The Unpopularity of Brand Munster

Liam79

Who loves Munster?

In a recent Europe wide poll run by the International Rugby Board, Ireland’s second province Munster has come out bottom in the popularity stakes. Finishing behind such giants of unpopularity as Wasps, Stade Francais and Leicester, Munster polled a table bottoming 0.2% of all votes. A record low for any team.
IRB Chiefs polled Internet Supporters Forums for all top division teams in Britain, Ireland and France, asking supporters which team they would support after their own.
Heineken Cup Champions Leinster finished a respectable second, with French Kingpins Biarritz emerging as Europes favourite “second team”.
It caps a rather Annus horribilis for the Irish Province who also found their supporters labelled the worst in Europe in a similar poll on famed Rugby website Planetrugby.com

Munster Rugby were unavailable for comment.

www.sanzarrugby.au

Iang87

what do you expect dislike comes with success

Itsdacraic

Do you have a link to this report? The one in your post doesn't work.

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Munster fans = bandwagon

BraziliaNZ

Well, considering it's not even a real place, it's hard to not like them. And Leinster, Jesus Christ, Leinster flags up in Kilkenny before the Cup Final. They should rebrand them Limerick hard working salt of the earth we beat the all blacks in the 70s and Donnybrook RFC

Risteard

As said with success comes dislike, if Leinster started to have the run we've had in Europe over the next couple of years I'd be willing to bet they'd be a lot lower than second.

I suppose the reasoning is that we used to be a plucky team that came out of nowhere and now we've become stronger. I suppose some of the sayings on banners don't appeal to some people either.

Some of my friends (from Limerick) hate Munster Rugby. They'd watch the Ireland matches but when I asked them why they said it's full of bandwagonners who only like Munster because of success. At which point I ask them why they support Man Utd. or Chelsea.

Henry Ford III

What a load of rubbish.

Iang87

jackncoke wrote: »

Munster fans = bandwagon

this post = pile of ballox

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Iang87 wrote: »

this post = pile of ballox

Liam79 wrote: »

u can pay at the gate. Limerick peoples claim to the sporting capital of Ireland will be tested this weekend. Our Footballers are in a munster final, with the chance to cause a huge upset and bring the cup home after 113 years. Yet I bet there wont be more than a few hundred limerick fans there.....but as soon as the Munster Bandwagon starts up again watch everyone claim to be the greatest sports city in Ireland
so what constitutes GREAT sports fans??? Going to 5 rugby games a year and knowing the words to a song about Galway???? But not bothering your holes to support a REAL Limerick team.....

He basically sums it up there

Iang87

did you ever think people might not like GAA and love Rugby.

but in saying that thats logical, and judging by the crap you're spouting logic doesn't feature in your thinking

Itsdacraic

Munster Rugby is a fantastic marketing success. They managed to convince thousands of people that a team with no history playing a minority sport winning a competition with no history was somehow the pinnacle of sporting achievement. It will be a case study in marketing courses for years to come.

Fair play to them, it brings untold economic value to the city. If buffons who never saw a rugby until 5 years ago want to cry into their inflatable hands after Leinster trouncing them then let them work away.

Amazotheamazing

Amazing, Munster rugby brings a huge amount to Munster, and to Limerick in particular and yet people still line up to be begrudgers.

Munster_Gal

Generalising it and saying

Munster fans = bandwagon

is completely unfair. Yes there are a huge number bandwagon jumpers but there are also massive numbers of people who have ALWAYS supported Munster and went to all the matches long before the team were making it to the final stages of HC's.

I for one only support rugby. I go to all the home Munster matches, I pay for the supporters club and I also support Shannon RFC in the club rugby! And I have done all my life. My brother plays rugby and my Grandfather played for Shannon and also with Munster briefly in the 70's!

Just because I don't support GAA doesn't mean I'm any less of a sports fan than someone who supports both!

