What got you into Rugby?

RuggieBear

There was a thread like this a little while back but cant find it. Saw a thread on Leinster fans about going to away games and it got me thinking about my first leinster game, my first rugby game i and the first match i played in etc...be curious to see how my nostalgia compares to others.

When did you become aware of Rugby?
My granny had an old leather rugby ball at her house when she looked after me as a young child (i must have been 3-4yrs old). It is probably the first time i heard the term rugby but it didn't really mean much more than a silly odd shaped ball.

When did you play your first match?
I became more aware of rugby in primary school as a 10 year old when were taught to play the game by our english teacher. I played second row, hooker and scrum half...but tbh my only real recollection of those games was everyone on both teams running after the ball and the entire match being one big 30man mauls. That teacher went on to coach Ireland!

When did you attend your first Proper match?
first game i attended was leinster v Austrailia in October 1992. the oz team was more or less the full strength team (their seconds string would lose to Munster amid claims of gouging and bag snatching the following weekend). The aussies came out and kicked loads of rugby balls into the crowd. I got one that was kicked by dan crowley.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
see above.

when did you attend your first international?
I got a ticket for the Oz Ireland game in 1992. it was the first time that ireland had played australia since the 1991 near miss in the RWC quarterfinals. Ireland got dicked on 44- 12 or something like that. (think it was still 4pts for a try then)

Risteard

When did you become aware of Rugby?
First time becoming aware of rugby was probably when I started at 8. Went down to minis training on a Saturday morning with my fried and just threw the ball around. Though looking back whenever I was growing upand messing around with my dad he'd always say down for the scrum and we'd mock scrummage against each other. Though I didn't know what the hell a scrum was at the time.

When did you play your first match?
My first match was a minis match against Young Munster. We lost I think, back when you got one point for a try and no kicking. First match with a full pitch and 15 a side was under 13s against Bohs. Before the game I was asked could I play prop. I had been a second row in the old scrums at U-12. The coach just showed be what to do when I was in there and I went out and played.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
First rugby match I was at was Munster vs. Llanelli in the first season of the Celtic League. My father brought home the tickets and showed them to me. Even got a new Munster jersey for the occasion which was ruined as one of my father's friends spilled Guinness on it. I also remember insisting that it was pronounced 'Lan-elly'

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
See above.

When did you attend your first international?
First international was Ireland against Scotland in Lansdowne Road in the 6 Nations in '04 or '05? It was a miserable day and the score was something like 15-12 to Ireland.


As for the question. Whilst I had been playing rugby for a few years at mini level I never really took it seriously or bothered about it. Then I went to the miracle match in TP when I was about 12 or 13. The atmosphere there was brilliant throughout the entire match and that kind of really set me off. After that I couldn't get enough, I'd get up at 6 in the morning on Saturdays to watch the Tri-Nations or Super 12 and would watch any match I could.

LuckyGent88

What got me into Rugby?
Father played a few matches for Ireland back in the day so its in the family. Toured Oz and NZ and i never hear the end of it.

durkadurka

Triple crown 1982. Ollie Campbell, moss keane, ciaran fitzgerald etc. Watched on telly, loved it.

First game I went to was Irl vs England 1989. We were hockeyed....it was the first time I drank as a teenager .

Spent my ucd days bunking off to go to schools matches in donnybrook and watched marys in the ail a good bit.

Went to England for a few years, came back in around 2001 and HEC was all the rage. Ive been to maybe 40 Leinster games, first one was 2001 I think vs Newcastle, johnny wilkinson played for them. Bod took the piss out of them . Met him afterwards.

My favourite Irish international was vs Australia 2002, 18-9, bod captained in the pissing rain, Aussies kept dropping the ball, we roared our heads off for the whole match. Costello played a blinder.

Teferi

When did you become aware of Rugby?
Went to a rugby school from the age of 8. No choice really.

