The IRISH RUGBY thread

[BigGreenField]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cj45kzq7px1o

Not a rugby expert by any stretch but is the Lions Tour not ultimately just a few challenge matches.

The GAA could learn a lot about how rugby are able to market it.

I'm not sure.

The value of the competition - in terms of importance to those who are involved - long predates any marketing initiative.

It's not a career highlight for a player because Sky /O2 / Guinness say so. It's a career highlight because it's what Willie John McBride, Phil Bennett, JPR, Gavin Hastings, Brian O'Driscoll, Martin Johnson, Syd Millar, Keith Wood, Barry John and a hundred other greats of the game have made it so.

In this regard it's like a golf major. Nobody owns the right to what is a major in golf. But we all know what they are and while marketing helps maintain that position, it didn't and couldn't create it.

All that is true but like alot of things in rugby it doesn't make logical sense.

It's like Armagh Donegal Tyrone and Derry getting a team together to play in 3 tests against Galway or Mayo.

It isn't really. The Southern hemisphere teams need the money that 6N teams generate when they tour. They have the talent but they don't have the cash. GAA doesn't have hemispheres.

That may be true.

But I'm talking from a sporting point a view it doesn't make sense.

Plus I've no issues with Northern Hemisphere teams touring South Africa or New Zealand etc. on their own. I actually like that concept.

But amalgamating 4 teams to play a struggling Australia on their knees I just don't get it.

From a contest perspective rugby is a game of systems, partnerships, tactics practiced to within an inch of their life. in the modern era, putting a scratch squad together is actually more difficult than the amateur days, it's why the home team is always favourites against the Lions.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cj45kzq7px1o

Not a rugby expert by any stretch but is the Lions Tour not ultimately just a few challenge matches.

The GAA could learn a lot about how rugby are able to market it.

I'm not sure.

The value of the competition - in terms of importance to those who are involved - long predates any marketing initiative.

It's not a career highlight for a player because Sky /O2 / Guinness say so. It's a career highlight because it's what Willie John McBride, Phil Bennett, JPR, Gavin Hastings, Brian O'Driscoll, Martin Johnson, Syd Millar, Keith Wood, Barry John and a hundred other greats of the game have made it so.

In this regard it's like a golf major. Nobody owns the right to what is a major in golf. But we all know what they are and while marketing helps maintain that position, it didn't and couldn't create it.

All that is true but like alot of things in rugby it doesn't make logical sense.

It's like Armagh Donegal Tyrone and Derry getting a team together to play in 3 tests against Galway or Mayo.

It isn't really. The Southern hemisphere teams need the money that 6N teams generate when they tour. They have the talent but they don't have the cash. GAA doesn't have hemispheres.

That may be true.

But I'm talking from a sporting point a view it doesn't make sense.

Plus I've no issues with Northern Hemisphere teams touring South Africa or New Zealand etc. on their own. I actually like that concept.

But amalgamating 4 teams to play a struggling Australia on their knees I just don't get it.

From a contest perspective rugby is a game of systems, partnerships, tactics practiced to within an inch of their life. in the modern era, putting a scratch squad together is actually more difficult than the amateur days, it's why the home team is always favourites against the Lions.

Maybe so.

Is it still regarded as the pinnacle of players careers?

[JoG2]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cj45kzq7px1o

Not a rugby expert by any stretch but is the Lions Tour not ultimately just a few challenge matches.

The GAA could learn a lot about how rugby are able to market it.

I'm not sure.

The value of the competition - in terms of importance to those who are involved - long predates any marketing initiative.

It's not a career highlight for a player because Sky /O2 / Guinness say so. It's a career highlight because it's what Willie John McBride, Phil Bennett, JPR, Gavin Hastings, Brian O'Driscoll, Martin Johnson, Syd Millar, Keith Wood, Barry John and a hundred other greats of the game have made it so.

In this regard it's like a golf major. Nobody owns the right to what is a major in golf. But we all know what they are and while marketing helps maintain that position, it didn't and couldn't create it.

