Please Respect the Kicker

Respect.

What about soccer? Gaelic, hurling? or any other sport where a similar free kick or puck happens? Do they not need to concentrate?

And does the cheering crowd not put them off at other stages of the game? Why just for the kick?

Truth is, it is because rugby is an elitist sport and the level of notions in rugby circles runs very high.

Rugby isnt elitist and its a tradition in rugby to be quiet during kicks. In some places. Rugby has always done this. Its different to other sports. Nothing wrong with that

It is elitist. It is a sport of wealth and privilege. That is not to say there are not people from all walks of life and who play and follow it, but on the whole, the tradition and culture around rugby is strongly connected with the wealthy and privileged.

It isnt. Go into any rugby club and you will see that what you say is false. You havent any experience of a rugby club if you believe this.

In the Aviva on Saturday as is the case at most/all games with big screens the big screen doesn't show kicks at goal which is mad. Worse still is when the game is going to be decided on penalty kicks.

Maybe but they have a flashing/scrolling neon sign stating "Respect The Kicker" under the big screen.

And? Did the kicker ask it to be put on the screen?

Its so they can do the pose and get their photos in before the kick.

Its a tradition upheld by some rugby clubs and not others

Ireland, and Munster especially have a strong tradition of respecting the kicker by staying silent during PKs and Conversions

It's not because we're a great bunch of lads, in fact, if a kicker is not used to this, coming into a full Thomond park and kicking into a silent crowd can actually put some kickers off

Didn't work on Saturday, but there are some interviews from out halves who say it's un-nerving to take place kicks where the crowd are completely silent

"Fox who played 78 times for the All Blacks between 1984 and 1993, said the Thomond experience was unique.

“It’s quite an amazing experience. You feel the eyes of everybody in the stadium on you and to be honest, it’s a little unsettling. I never experienced anything like it,” Fox recalled."

In Ireland, it's traditionally viewed as respectful to be silent for the kicker. Some kickers seem to appreciate it, while others can find the silence oppressive (and there is an element of that I think in fans' minds also). I remember Jonny Sexton talking about missing a kick because he could hear a baby crying and it made him think of his son and took him out of the moment.

Rugby does like to view itself as sport that puts a greater emphasis on respect in general than other sports, see for example see how the referee is treated. You can view this as elitist and evidence of a superiority complex if you want, but I'd say that's your issue. Obviously rugby players and fans often fall short of these expectations anyway.