As a sport, rugby doesn't really matter in Ireland

Kevinmarkham

Or so Pat Fitzpatrick claims in the Sunday Indo's Life Magazine.

Anyone else read the absolute drivel this man is spouting. He bemoans the loss of hardmen, like Clohessy, and the gifted, like Gibson, and claims that passionate fans would rather watch the soccer team as they have a 'better chance' in the World Cup.

Let's put him in a room with a couple of the lads and see how he turns out.

Junior

Any online links and I know this might seem a little smart but who ?

siltirocker

After the first few paragraphs, i thought he was writing it in Ian O'Doherty-esqe sarcasm. F*CKIN' fumming! My housemate is writing a letter to the Indo as we speak about this narrow minded insult to rugby fans!:mad::mad::mad:

g5fd6ow0hseima

Meh, rugby doesnt really matter outside the Pale, Cork / Limerick and perhaps other pockets of the south east.

Fine, we will all watch the six nations etc, but it has no tradition outside said areas, hence less importance in my view.

danthefan

Lyra Alive Fender wrote: »

Meh, rugby doesnt really matter outside the Pale, Cork / Limerick and perhaps other pockets of the south east.

Fine, we will all watch the six nations etc, but it has no tradition outside said areas, hence less importance in my view.

Hi Pat, I didn't like your article today.

chupacabra

Lyra Alive Fender wrote: »

Meh, rugby doesnt really matter outside the Pale, Cork / Limerick and perhaps other pockets of the south east.

Fine, we will all watch the six nations etc, but it has no tradition outside said areas, hence less importance in my view.

Are you kidding me? I live in Kerry, probably the county most likely to shun rugby for other sports and in the last 6 - 7 years i have seen a MASSIVE change from seeing Kerry flags flying outside every house and pub to Munster flags. I do a lot of travelling around the county and i often, while in the middle of nowhere tucked away in a valley with no town or village for miles around see houses plastered with the red flags and symbols of munster, kids and adults alike proudly wearing a munster jersey and as a result the numbers in the clubs have exploded. Rugby very much matters to the people down here, and i'm sure its the same all over the country.

louthandproud

Lyra Alive Fender wrote: »

Meh, rugby doesnt really matter outside the Pale, Cork / Limerick and perhaps other pockets of the south east.

Fine, we will all watch the six nations etc, but it has no tradition outside said areas, hence less importance in my view.

LOL

NickNolte

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

...and claims that passionate fans would rather watch the soccer team as they have a 'better chance' in the World Cup.

Sounds like an inspired and well researched piece of journalism. Let's see. What can we say about Irish rugby:

• The Irish national team is ranked 4th in the world.
• Ireland are current Grand Slam champions of Europe.
• Munster are current domestic champions (in Irish, Welsh, Scottish... and soon to be Italian... league)
• Leinster are current European club champions.
• Inter-provincial Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park, May 2009 the largest ever turnout for a club rugby match in Europe (in the World?)
• Week-in, week-out Irish clubs' (particularly Leinster and Munster and, increasingly, Ulster) stadiums fill to the rafters with doting supporters. Hundreds/thousands regularly travelling to England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy to support their teams.
• All home 6 Nations games sell 82,500 seats at Croke Park out. Home matches against England, France and Wales tickets are virtually like gold dust.
• Ireland are going to the next Rugby World Cup (2011).

Now, let's compare that with Irish football:

• Irish team ranked 34th in the world.
• Irish domestic league is an embarrassment.
• My granny can get tickets for internationals at her local Spar in Drumshambo.
• Ireland need to beat one of Portugal, Greece, France, Russia or some other team that's ranked higher than them to even qualify for the next World Cup (2010).

I hope that the journalist of this gutter rag continues to enjoy singing while he's winning. Or least drawing. Irish rugby may not 'matter'. But we'll continue to excel while our football athletes will continue to enjoy their WAGs and over-inflated salaries. :rolleyes:

themont85

Shíte article, shíte journalist, shíte paper.

