There’s only 10 test playing cricket nations - of which its now only really taken seriously in India and Pakistan, hurling is only taken seriously in Kilkenny, gaelic football is only taken seriously in Kerry, applying your rationale, every sport bar soccer is presumably a minority sport.
That great universal sport of soccer in 19 World Cup’s has seen 13 of them won by Brazil, Germany & Italy and in the other 6, France, Uruguay, England and Argentina all required home advantage to win it for the first time. EPL soccer has evolved into little more than a competition between super franchises from London and Manchester the most populous centre of population in Southern and Northern England. European Cup soccer is now effectively contested for between Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Italy a traditional superpower of European football don’t even contend anymore.
Outside of the draft system in US sports, most top level sport is horribly uncompetitive and predictable.
Rugby is more competitive than most sports. The World Cup has thrown up 4 different winners in 7 competitions. The Six Nations has seen 4 different winners in the first 5 years of this decade. The European Cup has thrown up 10 different winners in its 19 year history and another 7 different finalists. Domestically here in Ireland, the AIL has had 10 different winners in 24 years with Terenure College likely to become the 11th different winner next May.
And take note - rugby is taken very seriously in Ireland.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1049686, member: 377”]There’s only 10 test playing cricket nations - of which its now only really taken seriously in India and Pakistan, hurling is only taken seriously in Kilkenny, gaelic football is only taken seriously in Kerry, applying your rationale, every sport bar soccer is presumably a minority sport.
That great universal sport of soccer in 19 World Cup’s has seen 13 of them won by Brazil, Germany & Italy and in the other 6, France, Uruguay, England and Argentina all required home advantage to win it for the first time. EPL soccer has evolved into little more than a competition between super franchises from London and Manchester the most populous centre of population in Southern and Northern England. European Cup soccer is now effectively contested for between Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Italy a traditional superpower of European football don’t even contend anymore.
Outside of the draft system in US sports, most top level sport is horribly uncompetitive and predictable.
Rugby is more competitive than most sports. The World Cup has thrown up 4 different winners in 7 competitions. The Six Nations has seen 4 different winners in the first 5 years of this decade. The European Cup has thrown up 10 different winners in its 19 year history and another 7 different finalists. Domestically here in Ireland, the AIL has had 10 different winners in 24 years with Terenure College likely to become the 11th different winner next May.
And take note - rugby is taken very seriously in Ireland.[/QUOTE]
Mate- Rugby is essentially a pushing competition- give over this utter bollox you are spouting.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1049686, member: 377”]There’s only 10 test playing cricket nations - of which its now only really taken seriously in India and Pakistan, hurling is only taken seriously in Kilkenny, gaelic football is only taken seriously in Kerry, applying your rationale, every sport bar soccer is presumably a minority sport.
That great universal sport of soccer in 19 World Cup’s has seen 13 of them won by Brazil, Germany & Italy and in the other 6, France, Uruguay, England and Argentina all required home advantage to win it for the first time. EPL soccer has evolved into little more than a competition between super franchises from London and Manchester the most populous centre of population in Southern and Northern England. European Cup soccer is now effectively contested for between Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Italy a traditional superpower of European football don’t even contend anymore.
Outside of the draft system in US sports, most top level sport is horribly uncompetitive and predictable.
Rugby is more competitive than most sports. The World Cup has thrown up 4 different winners in 7 competitions. The Six Nations has seen 4 different winners in the first 5 years of this decade. The European Cup has thrown up 10 different winners in its 19 year history and another 7 different finalists. Domestically here in Ireland, the AIL has had 10 different winners in 24 years with Terenure College likely to become the 11th different winner next May.
And take note - rugby is taken very seriously in Ireland.[/QUOTE]
Almost 50 per cent of “rugby world” cups have been won by the host nation.
The AIL? How come Terenure College are not in the premier European rugby club competition instead of an artificial amalgamation.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1049686, member: 377”]There’s only 10 test playing cricket nations - of which its now only really taken seriously in India and Pakistan, hurling is only taken seriously in Kilkenny, gaelic football is only taken seriously in Kerry, applying your rationale, every sport bar soccer is presumably a minority sport.
