Rugby now more popular than football AND GAA?!

**an_ceannaire** · 05/10/2011, 2:51 PM

it pains me lads

we used to be top dogs. Look at us now. Playing fourth fiddle for the nations affections
Its hurting me this

**Sullivinho** · 05/10/2011, 3:04 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Can a mod explain how this thread keeps popping up? It seems like every 3 months or so. I assume its a glitch

I posit the theory that the OP is the 'Ireland' forum itself become sentient and in that respect, his/it's concerns are quite genuine and shouldn't be taken lightly. In fact if the conscious embodiment of a message board were capable of such composition, I expect this tale of wandering affection would have been delivered movingly, in the form of a sonnet.

**TrapAPony** · 05/10/2011, 3:07 PM

I personally think at the moment that Trapattoni's way of playing the game and some unusual squad selections are putting people off them. The Irish team need to qualify for the Euro's. Then everyone will jump on the bandwagon again.

**an_ceannaire** · 05/10/2011, 3:15 PM

I dunno Trapapony
i fear the lack of a real world star in the team, added to the style of play plus the growing discontent with the whole world of football and the money and behavious of players, incl Irish players, has cut too deep . i think its not even just the ireland team the nation is growing tiresome of but the game itself at the highest level.
Rugby is still a lot "purer" than football

**Dodge** · 05/10/2011, 3:22 PM

Originally Posted by an_ceannaire

it pains me lads

we used to be top dogs. Look at us now. Playing fourth fiddle for the nations affections
Its hurting me this

You're hurting because other people maight prefer to watch another sport instead of football? HAve you nothign more important to worry about than someone's preference for TV viewing?

I can only suggest you do your best to enjoy whatever games you like, whether on TV or in person, and let other people do the same.

**Stuttgart88** · 05/10/2011, 3:42 PM

Originally Posted by an_ceannaire

the nation is growing tiresome of the game itself at the highest level.

Instinctively I might think there is some truth in that - I'm disillusioned with the modern game myself. But take the number of people still obsessed with MU and the EPL etc and I still think football is right up there.

My last jersey count in Rathfarnham (July) yielded a 14:3 football to rugby ratio. Only one of those football tops was an Ireland top.

I'm still not really sure what the "unusual team selections" are though.

Anyway, I maintain my view that any team sport that Ireland can get to a WC final in can't be an internationally popular sport

**SwanVsDalton** · 05/10/2011, 3:51 PM

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

In fact if the conscious embodiment of a message board were capable of such composition, I expect this tale of wandering affection would have been delivered movingly, in the form of a sonnet.

Oh! My Sporting Heart Does Break! by Footie

Oh Trapattoni left Reid behind.
Ireland ignored the call.
And McCarthy was maligned,
with little chance to play ball.
The fans they were consterned,
and remembering glory days past
cried 'will Trap ever learn
and get us to major tourneys fast?!'
With hardened hearts of ice and stone,
they turned instead to an oval game.
Bandwagoning on to success,
though they still found time to complain...

Meanwhile the nation's sporting eyes
Ignored football while it slowly died.

**gustavo** · 05/10/2011, 3:55 PM

I've merged all an_ceannaire‎'s doomsaying threads into one "super thread" as requested

**Wolfie** · 05/10/2011, 4:00 PM

Well, I'm a lifer. I've been through all of the highs and lows of the last 25 years and I can't identify with people that dip in and out when the goings good.

Surely, when things are less than perfect, that's when support in its truest sense kicks in??????????????

**BonnieShels** · 05/10/2011, 4:05 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Well, I'm a lifer. I've been through all of the highs and lows of the last 25 years and I can't identify with people that dip in and out when the goings good.

Surely, when things are less than perfect, that's when support in its truest sense kicks in??????????????

I still find it odd that people get upset when others like other sports. Except baseball, rugby league and golf. Eugh.

**Charlie Darwin** · 05/10/2011, 4:31 PM

Lads, don't confuse attendance figures with active participation. Rugby gets the biggest numbers going to matches but football has been the most popular game for decades and will continue to be.