When did you play your first match?
Ah jaysus, I think against Willow Park and a guy on the opposing team was a guy I had gone to pre-school with. Still see him out and about now and again.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
Terenure V Clongowes in the SCT final 93. I was 6 years old. We won.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
Eh....Haven't a clue.

when did you attend your first international?
First international was Ireland V England in Landsdowne I think. It's the earliest I can remember anyway.

MungBean

When did you become aware of Rugby?
Remember seeing it on tv when I was really young. Have vague recollections of a guy with blonde hair bursting down the wing to score a try.

When did you play your first match?
Never played the game, they didnt play rugby at my school.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
Never been to a game

Pretty pathetic on the nostalgia front but thought I'd share anyway.

wixfjord

When did you become aware of Rugby?
My Dad was always a big rugby fan, even when it wasn't the in thing down here in Wexford, so some of my earliest memories are 6N Saturdays when we'd sit with a bar of Dairy Milk and Coke and watch the rugby. Funny enough, one of the best memories I have of watching rugby on TV is Scott Gibbs try against England in 99.

When did you play your first match?
Never! Never played the game, hurling and football were all I played, rugby was the rich, elitist, protestant sport.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
Leinster Newcastle in 2001 at Donnybrook.

When did you attend your first international?
Can't rem the year, but it was Ireland Italy in Lansdowne. Tommy Bowe was awful I seem to rem though!

Can I add one more?
Your best memory from rugby?
Without a shadow of doubt, Leinster's win in Croker in 2009, coupled with this years HEC.
I seem to rem that the HEC Final of 2009 was too nerve wracking to enjoy!

durkadurka

This is weird I think I was at Leinster vs Australia in 1992 also - was it on a wednesday afternoon in lansdowne? Huge crowd? I think i was in the east terrace. Probably the second biggest match I was ever at, and first Leinster game and I forgot all about it.

ormond lad

When did you become aware of rugby?
going to bective rangers games in donnybrook and playing tip rugby for hours on the pitch as a 4 year old

When did you play your first match?
a minis match against old wesley that we won 12 tries to 3.
first 15 man full pitch game was a game u13 against bohs where we were thrashed by 60-70 ponts

When did you attend your first proper match?
munster beating leinster 45-40 in donnybrook september 96

when did you attend your first international?
Ireland against new zealand in lansdowne in 97,

handsomecake

christian mathias cullen

omb0wyn5ehpij9

My Dad. Couldn't thank him enough for it tbh

JustinDee

When did you become aware of Rugby?
Probably late-70s following the bruhaha around those tours to South Africa.

When did you play your first match?
1982. You had to play rugby (and field hockey) at my secondary school for your first four years there.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
Schools Cup Final 1982. King's Hospital trounced by a Blackrock College side that included Brendan Mullin and Neil Francis amongst others.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
One of the inter-pros at Donnybrook early 90s before I moved to Australia.

When did you attend your first international?
Earliest international I can being at remember is Ireland beating Scotland in 1980.
Greatest team I've ever seen at a game is the '84 Wallabies with Mark Ella at 10.

mikedragon32

When did you become aware of rugby?Watching Rugby Special on BBC2 on a Sunday with my dad. Although I grew up in a soccer household, I always preferred rugby.

When did you play your first match?Second Centre against Newpark Comp. 2 minutes into the game, I panicked when my opposite number came my way and clotheslined him. (Sorry).

When did you attend your first proper match?Apart from schools cup matches, my first proper match was to see Leinster play a midweek match against (I think) Australia in the 80's.

when did you attend your first international?Ireland V France in the late 80's. Can't rightly remember the year, think it might have been 1987, we lost, but the lasting memory was the shock of them releasing a "coq" onto the pitch. Despite having seen them do it on TV on so many occasions, I was still surprised.

evil_seed

When did you become aware of rugby?
Watching the 5 nations as a kid with my dad. Plus he played it so there's was always an interest in the house.

When did you play your first match?
1st rugby game was probably u-10's. 1st proper game was 5 yrs later at u-16 levels at openside wing forward. Kept that position all the way up to the senior team, then injury forced me to stop playing by 22.

