Why is rugby/the Irish rugby team so popular?

Tag Rugby and 7's rugby can be played...the likes of Keenan have played for Ireland 7s and thst is a path more players are taking. Also the ladies 7s is getting more investment than 15s

You don't need grass to play rugby. It is better to have it because if you fall but you dont

You can practise passing it, have you watched a GAA football match recently 99% of the time they are hand passing. Kick the ball and everyone on the pitch stops and looks.

You also have a rugby ball which you can practise passing which comes back to you :-)

I was just pointing out how skillful the players are.

If Rugby was Irelands number 1 sport and we have the pick of players like GAA I think we would be far more successful than we currently are.

the bid was a joke cause sporting facilities in this country are a joke. thats hardly rugbys fault is it? If Ireland were hosting a WC in 2023 it would be unreal and a huge filip for the country. of course people who lack imagination can't get it.

Who said we are a rugby country? its the 4th most popular sport in the country? again Irish rugby doesn't write vodafone ads. so how is that a criticism. the media went into overdrive as we have very few succesful professional sports in this country. its not rocket science like. Success breeds hype and interest. again it would be remiss of the IRFU not to encourage this for funding and profit. so its a stupid point. Its not some media conspiracy like. ffs. Theres wall to wall coverage of English soccer in this country. Pages upon pages dedicated to our main amateur sport. The SUnday Times has huge GAA coverage.

and i do have an issue with the IRFUS work in this area regarding private schools, however its not a cause and effect issue. otherwise we'd be unreal. Its a freak that a huge number of pros are coming from one private school, but its hardly some sort of conspiracy. Its a wealthy school so they have access to facilities and coaching. However loads of other private schools are failing on and off the field. rugby is tied into it across the World due to the historic ties. Its up to World rugby and the IRFU to continue growing it outside of these bubbles, like they have in Bandon. Again its criticism leveled at people as if they could change it. How could James Ryan or Sexton change where they went to school?

The IRFu will point to Earls, Furlong, Sean O'Brien, Shane Horgan, Murray, Henderson, Ferris and a few others as examples of non private schooled players.

Like i can't wait for the day a kid from inner city plays pro rugby somewhere, but apart from funding a club in the heart of the city what can the IRFU actually do. they already do special sessions with non traditional schools.

You can't just put down jumpers for goalposts. Rugby has a number of issues that differentiates it fro mother sports. Mainly safety. Its inheritantly an unsafe sport that needs specialised coaching to mitigate the dangers. I know cause i have done the steps needed. These old schools have a century of rugby in them. Its foolish to dismiss that.

We are still in the middle of a pandemic with a lot of people still afraid of large crowd, yet you pick out a game to say it wasn't sold out 😂 30,000+ at the game and believe me it was a great atmosphere.

Before covid is a better indication when Ireland game sold out no problem, Leinster would sell out the Aviva 3-4 times a season plus a few more games if they got to the HC semis etc. In reality at this stage the Aviva is too small for the 6 nations and Ireland would sell double the tickets it has.

Leinster for 10+ years has over 10k season ticket holder.

At my local rugby club the numbers are up and growing for players. More & more clubs are opening up or growing with players joining.

I think if you actually did scratch the surface you will find rugby has never been in a better place in Ireland, the four provinces are spending lots of money to get players from outside the normal routes. I would suggets you do a little bit of research