Rugby Thread

[IanM]

I rang up for tickets for the international this weekend and they asked me how long I've lived in Wales and what size boots I take.

 

[Voyager EMH]

You should stop comparing yourself to counties with no sporting pedigree, have a look at tiny Nottinghamshire or Yorkshire or even New Zealand then get back to me.

I will compare the population of Wales with whatever other region of the UK I should care to. My point being to merely emphasise what a small population Wales is.

I do like your point about Yorkshire. I believe there was an Olympics in recent history where Yorkshire won more gold medals than the rest of England. Or something like that.

And Scotland's tally of Olympic medals are often way out of proportion with England relative to population.

 

[Neilds]

I will compare the population of Wales with whatever other region of the UK I should care to. My point being to merely emphasise what a small population Wales is.

I do like your point about Yorkshire. I believe there was an Olympics in recent history where Yorkshire won more gold medals than the rest of England. Or something like that.

And Scotland's tally of Olympic medals are often way out of proportion with England relative to population.

This is factually incorrect - if a person from Scotland wins an Olympic medal, then they are British. They only become Scottish when they lose.

 

[IanM]

This is factually incorrect - if a person from Scotland wins an Olympic medal, then they are British. They only become Scottish when they lose.

Rubbish them curling lot!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Not really, premiership is skint as well and wage bills are being cut. France is the only one with the cash as one of their big broadcasters ditched football and invested that spend into rugby. The JIF regulations stop the widespread recruitment of foreign players. The issue in Wakes is poor management and the regions not retaining the prior traditional fan bases. No surprise there. Lack of investment in development is another concern but not so much money and wages. Ireland do very well with similar available revenue streams

Premiership still has more money than the Welsh Clubs even if they are struggling

Regionals was also not a very clever move

 

[Fade and Die]

Well as a son of Somerset I’m going to take quite a bit of offence to this as it’s plainly ridiculous to suggest the West Country has no sporting pedigree.

Literally Bath are the current Prem rugby champions while Somerset are the dominant T20 cricket team in the country for several years now and the current champions. Lando Norris (from Glastonbury) is the current F1 champion.

Where are you from and how is that comparing right now .

At his peak, Botham was England’s greatest ever cricketer. From Somerset. Trescothick was world no.1 batsman too. The West Country has a fairly endless list of top rugby union players as a real stronghold of the sport. Bath/Bristol/Exeter/Glos look a whole lot stronger than the Welsh regions right now.

That’s just one county mentioned (population barely 1M) and off the top of my head. 2 minutes with Google and there would be a far longer list.

I’m from East London the land that spawned Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Alf Ramsey so you are all just playing catch up really

 

[IanM]

WRU and WG do not prioritise winning and winners.

That's according to a former rugby international and two former rtour pros. Make of that what you will

 

[Voyager EMH]

I rang up for tickets for the international this weekend and they asked me how long I've lived in Wales and what size boots I take.

I rang and asked, "What time is the kick-off?"
They replied, "What time can you get here?"

 

[Lord Tyrion]

15k tickets available for Sunday's game . No gag, ouch.

 

[Captainron]

The proper rugby starts tonight.

First top flight match for decades in York, now in Superleague.
Full stadium which is rocking.
A team that were largely part time last year in a lower league, and predicted to lose by 70 every week going toe to toe with the champions.

Paul Vaughan hurling his cookies on the 40yd line before the restart but still in on the first tackle

Should have put this in gladden the heart.

BRILLIANT!

Rugby League. Best game in’t world is what I heard loads of times when I lived in Leeds.

Northern monkey rugby. Not a patch on Union but it’s still a million miles better than soccer.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Fabulous game in Ireland. A real ding dong battle. Italy very impressive, Ireland really have dropped a level.

 

[Captainron]

Italy are looking like a proper team these days. Their pack has come on so much and they now have some depth to rely on. Good to see

 

[Norrin Radd]

Fabulous game in Ireland. A real ding dong battle. Italy very impressive, Ireland really have dropped a level.

I said this to the domestic engineer before the France Ireland game last weekend, I said that they are a team on the decline and will probably finish third in the table behind the french and England .watching the Italy game Ive seen nothing to change my mind .
It will be Wales for the wooden spoon and the jocks winning one game against the Welsh .England France will be the deciding game

 

[The Squirrel]

Rugby League. Best game in’t world is what I heard loads of times when I lived in Leeds.

Northern monkey rugby. Not a patch on Union but it’s still a million miles better than soccer.

Takes so long to set a scrum in union that they’ve started scheduling ad breaks. Then it collapses and you get to watch them do it another 3 times *.

*Only kidding. Union and league are different, but I do like them both. As you say; infinitely better than watching grown men roll around feigning agony and calling a medic because someone brushed against them in that round ball game.

 

[Norrin Radd]

What is going on in Murray field ,we are getting run ragged ,

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Great first half from Scotland, a dogs breakfast from England. It's going to be a long second half for England.

A cracking example of why this tournament is so good.

 

[NearHull]

I have Arundell and Earl both to score. Well , 50% there I guess.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

England as usual kicking the ball far too much

This might be a reality check for England

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Ford has had a shocker there. England had started this half so well but that's giving the Scots some big breathing space.

 

[Taz]

The 30 minute yellow/red was costly.
Not sure the Freeman experiment is worth sticking with, Lawrence is a much better defender.
Back to the drawing board