**TiocfaidhArmani** · 05/10/2011, 4:56 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Lads, don't confuse attendance figures with active participation. Rugby gets the biggest numbers going to matches but football has been the most popular game for decades and will continue to be.

You only have a couple of top flight rugby teams in the whole country anyway so you could be on to something. Cork Con I'm sure get two men and a dog at their games.

**TiocfaidhArmani** · 05/10/2011, 5:00 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

That's why it's so important that LOI clubs find a way to attract families because it's not reliant on individuals stepping outside their comfort zone - it's a family doing something together.

Not gonna happen when games are ending at near 10pm on a Friday night!

**ArdeeBhoy** · 05/10/2011, 6:20 PM

So what if rugby has a higher profile for now, anyway?

Will be supporting the team on Fri.night & next Tues and the rugby lads If I wake up early enough on Saturday.
If the latter win the or later in the competition, fair fecks to them.

But I'll always be a soccer (& cricket /GAA man) ahead of rugby.

**Stuttgart88** · 05/10/2011, 8:47 PM

Compare this with the France v Ireland football peak viewing of over 2 million This stat shows that Ireland's biggest game of the year in rugby fell quite a bit short of the GAA showcase.

Stats by themselves don't tell that much, but let's try and compare like with like. Irish rugby deserves its time in the sunshine but let's face it - and this isn't begrudging a great win over Oz - so far they've only achieved the very least of what'd have been acceptable, a Q/F. FFS, there are only 9 serious competitors for 8 QF places. Ireland play Wales in a WORLD Cup QF. What's the definition of parochial again?

Ireland has been suffering. Let the people get their kicks from sporting success. Rugby is in a position to deliver right now. Bertie's corrupt and self-serving regime should be ashamed for not investing more in sport when the money was rolling in. Even from a purely self-serving angle it was a trick missed - sporting success placates the public in bad economic times.

**geysir** · 05/10/2011, 9:23 PM

It's the wrong place to be serious, Stutts.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 05/10/2011, 10:48 PM

Can I just bask in the warmth of a realised prediction made last weekend. I didn't want to be so unkind as the state the bleedin obvious thread starter at the time but was there really ever a doubt?... my other predictions - Girls Aloud will reform without the kicked one ...or any groundbreaking success. Also -the price of stamps will soar ever higher...

**drummerboy** · 06/10/2011, 9:19 AM

Driving through Ballymun the other day, just down from IKEA and noticed a sign advertising Rugby coaching for kids, all ages. Times are changing. It might be a while before we see a lad from Ballymun playing for Ireland but you have to applaud them for their efforts. Full time coach goes arund all the schools in the area. The GAA do the same, in fairness, they had a couple on the successful panel this year. Not sure about the FAI although Ballymun United are a very progressive club.

**jbyrne** · 06/10/2011, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

Driving through Ballymun the other day, just down from IKEA and noticed a sign advertising Rugby coaching for kids, all ages. Times are changing. It might be a while before we see a lad from Ballymun playing for Ireland but you have to applaud them for their efforts. Full time coach goes arund all the schools in the area. The GAA do the same, in fairness, they had a couple on the successful panel this year. Not sure about the FAI although Ballymun United are a very progressive club.

rugby and gaa are trying to infiltrate the areas of our cities and towns that the FAI have been in for years. there are loads of FAI supported inner city projects etc that I have heard about. some great schoolboy clubs doing great work in these areas also

**Fixer82** · 06/10/2011, 1:05 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXt6G...eature=related

I think people are more affectionate towards the Rugby and GAA lads who seem much more honest and don't roll out clichés in interviews and appear to really put their heart and soul into it.
Compare the video above to the actions Stephen Ireland and Carlos Tevez and it's an easy choice.

Qualification would swing things back in favour of soccer a bit but overall I'm just happy we're such a competitive and proud sporting nation, no matter what we are competing in. There's room for us all