Message to All Ruggers

[Marshal Murat]

I've decided that Rugby (union) is the best sport. I've been to half a dozen sports matches of various types (baseball, football, soccer, basketball, you get the gist), yet there is something that puts this sport above others, and I want to thank the real supporters out there.

Recently I attended my first serious rugby match, an international test match in Chicago, USA vs. WALES. I enjoyed the game to no end, just because I enjoy rugby anyway and the Welsh people were really cool (despite what some of my friends may say).
On the bus-ride back, however, that's when my perceptions changed. The fans talked and talked, and then an uneasy silence settled. Suddenly, right beside me, a Welsh fan started singing. It was traditional rugby songs first (Bread of Heaven, Sosban Fach), then some good pub songs (Working in Chicago), and then capped it off with some Tom Jones. All the guys joined in, especially the drunk Welsh fans.

Now, to those who haven't experienced this, it was freaking amazing. For those who have, I want to thank you for continuing this tradition. It made the match so much more fun and to all those who experience this every match day, I envy you.

[johnhughthom]

I'll never forget travelling down to Dublin to watch Ulster win the European Cup, there was something surreal about seeing all those red hands all over Dublin. There was a great moment in the bar I was in before the game when two guys in Celtic football (soccer) tops walked in and looked around in bewilderment at all the Ulster regalia around the bar. Fair play to them, they came in and joined us, probably the best example I've ever come across of sport crossing divides.

[Louis VI the Fat]

What's the saying? 'Rugby is a sport for thugs, played by gentlemen. Football is a gentleman's game, played by thugs'.


Association football, that is. More readily known as soccer.

The good thing about rugger is that you have all the passion, exuberance and tradition of football, but without the nastiness.

As with football, fans from the British Isles rule. They are the standard, the one and only. Scottish footy fans, Irish rugby fans, the 'kop' at Liverpool singing 'you'll never walk alone' in perfect unison - for all the passion football and rugby arouse elsewhere, nothing beats the Brits for sheer atmosphere.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Recently I attended my first serious rugby match, an international test match in Chicago, USA vs. WALES. I enjoyed the game to no end, just because I enjoy rugby anyway and the Welsh people were really cool (despite what some of my friends may say).
On the bus-ride back, however, that's when my perceptions changed. The fans talked and talked, and then an uneasy silence settled. Suddenly, right beside me, a Welsh fan started singing. It was traditional rugby songs first (Bread of Heaven, Sosban Fach), then some good pub songs (Working in Chicago), and then capped it off with some Tom Jones. All the guys joined in, especially the drunk Welsh fans.

Now, to those who haven't experienced this, it was freaking amazing. For those who have, I want to thank you for continuing this tradition. It made the match so much more fun and to all those who experience this every match day, I envy you.

The Welsh are wonderful, wonderful hosts and their singing thrills every time. If you ever have a chance, try and visit the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff for a match - you will never feel so welcomed. There are two great experiences in rugger - listening to the French sing the Marseillaise and the Welsh sing Land of my Fathers. One cannot do aught but swell with pride, no matter one's own ancestry.

Another stop over might be Thomond Park. Of course, I'm biased, but there is nothing like being caught up in the Munster tornado. Just look at the Sale players (especially Chabal....;-))

Rugby Union is one of the few sports where celebrating with the opposition is actually most of the point, win or lose. I even bought a Leinsterman some beers backalong. I'm looking forward to the continued growth of the sport in the USA - a competitive American team will be a wonder to behold and really exciting!

[Pannonian]

What's the saying? 'Rugby is a sport for thugs, played by gentlemen. Football is a gentleman's game, played by thugs'.


Association football, that is. More readily known as soccer.

The good thing about rugger is that you have all the passion, exuberance and tradition of football, but without the nastiness.

As with football, fans from the British Isles rule. They are the standard, the one and only. Scottish footy fans, Irish rugby fans, the 'kop' at Liverpool singing 'you'll never walk alone' in perfect unison - for all the passion football and rugby arouse elsewhere, nothing beats the Brits for sheer atmosphere.

