Has rugby become the "people's game"?

thebaz · 07-03-2018 12:12AM

i grew up in Dublin playing and loving both soccer and rugby - soccer always seamed more the peoples game in Dublin , but seamed different in Munster - think its changing now with leinster support not just the D4 brigade - the Irish national soccer team has been muck since 2002 , whilst the rugby team has bloomed with all the golden generations - people like winners , and rugby is watched by many more than when i grew up and called posh by my soccer playing mates. Support in Connacht seams a lot bigger too these days - I remember in the 90s when a few hundred would watch an inter-pro , 10 years later they were selling out Croke park.

Benedict XVI · 07-03-2018 12:15AM

In the context of the discussion about whether this team is the new Jack's Army then I certainly think not.

I was lucky enough to be in my late teens/early twenties during the height of it between Euro '88 and USA '94 and I don't think we will see it's like again, not even from international soccer.

Euro 2012 and Euro 2016 had none of the appeal of the former tournaments for me, but maybe that's because I'm older now.

But overall I think rugby will never be the "peopels game" because widespread/general interest is still non existent in large areas of the country.
Places like the western seaboard, the midlands and south east that would traditionally be seen as GAA strongholds have had soccer followers for decades, Man Utd fans for the '60s, Liverpool fans from the '70s, Leeds and Forest fans from the '70s.
Soccer, and in particular English soccer has been reaching more of the country for so much longer than rugby.

The emergence of professionalism has given rugby a higher profile, but when you look at it it's still centered around the traditional strongholds of Belfast, Dublin, Limerick city and Cork city.

Connacht has made progress but it's still small interest when you see the numbers in that area interested in GAA and soccer.

Benedict XVI · 07-03-2018 12:19AM

By the way there was a discussion about whether rugby was taking over from on Off The Ball in Feb/Mar 2007.

It was a time when ROI under Stand where struggling to beat San Marino and the Ireland rugby team were going for a grand slam.

I'll try dig up the audio if it's still out there.

southstar · 07-03-2018 12:19AM

Rugby has grown hugely in popularity but primarily as a spectator sport and mostly for the international offering... The players themselves also seem to be quite grounded and approachable..and live here... but It also demonstrates how sports mad we seem to be in this country... a wider range of interest(in general) than in many other countries I'd suggest.

Sanjuro · 07-03-2018 12:21AM

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Daire O'Brien claimed that support and interest in rugby now resembles the interest generated by the Jack Charlton era and hurling in the mid-90s

Bollocks. I remember my auld fella driving us back from watching Ireland beat Romania in World Cup 90 and having to drive incredibly slowly due to the people in the streets. And I'm not talking about Dublin city centre. This was along the N11, a dual carriageway. I cant see rugby getting as big as the fever running through the country at that time.

Benedict XVI · 07-03-2018 12:23AM

Sanjuro wrote: »

Bollocks. I remember my auld fella driving us back from watching Ireland beat Romania in World Cup 90 and having to drive incredibly slowly due to the people in the streets. And I'm not talking about Dublin city centre. This was along the N11, a dual carriageway. I cant see rugby getting as big as the fever running through the country at that time.

There will never be another Italia '90, even in soccer, that was a once in a lifetime.

prawnsambo · 07-03-2018 12:27AM

Against The Head looking for filler material after a weekend with no rugby matches. Are we actually wasting a thread on this?

Jerichoholic · 07-03-2018 12:30AM

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

I think not, and bloody well hope not.

The 'people' have their round ball games. It suits them fine - one, the dullest game immaginable with scores as rare as hen's teeth played by actor-divers, the other, one that in a hundred years hasnt solved its problem of having no real rules and become a jersey pulling, who's the hardest man shoulder bumping contest with not a fraction of skill being required to succeed at it. Both suit the type of people who play it - inner city bowsies supporting and wearing English club shirts despite generally hating everything English, and, country bumpkins for whom it is an extension of 'bragging rights' contesting when not at 3am outside the local town dive 'disco', when it is decided by fists, much as in the game, only its the Gardai rather than a ref looking on helplessly.

But rugby. Well. A genteman's game. Such variety of skills, tactics, teamwork, physiques, providing an endlessly enthralling contest, in a game where the rules work, moments of thrilling skill, speed, and quick thinking to take the breath away, and the best team generally wins. And played the by right sort of chaps of course.

We like it just as it is thank you very much. Hopefully it never becomes 'the peoples game'.

The state of this.

Jerichoholic · 07-03-2018 12:35AM

grass_cutter wrote: »

at organised level , GAA beats soccer out the gate too , a kick about with eight guys behind a supermarket is sometimes counted as playing soccer , when i was a kid we always always played soccer at break time in school but i never played organised soccer , i played organised gaa from i was nine

That's because the GAA wouldn't allow you to. That's why the Irish soccer team are awful, GAA makes the youngsters choose between the two and soccer is looked down on.

Downlinz · 07-03-2018 12:38AM

I would say it is in the majority of the country although it still seems to have a class element associated with it in Dublin.

The Lost Sheep · 07-03-2018 12:42AM

riffmongous wrote: »

God I almost forgot the clubs even existed. Do they ever get any nationwide attention anymore? I remember years ago you'd see the results on the aertel and the odd clip on tv

They get some attention but not much. Some local papers are good for coverage but a lot from IRFU is done on social media.
Though many here say IRFU need to do more for profile of club game. The clubs dont help themselves. They could be far better at promotion both in the traditional form and online in digital marketing.
Like as ive said in my own club about promotion even at a basic level. For all big hurling games in my local paper there is 3 reports of the same match in the paper. 1 written by the newspapers journalist(s). Then each club will report on the game in their own notes. My clubs first team will get a good report on their games but other than that in general the coverage is poor though saying that this season we've a very strong under18 team who are getting a lot of good coverage in our local media.

