Rugby, Do we need it?

Japers I love the 6 nations.

Yes, yes we do. Great game, great fans, great coverage.

Every year we get one of these threads about rugby being forced down people's throats. Jesus, I didn't know it was a criminal offence not to watch.

I don't watch it and I've never been given grief about it, OP.

It's a bit of craic and one of the only sports we can actually compete with the best in. Ireland's Call should be banished to hell forever though, I have to mute or change the channel when that comes on.

That's not true. We are regularly competitive internationally at hockey. In fact, our women being runners up in the world cup is, as far as I know, our most successful result ever for a team field sport. I admit it’s only the third most popular field sport in the world, but a lot of people have heard about it.

No.1 Football (Soccer) ~4bn fans

No.2 Cricket ~ 2.5bn

No.3 Hockey ~2bn

No.9 Rugby ~475m

Source: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-most-popular-sports-in-the-world.html

PS I don’t play Rugby but I’ve been a fan, especially of the 5/6nations for over 40 years.

In 1943 a psychologist called Abraham maslow published a study which outlined humans hierarchy of needs. This progressed from physical needs like food/water/shelter etc, to the need for love and then the need for self actualisation. He did identify rugby as being a basic human need, so yes, we do indeed need rugby

This is around the time in the four year World Cup cycle that Ireland have loads of world class players across the pitch.

So tell us partypooper, just how is rugby being forcefully shoved down your throat without you having the ability to turn it off?