A perfect tackle. . .

FridaysWell

Let me tell ye a little story. . .

Yesterday, Sunday, I had a match against a certain club located on Castle Avenue in Dublin. We arrived and kitted out in the changing rooms and went out onto one part of a pitch to warm up. I was playing centre so our backline was just running lines and going through some moves. After awhile we had just a little break as the coach was talking tactics or something to the halfbacks. My eyes wandered over to a Minis training game just on the other side of the pitch. After a perfect pass, one little guy made a break and was heading for the corner to score. Bam, another player from the other team comes across covering, and tackles the player form behind.
The technique was perfect, wrap arms, slide and snap the legs together. I clapped and cheered after seeing this along with 1-2 of my team mates, it was really a good tackle, but more so that these kids were 6-7-8 years old, and they were playing rugby on a cold morning, with smiles and clear enjoyment evident. And you could see that they loved the game. They played it so well.

This just made me see the one thing that people really don't appretiate in this country: Rugby and the quality of it. Leinsters Heineken Cup wasn't viewed as something big after they won it. The same with the Grand Slam. People just looked over it. Irelands match vs. France (infamous handball) got more coverage than the Grand Slam or Heino Final. People just didnt viewit as important and in some cases disrespected what these players did.

Rugby clubs are indeed an integral part of peoples communities, even though people will always deny and bash this. They are welcoming places. They are a place you can go on a Saturday or Sunday morning and watch quality rugby (to some extent :P)
More importantly they instill one thing in players and fans alike. A love of Rugby as a sport. A passion. Club rugby in Ireland is an untold story. We forever hear of tales and watch documentaries etc on our screens about GAA and soccer clubs, but sadly we never hear and appretiate the story of the 200+ clubs here. The chants. The characters. The smell of the changing rooms , the silence of loss and the cheers of victory. The tunnel at the end of the match. The mist and fog as the early morning kicker practices. The one part of the pitch, the club, the grounds that truly is yours. They are remarkable entities (along with Schools Rugby).
I think if people were to see this and to feel it and to love the one sport we can be succesful at, people, players and fans, non players and non-fans, even haters, of the marvellous game that is rugby, we will all love it as a sport and a mark to be proud of.

After watching that kid tackling like that, and the rest of them playing very good rugby, I went into my match and played a game that I rank among my highest, and for some reason he inspired me much the same way watching Heaslip or Sexton or Cave or Earls would inspire me.

Maybe I'm ranting I don't know but I just thought I'd share that with you all. Now stop fighting with each other, and let us talk real rugby.

Digifriendly

Don't disagree with the sentiments expressed one bit and it is very welcome and refreshing to read them. However I have to say as someone who has watched club rugby in Ulster for over 40 years the club game is in its worst ever state in my opinion. A mere handful of spectators for AIL games. Professionalism is slowly draining the clubs of its best talent. Introduction of British Irish Cup will only make it more difficult for clubs to turn out their best players week in week out. IRFU have messed about with structure of AIL and no more people are coming through the gates as a result, at least in Ulster they're not. I watch a club game most Saturdays and clubs are the lifeblood of Irish rugby but they're struggling and something needs to be done quick to remedy the problem.

bamboozle

Its no suprise to see the senior team doing so well when you look at the emphasis and commitment given to all the teams in the junior set up at Castle Avenue. Its also where Brian O'Driscoll and Cian Healy learned to play the game. As a member of tarf for years the only disappointing thing is seeing how crowds in the AIL have dwindled at a time when rugby has never been so popular, however the new setup of the AIL will hopefully see a lot more fringe provincial players allowed represent their clubs at the weekends thereby making the AIL more of a crowd puller...

you gotta hand it to the many man and women around the country getting up early on a sunday morning to help out the mini rugby teams in their local clubs, these people are the real heart beat of rugby in this country

gcgirl

I cant wait till next yr when the darling son is 6 and then he can start playing mini rugby! lucky he is like his mammy sports wise and i'd say he will be a good flanker !!

Digifriendly

bamboozle wrote: »

As a member of tarf for years the only disappointing thing is seeing how crowds in the AIL have dwindled at a time when rugby has never been so popular, however the new setup of the AIL will hopefully see a lot more fringe provincial players allowed represent their clubs at the weekends thereby making the AIL more of a crowd puller...

