Supporting Ulster rubgy. Is it different compared to the other provinces?

NIMAN

I don't mean this to turn into a political or religious debate, but I got to thinking about it tonight in the car while listening to a report on the Ulster game at the weekend.

Now I am only a mild rugby fan. I am from NI but my interest would really only stretch as far as watching Ireland play. Never had any interest in heading to Ravenhill to watch a game. I was brought up as a soccer fan, and thats my main interest. Felt no real allegiance to Ulster. In fact would have been cheering on Munster and Leinster more in recent years, for obvious reasons.

I know that the other 3 provinces would bring support from all the counties connected. But I was wondering if any people from Donegal, for example, feel drawn to travelling to Ravenhill to watch 'their' province play? Perhaps I am being tainted by my growing up in NI, complete with all the politics, but I would guess that Ulster draw their support mainly from the unionist community up around the Belfast region? Perhaps I presume too much? Its just that as a Nationalist growing up, our schools did not have any interest in rugby, it was all GAA and soccer. But I do know this has changed a lot in recent times. My old school now has a decent rugby team afaik.

Any thoughts?

Amazotheamazing

Gerry Adams has gone to a few Ulster rugby games, McIlroy is a big fan, think they are moving beyond their traditional support, tbh.

nordydan

I am from Ulster, grew up in a GAA region, never played rugby. Sadly. Support Ulster. Always have, always will. The religion of the players or fans never interested me.

.ak

It's an interesting question... I never thought of it like that. I guess I'm naive to the degree that I believe that Sport and Politics don't have connections, but they obviously do.

I'm a Leinster fan and often get stick off my mates saying I'm a 'posh d4/southsider' when infact I'm actually a northsider and have no affiliation with any decidedly middle class communities. I was perplexed to why people would assume that of me when I clearly have a northside accent, but infact it only spurred my interest on following Leinster furthermore - surely it doesn't matter where I come from or my background in following a team that's made up of players from around the province.

I guess for Ulster it's a magnified version of that, which again is very unfortunate. I think people like to hang onto 'traditional' views because their dads, uncles, and older friends tell them so, and it's just a shame people can't look beyond that and just enjoy the sport - as it's clearly the most entertaining sport in Ireland.

As a side note I support all provinces in Ireland as well as Leinster (unless we're playing them ofcourse), but I have a particular soft spot for Ulster. Bags of potential and often punch above their weight. Often I think if the management was a bit different we'd be seeing more Ulster in the HEC knockout stages... Last year was hopeful, this year could be good - if they continue to play like they did yesterday they'll be doing well!

nordydan

.ak wrote: »

It's an interesting question... I never thought of it like that. I guess I'm naive to the degree that I believe that Sport and Politics don't have connections, but they obviously do.

I'm a Leinster fan and often get stick off my mates saying I'm a 'posh d4/southsider' when infact I'm actually a northsider and have no affiliation with any decidedly middle class communities. I was perplexed to why people would assume that of me when I clearly have a northside accent, but infact it only spurred my interest on following Leinster furthermore - surely it doesn't matter where I come from or my background in following a team that's made up of players from around the province.

I guess for Ulster it's a magnified version of that, which again is very unfortunate. I think people like to hang onto 'traditional' views because their dads, uncles, and older friends tell them so, and it's just a shame people can't look beyond that and just enjoy the sport - as it's clearly the most entertaining sport in Ireland.

As a side note I support all provinces in Ireland as well as Leinster (unless we're playing them ofcourse), but I have a particular soft spot for Ulster. Bags of potential and often punch above their weight. Often I think if the management was a bit different we'd be seeing more Ulster in the HEC knockout stages... Last year was hopeful, this year could be good - if they continue to play like they did yesterday they'll be doing well!