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

When Ireland are playing in an international soccer competition, there are flags on houses, the streets become quieter at kickoff time and it's a huge topic of conversation everywhere.

You just don't see it with rugby. People watch the matches, but there is no blanket enthusiasm.

And unfortunately GAA has no international outlet, apart from that made-up Compromise Rules.

Soccer and GAA are miles bigger than rugby

Its quite different with some of the rugby because we have the 6 nations every year and we're always in a world cup. Soccer can build up to the world cup/euro's with a build up thats completely different to what occurs in rugby.

thebaz wrote: »

i grew up in Dublin playing and loving both soccer and rugby - soccer always seamed more the peoples game in Dublin, but seamed different in Munster - think its changing now with leinster support not just the D4 brigade - the Irish national soccer team has been muck since 2002 , whilst the rugby team has bloomed with all the golden generations - people like winners , and rugby is watched by many more than when i grew up and called posh by my soccer playing mates. Support in Connacht seams a lot bigger too these days - I remember in the 90s when a few hundred would watch an inter-pro , 10 years later they were selling out Croke park.

But for all the golden generation by and large huge proportion were still from the same background as those before but they just were successful. People do like winners but when it can be more difficult to feel a connection to players then continuing support in game is difficult.

bobbysands81 · 07-03-2018 12:47AM

Rugby is the ABC1’s game, it’s definitely not the game of the people.

Utterly ludicrous claim based in fantasy.

Losty Dublin · 07-03-2018 12:47AM

Until the playing numbers get back up again at grassroots, rugby can't compare itself to GAA or Soccer. There is a critical problem in getting adults out to play the sport that the modern exposure of rugby to the general public is masking and masking very well. Indeed, even the AIL would be close to dead were it not for the academy structures using it as a platform for young players to learn the game away from the training field.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 07-03-2018 12:52AM

Jerichoholic wrote: »

The state of this.

He’s true to his acronym for sure.

Well written trolling, I’ll give it that.

Didactic Ninja · 07-03-2018 01:12AM

team of "them"

Jerichoholic · 07-03-2018 01:23AM

Rugby will never get any bigger until it removes 'Ireland's Call'. People can't expect to stick around to watch a game after cringing so hard at that at for every Irish game.

kuang1 · 07-03-2018 01:51AM

Now what could I say to expediate the closure of this thread...

awec · 07-03-2018 02:01AM

Discussion of anthems is against the forum charter.

The Lost Sheep · 07-03-2018 02:47AM

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Until the playing numbers get back up again at grassroots, rugby can't compare itself to GAA or Soccer. There is a critical problem in getting adults out to play the sport that the modern exposure of rugby to the general public is masking and masking very well. Indeed, even the AIL would be close to dead were it not for the academy structures using it as a platform for young players to learn the game away from the training field.

the ail wouldnt be dead if academy players stopped playing in it

bigpink · 07-03-2018 02:58AM

Middle class status game I’d say

The Lost Sheep · 07-03-2018 03:59AM

bigpink wrote: »

Middle class status game I’d say

eh it's not. Numbers playing game overall across the country never mind supporting the game show that it isn't middle class status game at all

bigpink · 07-03-2018 04:08AM

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

eh it's not. Numbers playing game overall across the country never mind supporting the game show that it isn't middle class status game at all

It is in Limerick look at the schools rugby look at the people who go to Munster games but do nothing for club level

The Lost Sheep · 07-03-2018 04:18AM

bigpink wrote: »

It is in Limerick look at the schools rugby look at the people who go to Munster games but do nothing for club level

that isn't true. It isn't in Any way a middle class status game in limerick. People do go to provincial games and not support clubs as much but that doesn't mean the sport is middle class. If you're trying to make this argument of all places to use Limericks the last you should use.

bigpink · 07-03-2018 04:45AM

If anything it’s what Limerick rugby has become
All the middle class go to the Munster games and play tag but don’t support clubs
Ask any old school Limerick rugby supporter they will tell you that

The Lost Sheep · 07-03-2018 05:00AM

bigpink wrote: »

If anything it’s what Limerick rugby has become
All the middle class go to the Munster games and play tag but don’t support clubs
Ask any old school Limerick rugby supporter they will tell you that

that isn't true and as someone who spends far too much time at games in limerick and all over I know that. Saying all middle class play tag go to Munster but not the clubs just isn't true. It's not a class issue

bigpink · 07-03-2018 05:07AM

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

that isn't true and as someone who spends far too much time at games in limerick and all over I know that. Saying all middle class play tag go to Munster but not the clubs just isn't true. It's not a class issue

It’s still a majority upper middle class and you know it is.Rugby isn’t strong in working class schools and even thworking class areas of Limerick outside of juniors
CBS and st nessans how they doing at schools rugby?

bigpink · 07-03-2018 05:45AM

Look at the fakeness of the Connaught brand

pickarooney · 07-03-2018 07:06AM

bigpink wrote: »

Middle class status game I’d say

Do people in Ireland still do that thing where on one hand they insist there is no such thing as class in the country and on the other pretend that they're working class so they can look down on the middle class?

sydthebeat · 07-03-2018 08:21AM

bigpink wrote: »

Middle class status game I’d say

Absolutely wrong.

Go to any rugby club in the country and see it being run for, and run by, people of every "class" (if such a thing even exists)

its_phil · 07-03-2018 08:23AM

bigpink wrote: »

Look at the fakeness of the Connaught brand

WTF is this?

And it’s Connacht

Has rugby become the "people's game"?

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