Rugby for idiots

[Red Faction]

You can never, never begin to understand how much I, and many Welsh union fans, hate your code. Always have, always will.

why the anger and hatred towards such a quaint little past-time?

 

[rapattaque]

Aye. Just making the case for overall viewing figures, really. When you factor in Magners, EDF, HEC and the GP, surely you're looking at far, far more people watching union than you are league.

Anyways, this is turning into a humungous derail (apologies to OP). Maybe we should just have it out once and for all on a League Vs. Union thread.

Agreed. It occured to me Magners League viewing figures were slightly tangential to the original question shortly after i'd posted.

 

[bendeus]

why the anger and hatred towards such a quaint little past-time?

The repeated evisceration of our national side from 1988 onwards: Jonathan Davies, John Devereux, Allan Bateman, Mark Jones, Paul Moriarty, Jonathan Griffiths, Roland Phillips, Kevin Ellis. League's snapping up of the cream of the Triple Crown side contributed massively to the 20 years of pain we're only just climbing out from now. Hence my schadenfreude as they learn what it feels like to struggle in the shadow of a much more powerful, financially sound code, and to lose iconic players to it.

 

[rapattaque]

It's a moribund game with far less international competition and recognition than union.

I've never said it's in danger of dying, but it's got to come to terms with its lower profile.

Moribund means in danger of death or dying. I thought you Union types were all privately educated.

 

[rapattaque]

League players do all them things. And at a faster pace and with no skills.

Very Good.

why the anger and hatred towards such a quaint little past-time?

Not as good. Ironic lol.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

The repeated evisceration of our national side from 1988 onwards: Jonathan Davies, John Devereux, Allan Bateman, Mark Jones, Paul Moriarty, Jonathan Griffiths, Roland Phillips, Kevin Ellis. League's snapping up of the cream of the Triple Crown side contributed massively to the 20 years of pain we're only just climbing out from now. Hence my schadenfreude as they learn what it feels like to struggle in the shadow of a much more powerful, financially sound code, and to lose iconic players to it.

Union hardly did itself any favours by banning, for life, anyone who dared to play the other code, even if they did so on an amateur basis. And don't forget the Vichy government in wartime France who banned league completely, with players and assets handed over to their Union counterparts.

Remember, it wasn't until the mid-90s that the RFU finally acknowledged the sham-amateurism that was prevalent in Union, as well as allowing players to switch backwards and forwards between them without restriction.

To be quite frank with you, and even though I indulge in a bit of it myself, I think this argument is pretty tiresome and both ruling bodies and fans should be looking more to where they could grow both sports in the face of the overwhelming media concentration on association football.

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

I didn't understand anything on the last three pages of this thread. As you were.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

I didn't understand anything on the last three pages of this thread. As you were.

Storm in a big and historical tea-cup

Rugby fans are much better behaved than footie fans, even though you wouldn't necessarily know it from this thread. Quins RL play Wigan Warriors this Saturday at the Stoop, Twickenham, 5.30pm kick-off, its the season's first home game so why not drop along and see how you like it?

 

[bendeus]

Union hardly did itself any favours by banning, for life, anyone who dared to play the other code, even if they did so on an amateur basis. And don't forget the Vichy government in wartime France who banned league completely, with players and assets handed over to their Union counterparts.

Remember, it wasn't until the mid-90s that the RFU finally acknowledged the sham-amateurism that was prevalent in Union, as well as allowing players to switch backwards and forwards between them without restriction.

Union rarely does itself any favours except on the pitch, and I agree that a great deal of the post '88 player drain was down to the myopia and idiocy of the amateur blazerati that controlled the game and viewed rugby through an incredibly narrow lens. The gut feeling from those days, though, is hard to shake off; chequebook charlies from Oop North coming to Wales, where the sport remained a religion and point of national pride, and stealing our idols forever (or so we thought at the time). The issue with me and, I suppose, many other Welshmen, is more visceral than cerebral, and if I just put my other eye in I'd probably look upon league in far more pastel shades

To be quite frank with you, and even though I indulge in a bit of it myself, I think this argument is pretty tiresome and both ruling bodies and fans should be looking more to where they could grow both sports in the face of the overwhelming media concentration on association football.

Tiresome? I've got at least four more pages in me!

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

*Bump*

So. Um. I still haven't gone to see anything
Where's the nearest pitch to Brixton? I am hoping that taking ShiftyJunior to see some rugby will help coax him away from football. I'm not sure I can pretend to be interested in football

(we'll be wanting something with seats and a bit of a crowd)

 

[torquemad]

a bucking stallion trumps a mime ponce in a catsuit


That is the quote of the year. Hope you don't mind if I use it for my sig.

eta: Dayum! Too long for sig

 

[discokermit]

I am hoping that taking ShiftyJunior to see some rugby will help coax him away from football.

i'm reporting you to social services for this.

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

i'm reporting you to social services for this.

Well if I have to engage with sweaty men I'd rather they were of rugby build than a bunch of foppish footballers.
Rugby is just better anyway.