Likewise I shout for all other Irish provinces, but always Ulster number one. Even if they played 15 Free Presbyterian Orangemen!

jacothelad

Supporting rugby is the same. How could it be different? Plenty of fans travel to Ravenhill from all 9 counties. Tommy Bowe is from Monaghan and attended Armagh Royal School for example. While rugby plays a distant third fiddle to soccer and GAA, it does have a small but growing presence in Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

Rugby in Ulster has it's history and roots in the State Grammar Schools which were attended mainly but by no means exclusively by the children of the Unionist community. This is still the case but far more children from the 'Irish' communities now go to schools like M.C.B., R.B.A.I. and B.R.A. Also, some Catholic run Grammars are now playing rugby. My best pal at Methodist College in the 1960s was Michael McDonagh who was Catholic. His brothers and sisters all attended the school. In our class there were Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists as well as Christians. Many of them were in the large boarding department. We all played rugby, cricket, hockey etc together. Just because some groups of small minded clowns have besmirched and ruined the reputation of the country please don't tar the rugby community with the same brush. Why don't you go to a game at Ravenhill? It's cheap, the craic on the terrace is the same here as anywhere and the booze is just as good.

Tigerandahalf

I was up in Belfast awhile back. It's a fab city....I'd dare to say the nicest city centre in the country...maybe Galway has a better vibe, but Belfast has the streets and buildings. I'd def go back for a rugby game there.

nordydan

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I was up in Belfast awhile back. It's a fabs city....I'd dare to say the nicest city centre in the country...maybe Galway has a better vibe, but Belfast has the streets and buildings. I'd def go back for a rugby game there.

I'd recommend Ravenhill. Been to a few games and always good banter

matthew8

nordydan wrote: »

I'd recommend Ravenhill. Been to a few games and always good banter

Definitely, always great fun going up to Ravenhill. Apart from Kingsholm it's the best away rugby experience I've ever had.

.ak

Will defo be trying to make it to Leinster's away visit.

NIMAN

Thanks for all the replies folks.

As I said, I didn't want it to be all about religion/politics, and I am a very liberal nationalist myself, who supports both RoI and NI at soccer, much to the distain of a lot of people I know. But unfortunately thats the nature of NI and its sport, its hard to separate them.

When I was growing up, rugby was not played at Catholic schools, and as a result was seen as a 'Protestant' sport in NI, rightly or wrongly. That's changed a lot of course, which is a great thing. It might still be seen as a 'posh folk' sport compared to soccer, that will probably always be there though, mainly because soccer can bring out some real low-lifes;)

I was just wondering how many Donegal folk would travel to Ravenhill - that's what prompted the thread. I'm guessing a small number. And thus why would they not feel the attachment to their province the way people in the other 3 would? And for me, it has to be because of an element of political/religious reasons, like it or not.

Edit: my interest in the heineken cup has really grown in recent years, and it is now more thrilling than most soccer games I watch, so maybe some day soon I will get a run up to Ravenhill to sample the atmosphere. I hear it was great at the weekend.

Edit: how do you go about getting a ticket for an Ulster game? Anyone know?

Redsock

As an ulster branch referee I have had the opportunity and pleasure of officiating at games across the province - including clubs from donegal, Cavan and Monaghan- and i have seen first hand how much ulster rugby means to to these passionate, albeit, relatively small communities. Ulster rugby has over the years managed, with some difficulty at times, to stay out of politics and to ensure that ulster teams reflect the 9 counties whichmake up the ulster branch.

A game at ravenhill is a great night out and I would urge anyone, particularly fellow ulstermen who might feel that their particular accent might not be represented on the terraces, to come along and see and hear for yourself that it probably is.

Incidentally I play for a Belfast team and, whilst I can't be sure because we tend not to care about such details, would suspect that more than half the team would be from nationalist background. This includes boys from Leinster and munster who have adopted ulster as their second team.

Digifriendly

I have to say I've been going to Ravenhill to watch Ulster for over 40 years now (yes I was there when crowds were much smaller) and I've never heard a sectarian chant or AFAIK even a mildly sectarian word shouted from the terraces. For obvious reasons already stated Ulster's rugby base was in mainly Protestant state run grammar schools but I sense there are more people from a non- unionist background now attending than there were before. Regarding Donegal distance would be a problem especially for Friday night KO. It would be interesting to know how many who attend Ulster games come from outside the greater Belfast area e.g. over 20 miles away. I live just on the edge of this area and can reach Ravenhill in about half an hour but for others further away to make a 7.05 KO might be a bit of a tight squeeze. For some reason the Friday night atmosphere seems better than Saturday whether afternoon or evening.
Regarding getting tickets go onto Ulster rugby website and you'll see their no. to contact and ticket outlets. See - http://www.ulsterrugby.com/tickets/office_and_outlets.php

Derfil

NIMAN wrote: »

I don't mean this to turn into a political or religious debate, but I got to thinking about it tonight in the car while listening to a report on the Ulster game at the weekend.

