mary's, OB Terenure etc because although the schools system has failed for years it is now bearing fruit because of the high intense training these young men take but the Leinster Branch have spent a lot money on youth development squads that are getting proper coaching (I hope as I am one of them) that can prepare them to compete with schools for Academy places, Leinster's Elite Player development officer was in charge of Leinster Youths this year, that is how serious they are taking it. They have advertised for next years coaching team and have received over 30 applicants including 10 ex-professional coaches. Leinster rugby has a terrible rep, a lot of it deserved but it's evolving and deserves massive credit for the steps it has taken.
By the way Jackman went to Newbridge College and O'Kelly went to Templeogue a non-fee paying rugby school.
Also just to keep within the thread Tankie, Rugby will be never be in the top 3 sports in Ireland, rugby is not like soccer, you just can't throw a bag of balls over your should and call yourself a rugby club, but it was a great weekend for Irish sports and I totally enjoyed the rugby, the boxing and the Kildare Armagh game and all 3 in their own way made me proud to Irish, particularly when it's popular thing to knock us these days..
QuoteDinny,
I have a brother who was involved with the Ulster U-18's set up last year.
They created a squad that did not include those who played for the 'traditional' schools teams.
Disappointing to here that but from talking to Allen Clarke last summer they hope to addess that, Ulster Rugby knows it has to broaden it's player base as it's been left behind by Munster and Leinster.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 24, 2009, 12:53:51 PM
QuoteI know the divide that exists. Believe me when I say it no-one from a working class area will play for the Leinster first team, there are people in the Leinster branch who will make sure of it.
Since I pointed out that working class lads do actually play for Leinster you have completely changed track and are now going on about inequalaities which I agree with to an extent but as BC mentiioned the theory behind outliers explains this, Section B schools, many of whom offer scholarships to youths players (Bob Casey, Tony Buckley, two examples) train 4/5 times a week with full-time coaches, will be on strict conditioning and nutrition programs, they are so far in advance of your average youths rugby player in terms of basic skills it can take years to bridge the gap but the likes of Ferris, Horgan, Hayes etc have shown the gap can be closed with the proper coaching and attitude from the players.
Quote75% of Leinster academy players go to private school.
Which means you awkowledge 25% didn't, what was it like before rugby professional, I would say 100% private and in that situation yes your old school tie was important, Leinster Rugby is moving forward but the IRFU deliberately fund Blackrock, St Mary's, OB Terenure etc because although the schools system has failed for years it is now bearing fruit because of the high intense training these young men take but the Leinster Branch have spent a lot money on youth development squads that are getting proper coaching (I hope as I am one of them) that can prepare them to compete with schools for Academy places, Leinster's Elite Player development officer was in charge of Leinster Youths this year, that is how serious they are taking it. They have advertised for next years coaching team and have received over 30 applicants including 10 ex-professional coaches. Leinster rugby has a terrible rep, a lot of it deserved but it's evolving and deserves massive credit for the steps it has taken.
By the way Jackman went to Newbridge College and O'Kelly went to Templeogue a non-fee paying rugby school.
Also just to keep within the thread Tankie, Rugby will be never be in the top 3 sports in Ireland, rugby is not like soccer, you just can't throw a bag of balls over your should and call yourself a rugby club, but it was a great weekend for Irish sports and I totally enjoyed the rugby, the boxing and the Kildare Armagh game and all 3 in their own way made me proud to Irish, particularly when it's popular thing to knock us these days..
Sorry Dinny - Tony Buckley went to Newbridge College - thats fee paying. i got my statistics wrong its 2 players in the leinster academy out of 15 thats a lot more than 75%. I'm not having a go at you -I'm having a go at the system. I cannot believe Dinny 25 years later that the same inequities exist in Leinster. Even from Trevor's day - there are no more club players playing for leinster then when he was there.
The other thing as well the standard of senior cup rugby (schools) is crap . Invariably both teams kick the ball back to each other because its a knockout competition. You get the odd exceptional team that run the ball but by and large the standard is brutal. the point being in a lot of cases these guys are not better than club underage rugby players. This is a fact Rob kearney got an academy contract despite not being able to pass off his left hand. Thats the standard of schools rugby- for all the training they do the skill level in alot of cases is brutal and leaves the academies with an inordinate amt of work to do to make them professionals.
The other thing as well is the lack of lateral thinking in the Leinster Branch. Leinster have lacked a physical pack of forwards for years (irish born). yet they still look for hard nosed forwards where all the nancy boys are from. Anyone with a modicum of rugby knowledge must know in the farms of meath-carlow-wicklow etc there must be a 100 lads who would meet the physical requirements necessary and they would add a bit of grit to proceedings. Yet all we have is Sean O Brien. there must be 50 Sean O Briens in leinster yet someone from blackrock college has a better chance.
I know a lot of people who didnt watch last Saturday.Its sad.
I don't agree with Humphries either Hardy but he knows he's on safe ground because there are thousands who agree with him- especially in Dublin. My local rugby club have won the AIL div1 twice in the last decade yet its nearly broke. thats the inequities of the system.
Going back to Humphries article for a second. Its bewildering, id say with clubmates and all id have been talking to or been in the company of over 50 Die Hard GAA men and women either before/during or after the rugby on saturday and all were as nervous before and eventually as ecstatic as any D4head after Ireland won.
Ive yet to hear anyone either begrudge or say they didnt care about Irelands Grand Slan win and i am from one of the most fanatical GAA counties in the country where Rugby and Soccer are virtually non existant.
Humphries would want to grow up and realise him and his ilk are but a miniscule part of the larger GAA fraternity,the vast majority of whom went through every emotion and cringed at every irish turnover during the game on Saturday.