When did you attend your first proper match?
The only memory I have of the game is meeting Tim Horan afterwards. Connacht vs Austrailia 1992

when did you attend your first international?
Ireland vs The Barbarians in 2000. Then vs France in 2005. Those are the only 2 internationals I've been to. I don;t think the baabaa's game counts cos it was an Ireland 'XV' cos there was no Munster players due to the HCup Final

siltirocker

When did you become aware of Rugby?
My grandfather was the president of an AIL team in the early 90's, but regardless all my family were involved with the club forever. I fell in love with it after we beat England in '95.

When did you play your first match?
Corinthians v Monivea, under 8's in Monivea at a blitz in '95. I was a little wizard and surprised everyone with my grubber. The other team were motionless and puzzled when asking the ref "Can you do that???". Pity i wasn't so great at realeasing the ball when tackled. I still have my very first Corinthians jersey in my wardrobe.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
Corinthians v 'Wegians in Glenina back in '94 i think. 'Wegians won i believe (whom my stepfather belongs too and wouldn't shut up about). :mad:

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
Halloween '96. Got given the day off school (like many others) to witness Australia beat Connacht 37 - 20 in the Sportsground. Shook David Campese's hand. And messed around with the match ball (which was an ENORMOUS deal to me at the time). My mate Karl ended up bringing the match ball home and still had it; last i heard. Elwood was on fire, we were 15-7 up with 20 minutes left. Alot of people remember this game for Connacht's try. They scored it from a set piece. . . . a 13 man line out. The Mighty Ducks was a popular film at the time. . .

when did you attend your first international?
Ireland v Fiji, Lansdowne Road November 1995. It was like 44-8 or something. Went up with the club, great craic. Geoghegan got a beauty and Paul Burke (Ian Keatley anyone?) had a great game.

GerM

When did you become aware of Rugby?
Didn't go to a rugby school but was always a fan of the game as older brothers played a bit. Earliest memory was Hamilton going over in the corner against Australia and everyone jumping on the pitch. I'm sure I watched games before that but the early Five Nations games all blur into one for me. Older brother taking me down to the local for the 1995 second Lions test had me hooked though. Jammed and when Guscott popped over the drop the entire place erupted.

When did you play your first match?
Not until I was 19. Pre-season J3 friendly. Shoved onto the wing. Once I got through a match without dying I was moved to lock and flank. Was almost snapped in twain though by an AIL forward for opposition who was down to gain some fitness. I think my studs made contact with my own face I was doubled over so quickly trying to take him down.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
Early AIL days with older brothers. Clontarf vs Marys I think although could be wrong.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
About 2002. Celtic league stuff. From about 2003/04 onwards I've rarely missed a Leinster game unless it has clashed with my own which is quite rare.

when did you attend your first international?
Same as siltirocker: Ireland v Fiji, Lansdowne Road November 1995. I recall the crowd cheering for Fiji in the last 10 minutes as Ireland were giving them a right hiding.

yupyup7up

When did you become aware of Rugby?
My brother played with Young Munster in the early 90s so I'm fairly aware of it most of my life! Didn't get into it until about 04

When did you play your first match?
About 4 years ago aged 20 for Thomond U20s vs Cork Con of all teams in the U20 AIL haha.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
I think it was munster vs london irish pre season in 08 in musgrave

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
munster vs leinster magners final this year! (most of my friends arent into rugby so I've only recently started to attend them a lot with some new friends.)

when did you attend your first international?
Ireland vs Canada in thomond park, 55-0 in 08. Keith Earls scoring with his first touch on his first cap

durkadurka

My top early rugby memories:

Trevor ringlands chargedown try.

Noel mannions breakaway try where his lungs nearly burst.

Ollie Campbell from the half way line.

Blanco tearing us apart from his own try line, or so it seemed.

Fred cogley's two commentators terms: 'looking for support' and 'Ireland go over the top'.