Now I am only a mild rugby fan. I am from NI but my interest would really only stretch as far as watching Ireland play. Never had any interest in heading to Ravenhill to watch a game. I was brought up as a soccer fan, and thats my main interest. Felt no real allegiance to Ulster. In fact would have been cheering on Munster and Leinster more in recent years, for obvious reasons.

I know that the other 3 provinces would bring support from all the counties connected. But I was wondering if any people from Donegal, for example, feel drawn to travelling to Ravenhill to watch 'their' province play? Perhaps I am being tainted by my growing up in NI, complete with all the politics, but I would guess that Ulster draw their support mainly from the unionist community up around the Belfast region? Perhaps I presume too much? Its just that as a Nationalist growing up, our schools did not have any interest in rugby, it was all GAA and soccer. But I do know this has changed a lot in recent times. My old school now has a decent rugby team afaik.

Any thoughts?

My thoughts are you lack a connection wit the game of rugby full stop. It's not because its Ulster or Unionist or Nationalist. Similar to Leinster really. 5 years ago you could go to a Leinster match and it'd be only family and close friends. Now its a full house for every match. Amazing what a bit of success will do to bring out the "new" fanbase. For years there was more Munster fans in Leinster than there was Leinster fans. Maybe if Ulster do something remarkable your affection for them will grow.

.ak

Derfil wrote: »

My thoughts are you lack a connection wit the game of rugby full stop. It's not because its Ulster or Unionist or Nationalist. Similar to Leinster really. 5 years ago you could go to a Leinster match and it'd be only family and close friends. Now its a full house for every match. Amazing what a bit of success will do to bring out the "new" fanbase. For years there was more Munster fans in Leinster than there was Leinster fans. Maybe if Ulster do something remarkable your affection for them will grow.

Hard to tell if you're being sarcastic/cynical, but most teams/clubs/provinces are very thankful that of their 'new' fanbase.. and their money.

NIMAN

I'll be the 1st to admit I have little or no connection with the game of rugby. I hinted at this. I went to a school that didn't play it, I grew up supporting and playing soccer and nothing else. Mu only involvement in rugby would be watching Ireland in the 5 nations, then 6 nations.

I think I am like many who have developed an interest in the game since it went professional and the Heineken Cup arrived. It got a lot more TV coverage, and you could actually see that it was a very good game (despite me still not understanding a lot of the rules!).

As for the whole 'going to an Ulster game' thing. Try to understand that I am a nationalist born in NI. The vast majority of my friends and/or work colleagues used to look down on me for attending NI soccer matches, wondering how I could go to Windsor Park and support 'them'. To me it was natural enough. My dad took me and my brother when we were young, probably because it was easier to get to than games in Dublin. We loved it as we got to see some of the worlds best players there. I was originally too young to understand the political/religious connections, and when I was old enough to, it didn't bother me too much.

Rugby would also have these perceived allegiances too in NI whether that is ok or not. As I said its seen as a sport of 'the other side' and as a result I would guess that the number of nationalists attending was low to nil for many years. OK so it may have changed now, along with the likes of Leinster you mentioned as it gets more attention and becomes more 'cool' to be at.

I'm not sure how folk from Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan think of Ulster rugby over the years, and whether they felt a link with it, and that was the original point I was raising, that Ulster fans allegiance is different to the other 3 provinces.

Thud

Derfil wrote: »

. Maybe if Ulster do something remarkable your affection for them will grow.

Heienken Cup in 99 and Celtic league in 06 not count?

NIMAN

Thud wrote: »

Heienken Cup in 99 not count?