I wouldn't have bought the paper if it wasn't for the OP, but thanks anyway OP, the Megan Fox spread was excellent.

NickNolte

To be fair, if you buy the Sunday Indo you'll get what you deserve. Gutter journalism and celebrity gossip.

puntosporting

Us discussing his drivel means he is winning...
Lets not!

sock puppet

NickNolte wrote: »

Sounds like an inspired and well researched piece of journalism. Let's see. What can we say about Irish rugby:

• The Irish national team is ranked 4th in the world.
• Ireland are current Grand Slam champions of Europe.
• Munster are current domestic champions (in Irish, Welsh, Scottish... and soon to be Italian... league)
• Leinster are current European club champions.
• Inter-provincial Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park, May 2009 the largest ever turnout for a club rugby match in Europe (in the World?)
• Week-in, week-out Irish clubs' (particularly Leinster and Munster and, increasingly, Ulster) stadiums fill to the rafters with doting supporters. Hundreds/thousands regularly travelling to England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy to support their teams.
• All home 6 Nations games sell 82,500 seats at Croke Park out. Home matches against England, France and Wales tickets are virtually like gold dust.
• Ireland are going to the next Rugby World Cup (2011).

Now, let's compare that with Irish football:

• Irish team ranked 34th in the world.
• Irish domestic league is an embarrassment.
• My granny can get tickets for internationals at her local Spar in Drumshambo.
• Ireland need to beat one of Portugal, Greece, France, Russia or some other team that's ranked higher than them to even qualify for the next World Cup (2010).

I hope that the journalist of this gutter rag continues to enjoy singing while he's winning. Or least drawing. Irish rugby may not 'matter'. But we'll continue to excel while our football athletes will continue to enjoy their WAGs and over-inflated salaries. :rolleyes:

Really the rugby team should be playing qualification games for the world cup too. And I'd consider going out in the group stages of the RWC far more embarassing than going out in the qualifiers for the football world cup.

Judgement Day

I wouldn't wrap chips in any newspaper from the Indo stable and if you buy of them you get what you deserve.

NickNolte

sock puppet wrote: »

And I'd consider going out in the group stages of the RWC far more embarassing than going out in the qualifiers for the football world cup.

Yeah, well I wouldn't. Also, I'd generally consider the overall success of the sport in the country more inline with the topic of discussion. And I think rugby achievements, although less popular a sport, top football by a long shot. Thanks for replying though.

Aidric

Doesn't that guy write humorous articles? I haven't bought that rag in years but he used to in any case.

Teg Veece

themont85 wrote: »

Shíte article, shíte journalist, shíte paper.

I wouldn't have bought the paper if it wasn't for the OP, but thanks anyway OP, the Megan Fox spread was excellent.

Hence the reason for the article. Controversy sells.

conman

ill watch the 6nations and worldcup for national pride, thats about it.
I think this is why most beyond the pale, and pockets of munster follow it too, its hyped as a sport that we are said to be proud of and steeped in history.

but to be honest, id imagine 95% of people that watch rugby havent a clue of about 75% of the rules. so, that in itself would say mostly we are not rugby fans, but Irish fans.

TV and Newspaper coverage do keep the sport at the top of peoples minds, and to be honest not many countries play it, so we do have a chance of winning something here.

anyway, its important to ireland, but theres are more important sports in Ireland

JohnJericho

NickNolte wrote: »

Sounds like an inspired and well researched piece of journalism. Let's see. What can we say about Irish rugby:

• The Irish national team is ranked 4th in the world.
• Ireland are current Grand Slam champions of Europe.
• Munster are current domestic champions (in Irish, Welsh, Scottish... and soon to be Italian... league)
• Leinster are current European club champions.
• Inter-provincial Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park, May 2009 the largest ever turnout for a club rugby match in Europe (in the World?)
• Week-in, week-out Irish clubs' (particularly Leinster and Munster and, increasingly, Ulster) stadiums fill to the rafters with doting supporters. Hundreds/thousands regularly travelling to England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy to support their teams.
• All home 6 Nations games sell 82,500 seats at Croke Park out. Home matches against England, France and Wales tickets are virtually like gold dust.
• Ireland are going to the next Rugby World Cup (2011).