True supporters of ANY sport are the ones that go to all the games, support the clubs and not just the provinces, don't slag off the opposing supporters, don't invade the pitch when asked not to and have respect for the opposing teams. The bandwagoners are the ones that go against all of the previous and also sell their tickets for alot more than face value to other supporters just to make a quick buck.

Rant over........

Amazotheamazing

jackncoke wrote: »

He basically sums it up there

Oh, I see he's bitter about the GAA.

I'd love Limerick to win on Sunday, but just because you love Limerick GAA doesn't mean you can't support Munster rugby.

TestTransmission

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Oh, I see he's bitter about the GAA.

I'd love Limerick to win on Sunday, but just because you love Limerick GAA doesn't mean you can't support Munster rugby.

I dont love Limerick GAA

solice

jackncoke wrote: »

Munster fans = bandwagon

Really? A team that has massive support and has had for quiet a few years now is a Bandwagon supported team?

I thought it laughable when driving up to Dublin from Limerick the weekend before the Heiniken Cup semi final all the blue flags and banners in Offally and Laois. Even saw a few in Kilkenny a few days after. Leinster is hardly a provincial team and has never experienced much support from outside of D4. That was of course up until this year. Now there is a bandwagon!

Amazotheamazing

I'd like to refer people to this thread btw, shows the impact a game in Thomond has on the local economy.

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055604479

lyencoli

I presume this is a standard wind up Munster, as there is no sign of this poll Liam is talking about, the link doesn't work, there is no sign of such a poll on the IRB website, nor have i ever seen an invite to take part in such a poll.

Again details are incorrect if qouting Munster as Irelands second province, while we are number one seed for the European cup, Magners league Champions etc. and thats an annus horribilus?

Should this not be moved to the rugby forum?

NCW feen

Thomond wasn't anyway near full the first time Munchthur played a Heineken Cup game there. Where have all the Shannon/Garryowen fans gone to ???
Handful of games each year and they appoint themselves best in the world. The majority at Thomond are gloryhunters.

Henry Ford III

Couple of things:

1/. What's the best selling club rugby jersey in the world?

2/. What rugby match is currently shown on Air New Zealand aircraft?

Answers are 1/. Munster and 2/. Munster vs All Blacks 2009.

Melion

NCW feen wrote: »

Thomond wasn't anyway near full the first time Munchthur played a Heineken Cup game there. Where have all the Shannon/Garryowen fans gone to ???
Handful of games each year and they appoint themselves best in the world. The majority at Thomond are gloryhunters.

I was in there that first night and yes it was full.

source

I only got into rugby in the last few years, and yes i support Munster, I started watching games as a way to spend more time with my father, and have grown to love the sport, and the team I haven't bought a Munster jersey,The reason??? Fear of being branded a bandwagon supporter, but did receive an Irish jersey as a gift.

Does this make me a bandwagon supporter? I know a lot of people think it does. There is an air of elitism amongst some in the supporters clubs who think that anyone who didn't follow the club since birth is only jumping on the bandwagon.

I had a ticket for the HC final this year, got by my father for me as he wanted me to go to the game with him, Is it really fair that i should get abuse like i did about taking a ticket that should have been gotten by a "real supporter" ? Personally i think the attitude of some of the "real supporters" is immature and childish and would almost make someone not want to not start following a team.

zuroph

foinse wrote: »

I only got into rugby in the last few years, and yes i support Munster, I started watching games as a way to spend more time with my father, and have grown to love the sport, and the team I haven't bought a Munster jersey, but did receive an Irish jersey as a gift. The reason??? Fear of being branded a bandwagon supporter.

Does this make me a bandwagon supporter? I know a lot of people think it does. There is an air of elitism amongst some in the supporters clubs who think that anyone who didn't follow the club since birth is only jumping on the bandwagon.

I had a ticket for the HC final this year, got by my father for me as he wanted me to go to the game with him, Is it really fair that i should get abuse like i did about taking a ticket that should have been gotten by a "real supporter" ? Personally i think the attitude of some of the "real supporters" is immature and childish and would almost make someone not want to not start following a team.

probably shouldnt have touted the tickets on ebay after munster got knocked out though...

source

zuroph wrote: »

probably shouldnt have touted the tickets on ebay after munster got knocked out though...