Had little interest in 99 if I am honest.

nordydan

NIMAN wrote: »

I'll be the 1st to admit I have little or no connection with the game of rugby. I hinted at this. I went to a school that didn't play it, I grew up supporting and playing soccer and nothing else. Mu only involvement in rugby would be watching Ireland in the 5 nations, then 6 nations.

I think I am like many who have developed an interest in the game since it went professional and the Heineken Cup arrived. It got a lot more TV coverage, and you could actually see that it was a very good game (despite me still not understanding a lot of the rules!).

As for the whole 'going to an Ulster game' thing. Try to understand that I am a nationalist born in NI. The vast majority of my friends and/or work colleagues used to look down on me for attending NI soccer matches, wondering how I could go to Windsor Park and support 'them'. To me it was natural enough. My dad took me and my brother when we were young, probably because it was easier to get to than games in Dublin. We loved it as we got to see some of the worlds best players there. I was originally too young to understand the political/religious connections, and when I was old enough to, it didn't bother me too much.

Rugby would also have these perceived allegiances too in NI whether that is ok or not. As I said its seen as a sport of 'the other side' and as a result I would guess that the number of nationalists attending was low to nil for many years. OK so it may have changed now, along with the likes of Leinster you mentioned as it gets more attention and becomes more 'cool' to be at.

I'm not sure how folk from Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan think of Ulster rugby over the years, and whether they felt a link with it, and that was the original point I was raising, that Ulster fans allegiance is different to the other 3 provinces.

If you can go to Windsor Park, then I fail to see how you could have a problem at Ravenhill. It's a much better family atmosphere at the rugby. Windsor has one or two issues still to sorry out unfortunately

kupus

Of all the rugby fans of the provinces I find the Ulster fans the soundest, that's only my opinion though, as soon as ye win a few more HC'cs that could change!!
So I could imagine there would be good fun at the ground, I've been invited once but never had the pleasure of going, maybe some day..........

NIMAN

nordydan wrote: »

If you can go to Windsor Park, then I fail to see how you could have a problem at Ravenhill. It's a much better family atmosphere at the rugby. Windsor has one or two issues still to sorry out unfortunately

I don't have a problem with Ravenhill, just never had the opportunity to go. I would currently live approx 2.5hrs from it each way, so you can see that attending a game would be a big deal for me. Maybe a stay over would be better. Btw, haven't been in Windsor in quite a few years too.

My original post was not to say "I don't think I'd feel comfortable in Ravenhill", more to wonder if all Ulster province residents felt the same link to their rugby team as others in the country.

I would have no bother going to Ravenhill every week if I lived close enough.

gcgirl

But that's the difference between rugby and a couple of other sports the fact you can bring your family to a match and there is never any hassle, 1999 I think most if not all the Irish rugby community supported Ulster in Lansdowne and even on the M1 you had all the rugby clubs having placards saying good luck Ulster rugby transcends any religion or even class now, and having been up to Malone up in Belfast they were sound haven't been to Ravenhill yet but always would like to go

justsomebloke

NIMAN wrote: »

Any thoughts?

truthfully the same sort of scenario plays itself out in all the provinces and not just Ulster.

I'd be in the same boat as .ak, I'm a Northsider who grew up in a GAA and soccer area with no rugby so it was only later that I really got into Rugby. So I know a good few people who would have an interest in Irish rugby or maybe watching the Heineken Cup on the TV but would have no interest in going to the RDS.

Also in any province the further you are away from the stadiums the less likely you are to have people with an affinity for travelling to games and thus a less of an interest in the team.

The one thing I would say OP the fact that you started this thread in the first place would suggest you have more of an interest then you think in going to a couple of games in Ravenhill so why don't you give it a go you may end up liking more then you thought?

totallegend

Derfil wrote: »

My thoughts are you lack a connection wit the game of rugby full stop. It's not because its Ulster or Unionist or Nationalist. Similar to Leinster really. 5 years ago you could go to a Leinster match and it'd be only family and close friends. Now its a full house for every match. Amazing what a bit of success will do to bring out the "new" fanbase. For years there was more Munster fans in Leinster than there was Leinster fans. Maybe if Ulster do something remarkable your affection for them will grow.