Now, let's compare that with Irish football:

• Irish team ranked 34th in the world.
• Irish domestic league is an embarrassment.
• My granny can get tickets for internationals at her local Spar in Drumshambo.
• Ireland need to beat one of Portugal, Greece, France, Russia or some other team that's ranked higher than them to even qualify for the next World Cup (2010).

I hope that the journalist of this gutter rag continues to enjoy singing while he's winning. Or least drawing. Irish rugby may not 'matter'. But we'll continue to excel while our football athletes will continue to enjoy their WAGs and over-inflated salaries. :rolleyes:

I'm a rugby fan but what you wrote there is utter ****e. Ireland are 4th in the world in rugby but how many teams are worth bloody mentioning in the rankings, let alone how many countries play rugby?

What do the rugby team have to do to qualify for a world cup? The soccer team have to play 12 tough games.

30,000 Irish soccer fans travelled to Paris 4 years ago for a qualifier. 4 months ago 5,000 took two flights for a game in Bulgaria.

I don't care what anyone says, nothing captures the nation quite like the soccer team in the World Cup. When our rugby team are in a World Cup you would hardly know it but when the soccer lads qualify every single house up and down the country has a flag out the window. When a game is on the streets are literally deserted. The same couldn't be said for rugby. I highly doubt our Irish soccer stars have "over inflated egos" with WAG's I cant imagine Duff, Doyle and Hunt with all that crap:rolleyes:

I love rugby as much as soccer but your argument is very very flawed.

eroo

conman wrote: »

but to be honest, id imagine 95% of people that watch rugby havent a clue of about 75% of the rules. so, that in itself would say mostly we are not rugby fans, but Irish fans.

You could say the same about the general fans off hurling, football, soccer etc

You don't have to know every rule to be a big big fan of a sport.

NickNolte

JohnJericho wrote: »

Ireland are 4th in the world in rugby but how many teams are worth bloody mentioning in the rankings

It's all relative when you consider the popularity of the two sports in this country.

JohnJericho wrote: »

What do the rugby team have to do to qualify for a world cup?

Be good.

JohnJericho wrote: »

I don't care what anyone says, nothing captures the nation quite like the soccer team in the World Cup. When our rugby team are in a World Cup you would hardly know it but when the soccer lads qualify every single house up and down the country has a flag out the window.

You'll find that rugby supporters still support their team win, lose or draw. The FAI's taking at the turnstyles tend to drop a lot when things aren't going well. Sing when you're winning and all that.

JohnJericho wrote: »

I highly doubt our Irish soccer stars have "over inflated egos" with WAG's I cant imagine Duff, Doyle and Hunt with all that crap

No, because they work for free and never end up in the tabloids for banging some skank.

JohnJericho wrote: »

your argument is very very flawed.

It's not.

sock puppet

NickNolte wrote: »

Yeah, well I wouldn't. Also, I'd generally consider the overall success of the sport in the country more inline with the topic of discussion. And I think rugby achievements, although less popular a sport, top football by a long shot. Thanks for replying though.

How do you measure success?

NickNolte wrote: »

Be good.

Come on. You can't compare the soccer world cup to a tournamnet where 60% of the teams are automatically qualified. They may as well scrap qualification altogether and make it an invitational event.

NickNolte

sock puppet wrote: »

How do you measure success?

Winning stuff. Being, you know, good.

yousername

with a success-o-meter.

sock puppet

NickNolte wrote: »

Winning stuff. Being, you know, good.

So it would take the Ireland soccer team winning the European Championships to equal the rugby team's success?

NickNolte

sock puppet wrote: »

So it would take the Ireland soccer team winning the European Championships to equal the rugby team's success?

I wouldn't go that far. Even having one decent club team would be good enough. Ah well.