Ballyhaise I don't agree. I've 10 die hard gaa friends- 6 of them went to private school. 7 of them didn't watch the game. Of those 6 - 3 didn't watch it. I was at the hurlers in Parnell on Sunday- a lot of people around me didn't watch it either. There is serious apathy towards rugby in Dublin in particular. The whole Ross O Carroll -Kelly image has done Leinster Rugby no favours in Dublin. A lot of people on the northside can't abide rugby because of it.
Quote from: INDIANA on March 24, 2009, 01:30:27 PM
Ballyhaise I don't agree. I've 10 die hard gaa friends- 6 of them went to private school. 7 of them didn't watch the game. Of those 6 - 3 didn't watch it. I was at the hurlers in Parnell on Sunday- a lot of people around me didn't watch it either. There is serious apathy towards rugby in Dublin in particular. The whole Ross O Carroll -Kelly image has done Leinster Rugby no favours in Dublin. A lot of people on the northside can't abide rugby because of it.
i suppose it might be different in counties where the GAA are competing for players and supporters with Rugby,but i know in Cavan all or the vast majority of lads on the club team at home were watching and cheering on the Rugby team.
For what it's worth, I was delighted for Ireland on Saturday, cheered every point (even one of the Welsh ones - thought Ireland were going the wrong way! :-[)
That said, I will have no more interest in the odd shaped ball now until next Feb and another 6 nations.
Quote from: BallyhaiseMan on March 24, 2009, 01:39:26 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on March 24, 2009, 01:30:27 PM
Ballyhaise I don't agree. I've 10 die hard gaa friends- 6 of them went to private school. 7 of them didn't watch the game. Of those 6 - 3 didn't watch it. I was at the hurlers in Parnell on Sunday- a lot of people around me didn't watch it either. There is serious apathy towards rugby in Dublin in particular. The whole Ross O Carroll -Kelly image has done Leinster Rugby no favours in Dublin. A lot of people on the northside can't abide rugby because of it.
i suppose it might be different in counties where the GAA are competing for players and supporters with Rugby,but i know in Cavan all or the vast majority of lads on the club team at home were watching and cheering on the Rugby team.
When you have people from leinster supporting the munster rugby team- things can't be that good. Even though most of the munster team went to private school it still has lads from Moyross like Keith Earls playing for them. As a result most rural people outside munster identify with them more than their own province. Its not something I do myself- but you'd be amazed how many leinster people travel to thomond park. I'm even surprised by it.
It has a hard job ahead- leinster rugby. But a few HEC's would probably help matters. But it has to start bringing players through from club rugby.
Forgive my ignorance here but I'm very interested in this whole argument - could anyone answer these questions,
What would be the standard route to top level provincial/international rugby player in Ireland?
Why is there a feeling that clubs are so badly looked after?
Where do one of these school players go to to play their rugby when they leave school?
I'm just interested to know a bit about the internal structures in rugby - as Hardy mentioned somewhere - I think i'm a bandwagoner!
Quote from: Franko on March 24, 2009, 03:50:38 PM
Forgive my ignorance here but I'm very interested in this whole argument - could anyone answer these questions,
What would be the standard route to top level provincial/international rugby player in Ireland?
Why is there a feeling that clubs are so badly looked after?
Where do one of these school players go to to play their rugby when they leave school?
I'm just interested to know a bit about the internal structures in rugby - as Hardy mentioned somewhere - I think i'm a bandwagoner!
A lot of the club feel badly looked after because before and just after professionalism they where are the top of the tree, it was very soon realised they couldn't compete internationally and the province where dropped in on top them and took their players.
Also some of the top clubs in Ireland use to get rather healthy crowds and don't any more. Its hard not to be king any more i guess.
What would be the standard route to top level provincial/international rugby player in Ireland?
Your best chance is to goto a top rugby playing school, the youths direction is a lot harder due to lack of coaching access to players, you would then pogress to Provincial Schools/Youths U18 and U19 rep teams, then provincial academy and then full-time professional
Why is there a feeling that clubs are so badly looked after?
Schools players can only play for their school and not their club at under-age level, it has been a long time arguement and I believe it is wrong that these players can't play for the clubs.
Where do one of these school players go to to play their rugby when they leave school?
60% of schools rugby players will go on to play under u20 (changing next year to u19 and u21) rugby with a club side, this figure dwindles to 20% by the time they are finished playing 20s
Thanks lads.
Am I right in saying that no provincial players would be playing club rugby in Ireland at the moment then? (all-ireland league I mean).
It's a very different route to the basic club - county - province - country route in the GAA. Schools is only a side-issue for gaelic players whereas it seems to be the main event in the rugby. What would the chances be of a club player who was really shining being picked up by a province and then going on to represent Ireland?
Would it have worked that way before professionalism?
Quote from: Franko on March 24, 2009, 04:26:09 PM
Thanks lads.
Am I right in saying that no provincial players would be playing club rugby in Ireland at the moment then? (all-ireland league I mean).
It's a very different route to the basic club - county - province - country route in the GAA. Schools is only a side-issue for gaelic players whereas it seems to be the main event in the rugby. What would the chances be of a club player who was really shining being picked up by a province and then going on to represent Ireland?
Would it have worked that way before professionalism?
If they are returning for injury or on the edge of the squad they will drop down for fitness reasons. They also play at the end of the Leinster season if the club is still in with a shout of anything.
Quote from: Franko on March 24, 2009, 04:26:09 PM
Thanks lads.
Am I right in saying that no provincial players would be playing club rugby in Ireland at the moment then? (all-ireland league I mean).
