Rugby Union 2009

[Jinxy]

I think it will be made available for the semi-final if the IRFU ask for it to be honest, but I don't think it would be a PR disaster if the GAA refused. People have way more important things to be worrying about at the moment.

[WexCar]

assuming leinster and munster do win, the RDS would be too small for the ticket demand, therefore look to the GAA

If using a GAA ground would it not be better for Munster to use the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick so that the game is kept in Munster and with a slightly smaller attendance (50,000 capacity i think) there would be a greater ratio of munster to leinster fans.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Well in fairness on the jumping the gun issue, I did qualify it with an if.

As for the stadium thing. There's a GAA rules logistics issue with grounds other than Croker. The motion they passed a couple of years ago referred specificially to that ground. So long as it's there and nowhere else this problem won't be that much of an issue.

[hula4]

assuming leinster and munster do win, the RDS would be too small for the ticket demand, therefore look to the GAA

If using a GAA ground would it not be better for Munster to use the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick so that the game is kept in Munster and with a slightly smaller attendance (50,000 capacity i think) there would be a greater ratio of munster to leinster fans.

The gaa have only opened croke park, the relaxing in their rules states that croke park is available while lansdowne road is being rebuilt so the Gaelic grounds is out as it any other GAA stadium in the country.

its not jumping the gun in relation to talking about this as if Croker were to be used the GAA would have to be approached post haste.

i personally think if the GAA are approached by the ERC/IRFU they should say yes, in a recessionary economy the money it would generate would be great for the country as well as the feel good factor for the whole country that weekend.

i also think should Munster qualify for the semi final regardless of who they are down to play it should be on in Croker

[tetsujin1979]

Absolutely. Most will remember the great leinster v Munster final planned for lansdowne some years ago

they couldn't give away tickets that years. touts lost fortunes. 2fm had daily competitions for final tickets.
I'm sure there were some bad things too....

[joeSoap]

Please stick to the soccer related threads then, as you are a Soccer Fan. The title of the thread is 'Rugby Union 2009' and therefore should have sent some alarm bells ringing in your mind as to what was being discussed in this thread.

I'm sure you're one of those 'morons' (your phrase, not mine) that run around in your Pike Rovers jacket or jumper, as is your right. What people choose to wear and support is down to themselves, and shouldn't affect you in any way.

Stick to the soccer.

There, end of rant.

[Schumi]

they couldn't give away tickets that years.

They didn't try very hard. I was going to go to that final but the cheapest tickets were something like €50 on the day. Daft given the lack of interest in the participants.

[Dodge]

It showed to me the true level of support for rugby in Ireland.

[joeSoap]

I would agree with you in some respects, but you have to take into account the cost of the day itself. Lets say you were travelling from Limerick; train €40, match ticket €50, food and other expenses €20, a few pints €30. Thats an expensive enough day out just to watch two french teams that you wouldn't normally support.

Those prices are based on a few years ago btw...

[Dodge]

I know, but if it was the Champions League final, it'd have been packed to the rafters, regardless of who was playing and there'd have been thousands looking for tickets too

[Bald Student]

Where as if it was an FAI cup final it would have had about the attendance that the final of the 'ken did.

For whatever reason, Irish people support domestic rugby and foreign soccer.

[Dodge]

Or people jump from bandwagon to bandwagon

[Pike B]

Or people jump from bandwagon to bandwagon

Exactly..

[kingdom hoop]

Yes people follow success so I agree to an extent, but in this example maybe it's worth appreciating the context a little more, in that the teams of the majority of rugby followers in the country, ie Munster and Leinster, were both knocked out in the semis that year. Personally, knowing what could/should have been and having seen plenty rugby that year, I wasn't really of a mind to go watch the final of a competition when my team was eliminated in the semi. Had it been the pool stages when Munster and Leinster were knocked out I think you'd have got more Irish going as the hunger would've been back.

Would you go to the marriage of your hoped-for wife to the **** who beat you to her hand just because you support love in all its forms?

Seriously though, I don't think anyone would claim rugby penetrates Ireland in the numbers football does. As well as that, in general the Irish public get a more regular supply of high level rugby compared to football so there'll never be as much demand for those "one-off" rugby matches.

[Dodge]

Seriously though, I don't think anyone would claim rugby penetrates Ireland in the numbers football does.

Some media have made that exact claim.

I should point out that I'm not anti rugby and regularly attend Leinster games. From being one of about 2-3,000 as little as 4-5 years ago attending Magners League games I know exactly how fickle support is

[pete]

Or people jump from bandwagon to bandwagon

Munster is the best Bandwagon in town especially the HC finals.

[Bald Student]

I should point out that I'm not anti rugby and regularly attend Leinster games. From being one of about 2-3,000 as little as 4-5 years ago attending Magners League games I know exactly how fickle support is

I don't think that support is as fickle as some make out. The support of the provincial sides has increased but most of the 18,000 at the Edinburgh game would also be involved in schools or club rugby in some form or other.

I don't have any numbers but I'd guess that Magner's' League might be the second best supported rugby competition in Leinster.

[hula4]

Munster is the best Bandwagon in town especially the HC finals.

well to be fair its a bandwagon that has been running for 11 years and massive crowds have travelled to england, wales, switzerland, spain, france, italy etc, so to be fair i think the bandwagon description is out the window

[Pike B]

well to be fair its a bandwagon that has been running for 11 years and massive crowds have travelled to england, wales, switzerland, spain, france, italy etc, so to be fair i think the bandwagon description is out the window

No offense Hula, but the bandwagon is very much alive and well in Limerick. It's all well and good people supporting them and becoming fans, but I bet you 70% of Munster fans couldn't name the squad of players, or tell you diddly squat about the history, besides beating the All Blacks etc.

At Thomond Park one evening a friend of mine was watching as O'Gara put over a penalty. He was alone as his Uncle and brother (Munster fans all their lives) couldn't get a ticket. A woman 2 seats away asked her husband 'how many points would they get if it went under the post'??

Need I say more??

[Dodge]

I don't think that support is as fickle as some make out. The support of the provincial sides has increased but most of the 18,000 at the Edinburgh game would also be involved in schools or club rugby in some form or other.

Fair enough on the schools scene but even that is a bit of a strange one. From my (limited) knowledge as many people go for the social side as go for the game (I realise they can't really be seperated). I'd imagine that most who watch leinster play would definitely have been involved at school level.

The club scene has never got crowds (certainly in Dublin). Even before the heineken cup era, the Ail was on its knees