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Can the GAA survive the Rugby onslaught

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Bumper nut. -- Is rugby in Belfast mainly a unionist /Protestant game? thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts:534 - 10/11/2016 11:13:15 i understand its mainly protestant/unionist and gaa up there i understand is mainly catholic/nationalist been up to some of the ulster clubs been in malone, ballinahinch ballymena, ravenhill and met their guys when they come down here got on well with the locals - was in corrigan park for limerick v antrim football games this year, played derry couple of times as well - no problems there either janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 10/11/2016 11:52:06 1933272 Link
Replying To Breffni39: "That's all very well Bumpernut, but I'm gonna wait for Ormo and Janesboros definitive account of rugby in Belfast. :)" Ha! Breff got their before me! MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 10/11/2016 12:04:08 1933279 Link
Replying To thelongridge: "Bumper nut. Is rugby in Belfast mainly a unionist /Protestant game?" It is in the main longridge but there is certainly a lot more catholics playing and watching it now than there was 10/15 years ago for example. The majority of catholic kids playing it would be at fee paying schools like Inst or Methody, which would have been classed as solely Protestant schools in the past. Those catholic kids attending these schools would be mainly from Malone area in South Belfast. There are no working class catholic schools in Belfast playing that im aware of at a competitive level. I will say though that while I cant bring myself to watch or support ulster there are substantially more catholics including from West Belfast going to watch them. Ravenhill is certainly a friendlier and less intimidating arena than Windsor Park though they still have their memorial clock and politics that is associated with it which is why I struggle to cheer them on. There is no doubt that supporter wise there is a change iro supporting Ulster among nationalists/catholics, however, playing the game in belfast though is still the preserve of the middle and upper classes regardless of religion. bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 10/11/2016 12:10:14 1933283 Link
Ormond, All I'm saying is that most of the rugby players from this city that end up playing for Leinster and Ireland come from a small section of society. That's just how it is. That helps feed the perception about rugby in Dublin. Agreed? That's all I'm saying. In terms of my own personal experience, I'm pretty sure that it is quite similar to a lot of other Dubliners. I recognise that my experience is not definitive. However I'm sure you can see how that experience added to my first point could help to continue the perception about rugby. For the record I'm from the North Stand Rd. I still live and work in the general area. MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts:10221 - 09/11/2016 16:01:46The numbers playing at professional level are overwhelmingly from a small number of schools in the country, fee paying or not, because the kids in those schools train like pros. They are training 3 times a week on the pitch with 3/4 strength and conditioning sessions with a match a week for the season. That is why so many are from a small number of schools playing for Leinster. That is changing as more clubs and people play in these clubs and standards of coaching improve in those areas. When you say your experience is that of a lot of Dubliners I think that's incorrect. I do see how that experience continues that perception about rugby. would you ever think of seeing what a rugby club is like to change the perception? ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 10/11/2016 12:19:19 1933286 Link
Replying To janesboro: "Bumper nut. -- Is rugby in Belfast mainly a unionist /Protestant game? thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts:534 - 10/11/2016 11:13:15 i understand its mainly protestant/unionist and gaa up there i understand is mainly catholic/nationalist been up to some of the ulster clubs been in malone, ballinahinch ballymena, ravenhill and met their guys when they come down here got on well with the locals - was in corrigan park for limerick v antrim football games this year, played derry couple of times as well - no problems there either" Jane, The rugby crowd would be political with a small 'p' as opposed to the soccer crowd up here. Without doubt they are evolving and have evolved to embrace those from nationalist backgrounds at a lot quicker pace than soccer. The key element though with rugby is it encompasses all 9 ulster counties on an all Ireland basis which is why nationalists can and will now identify with it. Supporting the soccer team is an acceptance of the existence of the state you oppose if you're nationalist and then everything that goes with it including standing for GSTQ. bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 10/11/2016 12:20:37 1933288 Link