A number of Connacht squad players regularly play AIL for Galwegians / Corinthians / Buccaneers / Connemara
QuoteWhat would the chances be of a club player who was really shining being picked up by a province and then going on to represent Ireland?
Would it have worked that way before professionalism?
In the early days of the pro game this happened a lot, Ian Dowling been a good example, still happens now to a degree Johnny Murphy got a Leicester contract thanks to his performances with Lansdowne but the majority now are hoovered up by the academies and released to the AIL clubs, next year sees a re-jig of the AIL with the creation of the Top 8, this should create a higher standard of rugby and bridge the gap between AIL and the Pro-ranks.
Re Tom Humphries article...
QuoteLawdee! February 2007. What a time we had of it. The business of the Union Jack being run up a flagpole at Croke Park and of God Save the Queen being sung in the old place was held up to us peasantry and a bemused international audience as an example of how things should be done. Our little Mandela-Pienaar moment.
...what Union Jack?
It would be a good discussion actually, what areas the 4 provinces could improve in to increase participation and Support.
Would i be wrong in saying Ulster Rugby wouldnt be particularly prominent in advertising their product in Cavan,Monaghan and Donegal?
Quote from: BallyhaiseMan on March 24, 2009, 05:38:21 PM
It would be a good discussion actually, what areas the 4 provinces could improve in to increase participation and Support.
Would i be wrong in saying Ulster Rugby wouldnt be particularly prominent in advertising their product in Cavan,Monaghan and Donegal?
I'd say you'd be right, but there's plenty of interest in rugby in Monaghan, as far as i can see - at least spectator interest. Tommy Bowe has probably helped this. But Ulster Rugby are probably missing a trick or two in terms of actually getting people involved in playing the sport. At the end of the day however, if you don't get it into schools, it's going to be difficult to make inroads.
I play for enniskillen rugby club and there are quite a few underage lads from Cavan and Leitrim who come up to play with us, so clearly there arn't even clubs in these counties however at the same time there has been a massive mushrooming in thenumbers of boys from a catholic background playing underage level and this continues to grow. In relation to the thread I'm not sure if rugby could ever overtake soccer as I just don't think the club infrastructure is there (somebody mentioned earlier about the difficulties in setting up mickey mouse rugby teams in comparison to mickey mouse soccer teams). Not being defeatist at the same time (absolutely despise soccer pack of pansies imo) I do believe that the sky is the limit for rugby in Ireland as to make an impact at international level there is no comparison in tue amount of numbers needed between the two sports, so more people playing equals more international success for Ireland
Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 24, 2009, 04:55:59 PM
QuoteWhat would the chances be of a club player who was really shining being picked up by a province and then going on to represent Ireland?
Would it have worked that way before professionalism?
In the early days of the pro game this happened a lot, Ian Dowling been a good example, still happens now to a degree Johnny Murphy got a Leicester contract thanks to his performances with Lansdowne but the majority now are hoovered up by the academies and released to the AIL clubs, next year sees a re-jig of the AIL with the creation of the Top 8, this should create a higher standard of rugby and bridge the gap between AIL and the Pro-ranks.
Ian Dowling wasn't deemed from the right "place" for Leinster rugby. Munster's gain I suppose. Ulster is probably even worse than Leinster in terms of exclusivity. In Ulster if you don't go to the right school- forget about it. In Leinster you've about a 10-15% chance if you play club rugby instaed of schools at underage of making the academy. The IRFU just dont; promote rugby in Connacht- they'd prefer if the Connacht rugby team just disappeared for all the financial support they give it.
Quote from: INDIANA on March 24, 2009, 06:26:16 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 24, 2009, 04:55:59 PM
QuoteWhat would the chances be of a club player who was really shining being picked up by a province and then going on to represent Ireland?
Would it have worked that way before professionalism?
In the early days of the pro game this happened a lot, Ian Dowling been a good example, still happens now to a degree Johnny Murphy got a Leicester contract thanks to his performances with Lansdowne but the majority now are hoovered up by the academies and released to the AIL clubs, next year sees a re-jig of the AIL with the creation of the Top 8, this should create a higher standard of rugby and bridge the gap between AIL and the Pro-ranks.
Ian Dowling wasn't deemed from the right "place" for Leinster rugby. Munster's gain I suppose. Ulster is probably even worse than Leinster in terms of exclusivity. In Ulster if you don't go to the right school- forget about it. In Leinster you've about a 10-15% chance if you play club rugby instaed of schools at underage of making the academy. The IRFU just dont; promote rugby in Connacht- they'd prefer if the Connacht rugby team just disappeared for all the financial support they give it.
Connacht get 50% of what the other provinces get . Your above 25% would disagree with your 10-15% ,would it not?
There is about 15 in the academy - 2 are from clubs. That tells its own story I thought it was about 25%. it appears its not even that. Its less Gnevin. Connacht are just a boil on the arse of the IRFU. If they faded into inexistence it would suit the IRFU compleletly.
Quote from: erne bhoy on March 24, 2009, 06:10:10 PM
I play for enniskillen rugby club and there are quite a few underage lads from Cavan and Leitrim who come up to play with us, so clearly there arn't even clubs in these counties however at the same time there has been a massive mushrooming in thenumbers of boys from a catholic background playing underage level and this continues to grow. In relation to the thread I'm not sure if rugby could ever overtake soccer as I just don't think the club infrastructure is there (somebody mentioned earlier about the difficulties in setting up mickey mouse rugby teams in comparison to mickey mouse soccer teams). Not being defeatist at the same time (absolutely despise soccer pack of pansies imo) I do believe that the sky is the limit for rugby in Ireland as to make an impact at international level there is no comparison in tue amount of numbers needed between the two sports, so more people playing equals more international success for Ireland
Theres two in Cavan
Cavan RFC and Virginia RFC, Theres definite potential in Rugby in Ireland,the Club Rugby Season September-March(am i corrct?)Clubs could attract more GAA players as it takes place in what for "most players" is the GAA off-Season and players would love the oppertunity to keep fit.