The most enjoyable singing I've recently seen was the Liverpool crowd's taunting of the Newcastle manager Alan Shearer with "You should have stayed on the telly", and singing the Match of the Day tune "Da da da da...". Cruel, but hilarious and improvised on the spot.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Video of France mercilessly beating a tiny Pacific Island nation at rugby.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSFXxivsoMg

[Marshal Murat]

I just subscribed to an online rugby-match-video site, and I watched that last night.

Congradulations Louis.

[Strike For The South]

So everyone congragulates him but when I express an affinty for football, I get my citzenship revoked. lamesis

On topic: I really like the all blacks and Chabal mostly because I like to hop on bandwagons. I've always wanted to give Rugby a go it's just I always go to sports that I have an understamding of.

Congrats on seeing the match sounds like fun!

[miotas]

He he. Here in Oz ruggers is a brand of shorts so I always laugh when I see this thread title

[Pannonian]

One of my favourite sights in rugby is a flowing attack, where the ball is passed through several attackers running at full pace. Not handovers, but fullblooded passes across 10 yards or more. Extra marks for an unexpected change of direction.

[Marshal Murat]

One of my favourite sights in rugby is a flowing attack, where the ball is passed through several attackers running at full pace. Not handovers, but fullblooded passes across 10 yards or more. Extra marks for an unexpected change of direction.

Definitely one of the most thrilling sights is when that happens, it's an onrushing wave of attacking players that can't help but sweep to a try. Unless you're the Chiefs playing the Sharks and have 3 potential tries swiped away because of small errors.

I'm currently working through a whole season of missed Super 14, especially those which were close (see above Chiefs v. Sharks comment).

[Rob The Bastard]

Hi Louis,

it's an annoying habit that your team has picked up from somewhere.

Ask them to stop doing it, please.



Oh.. the "tiny Pacific Island nation" won the second game.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Oh.. the "tiny Pacific Island nation"...

It was a rugby in-joke, aimed at the non-rugger crowd who may not be aware that the All-Blacks are to rugby what Hillary is to mountaineering: alone at the highest summit. That the NZ rugby is a mixture between Maori tribal warfare and an unleashed horde of orcs straight out of Weta Workshop.

...won the second game.

But not by six points!

Like Frodo and Sam marching into mount Doom, we went to the heart of the evil empire and cought you unawares.

The Dave Gallaher Cup is ours.

[Rob The Bastard]

Happy for you.

I hope you noticed that I didn't degenerate into a foul-mouthed ranting moron ie typical Kiwi Rugby supporter.

I must confess to you that you that I am one of those strangest of Kiwi men... I don't care if the All Blacks win/lose break a nail etc. Rugby... Bah! Humbug! I actually think it's a good thing to be trounced because it pulls their heads out of the "we are best in the world" sand and shows them the real world... and they try to win not expect to win.

Did I say to much?

[Beskar]

I have the admit, the title really made me wonder what is in the thread. However, it is interesting to see you like Rugby instead of Armoured Rugby (aka American Football).

Also, Wales is a nice country and good people. Pride of Britain.

[miotas]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I have the admit, the title really made me wonder what is in the thread. However, it is interesting to see you like Rugby instead of Armoured Rugby (aka American Football).

Also, Wales is a nice country and good people. Pride of Britain.

Hmm... There must be something about places like NZ and Wales that make for good footy players, think about it. Both country's consist of a bunch of weirdo's living up in their wet green hills with nothing but sheep for company.

[Pannonian]

Wales - rugby at its most romantic

[Louis VI the Fat]

Wales - rugby at its most romantic

Awesome!

Dammit, now I wish I were Welsh.

[Beskar]

Oh wait, who necro'd this topic? Bad Pannonian, couldn't you have let it died?

[AlexanderSextus]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hmm... There must be something about places like NZ and Wales that make for good footy players, think about it. Both country's consist of a bunch of weirdo's living up in their wet green hills with nothing but sheep for company.

Like i have said the only difference is that in NZ, the hills are green because they are full of cannabis.

[naut]

Threadus-Necro-Ressurecto.