This guy is right on the money. Nothing breeds fanatical, die-hard support like a bit of success and nothing destroys it like a few lean years. Look at the Irish soccer team, couldn't give away tickets to their home matches for the last few years but now that we've qualified for the Euro championships, the inflatable tricolour hammers will be out in force.

If Ulster had kicked on from their 1999 success, things could have been different but they didn't and they have struggled to expand their support beyond their core base. This coincided with the period when the Ulster representation in the national team was probably at its lowest ever, so the casual rugby fan didn't really have any Ulster players to identify with. Now, the likes of Ferris, Trimble and Best being among the top performers with Ireland allows the most clueless observer to look at the Ulster teamsheet, recognise a few names and gives them someone to shout for.

Obviously there's the whole sectarian issue in the north but if Ulster can string a couple of successful seasons together and keep supplying quality players to the national side, you'll find more and more people getting on board. Leinster have had to overcome the image of being a team of D4 snobs from fee-paying schools* but have built on their success and expanded their fan base, Ulster need to do the same.

*Just to clarify, I'm not saying the nationalist/unionist divide is any way comparable to this, it's purely to illustrate how a bit of success and re-branding could help Ulster.

Wheeker

As a lifelong Ulster supporter it is interesting to read some of the responses here. I was at Ravenhill on Saturday & the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic! There was a big travelling Clermont support also, so much so that I was worried at the start that it could turn into an embarassing afternoon, luckily it didn't turn out that way!

In trying to answer the OP- without wanting to get into any religous or indeed class debate, I would just say (how can I put this delicately?) that the very fact that traditional Ulster rugby support is drawn from (upper)middle-class state grammer schools means that the support is very "broad-minded". In other words, there are absolutely no sectarian or religous undertones at Ravenhill and supporting Ireland (& other Irish provinces) is deeply ingrained. It is a very family friendly atmosphere with plenty of craic & banter - I would highly recommend it!

Soccer does traditionally attract a more working-class support & it seems that more extreme political views are sometimes voiced & tolerated (along with the whole Rangers/Celtic & Linfield/Cliftonville cr*p). Having said that the IFA have managed to signficantly improve the atmosphere at Windsor Park, but I feel it is an uphill struggle for them to attract supporters (& now players) from the other community.

The OP is right though that in NI the sport you choose to play or support inevitably pigeon-holes you (as my simplistic generalisation above maybe does ). E.g. some of my relatives are hardcore GAA fans & would have absolutey no interest in Ulster rugby, whilst I would have very little interest in GAA. IMO in NI people are much less likely to support more than one sport.

nordydan

I do have to say that in teh past I have heard from SOME people from my "community" that they don't like Ulster becasue they were a Protestant team (:rolleyes:), but it was only ever a tiny minority (>5%).

I also haven't heard that view for quite a few years, so they have probably all copped themselves on at this stage. Just to state that the view did exist, no matter that it was a minority one.

overshoot

rugby has never been big in donegal but there are teams in most towns now. id follow ulster but thanks to being in college late on fridays never made it to belfast for a match, plan on changing that before i emmigrate;)
over 2 hours to belfast centre so it is a bit of a problem, every trip would be like an away trip. id love to see them move about for the odd game like musnter with musgrave/thomond but outside of gaa grounds and the brandywell in derry i dont think there is any ground big enough and it how easy it would be to open up one of them i dont know. (i know there are others but any stadium of a similar size isnt far enough from belfast to make it worthwhile)
dont care who is on the team, no room for politics in sport, il follow ulster like donegal or ireland. (although gaa and football would be above rugby for me too so that also has an impact on what games i go to)

Podge_irl

justsomebloke wrote: »

I'd be in the same boat as .ak, I'm a Northsider who grew up in a GAA and soccer area with no rugby so it was only later that I really got into Rugby. So I know a good few people who would have an interest in Irish rugby or maybe watching the Heineken Cup on the TV but would have no interest in going to the RDS.