Theres a definite niche there,Rugby clubs should be more pro-active in recruiting GAA players.
Quote from: BallyhaiseMan on March 24, 2009, 07:39:12 PM
Quote from: erne bhoy on March 24, 2009, 06:10:10 PM
I play for enniskillen rugby club and there are quite a few underage lads from Cavan and Leitrim who come up to play with us, so clearly there arn't even clubs in these counties however at the same time there has been a massive mushrooming in thenumbers of boys from a catholic background playing underage level and this continues to grow. In relation to the thread I'm not sure if rugby could ever overtake soccer as I just don't think the club infrastructure is there (somebody mentioned earlier about the difficulties in setting up mickey mouse rugby teams in comparison to mickey mouse soccer teams). Not being defeatist at the same time (absolutely despise soccer pack of pansies imo) I do believe that the sky is the limit for rugby in Ireland as to make an impact at international level there is no comparison in tue amount of numbers needed between the two sports, so more people playing equals more international success for Ireland
Theres two in Cavan
Cavan RFC and Virginia RFC, Theres definite potential in Rugby in Ireland,the Club Rugby Season September-March(am i corrct?)Clubs could attract more GAA players as it takes place in what for "most players" is the GAA off-Season and players would love the oppertunity to keep fit.
Theres a definite niche there,Rugby clubs should be more pro-active in recruiting GAA players.
Yeah it's September to March for most ,may roll on too April if the club is in a final.
Quote from: BallyhaiseMan on March 24, 2009, 07:39:12 PM
Quote from: erne bhoy on March 24, 2009, 06:10:10 PM
I play for enniskillen rugby club and there are quite a few underage lads from Cavan and Leitrim who come up to play with us, so clearly there arn't even clubs in these counties however at the same time there has been a massive mushrooming in thenumbers of boys from a catholic background playing underage level and this continues to grow. In relation to the thread I'm not sure if rugby could ever overtake soccer as I just don't think the club infrastructure is there (somebody mentioned earlier about the difficulties in setting up mickey mouse rugby teams in comparison to mickey mouse soccer teams). Not being defeatist at the same time (absolutely despise soccer pack of pansies imo) I do believe that the sky is the limit for rugby in Ireland as to make an impact at international level there is no comparison in tue amount of numbers needed between the two sports, so more people playing equals more international success for Ireland
Theres two in Cavan
All I know is they arrive in vans and drive like lunatics, clearly my mind subconsciously digested these facts and automatically came to the conclusion that these were Cavan men...
Cavan RFC and Virginia RFC, Theres definite potential in Rugby in Ireland,the Club Rugby Season September-March(am i corrct?)Clubs could attract more GAA players as it takes place in what for "most players" is the GAA off-Season and players would love the oppertunity to keep fit.
Theres a definite niche there,Rugby clubs should be more pro-active in recruiting GAA players.
That response is a but fcuked up, the joys if posting iff of an iPod touch...
QuoteBut the truth is that all Irish sports need occasional sips of this nationalist soma to sustain themselves. An Ireland win today would be a nice punctuation mark to place at the end of the bizarrely vulgar Celtic Tiger years, but perhaps the real measure of our maturity, as a sporting nation at least, will come when we can play games without the constant need for external validation and self-congratulation.
Meanwhile, good luck to the boys. Some of us will be passionately checking Teletext later to see how ye got on.
The whole article was fairly poor and quite disappointing from a man who I have always found quite interesting to read. But this is the type of comment Irish sport can do with without.
This Leinster v Munster game in Croke Park will certainly have the profile of rugby totally sky high now. I have had friends who would never go to a rugby game asking me to get them tickets for this game.
Quote from: Tankie on April 13, 2009, 12:04:32 PM
This Leinster v Munster game in Croke Park will certainly have the profile of rugby totally sky high now. I have had friends who would never go to a rugby game asking me to get them tickets for this game.
We're a nation of bandwagon jumpers when it comes to sport. So what? We all knew that anyway. Whenever Munster start selling out Thomond Park every second week, I'll start to worry.
The sky's the limit hype died down quickly after the 6 nations didn't it ;)
One of my mates down here plays for Kinsale RFC and he was telling me last night that the Kinsale 7's is on the same weekend as the HC Semi. There will be a few thousand milling about down here who would have been at the game. The craic will be great up at the clubhouse so I reckon I'll head up there to watch it. I might even pull on a rugby jersey to keep fit over the winter! Bandwagoner!!!!!
Quote from: erne bhoy on March 24, 2009, 06:10:10 PM
I play for enniskillen rugby club and there are quite a few underage lads from Cavan and Leitrim who come up to play with us, so clearly there arn't even clubs in these counties however at the same time there has been a massive mushrooming in thenumbers of boys from a catholic background playing underage level and this continues to grow. In relation to the thread I'm not sure if rugby could ever overtake soccer as I just don't think the club infrastructure is there (somebody mentioned earlier about the difficulties in setting up mickey mouse rugby teams in comparison to mickey mouse soccer teams). Not being defeatist at the same time (absolutely despise soccer pack of pansies imo) I do believe that the sky is the limit for rugby in Ireland as to make an impact at international level there is no comparison in tue amount of numbers needed between the two sports, so more people playing equals more international success for Ireland
Why do you have "bhoy" in your name erne bhoy? Are you just illiterate or is it a reference to a commonly used term to describe followers of a certain Glaswegian soccer team? If it is the latter how does this sit with your thoughts that soccer is a "pansy" sport?