I didn't i put them up and sold them for face value. Just the easiest way of selling them on. I notice you didn't mention the fact that i also gave, 2 tickets away to two Leinster supporters who live across the road from me.:cool:

Risteard

foinse wrote: »

I only got into rugby in the last few years, and yes i support Munster, I started watching games as a way to spend more time with my father, and have grown to love the sport, and the team I haven't bought a Munster jersey, but did receive an Irish jersey as a gift. The reason??? Fear of being branded a bandwagon supporter.

Does this make me a bandwagon supporter? I know a lot of people think it does. There is an air of elitism amongst some in the supporters clubs who think that anyone who didn't follow the club since birth is only jumping on the bandwagon.

I had a ticket for the HC final this year, got by my father for me as he wanted me to go to the game with him, Is it really fair that i should get abuse like i did about taking a ticket that should have been gotten by a "real supporter" ? Personally i think not.

Of course it's not. I started following Munster when I started playing rugby at 9 about 9 years ago. And I go to most home matches I can. I don't like this whole 'you've only supported Munster for X amount of years, you're only a bandwagonner' mentality, it's ridiculous.

Every sport has to get new fans and a successful team will attract them. Admittedly there are some that probably only go to the big matches but Thomond Park got 20000+ for each Magners League game last year when it would previously it wouldn't have sold out the old capacity. Many will point to this as evidence of a bandwagon but the fans keep coming back. There is a big difference between new fans and 'bandwagonners.'

zuroph

foinse wrote: »

I didn't i put them up and sold them for face value. Just the easiest way of selling them on. I notice you didn't mention the fact that i also gave, 2 tickets away to two Leinster supporters who live across the road from me.:cool:

should prob take this to PM, but yeah, see you out tonight?!

source

zuroph wrote: »

should prob take this to PM, but yeah, see you out tonight?!

sent

source

Risteard wrote: »

Of course it's not. I started following Munster when I started playing rugby at 9 about 9 years ago. And I go to most home matches I can. I don't like this whole 'you've only supported Munster for X amount of years, you're only a bandwagonner' mentality, it's ridiculous.

Every sport has to get new fans and a successful team will attract them. Admittedly there are some that probably only go to the big matches but Thomond Park got 20000+ for each Magners League game last year when it would previously it wouldn't have sold out the old capacity. Many will point to this as evidence of a bandwagon but the fans keep coming back. There is a big difference between new fans and 'bandwagonners.'

I might not go to every game (work and cost) but i try to watch every game i can. Will be trying to go to as many as i can in future though.

I just find that the elitism in some of the members of the supporters club is laughable. do they realise that we all started to follow a team at some point, some unfortunately, later than others.

Amazotheamazing

foinse wrote: »

I might not go to every game but i try to watch every game i can. Will be trying to go to as many as i can in future though.

I just find that the elitism in some of the members of the supporters club is laughable. do they realise that we all started to follow a team at some point, some unfortunately, later than others.

I don't think that's very fair, there's a fair few of the Supporters club over on munsterfans.com and most are decent guys. You get the usual idiots that every team has, but never let anyone tell you who you can and can't support. If someone calls you a bandwagonner, tell the to stop being a clown.

source

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

I don't think that's very fair, there's a fair few of the Supporters club over on munsterfans.com and most are decent guys. You get the usual idiots that every team has, but never let anyone tell you who you can and can't support. If someone calls you a bandwagonner, tell the to stop being a clown.

I tried to phrase that so as not to paint everyone in the supporters club with the one brush. I know a few of the guys over on munsterfans and they're top notch, couldn't fault them, but there are a few, but as you said there's always a few.

galwayrush

Internet polls................:pac::pac::pac:

Liam Byrne

galwayrush wrote: »

Internet polls................:pac::pac::pac:

Fair enough if there was one, but it seems like Liam79 just has a chip on his shoulder for some reason.....

