I believe that Rugby is becoming more and more of a threat to the GAA. The hype it gets despite having a playing population of under 20,000 is crazy and you would swear that Munster and Leinster represent everything that is good about Ireland or being Irish or 'Oirish' as the Leinster fans would say. I like the game for its physicality and unlike alot of rugby supporters in this country, I once played the game for a season and attended matches. The Grand Slam win and now this match will get unprecedented coverage. Just like english soccer, its v easy to be an armchair fanatic about Munster or Leinster and I constantly see those with high opinions of themselves associating with the game despite their cluelessness. But is there the possibility that it will severely damage the GAA?

ChungLad (Longford) - Posts: 351 - 14/04/2009 12:32:37    256353

There is no possibility that it will damage the GAA. The GAA is a lot more than sport and I genuinely believe that football and hurling are permanently ingrained on our psyche. Rugby is fantastic and when I see my country - unified as it should be - win anything it is great and I get swept away but I will always be a gael and gaels will always exist because it is in our blood. The couple of lads that are lost to the game are replaceable because every day new GAA players are born.

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 14/04/2009 12:53:42    256379

I actually think the provincial system has made it less of a threat to the GAA in terms of players. Now to get on the provicial sides you need to be a top class player and no longer just an AIL player. That means it is harder to get noticed, so many players may not see it as being worth the effort needed in physical terms and play GAA at amateur level rather than rugby at semi-pro or pro level.

As a supporter game I think ya, it could be a serious threat. I think in Munster & Leinster in particular, rugby can often be a danger to the second sport. e.g. in a fan's priority, Munster Rugby may be more important than Limerick football or Kerry hurling. Also Leinster, Munster & Ireland are all enjoying success in the rugby and that makes people want to associate with them.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 14/04/2009 13:00:39    256384

There is no doubt it will. Most sports coaches encourage kids to play all sports, as they should, but when they get to teenage years other influences usually mean they drop out or pick one sport. It's not only rugby but soccer is a major problem. If it got organised at grass roots level they could wipe out underage clubs in rural areas were children's involvement in the the parish gaa club is taken for granted.
My own experience is probably one lots of GAA people are having to deal with. My son only played football in glasgow. He went to the odd soccer match mainly thistle and scotland. He hardly knew anything about the premiership other than maybe naming the top four teams. We moved to rural Ireland eight months ago. he now supports Liverpool and can name every single player. he has also taking up soccer as the gaa shuts down here in the autumn. Fortunately for my blood pressure levels he still intends playing football. Our clubs have to be more professional in their organisation particularly as to how they coach and nuture young people. I belive Croke Park is awake to the problem but I think at grass roots level a lot of people are standing still/living in the past/not tuned into modern thinking of young people (delete as appropriate)

realgaa (UK) - Posts: 128 - 14/04/2009 13:06:18    256399

No

frankbhoy77 (Antrim) - Posts: 1300 - 14/04/2009 13:26:45    256418

Not unless you go to Grammar School.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 14/04/2009 13:26:52    256419

I hope its not interrupting your sleep patterns, chung....

sheepshooter (Meath) - Posts: 626 - 14/04/2009 13:48:08    256461

Rugby is getting a lot of hype at the minute with the success of Leinster, Munster and the Ireland team. Fair play I am delighted to see any Irish teams competing and winning at the highest levels. However if you look beyond these three teams there is very little happening. The GAA is much more entrenched in the local communities and with our tradition will be very hard to shift. The danger is that they will start doing what the AFL has done and recruit our young stars.
I think if you look beyond the hype though it is a very poor game, I have attended rugby matches and have been desperate for the final whistle. In terms of a spectator sport it lags far behind Gaelic football and hurling, I would also rate rugby league and the aussie rules as far superior games.