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on April 13, 2009, 01:07:26 PM
One of my mates down here plays for Kinsale RFC and he was telling me last night that the Kinsale 7's is on the same weekend as the HC Semi. There will be a few thousand milling about down here who would have been at the game. The craic will be great up at the clubhouse so I reckon I'll head up there to watch it. I might even pull on a rugby jersey to keep fit over the winter! Bandwagoner!!!!!
You should be well fit to play at full back or out half if the notion takes you.
Quote from: Tankie on April 13, 2009, 12:04:32 PM
This Leinster v Munster game in Croke Park will certainly have the profile of rugby totally sky high now. I have had friends who would never go to a rugby game asking me to get them tickets for this game.
theres no doubt tankie that rugby is on the cusp of a wave right now in ireland but will it last? its a tough game to play and for some to understand unlike soccer which is simplicity defined and gaa not far behind. the easiest game in the world to play and organise is soccer which is why its participation levels are huge even in countries where from an attendance point of view its not popular (usa etc). gaelic football is away better game than soccer imo, its faster and has more scores yet i've played more soccer than gaa but would rather watch my hair grow than watch more blackburn v stoke or 15 other premiership teams.
back to rugby leinster v edinbourgh 2rd v 3rd in the magners league last sat (i think) att 2.500 - thats a pathetic crowd yet if it was in dublin there would have been 18,000 at it why? munster v conaught yesterday seemed to have a huge crowd at thomand yet 10 years ago the att would have been in the 100's why? its hyped to the moon at the minute in ireland but i find big soccer games more enjoyable to watch (rugby is slow, breaks down to much) even tho munster winning the heiniken cup would be one of my sporting lifes highlights. so i think now is as good as it gets for rugby theses a huge novelty feel to alot of it but i'm not so sure it will last.
Quote from: magickingdom on April 19, 2009, 08:13:03 PM
Quote from: Tankie on April 13, 2009, 12:04:32 PM
This Leinster v Munster game in Croke Park will certainly have the profile of rugby totally sky high now. I have had friends who would never go to a rugby game asking me to get them tickets for this game.
theres no doubt tankie that rugby is on the cusp of a wave right now in ireland but will it last? its a tough game to play and for some to understand unlike soccer which is simplicity defined and gaa not far behind. the easiest game in the world to play and organise is soccer which is why its participation levels are huge even in countries where from an attendance point of view its not popular (usa etc). gaelic football is away better game than soccer imo, its faster and has more scores yet i've played more soccer than gaa but would rather watch my hair grow than watch more blackburn v stoke or 15 other premiership teams.
back to rugby leinster v edinbourgh 2rd v 3rd in the magners league last sat (i think) att 2.500 - thats a pathetic crowd yet if it was in dublin there would have been 18,000 at it why? munster v conaught yesterday seemed to have a huge crowd at thomand yet 10 years ago the att would have been in the 100's why? its hyped to the moon at the minute in ireland but i find big soccer games more enjoyable to watch (rugby is slow, breaks down to much) even tho munster winning the heiniken cup would be one of my sporting lifes highlights. so i think now is as good as it gets for rugby theses a huge novelty feel to alot of it but i'm not so sure it will last.
Scottish crowd's haven't really bought into the "regional" clubs like the Welsh have . Plus Murrayfield is about 10 times to big and even 15k -20k is lost in there .I wish the SRU would get off their ass and find Edinburgh a decent 10-15k ground. I don't think the growth in crowds it's been a natural progression . With Leinster and Munster getting a few thousand extra every season. Soccer is sport which required no effort to "support" even to the extend on not bothering too watch the games!
Quote from: magickingdom on April 19, 2009, 08:13:03 PM
Quote from: Tankie on April 13, 2009, 12:04:32 PM
This Leinster v Munster game in Croke Park will certainly have the profile of rugby totally sky high now. I have had friends who would never go to a rugby game asking me to get them tickets for this game.
theres no doubt tankie that rugby is on the cusp of a wave right now in ireland but will it last? its a tough game to play and for some to understand unlike soccer which is simplicity defined and gaa not far behind. the easiest game in the world to play and organise is soccer which is why its participation levels are huge even in countries where from an attendance point of view its not popular (usa etc). gaelic football is away better game than soccer imo, its faster and has more scores yet i've played more soccer than gaa but would rather watch my hair grow than watch more blackburn v stoke or 15 other premiership teams.
back to rugby leinster v edinbourgh 2rd v 3rd in the magners league last sat (i think) att 2.500 - thats a pathetic crowd yet if it was in dublin there would have been 18,000 at it why? munster v conaught yesterday seemed to have a huge crowd at thomand yet 10 years ago the att would have been in the 100's why? its hyped to the moon at the minute in ireland but i find big soccer games more enjoyable to watch (rugby is slow, breaks down to much) even tho munster winning the heiniken cup would be one of my sporting lifes highlights. so i think now is as good as it gets for rugby theses a huge novelty feel to alot of it but i'm not so sure it will last.
My point about rugby growing is based on how soccer took this country by grip and is now played in areas that soccer was never played in 20 years ago, i feel if Irish rugby can keep winning more people will become interested and move into areas it is not played at the moment. But i do not feel it will ever be as big as soccer or the GAA mainly due to the reasons you have pointed out, its a hard game to play and that turns alot of people off.
Another great for Irish Rugby today, 14 Irish Loins this year. Just goes to show that Ireland can be on the top stage in an international professional sport with its player playing at home...