We all like different things.I love snooker myself am spending 5 days in London at the Masters in January.None of my pals like it and think it's a waste of a holiday but i wouldn't like to be anywhere else.Although my Dad is a GAA man he has always liked rugby and my cousins in Tipp play for Killfeacle rugby but i just never had a gră for it myself. cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts:4788 - 09/11/2016 16:59:34There is not having a gra for it and there is being biased against it without directly experiencing the sport. Interesting you mentioned family playing for Kilfeacle as ive family who were very involved with them for years. Not so much now as all have emigrated ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 10/11/2016 12:21:04 1933289 Link
There has been very little growth in rugby in the working class areas of Dublin. Its support is growing the middle class areas. And tag rugy must be the quickest growing game in the capital. The mixed gender and social element means it is very popular. This popularity is transferring into support for Leinster and the Irish team bad.monkey (USA) - Posts:4193 - 09/11/2016 19:29:14What would you be calling working class areas and what would you define as middle class areas? ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 10/11/2016 12:22:01 1933290 Link
baffled why somebody would dislike this post -- and you got france as well having fijian, italy have one too - Id like -1 make the 6 nations into 7 nations - and winner of ERC nations cup getting promoted into it - probably wont happen -2 let non tier 2 players who have played with a tier 1 nation go back to their tier 2 nations e.g. if a fijian plays for france , allow him return to play for fiji janesboro (Limerick) - Posts:837 - 09/11/2016 22:07:18There isn't room to change 6 nations to 7 and allowing movement of nationality isn't realistic. And World Rugby wont allow that to happen ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 10/11/2016 12:22:59 1933291 Link
Have any of ye noticed the cufflinks on the thumbs up and thumbs down icons ? Fascinating stuff. More fascinating than this thread anyways. How many ways can you say it. Rugby isn't as popular worldwide as some sports. A lot of people playing rugby in the cities come from a wealthy background and speak with a posh accent. Maybe some posh people are decent folk, I don't know that many. Most GAA people are working class and sound. ? GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8152 - 10/11/2016 12:24:04 1933292 Link
thats your experience...iv had a different experience in my own area...and the perception mesamis speaks about is very real and off putting for many..people need to understand dublin is a lot different to the rest of the country alano12 (Dublin) - Posts:886 - 09/11/2016 22:20:03 But if peoples perceptions lead them like that it says a lot more negatively about you and these people than it ever can about rugby I had real negative experiences of playing GAA. The way I was treated by my club and especially club coaches but if I ever am lucky enough to have kids those experiences wont ever stop me stopping them from playing GAA with their local club ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 10/11/2016 12:25:02 1933293 Link
Replying To janesboro: "Replying To Rockies: "Think there is room for all games...just enjoy it. Nothing better than a full blooded competitive rugby game. yep agree - or also a full blooded hurling of football game most of the growth in rugby is gaa guys getting involved in a different sport but still playing or staying involved in gaa and hurling /football remaining the preferred sport but with rugby now at sport no 2/3 or 4 . Theres plenty of rugby fans who follow gaa too. Rugby wont threaten the gaa at the time of euro 88 and italia 90 - people thought gaa would take over soccer - it didnt - GAA fans realised they could like GAA and soccer as well and now they realise they can like rugby and other sports too - GAA will always be top dog - nothing wrong with that but its ok to like other sports too" Nobody is arguing that someone can't like other sports Janesboro. We all like several sports. Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12440 - 10/11/2016 12:26:50 1933295 Link
there are about 12 rugby clubs in Connacht. In the whole province! I wouldn't get too worked up about it. They are giving development contracts to the most talented youth athletes in GAA heartlands who are playing schools rugby and on developmental squads, but once they are not wanted they are discarded. Professional sport is a cutthroat business manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts:394 - 09/11/2016 23:25:04 There is being wrong and then there is being idiotic..... There is huge work being put in Connacht and Connacht give academy contracts only to about 12-18 guys a year with a few more on sub academy contracts and they are not discarded if not wanted. They are released and kept on watch by development officers. Its the same thing done by teams in all sports ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 10/11/2016 12:27:42 1933297 Link