Likewise. The degree to which Leinster have grown on the northside is massive though. They have ads all over the place at the moment and you see way more people wearing Leinster gear and the like. Never really expected to see it change so much so quickly.

Obviously Ulster's problems are slightly different but all the same they can make big strides. Unfortunately, like in most sports, the biggest strides will probably be made if and when they are successful.

skregs

Derfil wrote: »

My thoughts are you lack a connection wit the game of rugby full stop. It's not because its Ulster or Unionist or Nationalist. Similar to Leinster really. 5 years ago you could go to a Leinster match and it'd be only family and close friends. Now its a full house for every match. Amazing what a bit of success will do to bring out the "new" fanbase. For years there was more Munster fans in Leinster than there was Leinster fans. Maybe if Ulster do something remarkable your affection for them will grow.

Back in the late 90's, the big rivalry was Leinster/Ulster, since they were the two big provinces at the time (obviously not big in a relative sense, but the biggest there was at the time).

Then Munster took off in the early 00's and by the late 00's the world and its mother was a Munster fan since they were at the All Blacks match in '78.
In fact, even if you look back as recently as 2006, the fact that Munster fans outnumbered Leinster fans in the SF was a huge, huge shock in the media.

You're certainly right, amazing what a bit of success will do to bring out the "new" fanbase.
It's a shame you can only fill Thomond for a league match when Leinster are playing, but I'm sure the faithful will snap up tickets if you manage to get to the knock out stages of the Heineken Cup this year.

jasper11

ferris and trimble both said if ireland were in olympics in rugby they wud play for ireland. that for me shows how far rugby has changed minds up north.

good thread to mate.

Podge_irl

skregs wrote: »

In fact, even if you look back as recently as 2006, the fact that Munster fans outnumbered Leinster fans in the SF was a huge, huge shock in the media.

I don't think it was a shock to anyone. The degree of outnumbering perhaps, but everyone expected Munster to have far more fans there.

jasper11

ravenhill yes windsor a definite no no. football in the north can be vile and my mates in belfast say they would never ever feel safe in windsor and as roy keane said up in windsor even the stewards hated the irish team. i know roy can be a plonker but he prob knows what he talking about.

ulster rugby is a credit to the island of ireland and future peace.

skregs

Podge_irl wrote: »

everyone expected Munster to have far more fans there.

I f**king didn't.

Brewster

The Ulster fans are a fantastic bunch, been in their company many times over the years. Always look out for their results after Leinster's and watch a lot of their games. Some serious talent up at Ravenhill.

chris_c

For me supporting Ulster can be a bit difficult due to where i live (a republican area of Derry) and the perceived religion of ulster rugby supporters.

A good example of this happend to me a month or so ago when a fella at work heard me and a mate having a joke about religion, he turned to me and asked are you not a Protestant? when i said no he said sure you go and watch the Ulster games in Belfast, when i challenged him about this he said rugby was a British sport and ulster have the red hand of ulster on their tops. Now this was coming from a Strabane man who is the worlds biggest man united and celtic football fan (both british teams if i'm not mistaking) and who's GAA county team have a red hand on their tops.

So unfortunately because of the mindset of people outside the game i think supporting Ulster is slightly different from supporting the other provinces but in saying that i have been going to games for 6 or 7 years and have never once felt uncomfortable in Ravenhill its a fantastic atmosphere and other sports north of the border could learn a lot from Ulster Rugby and the IRFU

damianmcr

Chris im from Dungiven and since I mostly live in Belfast I follow Ulster alot.

Was told by my cousin when I first started that my Ulster top that was like wearing a Rangers top. Just this weekend a chap in work asked me what I was doing going to Ravenhill and then joked where was my poppy.

Sad how some people view the game but you are right, Ravenhill is a great place and I know a chap from Andersontown who supports Ulster.

Windsor Park tho is not a place I would ever wish to visit if im being truthful. I imagine the atmosphere would make me feel very unvited.

With Ulsters sucess things will only continue to improve and last week at the Connacht match the two mini teams where from Donegal. I think I heard some prat boo tho. Also heard a joke pointed at the ref after he awarded a Connacht free along the lines of 'Are you paid in Euros'. Harmless tho.