Can gaa and rugby live together?
In the first of a three-part series, the Irish Independent examines the effect Irish rugby's success is having on its two biggest rivals and how it plans to develop
Monday April 27 2009
What's more, Eamon de Valera saw rugby as potentially Ireland's ultimate football game, suiting the Irish psyche perfectly and once suggested that "if all our young men played rugby not only would we beat England and Wales, but France and the whole lot of them put together".
The inference was that the status of Gaelic games as the national games was depriving his beloved rugby of some quality sportsmen and, thus, blunting the impact of the national team.
Dev's enthusiasm wouldn't be lost on the hordes caught up in the frenzy that is Irish rugby these days.
If he was around now though, then Tom Ryan would surely like a word or two in his ear.
Early last week the outspoken former Limerick hurling manager found himself on the airwaves of Limerick's 95FM pressing his long-held belief that people have lost the run of themselves when it comes to lauding rugby in this country.
There was so much talk about Munster, Ireland and the Lions that it triggered such a power surge on Ryan's grid that several fuses blew and he took off on one of his trademark rants.
Traditional
In referencing the selection of eight Munster players on the Lions squad, Ryan didn't want to hear that even this could compete with the traditional or cultural value of hurling and football.
He decried the "glorifying" of competitions like the Six Nations and Heineken Cup and the absence of any questions being raised against their prestige.
"Take my word for it," boomed Ryan. "This bandwagon will pass."
It was a typical wholehearted performance from Ryan, stirred by a sense that rugby's success in this country, since it got over its early wobbles of the professional era, is somehow squeezing the market share of his beloved game of hurling. But it was more from the heart, not the head.
Not surprisingly, given Limerick's status as the capital of Irish rugby, some 90pc of listeners choose not to agree with Ryan.
Many more, far away from Thomond Park, Dooradoyle and other hotbeds of the oval ball game in that city, would be inclined not to agree either.
Rugby in this country is in one of those grooves right now where it can do no wrong and any wrong it does it can casually get away with.
The emperor clearly wears no clothes. That's why rugby can name its competitions after drinks brands, douse each other in champagne after Six Nations and punch each others lights outs without much intense scrutiny or screaming headlines of disgust from the media.
It has the success to back it up and that's why there are droves of ticket hunters for this weekend's game between Leinster and Munster -- a Railway Cup final with a difference.
So, will rugby's boom soon turn to bust? Is Dev's sporting vision of Ireland to be realised? Have the GAA reasons to be uncomfortable and concerned that their significant market share is being eroded?
Ryan thinks not, but his views are somewhat at odds too with Mick O'Dwyer, who senses real challenges for the association that made his name.
The former Kerry maestro now sees rugby's tentacles reaching to places where they haven't reached before, even his native Waterville which, he reminded us in his autobiography, has grown new shoots of Munster support in recent years.
"The days are gone when Irish rugby was happy to live out a sedate life in fee-paying secondary schools and other small pockets around the country. It was no threat to gaelic games then, but in the new professional age it is developing rapidly as a global sport," he wrote.
"Rugby has another appeal too in that it suits the Irish psyche. (It's) a hard, manly game. Bear in mind that rugby has been a professional game for little over a decade, yet it has made enormous strides," observed O'Dwyer in his autobiography two years ago. It has quickened its stride even since O'Dwyer penned those words and some of the old barriers of aloofness have been torn down.
The GAA, of course, has been down this road before. Italia '90 had its spin-offs for Irish soccer and the same apparent sense of threat hung in the air for Gaelic games with the cult of Jack's Army.
But conversely the subsequent decade saw an extraordinary rise in the popularity of Gaelic games, particularly at inter-county level.
Twelve months on from Ireland's most successful World Cup, Meath and Dublin in a four-game Leinster first round football epic, and Cork and Tipperary in two epic Munster hurling final clashes, had provided the perfect riposte. The success of northern teams -- Derry, Down and Donegal and hurling's 'golden age', shaped by Clare and Wexford successes, fuelled a renaissance period.
Unlike Italia '90, however, the rugby heroes, like their GAA counterparts, are home-based. Ronan O'Gara is just as likely to pop out to his local shop or down to his local school as Henry Shefflin. They are real and accessible to their young audience. Whether it's Leinster players signing for hour-long queues in Dundrum Shopping Centre one Wednesday or visiting 'traditional' and 'non-traditional' schools on another Wednesday, a common touch, once the preserve of the GAA star, has been established.
GAA attitudes have changed too towards the perceived threats.
Almost 21 years ago the then GAA president John Dowling convened a meeting of key association officials in the Burlington Hotel to discuss what could be done to combat the onset of Ireland's participation in a first major soccer championship.
One of the upshots was to give every county £500 to promote and organise summer camps.
When the GAA launched its plans for Cul Camps in Croke Park recently the target figure for kids between the age of seven and 13 was 85,000, more than the attendance at an All-Ireland hurling or football final!
Nothing reflects this change in attitude more than the use of Croke Park. Some of those opposed to that move may see the hosting of Saturday's game as detrimental and in many ways a provincial fixture does strike more at the core of the GAA's values more than an international fixture because the GAA doesn't have such a vehicle.
But the obstinance of old that saw GAA fixtures at club and inter-county level clash with big international fixtures is gone.
For instance, the All-Ireland U-21 football final, originally slated for Saturday, has now been switched back to the Bank Holiday Monday where it is guaranteed more exposure and obviously a greater crowd. Where once it considered a weakness, now it is deemed common sense.