Replying To Scallioneater: "The word onslaught is a bit ott, there is no threat to gaelic games from any sport,but in my opinion if there is a threat to gaelic games it will come from within." I would agree with your comment and add. Most guys who play GAA, play for the enjoyment, have full time jobs/part-time and are not interested in the secondary sports except to watch and play occasionally. In most counties there are only a few rugby clubs and I can never see them coming anywhere near the appeal of our games. Tot up the cost of supplying club houses and a few playing pitches to every parish in our country. On a cost basis alone it will never happen. browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 10/11/2016 12:31:21 1933299 Link
Replying To ormondbannerman: "We all like different things.I love snooker myself am spending 5 days in London at the Masters in January.None of my pals like it and think it's a waste of a holiday but i wouldn't like to be anywhere else.Although my Dad is a GAA man he has always liked rugby and my cousins in Tipp play for Killfeacle rugby but i just never had a gră for it myself. cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts:4788 - 09/11/2016 16:59:34There is not having a gra for it and there is being biased against it without directly experiencing the sport. Interesting you mentioned family playing for Kilfeacle as ive family who were very involved with them for years. Not so much now as all have emigrated" We could be related ormond!Imagine that (: cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 10/11/2016 12:44:27 1933304 Link
greenandred - A lot of people playing rugby in the cities come from a wealthy background and speak with a posh accent.i take it you havent been to a game in limerick then!! janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 10/11/2016 12:45:13 1933305 Link
interesting that the threads getting the most action and replies are the anti rugby threads yet when i start a thread about the limerick v tipp all ireland minor hurling final - i get three replies shows where some peoples priorities lie janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 10/11/2016 12:54:16 1933309 Link
he numbers playing at professional level are overwhelmingly from a small number of schools in the country, fee paying or not, because the kids in those schools train like pros. They are training 3 times a week on the pitch with 3/4 strength and conditioning sessions with a match a week for the season. That is why so many are from a small number of schools playing for Leinster. That is changing as more clubs and people play in these clubs and standards of coaching improve in those areas. When you say your experience is that of a lot of Dubliners I think that's incorrect. I do see how that experience continues that perception about rugby. would you ever think of seeing what a rugby club is like to change the perception? ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts:12269 - 10/11/2016 12:19:19 Exactly, so you see how the perception comes about and how it is continued and will be continued until more people from normal backgrounds in Dublin starting making the breakthrough at pro level. You say that you reckon my experience is not that of a lot of Dubliners. However to be honest the Dubliners you meet are in the main going to be involved in rugby because you yourself and involved in rugby. So I'm not sure how much of a diverse sample size of Dublin population you've seen in your life. The majority of people I know, family, friends, schoolmates, colleagues, work acquaintances etc etc are from Dublin and my experience holds true on that front. Again it isn't definitive, but seeing as you've admitted that the perception is real it shows that my experience is a fairly common one. I wouldn't be interested in getting involved in a rugby club myself as I see no need to. I'm involved in GAA and soccer so there isn't anything that rugby can give me that I don't already have. MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 10/11/2016 12:59:53 1933312 Link
Replying To janesboro: "greenandred - A lot of people playing rugby in the cities come from a wealthy background and speak with a posh accent.i take it you havent been to a game in limerick then!!" I was trying to inject a sense of humour in the thread. The cufflinks remark was a clue. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8152 - 10/11/2016 13:01:09 1933313 Link
Replying To GreenandRed: " Replying To janesboro: "greenandred - A lot of people playing rugby in the cities come from a wealthy background and speak with a posh accent.i take it you havent been to a game in limerick then!!" I was trying to inject a sense of humour in the thread. The cufflinks remark was a clue." For what its worth,i appreciated your gag. cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 10/11/2016 13:07:11 1933317 Link
Replying To janesboro: "interesting that the threads getting the most action and replies are the anti rugby threads yet when i start a thread about the limerick v tipp all ireland minor hurling final - i get three replies shows where some peoples priorities lie" Hurling is in the minority on this site and it doesn't get much discussion going. Added to that your thread was about minor hurling. This thread kept going mainly through yourself and Ormond not accepting that some people's experiences are different from yours and thinking that my explanation for the perception of elitism in rugby stemming from me never having been to a rugby club. MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 10/11/2016 13:51:07 1933328 Link