Can you elabourate on the new setup and how it will attract more crowds?

thomond2006

Nice post.

FridaysWell

Digifriendly wrote: »

I watch a club game most Saturdays and clubs are the lifeblood of Irish rugby but they're struggling and something needs to be done quick to remedy the problem.

I agree too, and thats my point too. They are hugely important to Irish Rugby and communities around the island, but they have to support themselves when it comes to funding and effort and volunteerism. The media and government love to get behind the GAA but many people fail to notice our most promising sport and its grass roots.

The experience of rugby , if only people knew what it feels like

bamboozle

Digifriendly wrote: »

Can you elabourate on the new setup and how it will attract more crowds?

up to this season there has been a huge gap between the standard of 1st division AIL and provincial rugby at ML and HC Level, the first division had 16 teams in it playing each other once per season.
This season division 1 has been split into division 1A and 1B with 8 teams in each playing each other both home & away.
Straight off the standard is noticably higher with each of the teams in 1A capabale of beating each other, furthermore we have seen a lot more provincial players turning out for their clubs, at Clontarf we've seen Jackman, Paul O'Donoghue, Michael Keating, Ben Barclay, Jason Harris-Wright all play some game time in the AIL while in the recent visit of Blackrock they had basically the Leinster A backline, when Dolphin visited they had Jim Williams & James Coughlan playing.
Games are of a higher standard that previous seasons so hopefully crowds will start to pick up again.

So if anyone's looking for a good game this Saturday Clontarf v Shannon at castle avenue in a rematch of last season's final!

Digifriendly

bamboozle wrote: »

up to this season there has been a huge gap between the standard of 1st division AIL and provincial rugby at ML and HC Level, the first division had 16 teams in it playing each other once per season.
This season division 1 has been split into division 1A and 1B with 8 teams in each playing each other both home & away.
Straight off the standard is noticably higher with each of the teams in 1A capabale of beating each other, furthermore we have seen a lot more provincial players turning out for their clubs, at Clontarf we've seen Jackman, Paul O'Donoghue, Michael Keating, Ben Barclay, Jason Harris-Wright all play some game time in the AIL while in the recent visit of Blackrock they had basically the Leinster A backline, when Dolphin visited they had Jim Williams & James Coughlan playing.
Games are of a higher standard that previous seasons so hopefully crowds will start to pick up again.

So if anyone's looking for a good game this Saturday Clontarf v Shannon at castle avenue in a rematch of last season's final!

Sorry for my ignorance but I have never heard of 5 of the seven players listed (except Jackman and O'Donoghue). I presume they play for Leinster 'A'. Regarding Provincial 'A' teams, certainly in Ulster's case the vast majority of those who played in Ulster's 'A' team last season turned out regularly for their clubs in AIL so this season is no different from last season although it may be different in other provinces. Out of interest are crowds any bigger in AIL1 A this season than last season when there was just one first division?
BTW club situation is not helped when the provincial team is playing at home and their match clashes with important AIL games e.g. this Saturday Ulster vs Stade Francais takes place with AIL games in the province kicking off less than an hour later. This will undoubtedly have an adverse affect on the gates at AIL clubs.

Ulster1999

Digifriendly wrote: »

Sorry for my ignorance but I have never heard of 5 of the seven players listed (except Jackman and O'Donoghue). I presume they play for Leinster 'A'.

Micheal Keating was top try scorer in AIL div 1 either last season or season before last, cant remember , Not sure on Ben Barclay and Harris-Wright is a young hooker who got his full Leinster contract this season (and whom I am not convinced by but thats for another discussion!)


In regards Ulster, the big problem is a lot of players who don't make the Ulster academy (and even a few who do) tend to go off to the UK for college and stop playing rugby completely.

bamboozle

Ulster1999 wrote: »

Micheal Keating was top try scorer in AIL div 1 either last season or season before last, cant remember , Not sure on Ben Barclay and Harris-Wright is a young hooker who got his full Leinster contract this season (and whom I am not convinced by but thats for another discussion!)


In regards Ulster, the big problem is a lot of players who don't make the Ulster academy (and even a few who do) tend to go off to the UK for college and stop playing rugby completely.