Mc Love

jackncoke wrote: »

Munster fans = bandwagon

Its different if you actually come from Munster

But what would Leinster fans now about that then eh?

4tothefloor

jackncoke wrote: »

He basically sums it up there

Agree

Munster_Gal wrote: »

Generalising it and saying



is completely unfair. Yes there are a huge number bandwagon jumpers but there are also massive numbers of people who have ALWAYS supported Munster and went to all the matches long before the team were making it to the final stages of HC's.

I for one only support rugby. I go to all the home Munster matches, I pay for the supporters club and I also support Shannon RFC in the club rugby! And I have done all my life. My brother plays rugby and my Grandfather played for Shannon and also with Munster briefly in the 70's!

Just because I don't support GAA doesn't mean I'm any less of a sports fan than someone who supports both!

True supporters of ANY sport are the ones that go to all the games, support the clubs and not just the provinces, don't slag off the opposing supporters, don't invade the pitch when asked not to and have respect for the opposing teams. The bandwagoners are the ones that go against all of the previous and also sell their tickets for alot more than face value to other supporters just to make a quick buck.

Rant over........

Fair play to you but you're in the minority. I know countless Munster fans and I can safely say that about 5% of them have grown up with rugby, been involved at grassroots or club level etc. The other 95% wouldn't know a rugby ball if it smacked them in the face. They have all the gear and get the tickets to games yet they don't even know the technical rules of rugby - it's both hilarious and a joke. I could tell you a hundred stories of mates who have got tickets to big games/finals etc when it was their first game of the year. Every person I know who is a regular at Thomond Park for Heineken cup games is a johnny-come-lately who never followd rugby before, nevermind Munster. And don't start me on the women dressed up to the nines with their ladies Munster top and again, haven't a clue what's going on apart from shouting Munster repeatedly :rolleyes:

Where are all the hard core rugby fans for the Magners League games at Thomond? (The glory hunters all managed to turn up for Leinster at home and the end of season title celebrations alright....)
Why did Thomond Park put in those ridiculous multi-coloured seats if the fanbase is so great that Thomond would be full for every game? :P
Rugby is a minority sport - the only way Munster can fill Cardiff or Croker is because it's full of bandwagoners, and everyone knows it.
My own Dad has been at about 5 games in the last few years - 2 Heineken Cup finals, two semi's against Leinster and a big game at Thomond - He's not a rugby man but goes with his golf playing buddies and is typical of the type of "fan" bulging the Munster fanbase. Glory hunter and not really knowledgeable about the game.

Oh and one more thing - the Rugby European Cup is not even a serious competition. The English and French treat it as a secondary competition and until that changes it will remain a bit of a joke. The fact one can buy tickets, and as many as you like, for the final throughout the year shows the competition is over-rated, especially by Irish rugby fans. It ain't held in such high esteem by the bigger Rugby nations, but it's the be all and end all for our provinces as the Magners league is an even bigger joke

Rant Over


And regards Limerick being Ireland's sporting capital, the biggest load of rubbish ever spouted. "Sporting" means supporting all codes. Yet, our hurling fans only come out when we're in a final, nobody supports the footballers and our League of Ireland soccer club is almost out of business because of......lack of support. Limerick is Ireland's glory hunting sporting capital though, that's for sure.

Mc Love

What a wummer ^^^ :rolleyes:

Limerick may not be Irelands sporting capital - but it is the Rugby Capital of Ireland!

Limerick does have fantastic sports facilities in the University of Limerick.

Besides, Munster Rugby isnt just Limerick, there's Cork, Clare, Waterford, Kerry and Tipperary.