Finlay Calder decking one of our backs. Will never forgive him.

joshrogan

When did you become aware of Rugby?
When my Dad forced me to watch it instead of wrestling during the RWC 2003.

When did you play your first match?
When I was 13

When did you attend your first Proper match?
When I was 12, my dad won tickets to Leinster v Munster in Donnybrook.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
When I was 12, my dad won tickets to Leinster v Munster in Donnybrook.

when did you attend your first international?
Ireland v Usa or Canada(I forget) in old landsdowne.

chupacabra

When did you become aware of Rugby?
My mother always loves sport in general so I was exposed to everything under the sun for as long as I can remember. However I first took a serious interest in the sport when I was 7, watching the rugby world cup final in 95. Boks vs the Blacks and all the triumph associated therein. Mandela handing the trophy to Pienaar and the entire country just embracing the promising future that lay ahead sparked somewhat by this monumental victory. 15 years later....

When did you play your first match?
U-10's with my local club

When did you attend your first Proper match?
Young Munster vs Bohs..... dont remember the year.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
Munster vs Ulster back in 2005

when did you attend your first international?
Ireland vs South Africa in 2006

Badgermonkey

When did you become aware of Rugby?
At my Grandads, he was an Ulsterman with a love of the Inter-pro games on TV. It was the Triple Crowns of '82 and '85 - Moss Keane, Willie Duggan, Campbell and Ringland which really made an impact upon me.

When did you play your first match?
Aged 7 versus Willow Park. My brother still chuckles, as I apparently fled towards my own line flinging the ball straight into the air to avoid being tackled.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
I remember attending Leinster v Australia but cannot find a record of it. It would have been earlier than the 1992 fixture. Anyone?

When did you attend your first international?
Ireland 60 Romania 0 in November 1986

Superbus

When did you become aware of Rugby?
My dad and brother were avid followers, and going to Willow Park kind of cemented it.

When did you play your first match?
Would have been 7, I guess; the first of few. Gave it up in 2nd Year due to lack of commitment, talent, and ability to see without glasses. I was on the 'Bs' for a while though!

When did you attend your first Proper match?
Blackrock v. Newbridge in 1999 in Donnybrook, aged 5. 'Rock won, by alot, as far as I know.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
Donnybrook with my brother, probably about 2001/2002. Don't remember it whatsoever.

when did you attend your first international?
Autumn Internationals in 2001, Western Samoa in Lansdowne.

Badgermonkey

durkadurka wrote: »

Fred cogley's two commentators terms: 'looking for support' and 'Ireland go over the top'.

Finlay Calder decking one of our backs. Will never forgive him.

'left and wide' was another of Cogley's gems.

Finlay Calder hit Jim Staples with a stiff arm at neck height I recall, karma still punishing the Scots for that one.

theboss80

When did you become aware of Rugby?

Would have been when my dad brought me down to the local club (Muskerry) when I was a kid to get me playing. I was about 9 I think

When did you play your first match?

The week after I first joined the club, the coach at my first session decided hooker was the position for me and ousted the guy that was already there into a tighthead. Think we played against Con and we won.I remember going on a run with the ball and got smashed to bits. Got up , lip quiverring and carried on.

When did you attend your first Proper match?

Cork Con played at home but couldnt tell you against who but I was around 9/10 I think

When did you attend you first Provincial game?

Have yet to attend a provincial game I'm very disappointed to admit

When did you attend your first international?

I saw Australia beat Namibia 142-0 in Adelaide in 2003 RWC as my first game quickly followed by Ireland vs Argentina along with a couple more games

Iang87

When did you become aware of Rugby?

My da would bring me to young munster AIL matches initially against my will but when it stopped raining i liked it. I also had this longing to be Simon Geoghegan

When did you play your first match?

In the bruff tournament a good few years back for young munster.

When did you attend your first Proper match?

One of the many shannon victories over young munster in the munster senior cup. Back in the days when thomond park had a gate at one end that you could sit up on. Cant remember which shannon victory exactly. They still haunt me.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?