All that is true but like alot of things in rugby it doesn't make logical sense.

It's like Armagh Donegal Tyrone and Derry getting a team together to play in 3 tests against Galway or Mayo.

It isn't really. The Southern hemisphere teams need the money that 6N teams generate when they tour. They have the talent but they don't have the cash. GAA doesn't have hemispheres.

That may be true.

But I'm talking from a sporting point a view it doesn't make sense.

Plus I've no issues with Northern Hemisphere teams touring South Africa or New Zealand etc. on their own. I actually like that concept.

But amalgamating 4 teams to play a struggling Australia on their knees I just don't get it.

It's had it's time imo. Grand back in the day when it took weeks to travel to NZ / Aus with players training on the boat. Even up to the 90s. But in modern times it just doesn't make much sense. It's a big achievement for the players and plenty seem to enjoy it, so there's that I suppose.

[johnnycool]

12 Leinster players make the British Lions squad. Big celebrations in Dublin 4 this evening.

Sure, that's even better than winning the Hino...

 

[Captain Scarlet]

Its mad how the URC is still on the go without any real chatter.
Munster fans going mad over Sharks antics is funny - seemingly not what rugby is about sir!!

[Tony Baloney]

Its mad how the URC is still on the go without any real chatter.
Munster fans going mad over Sharks antics is funny - seemingly not what rugby is about sir!!

I thought the penalties were weird. Crowley who is a great place kicker was put in front of the posts and Scannell 15m in.

[Wildweasel74]

That was a good game yesterday,  intensity through the roof. Playacting by sharks pathetic,  but the goal kick that decided the game already missed at that stage.

[LC]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/johnny-sexton-its-time-to-end-civil-war-over-ireland-no-10-selection/a680029207.html

Seriously.....a civil war.........with what is going on in the world at the minute some people need to catch themselves using language like that.  Outside of the D4 bubble who really gives a f@#k who the Ireland number 10 is?

Can you imagine a journalist in Kerry making reference to civil war in the context of who would be starting for the Kerry team in their next match. 

[Lamps]

Can you imagine a journalist in Kerry making reference to civil war in the context of who would be starting for the Kerry team in their next match. 

Wasn't there a civil war in Kerry when Paidi called them animals?

[Baile Brigín 2]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/johnny-sexton-its-time-to-end-civil-war-over-ireland-no-10-selection/a680029207.html

Seriously.....a civil war.........with what is going on in the world at the minute some people need to catch themselves using language like that.  Outside of the D4 bubble who really gives a f@#k who the Ireland number 10 is?

Can you imagine a journalist in Kerry making reference to civil war in the context of who would be starting for the Kerry team in their next match. 

Much as I agree on the who really cares side, the GAA press are perfectly prone to bouts of silliness too. Remember about 20 years aho the Indo carried an article countering some rugby shite stating that the only sports Ireland were world class in were hurling and football?

[trileacman]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/johnny-sexton-its-time-to-end-civil-war-over-ireland-no-10-selection/a680029207.html

Seriously.....a civil war.........with what is going on in the world at the minute some people need to catch themselves using language like that.  Outside of the D4 bubble who really gives a f@#k who the Ireland number 10 is?

Can you imagine a journalist in Kerry making reference to civil war in the context of who would be starting for the Kerry team in their next match. 

With all that's going on in the world why the f**k would anyone care about a journalist using the phrase "civil war".

[Capt Pat]

That Lions Argentina game was good. Beirne had a good game until he gave away a neck roll penalty at the end. That could have been the key play to decide the game.

[Champion The Wonder Horse]

I know nothing about rugby, but I reckon Marcus Smith and Duhan van der Merwe have played their way on to the dirt-trackers tonight.

[Baile Brigín 2]

https://www.thejournal.ie/sinn-fein-senator-says-it-is-scandalous-irfu-is-major-dublin-4-landlord-6742837-Jun2025/

IRFU own 26 properties in Dublin, 9 purchased for €7.5m over the past 3 years. At a time they are cutting the wagebill and abolishing the 7's