MB1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 360 - 14/04/2009 14:21:01    256527

No because big games aside who really watches it? Ok Ireland winning the Grand Slam was a big deal and I admit I did watch the France and Wales games like most people but who goes to watch club rugby? From what I've seen it bears little resemblance to the international game, very slow and very boring.
It makes me laugh when a bar full of "supporters" roar and shout at the screen but dont even understand half the rules or even who some of the players are.
People are caught up with it now because of the national and provincial success but in the wider scheme of things I dont believe the GAA has to fear rugby. If you like rugby fine, each to their own, but dont pretend you have a deep knowledge game just because you own a green jersey and sing "The Fields" whenever Munster play.

dolfos (Longford) - Posts: 128 - 14/04/2009 14:45:13    256547

Of course it's going to have an effect on the GAA,children's new idols are the likes of O'Gara,O'Connell and unfortunately O'Driscoll.However it's not going to effect the GAA in a big way,kids still grow up wanting to represent their parishes in a county final or even represent their couny in Croke Pk.

dubinlaois (Dublin) - Posts: 304 - 14/04/2009 14:59:33    256562

dubinlaois County: Dublin Posts: 102 256562 Of course it's going to have an effect on the GAA,children's new idols are the likes of O'Gara,O'Connell and unfortunately O'Driscoll. Dont see why you would say unfortunately o driscoll. he had a brilliant 6 nations and did the business again on sunday. theres a lot of bregrudgery against him because he has a bit of a d4 accent. put it this way, if i had a kid, i would prefer the kid to look up to someone like odriscoll than robbie keane or steve collins.

Horse (Laois) - Posts: 1146 - 14/04/2009 15:11:11    256581

Patrique I think you'll find that Catholic grammar schools in the north have a stronger GAA tradition than the vocational ones. I know not one of them that even plays rugby. The Grammar schools that play rugger have always done so therfore i can't see how things will change. Perhaps in Antrim things are different but that says it all about the disguisting waste of resources and talent in that county. My main worry would be losing the lads in the vocational schools to soccer.

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 14/04/2009 15:16:18    256587

Someone made a good point-O Gara and O' Connell will be looked up to by small kids instead of intercounty players. I hear that rugby is consistently expanding the amount of schools who play it. Club rugby is boring, I've fallen asleep at every club rugby match I was at. Alot of Munster and Leinster fans never played rugby and don't have one iota about the sport. I know some people who look on the GAA as a bunch of redneck thugs whereas rugby is the glamour game. It seems to me that alot of Irish people are very fond of jumping on whichever bandwagon is going well (ie) Irish soccer team (a parade for winning a match in the world cup-pathetic), english soccer teams, Munster or Leinster. Theres also some amount of people in Dublin who think rugby is the only sport going, one journalist after the France game said it was probably a better performance and match than anything that had been in Croke Park before-I wonder which fee-paying school he went to. There is also an honesty in rugby that appeals to Irish people that isn't in soccer.

ChungLad (Longford) - Posts: 351 - 14/04/2009 16:27:36    256711

Ok this is very simple to understand, rugby is not a 'threat' to GAA its a competitor.

Competition = Very Good.

Monopoly = Very Bad.


Theres nothing more drab than a monopoly.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 14/04/2009 17:02:52    256766

foreign games in croker....disgraceful!

thats all i have 2 say

stonedog (Down) - Posts: 352 - 14/04/2009 17:38:40    256846

CheFinny
County: UK
Posts: 50

256587



Thanks for agreeing with me.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 14/04/2009 23:06:08    257211

Rugby a threat to the G.A.A. ??? Not in the least !!!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 14/04/2009 23:56:01    257323

Patrique your quote would seem to suggest that you feel Grammar schools will loose their GAA culture.

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 15/04/2009 08:57:25    257419

I support Connacht Rugby. This is for 2 reasons, firstly pride of place, this is the province I am from and I will support them. Secondly, Im a sucker for underdogs!

But one thing is clear, Ireland can go and win the Rugby World Cup and as many grand slams as they like, but nothing will affect my love for Gaelic Games. These are the sports most of us have grown up with, whether its football, hurling, handball, camogie. Gaelic Games are intertwined with Irish life, and as someone has already said, it is more than just a sport.....

irishstew (Sligo) - Posts: 172 - 15/04/2009 09:14:03    257425

CheFinny
County: UK
Posts: 51

257419
Patrique your quote would seem to suggest that you feel Grammar schools will loose their GAA culture.


Rugby, in the North of Ireland, is played almost entirely in State Grammar Schools.

So unless you attend one of those, it is unlikely to have an affect on the GAA.

St Mary's made the MacRory semi this year, Rathmore the McLarnon semi, and Cross and Passion WON the Hurling (b) Championship, so it does not seem to be having an effect in Antrim.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 15/04/2009 13:31:38    257670