Munster v Australia in Cork. Remember it perfectly, got up and dressed myself for school came downstairs and was told to get changed cos i was going to the match

When did you attend your first international?

I think it was Australia USA in thomond park in 99 during the world cup. I could be wrong on the USA part but I think it was them. Spent the day standing in the new terraces behind the goal that had just been done up

Judgement Day

When did you become aware of Rugby?
In 1967 at primary school (Aravon) in Bray where we routinely used to get hammered by just about every other school – except Brook House.

When did you play your first match?
Aravon about 1971. Two years on the 1st XV, gradually getting worse as time went on until being dropped for the plumb match of the calendar – away to Headfort School in Kells – where a massive feed was always on the cards!

When I moved on to St.Columba’s College (nr.Rathfarnham) sport was not taken too seriously and cross country running walking/cooking tins of beans and smoking took over. It was 1976 before the call came again. A manpower shortage in the 3rds led to me being embarrassed into stepping up but things worked out well and I soon became a regular on the 2nd XV and my finest hour - one cap for the 1st XV against Castleknock! I remember it still, as I was kicked very hard in the stomach in the first couple of minutes which nearly had me carried off.

What did you learn?
To get out of the front row as soon as possible. Even second row was horrible. I eventually ended up as Lock and then best of all as a wing forward – no danger of getting your ears pulled off there! When I played in the forwards you rarely saw the ball and if it reached you got rid of it fast in case it burnt your hands.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
Circa 1969/70 at Lansdowne Road on a school team trip – we were seated in the rickety old metal schoolboy stand in the NW corner. I can’t remember whether it was a club game or an international.

When did you attend your first international?
Sometime in 1972 – the rest is lost in my Guinness impaired memory. I rarely missed a match for the next 10 years but have to admit not being in Lansdowne Road since the East Stand (!) was rebuilt.

Best memory
Jonny Wilkinson kicking the winning drop goal for England in the 2003 World Cup – I kid you not.

RuggieBear

Judgement Day wrote: »

When did you become aware of Rugby?
In 1967 at primary school (Aravon) in Bray where we routinely used to get hammered by just about every other school – except Brook House.

ha...i learned my rugby in Aravon too. (I reckon you were still down at novara ave tho, while the school was in Old Conna house when i attended)

Luckycharm

When did you become aware of Rugby?
I come from a rugby mad family so ever since I can first remember

When did you play your first match?
Aged 7 against St Michaels B team played prop

When did you attend your first Proper match?
I was going to games up in Marys from when I was a baby

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
Reckon early 80's as uncle was on Leinster team for 10 years

when did you attend your first international?

Remember going as Schoolboy from age 7 or so in old south terrace - first game I can vividly remember was the 1984 Wallabies game though I am pretty sure I was at games before that one.

hardCopy

When did you become aware of Rugby?
Not really sure, I was brought to a few of my dad's junior games as a nipper.

When did you play your first match?
Minis in Clontarf, would have been about 1991/92 when I was 7 or 8.

When did you attend your first Proper match?
The first one I remember was in 1997, Lansdowne vs The French Barbarians, but I may have been to a couple of Tarf games before that.

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
My first Leinster match was against Stade Francais in 98, my school coach Craig Brownlee was playing number 8 for Leinster at the time. Sadly I didn't go to any Leinster games for years after that

when did you attend your first international?
Ireland vs Wales in Lansdowne 1998, the first of many schoolboy tickets.

Gordon Gecko

When did you become aware of Rugby?
Remember seeing matches on RTE as a kid, and my dad used to attend Internationals pretty regularly.

When did you play your first match?
In 1st year for the 4ths, 80+ nil demolition of CBC Monkstown

When did you attend your first proper match?
Senior Cup 1st round when I was in first year. A draw and then replay against Monkstown

When did you attend you first Provincial game?
In first year, Leinster were playing Worcester Warriors at Castle Avenue.

When did you attend your first international?
Ireland vs. Wales at Lansdowne way back.