Rugby now more popular than football AND GAA?!

[NeverFeltBetter]

I mean, it's played in just about every country, there's five tiers to the senior game after all, and its important not to underestimate the club scene in terms of engagement. But I get your point. I think the appeal from a spectating perspective is the mixture of speed and the skill needed to manage that and the small ball within the confines of what can be an extremely aggressive sport. The senior game has managed to create this ambiance of every All-Ireland match being a fearsome battle attended by thousands of people with amazing atmospheres, and I think that tends to make-up for any moment when the action is hard to follow (which, speaking purely for myself, isn't that big a deal most of the time).

[JR89]

I mean, it's played in just about every country, there's five tiers to the senior game after all, and its important not to underestimate the club scene in terms of engagement. But I get your point. I think the appeal from a spectating perspective is the mixture of speed and the skill needed to manage that and the small ball within the confines of what can be an extremely aggressive sport. The senior game has managed to create this ambiance of every All-Ireland match being a fearsome battle attended by thousands of people with amazing atmospheres, and I think that tends to make-up for any moment when the action is hard to follow (which, speaking purely for myself, isn't that big a deal most of the time).

Was in the US last year for the all Ireland semi final and showed a few Americans the Munster final before watching Limerick Vs Galway. They wanted to watch one game before the semis so they weren't asking a 101 questions while the match was on and they were instantly hooked. Loved the speed the game was played at, the skills level that was on show, and the fact that players only wear helmets for protection.

In Lacross players would have helmets, chunky padded gloves, shoulder pads, and elbow pads. They were amazed the hurlers were going out with their axed shape stick and the only protection used was a helmet. They loved it so much they went out of their way to watch the final a few weeks later.

[SkStu]

They showed hurling on Canadian sports networks here a few years ago (maybe in the 2012-2016 timeframe) and the people who watched it were absolutely obsessed with the game - whether people i work with or on social media. It was shown off peak times and not live but it was very popular. Ice hockey, the national sport here, is a derivative of hurling of course so there are a lot of parallels in terms of the skill and speed involved in both sports. I think they lost the rights after those couple of seasons and thats why they stopped showing it. I don't think they showed Gaelic football.

I always thought lacrosse was a derivative too but apparently it has its roots in the indigenous sports culture.

[kksaints]

I remember a group of German tourists showed up to a Junior hurling match for my local team once, they weren't very impressed and left after 10 minutes or so. Another time a bus load of French students showed up at a match, they seemed to enjoy more although their attempts to generate atmosphere with a few chants was met with bemusement from the locals. I think when people see the top level hurling as their first experience they think it's great and will often stay watching it. But if they start off watching the lower level club hurling they're generally much less impressed. I like hurling and it's my 2nd favourite sport after football but a lot of people overrate the sport and are much more reluctant to call matches out as bad when they clearly are or make flimsy excuses as to why a match was poor.

[EalingGreen]

It's also an all island sport where northern unionists genuinely drop they're chip on their shoulders for( 80 mins!) and get involved.

Thanks.

It's really nice to know we're appreciated.

Of course, it helps that we're all too stupid to know when we're being patronised.

[EalingGreen]

Noticed that the attendance for Ireland-Romania at the weekend has been given as 41,570. That's an increase of more than 2,000 on the Ireland-Belgium group game in Euro 2016 that was held in the same stadium - 39,493 - and strangely more than every game that was held in that stadium during the tournament - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouvea...o_2016_matches
Has capacity increased since 2016?

I can think of three possible explanations which might explain this, at least partly.

First, football often has segregation requirements which reduce the capacity.

And second, there are liable to be many more media from all over the world, taking up places which could go to fans?

Finally at major football tournaments, FIFA/UEFA usually give out great swathes of tickets to sponsors, various bigwigs and National Association representatives etc, very many of whom don't even bother to turn up, at least for lesser games, and even when genuine fans cannot get their hands on tickets.

Perhaps such issues are less of a problem for Rugby?