FWIW, I don't have anything against football as a sport and I don't really dislike Irish football in any way. But this kind of attack on Irish rugby needs to be put into perspective.

sock puppet

NickNolte wrote: »

I wouldn't go that far. Even having one decent club team would be good enough. Ah well.

FWIW, I don't have anything against football as a sport and I don't really dislike Irish football in any way. But this kind of attack on Irish rugby needs to be put into perspective.

Sorry I misread your comments. The article is a load of crap. I just hate the attitude among a lot of GAA/soccer/rugby fans where they follow one of them religiously and put the others down at every opportunity. Not saying you're one of these but you're references to over-paid footballers was totally unecessary.

Kevinmarkham

NickNolte wrote: »

I wouldn't go that far. Even having one decent club team would be good enough. Ah well.

FWIW, I don't have anything against football as a sport and I don't really dislike Irish football in any way. But this kind of attack on Irish rugby needs to be put into perspective.

I like your arguments NickNolte, and I agree with them. I hate football or soccer, whatever you want to call it, it's played by too many prima donnas who get paid far too much money. It's good to see that Ireland have a team that can actually compete on a world stage (after Staunton's tenure) but I've never understood why it generates so much passion when so few of the players play or live here.

Some of the arguments on here are 'interesting'. Ireland wins the 6 nations and the number of youngsters taking up rises substantially - imagine when we have a good run in the World Cup.

And it's not surprising that there aren't huge numbers playing the game: rugby's a tough, powerful and brutal game. Not like football where some of these guys seem capable of falling over a blade of grass.

Podge_irl

As a journalist, Pat Fitzpatrick doesn't really matter in Ireland

anonymous_joe

How can anyone come on here and have a go at football?

It's the world's most successful and popular sport for a damn good reason.

Ireland have overachieved massively in football for years, and we should be proud of what they've done.

I hate this concept of saying rugby's somehow a better sport or whatever, it's like saying GAA's shíte or something. All sports have their own merit.

Kevinmarkham

anonymous_joe wrote: »

How can anyone come on here and have a go at football?

It's the world's most successful and popular sport for a damn good reason.

Ireland have overachieved massively in football for years, and we should be proud of what they've done.

I hate this concept of saying rugby's somehow a better sport or whatever, it's like saying GAA's shíte or something. All sports have their own merit.

Yea, that's kind of my point. Every sport has its own merit and this guy Fitzpatrick is belittling rugby, presumably because his Ed thought it would be a good story. Soccer is the world's biggest sport, GAA is exclusively Irish, rugby's in between - what's the point of mentioning them in the same sentence?

"How can anyone come on here and have a go at football?" you ask. Well, probably because it's the Rugby forum. And I'm not saying Rugby's better. i love the game and I hate football - as simple as that.

anonymous_joe

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Yea, that's kind of my point. Every sport has its own merit and this guy Fitzpatrick is belittling rugby, presumably because his Ed thought it would be a good story. Soccer is the world's biggest sport, GAA is exclusively Irish, rugby's in between - what's the point of mentioning them in the same sentence?

"How can anyone come on here and have a go at football?" you ask. Well, probably because it's the Rugby forum. And I'm not saying Rugby's better. i love the game and I hate football - as simple as that.

Yeah, rugby forum. It's about rugby, not how much better our sports is than your sport, etc.

Quint

Another indo writer (think it was David Kelly) had an article a while back about why Rugby was better than Soccer.
The indo is just a small step up from the sun these days

siltirocker

I don't think people are treading on football or either of the GAA games, but are just pissed that a journalist in the most popular Sunday paper in this country, wrote an article simply cursing rugby, its history, its players and (f*ckin' c*nt) supporters just cause he doesn't like that people aren't getting behind Trap & the boys more. Piss pot poor journalism. Slander is what was in my eyes!

FridaysWell

siltirocker wrote: »

I don't think people are treading on football or either of the GAA games, but are just pissed that a journalist in the most popular Sunday paper in this country, wrote an article simply cursing rugby, its history, its players and (f*ckin' c*nt) supporters just cause he doesn't like that people aren't getting behind Trap & the boys more. Piss pot poor journalism. Slander is what was in my eyes!