Went and saw England beat the Aussies 21 - 20 last night. I was expecting the Aussies to win, so I was very pleased when Giteau missed the easiest kick ever to blow their chances.

Good game, really surprising that England played a good running game. Kudos to the large segment of English drowning out the Aussie chants with "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".

[gaelic cowboy]

Hmm rugger it's nice but it's a bit of a toff's game really to be honest. Don't get me wrong I like Ireland and the odd Leinster an Munster game but it really is a tiny sport played by an elite here.

Except for Munster of course Banquo no team with O'Connell in it knows much about toffery well apart from Ronan maybe

I think the overriding factoid you can take is that decency is paramount, our President was humiliated by Martin Johnson in Dublin a few years ago but it did not cause riots or even a thump in anger, We had the last laugh when she stood beside Prince William to hand the trophy to O'Driscoll thats all that is needed.


Prez at Cardiff

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In 1995 some of you may remember the English soccer fans rioted in Lansdowne Road this probably forever ended the possibility of matches between us . The rioters were not proper fans they were louts, who disgraced themselves and there country all cos they went a goal down. The big laugh is the English players felt they were getting back into it when it happened, I remember one player especially saying how they were easily worth the draw but there own fans destroyed that chance.

Lansdowne 1995

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

However during the World Cup in Japan/South Korea many English fans in there own jerseys and therefore easily identifiable joined us at the Germany game, it was a great night and no one said a word in anger, we were glad of the support against the Teutonic war machine how many sports could say the same elsewhere??????????

Robbie scores 2002 (you cant see it in the video but there are English fans in the crowd with us I know I stood beside one for the match)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My own first love is GAA I have been to all manner of games here in Ireland and I have never seen any trouble at them ever. If you want to experience a surreal and thrilling communal experience go to Croke Park in Dublin on either the Hurling or Football All Ireland Finals. 80000 thousand fans mixed together no separation needed, we don't do hoolaganism in the stands we leave it on the pitch

There is only one place in GAA where the fans don't mix it is almost sacred to the Dubs, it is the terrace known as Hill 16 this is strict Dublin fan terroritory through the weight of tradition. Yet even here a lone mayo fan braves the crowd without reason to be afraid, even though we beat them by a single point they could have been forgiven for being annoyed after losing to us when they led by seven with ten minutes to go.

Mayoman braves the Jackeens sacred sod of Hill16

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My father is off to Roscommon today for the GAA Connacht semi-final match of Roscommon v Leitrim today two small counties there will probably be 30000 at it maybe and I guarauntee you there will be no trouble at it. I will be very surprised nay shocked if there is even a single belt between the fans, attendance of maybe thirty thousand fans with no trouble and about twenty or thirty gardai to marshal the traffic are the normality.

While the Gaelic Football side of things is what I support one cannot but be swept up with the speed and skill of of a top class Hurling game, it is pure unadulterated joy as a country we can safely say it has no equal in the world. Below is a vid of the closing minutes of the 2009 All Ireland between Kilkenny and Tipperary, I urge you all to watch it, you will like it the Kilkenny team is probably the best team in history and they are gunning this year for 5 in a row this year.

The Cats win 4 in a row

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Banquo's Ghost]

Hmm rugger it's nice but it's a bit of a toff's game really to be honest. Don't get me wrong I like Ireland and the odd Leinster an Munster game but it really is a tiny sport played by an elite here.

Except for Munster of course Banquo no team with O'Connell in it knows much about toffery well apart from Ronan maybe

ROG is such a gentleman, he has decided not to tackle anyone ever again, especially if they are wearing black.

[gaelic cowboy]

ROG is such a gentleman, he has decided not to tackle anyone ever again, especially if they are wearing black.

[Beskar]

Not trolling, but just have to say, another name for lesbian is apparently "Rugger". as they have an interest in rugs apparently.

[johnhughthom]

Define "rugs" in this context Beskar.

[pevergreen]

Define "rugs" in this context Beskar.

Comment removed - Lemur

[Banquo's Ghost]

Women play rugby too.

[Beskar]

BG, is the one in Green a Vampire?

[gaelic cowboy]

Women play a lot of sport but they still throw like girls I am afraid.