Why is rugby/the Irish rugby team so popular?

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173582#Comment_118173582

It's not lingo, it's the very basic of the sport. It would be like walking into a GAA match and not knowing what a solo is called. It is clear you never have gone to a game or watched a game on TV.

I noticed you haven't answered why you hate the sport or feel the need to comment on it? I don't see thread on GAA or soccer full of people telling them how sh**e that sport is yet we have these rugby hate threads every few months. What is the big problem with someone else liking a sport?

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173582#Comment_118173582

the more you post, the more you show you know very very little about the game. maybe youd be better off finding out more about it before forming an option.... because there are words for people who spout ill informed opinions

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173606#Comment_118173606

A bit different a solo is one of the rules, it would be more like me calling the rules of Gaelic Football laws of Gaelic Football and it most definitely is lingo.

I don't hate the game I enjoy watching it from time to time, our style of rugby isn't great to watch, it's based on hard work, power and limiting mistakes. I like watching Southern Hemisphere rugby where there is pace and skill used to attack and beat teams rather than trying not to lose.

Obviously I have seen the game on TV and I can assure you I have been to games in person, even did one of those group dinner things once where players come up after the game, go around and talk shite with fans for a half hour, take a few pictures and feck off.

I dislike some of the bullshit that comes with the game which I have mentioned already but was commenting on why it is so popular.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173582#Comment_118173582

How are making the argument that rugby isn’t popular if you actually go watch a game?

im a perfectly casual fan of rugby who has never watched a game live but will watch the 6N like much of the country.

arguments about rules or about private schools don’t really matter. No doubt rugby’s popularity isn’t as deep as the GAA, it’s not rooted deep in communities, but for a casual watcher of sports it is popular.

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173684#Comment_118173684

I wasn't saying it isn't popular, it is popular and becoming more popular. The poster was trying to say I don't understand the game or have seen matches either live or on TV because I called the rules of the game rules instead of laws.

It is becoming more and more popular outside of the big towns and cities with parents bringing kids to play with existing clubs that would never had played the game.

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173716#Comment_118173716

Make sure to not let the truth get in the way now.

You claimed nobody had a clue going on at the games you attended. I am just pointing out that if you did go to a game you would have at least picked up the basics which would include knowing they are called laws and not rules. This would suggest a few porkies are been told to try make a point.

Now you are saying the sport is growing, do you still claim that those people bringing kids to clubs don't understand the laws? or that they have an opinion which they didn't pick up from "RTE & virgin"?

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173758#Comment_118173758

I said the majority not nobody, big difference. I am sorry if I struck a nerve informing you that the majority of casual fans don't know understand the rules of the game.

I'm still going to call them rules like every other sport. Laws and rules are the same thing just a different name.

Most of the parents bringing their kids definitely don't have a clue about the 'laws' They don't care either for the most part.

I played soccer underage and I'd say half the parents still don't know what the offside rule is despite going to games for over a decade.

chrissb8

I like watching the odd game and would have watched the 6 nations for a good few years in my late teens early 20's. I just kinda got bored of it but never got the overzealous aspect of it some would have. As in, the bit part, fair-weather fans like me become opinion leaders whenever a tournament was on.

It reached new levels of cringe when Brian O'Driscoll retired. Yeah, a great Irish sportsperson who deserved a send-off. But you would have sworn a state funeral was being held. I guess I just don't get the whole elevating sports players to higher levels with "hero", seems desperate in some sort of way.

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173813#Comment_118173813

Just calling out someone talking BS when I see it.

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173831#Comment_118173831

The send off for BOD was over the top and a running joke in all rugby circles. Any player that retires will make some comment they didn't get the wend off that BOD got. Also the send off was done by a sponsor of IRish rugby who have since been dumped so we can blame that company. Still he was one of the best players in the World ever. Picking a best of all time 15 and a lot of people will pick him at centre.

In terms of Irish rugby you have very few players put up as hero or stars. Really you are down to BOD, Paul O'Connell and Sexton. All 3 are not just highly rated in Ireland but across the World

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174059#Comment_118174059

What BS have you called out exactly?

Rules called Laws? Same thing just a different name.

By your logic anyone that goes to a game knows the laws of the game inside and out😂

I can assure you I have been to Celtic league, Magners League, Heineken cup, Pro12, Pro14 and Champions Cup games in Thomond Park, for some reason it's always freezing there.

Ash.J.Williams

Joe Biden is so Irish I fear he’s lost the plot

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174173#Comment_118174173

Yes of course you did. You went to all the games but couldn't understand the laws and nobody in the stadium understood them either 😂

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174289#Comment_118174289

Ah yeah that's exactly what I said all right.

melekalikimaka

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174289#Comment_118174289

feeding the troll only empowers

starkid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173516#Comment_118173516

So you can chip over a player and run a line, pick it up and beat a few players? cause Will Jordan did that on Saturday and its a really hard skill. ****, theres a tonne of clubs who would love a player like yourself. i mean if its so easy like. some absolute morons on this thread. morons who would piss and **** themselves if they rocked up to a j4 game in Barnhall on Sundays. They'd be **** minced, as well as their skillset torn to shreds.