Derfil

skregs wrote: »

Back in the late 90's, the big rivalry was Leinster/Ulster, since they were the two big provinces at the time (obviously not big in a relative sense, but the biggest there was at the time).

Then Munster took off in the early 00's and by the late 00's the world and its mother was a Munster fan since they were at the All Blacks match in '78.
In fact, even if you look back as recently as 2006, the fact that Munster fans outnumbered Leinster fans in the SF was a huge, huge shock in the media.

You're certainly right, amazing what a bit of success will do to bring out the "new" fanbase.
It's a shame you can only fill Thomond for a league match when Leinster are playing, but I'm sure the faithful will snap up tickets if you manage to get to the knock out stages of the Heineken Cup this year.

---

I'm a Leinster fan myself and freely admit that prior to the professional era and any success I didnt give a toss how they did. I'd say thats the same for 90% of all Leinster and Munster fans.

overshoot

chris_c wrote: »

A good example of this happend to me a month or so ago when a fella at work heard me and a mate having a joke about religion, he turned to me and asked are you not a Protestant? when i said no he said sure you go and watch the Ulster games in Belfast, when i challenged him about this he said rugby was a British sport and ulster have the red hand of ulster on their tops. Now this was coming from a Strabane man who is the worlds biggest man united and celtic football fan (both british teams if i'm not mistaking) and who's GAA county team have a red hand on their tops.

the red hand of ulster is a celtic symbol deriving back to the o'neills, not the best argument so

totallegend

jasper11 wrote: »

ferris and trimble both said if ireland were in olympics in rugby they wud play for ireland. that for me shows how far rugby has changed minds up north.

good thread to mate.

Jesus Jasper, we don't need to know about your bedroom antics.

NIMAN

to Chris C and DamianMcR,

thanks for your replies - your input summed up perfectly what I was trying to get across.

I am a Derry native myself, and your points are so valid. Whether we like it or not, if I bought an Ulster top and wore it in Derry/Strabane etc then I would be seen as a Protestant, end of. Now of course its sad that we Northerners always end up talking about religion and I hate it, but thats the way the mixed up country is.

MaryKing

NIMAN wrote: »

to Chris C and DamianMcR,

thanks for your replies - your input summed up perfectly what I was trying to get across.

I am a Derry native myself, and your points are so valid. Whether we like it or not, if I bought an Ulster top and wore it in Derry/Strabane etc then I would be seen as a Protestant, end of. Now of course its sad that we Northerners always end up talking about religion and I hate it, but thats the way the mixed up country is.

I heard Joe Brolly saying on tv that he is a regular in Ravenhill with his kids and that there is a great, family atmosphere there.

Tigerandahalf

jasper11 wrote: »

ferris and trimble both said if ireland were in olympics in rugby they wud play for ireland. that for me shows how far rugby has changed minds up north.

good thread to mate.

It goes to show what peace has done up there. It's good to see. How many of us would never have seen NI only for it. It's amazing what the perception can do. I remember years ago watching Home and Away..would you believe!...and some wag was on about travelling to Europe and quipped that she couldn't go to Ireland because of all that violence.
A successful Ulster rugby team would be good in many ways.

nordydan

NIMAN wrote: »

to Chris C and DamianMcR,

thanks for your replies - your input summed up perfectly what I was trying to get across.

I am a Derry native myself, and your points are so valid. Whether we like it or not, if I bought an Ulster top and wore it in Derry/Strabane etc then I would be seen as a Protestant, end of. Now of course its sad that we Northerners always end up talking about religion and I hate it, but thats the way the mixed up country is.

I have an Ulster top myself and wear it on occasions, even when watching Ireland from time to time.

How anyone can support the Irish team (containing Irish/Ulster players), and not support the Irish province of Ulster (containing Irish/Ulster players) is beyond my comprehension.....

desertcircus

Always keep an eye out for Ulster's results after Leinster's, partially because my girlfriend and I frequently ended up watching Ravenhill matches on TV on a Friday evening last season, and partially because their supporters were the best to visit Dublin last year.