A greater pragmatism prevails now that focuses firmly on the development of its own product, a product it retains high confidence in. "It's up to us to concentrate on our own product and what we do we have to do well," said the GAA's coaching games development director Pat Daly.
"I don't think there will be a mass exodus from one sport to another. Rugby is coming off a low participation base, but there is capacity there that has to be guided by expertise."
Any evidence that kids are leaving Gaelic games in their droves for the local rugby club is purely anecdotal.
One club juvenile GAA coach contacted said he couldn't see any evidence on the ground that young kids have been leaving GAA clubs because of rugby's upsurge.
"There are kids who play both and there are coaches involved in both, particularly in towns, and schedules are worked around that. All we can do is make sure our games are organised efficiently and enjoyment is a priority. Our numbers are stronger than ever. Rugby's probably are too."
The ESRI hold different views and last year questioned the amount of public funding the GAA receives, noting that it was a sport in "relative decline", with more people signed up to gyms and fitness clubs than there were to GAA clubs -- 10pc as opposed to 8.4pc.
It wasn't that GAA numbers were falling off, reported the ERSI, it's that others were gaining ground. The findings infuriated the GAA at the time, who described them as "highly selective" and challenged them robustly.
But the new GAA president Christy Cooney has recognised that regenerating urban interest in Gaelic games must be a priority.
When the annual report to Congress was issued last month it made a point of revealing that that there were 2,610 affiliated clubs (291 in in the UK and around the world) and some 14,504 youth teams with over 1.5m attending inter-county hurling and football games.
"We have long since recognised that rugby has its peak time and GAA has its peak time. Does a great All-Ireland hurling or football final mean the end of rugby? Of course it doesn't," observed Daly.
Read the second part of the series tomorrow as Daniel McDonnell examines the effect which rugby's huge success is having on soccer.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/can-gaa-and-rugby-live-together-1720755.html
That was some performance from Ireland 'A' tonight to win the Churchill Cup. a super game of rugby!
Great stuff altogether.
Plenty of young talent coming through. Fergus McFadden has been impressive all tournament and he's going to be an imortant player in the future because BOD can't keep going forever. Felix Jones looks a real find - hard to believe Leinster let him go to Munster. Very promising for the next few couple of World Cups especially when you consider that the likes of Keith Earls, Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Seán O'Brien, Fionn Carr etc weren't even playing.
Well done Declan Kidney, Gert Smal et al. Roll on the Autumn Internationals.
QuotePlenty of young talent coming through. Fergus McFadden has been impressive all tournament and he's going to be an imortant player in the future because BOD can't keep going forever. Felix Jones looks a real find - hard to believe Leinster let him go to Munster. Very promising for the next few couple of World Cups especially when you consider that the likes of Keith Earls, Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Seán O'Brien, Fionn Carr etc weren't even playing.
Two Lilywhites, Mcfadden played underage football all way up to minor with Suncroft I think, seemingly a serious talent and Carr player hurling and football for Ardclough.
Declan Kidney is some coach, the man with the golden touch.
Grand Slam, Triple Crown, Heineken Cup, Magners League and Churchill Cup Champions 2009!
Although I never saw rugby as a threat to GAA there is now two new adult clubs affliliated to Leinster Rugby, Carlow Institute of Technology and North Meath.
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on June 21, 2009, 11:34:32 PM
Felix Jones looks a real find - hard to believe Leinster let him go to Munster.
Poached is the word.
By the time Cheika found out Munster and Jones had the deal done, and Cheika was a very unhappy bunny.
That is according to the Norn Iron eejit Robson who does some of the Sky Sports rugby commentary.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on June 22, 2009, 12:26:45 AM
Two Lilywhites, Mcfadden played underage football all way up to minor with Suncroft I think, seemingly a serious talent and Carr player hurling and football for Ardclough.
Declan Kidney is some coach, the man with the golden touch.
Grand Slam, Triple Crown, Heineken Cup, Magners League and Churchill Cup Champions 2009!
Although I never saw rugby as a threat to GAA there is now two new adult clubs affliliated to Leinster Rugby, Carlow Institute of Technology and North Meath.
Sure if he's a Suncroft man he should be playing for another 20 years or so! ;)
I think the prices released by the IRFU in recent days shows why rugby is unlikely to take over from the gaa. They seem intent on only catering for the high class of society and aren't interested in attracting new fans. It could also be argued that due to the success of local teams in recent years that rugby has hit its peak in terms of attracting new members and maybe hasn't done enough to capitalise on its new found popularity.
Quote from: Redhand Santa on August 21, 2010, 10:24:14 AM
I think the prices released by the IRFU in recent days shows why rugby is unlikely to take over from the gaa. They seem intent on only catering for the high class of society and aren't interested in attracting new fans. It could also be argued that due to the success of local teams in recent years that rugby has hit its peak in terms of attracting new members and maybe hasn't done enough to capitalise on its new found popularity.
aye, the gaa would never charge more than the ordinary man could afford :D :D :D
All these sports are being left with no choice but to try and generate revenue from their marquee games as their cost bases are so high. If there was a bit more sharing and bit less stupidity in terms of stadia, that would've alleviated the problems to an extent, but, pissing contests were the order of the day.
Quote from: Bogball XV on August 21, 2010, 03:55:40 PM
Quote from: Redhand Santa on August 21, 2010, 10:24:14 AM
I think the prices released by the IRFU in recent days shows why rugby is unlikely to take over from the gaa. They seem intent on only catering for the high class of society and aren't interested in attracting new fans. It could also be argued that due to the success of local teams in recent years that rugby has hit its peak in terms of attracting new members and maybe hasn't done enough to capitalise on its new found popularity.
aye, the gaa would never charge more than the ordinary man could afford :D :D :D
All these sports are being left with no choice but to try and generate revenue from their marquee games as their cost bases are so high. If there was a bit more sharing and bit less stupidity in terms of stadia, that would've alleviated the problems to an extent, but, pissing contests were the order of the day.