That great universal sport of soccer in 19 World Cup’s has seen 13 of them won by Brazil, Germany & Italy and in the other 6, France, Uruguay, England and Argentina all required home advantage to win it for the first time. EPL soccer has evolved into little more than a competition between super franchises from London and Manchester the most populous centre of population in Southern and Northern England. European Cup soccer is now effectively contested for between Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Italy a traditional superpower of European football don’t even contend anymore.
Outside of the draft system in US sports, most top level sport is horribly uncompetitive and predictable.
Rugby is more competitive than most sports. The World Cup has thrown up 4 different winners in 7 competitions. The Six Nations has seen 4 different winners in the first 5 years of this decade. The European Cup has thrown up 10 different winners in its 19 year history and another 7 different finalists. Domestically here in Ireland, the AIL has had 10 different winners in 24 years with Terenure College likely to become the 11th different winner next May.
And take note - rugby is taken very seriously in Ireland.[/QUOTE]
[I]Blackrock College R.F.C was founded in 1882, making it one of the oldest senior rugby clubs in Ireland. Their membership of almost 1200 consists of players, coaches, associate and life members.
Cuala GAA Club was established over 30 years ago and has developed into one of the largest GAA clubs in the country. Their membership of almost 2000 people consisting of players, mentors, coaches and social continues to expand[/I]
[QUOTE=“TheUlteriorMotive, post: 1049690, member: 2272”]Almost 50 per cent of “rugby world” cups have been won by the host nation.
The AIL? How come Terenure College are not in the premier European rugby club competition instead of an artificial amalgamation.[/QUOTE]
Why do the artificial amalgamations of the 32 county system introduced by the Tudors compete for the All Ireland Hurling and Football championships instead of more traditional units like the 26 diocese of Ireland - Cashel and Emly, Cork and Ross, Achonry, Kildare and Leighlin, Ossory, Ferns or even the Brehon Law demarcation of the island of Ireland.
Is he for real, pal? While the brits may have marked the boundaries, I’m pretty sure Luimneach, Corcaigh, An Clar, Chipp and Phort Lairge existed before they ruined this country… FFS, the Munster fairies were forever nipping up to Connaught for a challenge match and likewise the Leinster fairies tipping down for a game off the Munster fairies. He’s clueless that fella.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1049585, member: 377”]Hurling is taken seriously in one county Kilkenny and half seriously in 6-7 more.
Your own county Limerick (which is the home of Irish rugby) is a joke when it comes to hurling. One All Ireland in 75 years and that won against a weakened Kilkenny team in 1973.
Ireland are currently European champions.
Leinster and Munster have won the blue riband event of European club rugby five times in the last decade.[/QUOTE]
You forgot that Ireland currently hold the Raeburn Shield also buddy.
[QUOTE=“Tassotti, post: 1049984, member: 361”]AUSTRALIA caused €8k worth of damage when they trashed the away changing room in the Aviva Stadium following last Saturday’s defeat to Ireland.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1049878, member: 377”]I hadn’t forgotten. We also currently hold the Admiral Brown Cup, the Centenary Quaich and regained the Lansdowne Cup last Saturday.
Who was the idiot who said what had the Irish rugby team won?[/QUOTE]
We also hold a metaphorical quarter of the Tom Richards Cup.
But there’s a Millennium Trophy-shaped hole in the Lansdowne Road trophy room at the moment and I know that’ll rankle with the chaps.
Australian rugby is all but dead,no one gives a fuck about it, yet our skillset was way better than the oirish and a few games into our new managers reign we nearly beat the irish in their own ground
[QUOTE=“Fagan ODowd, post: 1050070, member: 706”]Gerry Thornley described Joe Schmidt as “the Bambrick (sic) Gascoigne of University Challenge of rugby. He’s a genius”.
Off the ball tonight.[/QUOTE]
Did Gezza give us any thoughts on this weekend’s Top Quatorze and Pro de Deux matches?
[QUOTE=“Fagan ODowd, post: 1050070, member: 706”]Gerry Thornley described Joe Schmidt as “the Bambrick (sic) Gascoigne of University Challenge of rugby. He’s a genius”.
Off the ball tonight.[/QUOTE]
Couldnt beat Trevor Hogan complimenting rugby players on the smart tactic of learning an opponents name so they could call it out in the hope of getting a pass in error from the opposing player. Fucking hell.