If people think any high level sport , and rugby is a professional sport where lads can earn over a million euro, (which is more and less than alot of sports) is low skill they really shouldn't be allowed have an opinion on things.

Nobody is saying rugby is more skillful than anything. But saying there is little skill in Rugby is ignorant. Ignorant to such an extent that it makes your point invalid.

Soccer and GAA are more skilful games because of what they are. Rugby has certain skills that aren't discussed much in public. COntact skills is huge. so much so teams have specialised coaches for it now. Catch and pass, kicking, line running, footwork, contact, lifting, throwing, scrummaging. these are all skills.

theres a tonnes of physical freaks in Ireland that never really made it. Bob Casey, Tony Buckley, Damien Browne and a tonne of others. PHysicality is only one part of it.

The fact of the matter is if it was so low skilled we'd have a tonne of GAA crossovers, but we don't. Conor Nash was one of the few who was good enough for both. Canning was a good outhalf.

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174173#Comment_118174173

Just wondering if all the fans around you didn't know the laws or were giving out because ref's decision went against the team they were supporting? I know that is something that only happens in rugby. In every other sport they politely applaud and say "well that's the rule" when a decision goes against their team.

happyoutscan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118162206#Comment_118162206

I love my football but it is destroyed with play-acting.

Whereas with rugby, even though I don't watch it all that often I can only admire the way in which the game is played and the respect shown to officials and opposition for the most part.

Was in Dublin on Saturday as well, great atmosphere in the pubs and not a skanger in sight.

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174545#Comment_118174545

John Hayes started playing rugby at 18 and ended up being our most capped player before he retired.

Can you explain how he mastered all the skills of the game in such a short period of time then?

There is skill in the specialist positions, half backs, full backs but none of the front 8 and usually 2 or 3 of the backs rarely ever kick the ball or chip the ball, run a line, pick it up and beat a few players or are encouraged to do so. But very few players are expected to do much else other than to break a tackle or pass to a lad less than 5 foot away. Holding the ball while getting battered isn't easy but not highly skilled. It is relatively low skilled compared to the other field sports played here. Anyone that thinks otherwise truly hasn't a clue.

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174683#Comment_118174683

John Hayes went to New Zealand for two seasons to learn his trade.

Something which would be great if more young Irish players got the opportunity to do.

I do agree with you and someone "hasn't a clue"

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174735#Comment_118174735

All it took was 2 years in NZ to master a game and be most capped Irish international player of all time when he retired 🤔

If only I'd have gone to Brazil at 18 I could have been an international soccer player😂

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174575#Comment_118174575

Genuinely don't know until someone beside them explains why it was a penalty against. A small bit of it is lads just shouting for penalties because it was their team but rugby's not as bad as other sports for that in fairness but genuine confusion because they didn't know.

Its not all fans but a good few any game I've been to.

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174814#Comment_118174814

Another silly statement.

John Hayes is not the most capped player for Ireland also by the way.

melekalikimaka

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174814#Comment_118174814

plenty of skilled sports stars start later.. you are fast running out of straws my man

Captain_Crash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174683#Comment_118174683

Are you saying none of the front 8 have any specialist skills? Your either a troll, ignorant or just both!! The whole pack are in specialist positions… 3 of them are so specialist that your not allowed field anyone in those positions unless they’ve been specifically trained. You even have to have replacements for all three of those positions named on the bench! Even at club level!

Having played at full back myself for over 20 years I’d love nothing more than to bring you out for a training session to show you some of the “basic skills” needed just to make sure your able to leave the field in one piece! Trust me, there is some level of skill needed to stay focused while throwing your body up to catch a garryowen in full knowledge that as soon as your foot hits the ground your going to be minced by two 100kg plus backrowers (two of those unskilled fellas as you like to say), all while keeping possession and recycling the ball back, getting up off your hole, catching your breath and going to do it all again!

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174907#Comment_118174907

Was he not the first player to reach 100 caps making him the most capped player before he retired. BOD passed him out at some stage.

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174913#Comment_118174913

The fact that a fella can take up the sport at 18 and become record cap holder before he retires shows that it is not massively highly skilled, it's a physical and mental game.

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118174924#Comment_118174924

I'm saying it's relatively low skilled for the 8 forwards. The hooker throws line outs but none of them kick the ball for example outside of the hooker in the scrum.

I've played GAA and been under kickout's so know how hard it is to get up catch and hold onto the ball but it's not a hard skill to execute, the hard bit is when you get to the ground so again it's a mental thing and most lads drop the ball because they are worried about what's meeting them on the ground and knowing they are getting buried but that's the game.

Are you trying to tell me Rugby is more highly skilled than hurling, football or soccer?

melekalikimaka

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118175051#Comment_118175051

It doesnt show that at all

square ball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118175300#Comment_118175300

How do explain a fella being good enough to play for Ireland a couple of years after playing the game for the first time at 18 ahead of lads that had been playing all their lives?