€45 into the All Ireland semi final tomorrow with tickets available for kids at €5. Compare this to €340 for 4 friendly games with no individual tickets available and kids tickets at something like €45 a game. I know who's getting the better value!
Quote from: Redhand Santa on August 22, 2010, 12:03:00 AM
Quote from: Bogball XV on August 21, 2010, 03:55:40 PM
Quote from: Redhand Santa on August 21, 2010, 10:24:14 AM
I think the prices released by the IRFU in recent days shows why rugby is unlikely to take over from the gaa. They seem intent on only catering for the high class of society and aren't interested in attracting new fans. It could also be argued that due to the success of local teams in recent years that rugby has hit its peak in terms of attracting new members and maybe hasn't done enough to capitalise on its new found popularity.
aye, the gaa would never charge more than the ordinary man could afford :D :D :D
All these sports are being left with no choice but to try and generate revenue from their marquee games as their cost bases are so high. If there was a bit more sharing and bit less stupidity in terms of stadia, that would've alleviated the problems to an extent, but, pissing contests were the order of the day.
€45 into the All Ireland semi final tomorrow with tickets available for kids at €5. Compare this to €340 for 4 friendly games with no individual tickets available and kids tickets at something like €45 a game. I know who's getting the better value!
You can get in to see an Irish League match for a tenner, but that doesn't mean you're getting value for money. Rubbish is still rubbish even when it's cheap. It's the IRFU's refusal to sell individual tickets which has fans up in arms. Many would be prepared to pay 80 euros or so for a match: you're seeing top class international sport in a brand new stadium, so if you're only going to see one match, you don't mind pushing the boat out. Very few, however, can afford to go to a set of matches.
Quote from: Myles Na G. on August 22, 2010, 07:06:58 PM
Quote from: Redhand Santa on August 22, 2010, 12:03:00 AM
Quote from: Bogball XV on August 21, 2010, 03:55:40 PM
Quote from: Redhand Santa on August 21, 2010, 10:24:14 AM
I think the prices released by the IRFU in recent days shows why rugby is unlikely to take over from the gaa. They seem intent on only catering for the high class of society and aren't interested in attracting new fans. It could also be argued that due to the success of local teams in recent years that rugby has hit its peak in terms of attracting new members and maybe hasn't done enough to capitalise on its new found popularity.
aye, the gaa would never charge more than the ordinary man could afford :D :D :D
All these sports are being left with no choice but to try and generate revenue from their marquee games as their cost bases are so high. If there was a bit more sharing and bit less stupidity in terms of stadia, that would've alleviated the problems to an extent, but, pissing contests were the order of the day.
€45 into the All Ireland semi final tomorrow with tickets available for kids at €5. Compare this to €340 for 4 friendly games with no individual tickets available and kids tickets at something like €45 a game. I know who's getting the better value!
You can get in to see an Irish League match for a tenner, but that doesn't mean you're getting value for money. Rubbish is still rubbish even when it's cheap. It's the IRFU's refusal to sell individual tickets which has fans up in arms. Many would be prepared to pay 80 euros or so for a match: you're seeing top class international sport in a brand new stadium, so if you're only going to see one match, you don't mind pushing the boat out. Very few, however, can afford to go to a set of matches.
You saying that the GAA is rubbish?
Quote from: ziggysego on August 22, 2010, 08:03:45 PM
Quote from: Myles Na G. on August 22, 2010, 07:06:58 PM
Quote from: Redhand Santa on August 22, 2010, 12:03:00 AM
Quote from: Bogball XV on August 21, 2010, 03:55:40 PM
Quote from: Redhand Santa on August 21, 2010, 10:24:14 AM
I think the prices released by the IRFU in recent days shows why rugby is unlikely to take over from the gaa. They seem intent on only catering for the high class of society and aren't interested in attracting new fans. It could also be argued that due to the success of local teams in recent years that rugby has hit its peak in terms of attracting new members and maybe hasn't done enough to capitalise on its new found popularity.
aye, the gaa would never charge more than the ordinary man could afford :D :D :D
All these sports are being left with no choice but to try and generate revenue from their marquee games as their cost bases are so high. If there was a bit more sharing and bit less stupidity in terms of stadia, that would've alleviated the problems to an extent, but, pissing contests were the order of the day.
€45 into the All Ireland semi final tomorrow with tickets available for kids at €5. Compare this to €340 for 4 friendly games with no individual tickets available and kids tickets at something like €45 a game. I know who's getting the better value!
You can get in to see an Irish League match for a tenner, but that doesn't mean you're getting value for money. Rubbish is still rubbish even when it's cheap. It's the IRFU's refusal to sell individual tickets which has fans up in arms. Many would be prepared to pay 80 euros or so for a match: you're seeing top class international sport in a brand new stadium, so if you're only going to see one match, you don't mind pushing the boat out. Very few, however, can afford to go to a set of matches.
You saying that the GAA is rubbish?
No, but having reread my post I can see why you'd think that. I just meant that a low price for a ticket (any ticket) is no guarantee of value.
Quote from: Myles Na G. on August 22, 2010, 08:08:45 PM
No, but having reread my post I can see why you'd think that. I just meant that a low price for a ticket (any ticket) is no guarantee of value.
Ah, fair enough.
Don't think there'd be anyone today asking for there money back and would be very suprised if the rugby supporters are treated to as high a level of entertainment in the Autumn internationals.