Michael Keating came on for Leinster the other night, he'll play for Ireland, Ben Barclay has played for the US against Munster last season and for Leinster A this season, Harris Wright got a full contract with Leinster this season, he was hooker on the u20 grand slam team that had Healy, Keatley and POD in it, converted backrower and given time will be a quality player. Jim Williams is a samoan/kiwi at Munster, got a hattrick for Munster in ML earlier this season, James Coughlan started for Munster last weekend at no. 8

no real change in crowd sizes just yet but i'd agree that there are some clashes in time with Province's games (but not as big an issue for dublin clubs i guess)

joeduggan

hi guys. can i just say , that whilei wouldnt know the ins and outs of all the rules of rugby i think its an unreal game. i remember when jones took that last penalty and i think my heart stopped for a moment. i remember munsters victories and leinsters. and every time i cried with pride. anyone that sees john hayes in the team line up on the field cant but help have a burst of pride in the nation and the team. its great to see. i just wanted to say that. thanks.

Digifriendly

bamboozle wrote: »

Michael Keating came on for Leinster the other night, he'll play for Ireland, Ben Barclay has played for the US against Munster last season and for Leinster A this season, Harris Wright got a full contract with Leinster this season, he was hooker on the u20 grand slam team that had Healy, Keatley and POD in it, converted backrower and given time will be a quality player. Jim Williams is a samoan/kiwi at Munster, got a hattrick for Munster in ML earlier this season, James Coughlan started for Munster last weekend at no. 8

no real change in crowd sizes just yet but i'd agree that there are some clashes in time with Province's games (but not as big an issue for dublin clubs i guess)

Thanks for all the info. Very interesting and exciting to know of talent coming through. Is Jim Williams a brother of Nick who plays for Munster?

bamboozle

Digifriendly wrote: »

Thanks for all the info. Very interesting and exciting to know of talent coming through. Is Jim Williams a brother of Nick who plays for Munster?

apologies, it was Nick i was talking about!

walshb

FridaysWell wrote: »

This just made me see the one thing that people really don't appretiate in this country: Rugby and the quality of it. Leinsters Heineken Cup wasn't viewed as something big after they won it. The same with the Grand Slam. People just looked over it. Irelands match vs. France (infamous handball) got more coverage than the Grand Slam or Heino Final. People just didnt viewit as important and in some cases disrespected what these players did.
.

I have to disagree; the rugby win for the Grand Slam AND Leinster's Heineken cup triumph were truly celebrated here in Ireland.

Soccer is and probably always will be be the biggest supported sport.

I could say the same about Katie Taylor in boxing. She is a phenomenon. She got plenty of credit, but not the air time the Soccer gets.

I also think that the controversial nature of the French game and the stage it was at really
meant that the media went into a frenzy.

Digifriendly

walshb wrote: »

I have to disagree; the rugby win for the Grand Slam AND Leinster's Heineken cup triumph were truly celebrated here in Ireland.

Soccer is and probably always will be be the biggest supported sport.

I could say the same about Katie Taylor in boxing. She is a phenomenon. She got plenty of credit, but not the air time the Soccer gets.

I also think that the controversial nature of the French game and the stage it was at really
meant that the media went into a frenzy.

You must be right about Katie Taylor because I had never heard of her before!

bamboozle

walshb wrote: »

I have to disagree; the rugby win for the Grand Slam AND Leinster's Heineken cup triumph were truly celebrated here in Ireland.

Soccer is and probably always will be be the biggest supported sport.

I could say the same about Katie Taylor in boxing. She is a phenomenon. She got plenty of credit, but not the air time the Soccer gets.

I also think that the controversial nature of the French game and the stage it was at really
meant that the media went into a frenzy.

i agree soccer is the best supported sport, however is it me or does 50% of all RTE sports news always revolve around the GAA and horse racing?

walshb

Digifriendly wrote: »

You must be right about Katie Taylor because I had never heard of her before!

Before now, or before she got a fair deal of attention?

If before now, then you must have had your head in the clouds;)

Hey, she might not be as well known as a Tiger Woods or Brian O'Driscoll, but now, she
is fairly well known, and her name is very familiar to very many.

Sangre

Never heard of her either.