[EalingGreen]

One thing which often gets overlooked whe talking about the Rugby (ahem) World Cup, is that out of a total of over 200 nation states worldwide, rugby is only the national sport in New Zealand (population 5.2m), Fiji (pop.950k), Samoa (pop.226k), Tonga (pop.108k) and a handful of tiny Pacific islands.

Which I think gives the game a little perspective which you never hear from rugby alickadoos* themselves.

* - Posting this gave me cause to google the term (here - https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/alickadoo), with it's possible originator being an interesting character (here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Crawford). Isn't it great that he managed to drop the chip on his shoulder long enough to achive such an impressive CV...

[Diggs246]

Thanks.

It's really nice to know we're appreciated.

Of course, it helps that we're all too stupid to know when we're being patronised.

And the chip on the shoulder is back..!!

Apologies I absolutely did not mean to offend. Sorry

[EalingGreen]

And the chip on the shoulder is back..!!

Thanks again.

Apologies I absolutely did not mean to offend. Sorry

Assuming you genuinely don't see that yours was a prejudiced remark, then I'm not sure that makes things any better.

"Northmen, Southmen, Comrades all..."

[Diggs246]

Thanks again.

Assuming you genuinely don't see that yours was a prejudiced remark, then I'm not sure that makes things any better.

"Northmen, Southmen, Comrades all..."

RE: And the chip on the shoulder is back..!!

This was a gag following on from our last correspondence, which I did say sorry for, but as we know the first casualty of the troubles was comedy

RE Assuming you genuinely don't see that yours was a prejudiced remark, then I'm not sure that makes things any better.

Again not accepting an apology, that’s not the way forward


RE: "Northmen, Southmen, Comrades all..."

If you are infaring I’m a republican? Or a wolf tones fan etc I would like to point out that I’m protestant, who is revolted by the IRA

[seanfhear]

Could we get some balance = = Maybe two chips ! !

[Diggs246]

Could we get some balance = = Maybe two chips ! !

I'll take it! ( no vinegar)

[Fixer82]

The problem with hurling as a spectator sport is that it's really hard to see the (very small) ball. It also must be among the least-played games in the world by they fewest players. Even in Ireland it's only played in a handful of counties. Hard to see its appeal at all.

You’re right. It’s crap. Should be boycotted actually

[Fixer82]

RE: And the chip on the shoulder is back..!!

This was a gag following on from our last correspondence, which I did say sorry for, but as we know the first casualty of the troubles was comedy

RE Assuming you genuinely don't see that yours was a prejudiced remark, then I'm not sure that makes things any better.

Again not accepting an apology, that’s not the way forward


RE: "Northmen, Southmen, Comrades all..."

If you are infaring I’m a republican? Or a wolf tones fan etc I would like to point out that I’m protestant, who is revolted by the IRA

The Wolfe Tones of course named after a famous Protestant.
Religion has nothing to do with it

[CraftyToePoke]

I would like to point out that I’m protestant

Do you support Rangers Diggs ? Or a soft spot for them at least ?

[Diggs246]

Crafty you're a ticket
Do you support Kenny? Or a soft spot for him at least?

[CraftyToePoke]

Crafty you're a ticket
Do you support Kenny? Or a soft spot for him at least?

Oh a raging hard on for the chap.


I would say I support the mission not to treat the football as a booby trapped (!) device Diggsy, mon frere & Stephen Kenny is merely the front the opening stages of this battle is being fought, if you get me.

Now back on topic, you Ranger you.

[Diggs246]

Oh a raging hard on for the chap.


I would say I support the mission not to treat the football as a booby trapped (!) device Diggsy, mon frere & Stephen Kenny is merely the front the opening stages of this battle is being fought, if you get me.

Now back on topic, you Ranger you.

No crafty, you're just not man enough to own your mistake..in relation to Kenny
All I want is for my country to do well
I just want the best for our people. You just can't quite say I made a mistake.
Stephen is the worst manager we've ever had.

I do find me being a prod = rangers fan good value to be fair!

[ontheotherhand]

Back to the important stuff - hurling is wildly overrated.

[Fixer82]

Back to the important stuff - hurling is wildly overrated.

Incorrect. Prob the most difficult field game to play in the world