Agree.

This chap should see who trains harder, plays harder etc. Go to some rubgy clubs on a saturday or sunday morning, look at the amount of people turning up to play and train, kids, teenagers, adults etc.

The Irish Rugby team is RESPECTED by other teams and communities around the world. The people on that team, look where they came from. Half of Ireland wouldn't take them seriously as youngsters because they played rugby. Well the better half always wins.

The soccer team, unfortunatley, is not. I wish they where, but they are not.

So this journo's a bit wrong. Let him stick to his narrow mindness GAA-toting/Soccer-loving/Hating-rugby for-no-good-reason mindset.

Kalashnikov_Kid

Put it blunty - on many occassions the Irish soccer team have severely underperformed at Croke Park and many people obviously just dont feel its worth their money - like just remember the draw with Cyprus - 46,000 odd people paid good money to watch that crap. And we were lucky to only draw with Montenegro on Wednesday. I know the rugby team have bottled it in Croker but at least you know they'll give it 100% and therefore, either way, the attendances and atmosphere seem to have been better for it.

Orizio

anonymous_joe wrote: »

How can anyone come on here and have a go at football?

It's the world's most successful and popular sport for a damn good reason.

Ireland have overachieved massively in football for years, and we should be proud of what they've done.

I hate this concept of saying rugby's somehow a better sport or whatever, it's like saying GAA's shíte or something. All sports have their own merit.

The British Empire...?

Chucky the tree

Kalashnikov_Kid wrote: »

Put it blunty - on many occassions the Irish soccer team have severely underperformed at Croke Park and many people obviously just dont feel its worth their money - like just remember the draw with Cyprus - 46,000 odd people paid good money to watch that crap. And we were lucky to only draw with Montenegro on Wednesday. I know the rugby team have bottled it in Croker but at least you know they'll give it 100% and therefore, either way, the attendances and atmosphere seem to have been better for it.

It must be great being a new fan of rugby. Irish soccer is on a dip now, while Irish rugby is on a high. You make it sound like the Irish rugby team has always been brilliant. I remember Ireland making the 1/4 in the 1990's and what a huge achievement that was. At the time Irish rugby was a joke. From 1990-1999 Irelands besting finish in the 5nations was 4th, with a lot of wooden spoons thrown in there. It's crazy trying to compare both sports to be honest.

conf101

I hate this stupid 'my sport is better than your sport' bullsh*t! All sports have their own attractions and their own merits! It's not about being better than the others. There are a lot of people in this country who follow all sports, they have their favourite(s) but still appreciate/follow others. This type of sh*t just p*sses me off!

Hippo

Ignore the Fitzpatrick fool. Like Humphries in the Times occasionally, this is just WUM material.

johnpauls

This chap should see who trains harder, plays harder etc. Go to some rubgy clubs on a saturday or sunday morning, look at the amount of people turning up to play and train, kids, teenagers, adults etc.

The Irish Rugby team is RESPECTED by other teams and communities around the world. The people on that team, look where they came from. Half of Ireland wouldn't take them seriously as youngsters because they played rugby. Well the better half always wins.

The soccer team, unfortunatley, is not. I wish they where, but they are not.

Maybe soccer could introduce eye gouging and stamping to gain more RESPECT. Following on from that we could have the press and RTE run a softly softly approach (as for Rugby) whenever anyone is cited for an offence by saying "hes not that type of player" or euphemistically call eye gouging "making contact with the eye area". Yes lets introduce that!
Is it my imagination but didnt Ireland have a disaster in the last World Cup of Rugby. (All of 7 countries on the planet play the game and we were beaten by the 8th).

gcgirl

Articals like this make me think the rugby forum would be better if we closed the forum to members like the soccer Forum! i don't care much for soccer so i don't go there where as i like rugby so i post here!

Plus also this journo makes Neill Frances look good !!lol

toomevara

This ain't going anywhere but down. Closed.