So there isnt a thread on this (or maybe there is?). Im a Worcester Warriors fan. Anyone else have a team/interest?
I used to when I was a kid. I followed the club game and the county game with a passion ...................... I actually went to watch Orrell and Lancashire on a regular basis, often instead of going to footie ............................. When the professional era arrived, county rugby was reduced to a sideshow, and Orrell became a victim of finances and evntually went bust (their ground is now used by Wigan Warriors RLFC as a training ground) .................... With the changes in the rules to rid the game of compettive scrums, rucks and mauls; I've now pretty much lost interest in the sport.
It is interesting looking back at those transition days of the early Courage leagues, teams in the NW like Liverpool SH, Waterloo, Orrell any of those could have gone on to greatness or at least emulated the Sale Sharks branch off if only they had a backer with the vison and business sense. Meanwhile Worcester then were still playing traditional games on a pitch with a fence around it. Getting into the elite top group of clubs now costs a lot of serious money, its pretty much a closed shop for the forseeable. As for the game itself I think its more watchable now, as funny as it is too see footage of Brian Moore neglecting to get over the ball but instead opting to kick **** out of a mass of bodies is entertaining but id rather see atheletes showing thier skills in open play, scrums do take too long and time wasting is rife but at least as a sport its looking for ways to improve rather than that other love of mine which seems to think up ways to make itself as sterile and unexciting as possible.
As someone who used to play in the Forwards (mainly No.8, and occasional Second Row), I miss the old style rucks and mauls. There used to be a proper contest for the ball, and required skill and bravery to steal possession. Now, with these mini-rucks, it's almost like a rugby league play the ball. In addition, the old style maul and rucks used to suck in most of the forwards, which meant when the ball did emerge, the backs had space to work in. I'm not sure all the rule changes have been for the better.
A huge generalisation here and I'm going to attract criticism I'm sure but in my experience rugby union fans are generally hugely ignorant of the sport of their doorstep. The majority that I know don't follow any team and wouldn't even be able to name the reigning champions.
Ulster fan. I try to go 5 times a season minimum plus an away game or two. Currently trying yo figure out how Connacht are still top!?
I live in one of the few places where Rugby Union is actually the number one sport locally. Logic dictates that I follow Gloucester, but I've only been to one game and that was away. Been to Kingsholm many times though, even played there as a kid in the schools County Cup, getting hammered 40-0 by St Peter's (best school in the county by a mile and have won the national title a few times at different age groups). It's odd living in a place where the main sports news item is, without doubt, what happened to Gloucester today. If the hooker blows his nose it's bigger news than literally anything football related, even nationally, in the local press and on Radio Gloucestershire. It's also frustrating (and this was the case when we were a Football League team) that their games take precedence over ours and Forest Green's on Saturdays. This includes their pre-season friendlies.
But that is just how Rugby is, Its not like football in that it football has a tradition of leauges and people going to every single game after work in t'mill. Rugby has it roots in games which were big events that only came around on occasions, these games had high stakes and attracted large crowds of people largley ignorant of the games intracacies but were passionate about thier local town, county, province, school, regiment not loosing non the less, thats Wales v England. The pubs filling up with part time fans and work mates and what have you during the 6N is a great thing whether they know anything about it or not, thats what the true spirit of rugby is all about. Rugby Union is the most inclusive and social sport im aware of. Club rugby will never have as many people who watch a game in attendance week in week out as football fans do, but those that do tend to be very knowlegeable, Lots of them will be members of other smaller clubs affliated to the bigger regional one (a polular way to tickets) and many will have played the game at least at some of the many inclusive levels. If you were to go the the club house at your nearest club on matchday youd notice a very different kind of fan from the types who only watch the big games.
Used to go and watch Sarries a bit when they played at the Vic but it was a bit unfortunate they weren't really the team they are now and our ground was a dump. Plus we had a few board room issues which I think disrupted the relationship that was fairly solid at first. Both have moved on somewhat I guess!
Mahoosive win for us on Sat against a team and a club we have had an inferioity complex with since getting into the top flight. No way we are going down now. The Irish v Sarries game was a satisfyingly damp squib, hopefully that will be and end to that kind of thing.
Exeter top now - to think some thought they would be cannon fodder when promoted all those years ago. Wasps seem to be playing the most entertaining rugby..
This is the only Rugby Union thread I could see, so for all you Taff's out there, I played Rugby in my Army days so I kind of love the sport and this guy is one of the best I have seen. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Sam Warburton: Wales and British & Irish Lions captain retires from rugby British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has retired from rugby at the age of 29 after winning 79 Test caps. The former Wales captain has not played since leading the 2017 Lions to a drawn series against New Zealand. The back-rower recently returned to Cardiff Blues training after being sidelined for 2017-18 by knee and neck surgery. (More vv) Sam Warburton: Wales and British & Irish Lions captain retires from rugby
One of the best posters on here And a fellow snooker fan I hope this guy is OK Anyone know what happened to this guy or he just stop posting !?
There seems to be quite a debate regarding whether promotion/relegation should still occur between the Premiership and the Championship. I really don't see any positives to shutting the door on smaller clubs who might be dreaming big. If there was no chance of promotion all those years back, we wouldn't have seen Exeter Chiefs rise to the top of the game and Cornish Pirates seem to be wanting to head down a similar path as they look to move to a new stadium. I understand that in recent years the same teams have swapped places and those relegated from the Premiership are currently more likely to get promoted again the following season but who's to say whether that will actually happen. Maybe instead of scrapping the whole thing they should change it to a playoff system that actually gains a bit of coverage. Semi finals consist of bottom 2 in Premiership playing each other with top 2 in the Championship playing each other and the winners playing each other at Twickenham for a place in the Premiership.
Not good news for the Aussies - one of their key players being "sacked" after making comments on Social media about Gay people - it might be his beliefs but surely in today's society not the sort that can be shared in public. And now an England star has got involved - bit of a headache for Eddie Jones potentially. Israel Folau: RFU to meet England's Billy Vunipola after he defended Australian's comments
It amazes me that people still have these 'beliefs' in this day and age. It is right that Australian rugby terminated his contract, hopefully that's the last we see and hear of him. And Vunipola has gone down massively in my estimation as well. I don't totally understand how social media works but is 'liking' something that indifferent to actually posting something?
Just means they agree with whatever the person has posted - you can "like" a post on here too !! The guy had already been warned about making such comments before as well .
Saracens have been docked 35 points for wage cap irregularities! Saracens docked 35 points and fined £5.3m for breaching salary cap rules Might liven the league up a bit !!