I'd say you would want to go away and look at the grand scheme of things before you decide to make a comment again.

puntosporting

Its never too late to become a supporter of any sport dont be put off by bitterness towards success!
Success is what brings support!
Look at Man U and Liverpool they all started out as relatively small clubs over 100 years ago but eventualy grew into mega clubs at this stage along with the sport!
Rugby is still relatively fresh as a pro sport in this country and is growing all the time the clubs Leinster,Munster,Ulster and Connaught all need as much support as they can get!
Your supporting your local economy as well as a club which is great!
Success in sport also brings a great feel good factor around the locality and whats wrong with that exactly?
I think its amazing how Munster has grown since 95 and fully embraced the pro era along with the other provinces all be it with more success!

grenache

You'll have bandwagoners in every sport, but i suppose given Munster's success, they attract an even higher number than the rest. I can assure you though, there were plenty of gravy train fans wearing Limerick shirts in Croke Park for the AI Final in 07. I was on the Hill (never again), surrounded by a group of guys who had evidently never attended a hurling match before - they kept asking 'why is that a free?, whats no 7's name?, who are the men with the white coats beside the goals?, etc. And you can be sure there'll be a fair few of them in Cork tomorrow also. I do agree though that some of the Munster rhetoric is a joke - this whole ''irish by birth, munster by grace of god'' stuff is cringeworthy. Ten years ago nobody batted an eyelid at the Munster rugby team. Now we're supposed to believe we've loved them since we were in the womb! I follow Munster but from a distance, and would certainly not be one to jump on any wagon.

Berty

I am a card carrying Munster Rugby supporter. I am a member of the Munster supporters club.

I have season tickets to their matches in Thomond Park for the upcoming season.

All I need to know are these things.

I support Munster, I am proud of the team I support. Everybody else can support what they like. I have my seat in Thomond park for the matches. All the "Johnny come latelys" or followers because Munster are winning can all fight it out for their tickets.

I also have a ticket for Stade De France 2010(Cheap seats for €18 each) confident Munster will be back in the Final.

Win or Lose I support my team. :cool:

topper75

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Oh, I see he's bitter about the GAA.

I'd love Limerick to win on Sunday, but just because you love Limerick GAA doesn't mean you can't support Munster rugby.

Well said Amazo. Where is this mutual exclusiveness nonsense coming from?

There is a massive history of compatibility in this part of the island that is not echoed anywhere else. Check out the clever way Mick Mackey's fondness for the oval ball was handled by GAA administrators back in the day.

Many, many rugby players maintain their physicality and fitness in summer months by playing Gaelic football. That tradition goes way back.

fantastic2007

Are we not all missing something here? The poll if true asked "what club you would support" if not your own. Therefore with such a low poll, all you can figure is that everyone in Europe supports Munster. Therefore those people would not be able to say Munster as second team. Meaning they are the most popular the .2% are the ones that support other teams.....
If the poll is true it is worked that way. That is, if it is true.
:mad:

Amazotheamazing

topper75 wrote: »

Well said Amazo. Where is this mutual exclusiveness nonsense coming from?

There is a massive history of compatibility in this part of the island that is not echoed anywhere else. Check out the clever way Mick Mackey's fondness for the oval ball was handled by GAA administrators back in the day.

Many, many rugby players maintain their physicality and fitness in summer months by playing Gaelic football. That tradition goes way back.

True, it's a huge pity Kelly couldn't add a Munster Football medal to go with his AIL one this year. A lot of the Limerick rugby players are handy enough footballers too, Mike Prendergast was actually in the Limerick panel a few years back before he was offered a contract with Bourgoin. Of this panel, as well as Kelly, Joyce-Power won a Munster's schools senior cup medal with Castletroy last year and a few others have played with the various clubs.

I don't give a **** if other counties enforce sporting apartheid between the various codes, I'm glad we have a lot cross-over between the sports.

zuroph

do you know who I hate? that other team. grr, their fans are so annoying, not liking my team as much as theirs. Their players seem to think they should win matches too, and sometimes feel hard done by when refs make decisions against them. the fools. I dont know how anyone could support them over my team. Go local sports team.

Amazotheamazing

zuroph wrote: »

do you know who I hate? that other team. grr, their fans are so annoying, not liking my team as much as theirs. Their players seem to think they should win matches too, and sometimes feel hard done by when refs make decisions against them. the fools. I dont know how anyone could support them over my team. Go local sports team.

True, hard to argue with this.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33426