Ulster and Munster are on a par to me, that’s being honest with you now.
Ulster fans would be far more knowledgeable.
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Less chance of bandwagon.
Ulster had the original bandwagon in 99
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Aye, heard they brought some crowd to Dublin alright.
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Great day in Dublin
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Puts the tin hat on the season for Ulster rugby after 2 more clubs from the province getting relegated from 1B in the league. Interest in the game has died off completely up here, it’s rare you would even see a rugby top these days. The provincial team taken over by southerners and hardly any international representation from the province, I don’t see things being turned around anytime soon. Dictated to by Dublin and living off their scraps, is this what a UI looks like…
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What’s brought this on? Would the Paddy Jackson trial have had anything to do with it
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We’re breeding the bastards out
Definitely not related to the Jackson trial. Drawing from a dwindling population is an issue. A far bigger issue that there are no new grounds to recruit from, and I know a number of ex-players who won’t allow their kids play the game because they understand the dangers and have seen the consequences. Add to that the ease of travel to England for premier league games (I was on a flight Wedneday and it was packed with City fans of all things!), NI’s relative success and some terrible scheduling that makes kids pick between rugby and soccer and it all plays a part. And the domination of Dublin, and the number of Dubs in the Ulster squad, is a major issue for a certain section.
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3 of the 5 league winners were from Ulster incl City of Derry getting into the top flight is an unreal achievement…instonians won all their league games with BPs I’d say they hoovered up all the mercs that might have kept a few of the others up. They had no shot at goal in the entire league campaign barring conversions
Edit…clogher valley won the junior League round robin as well and up into AIL. They are a relatively new club
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Wrong city, City of Armagh. Don’t think Derry are in the AIl these days? 3 of the 20 clubs in 1A and 1B next season are from Ulster, that’s fairly pitiful.
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Sorry yeah Armagh.
Lot of the issue down to demographics…Munster clubs suffered hugely relative to others as well with players migrating to Dublin and overseas
McIllroy got involved.
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I’d a look there for interest…10 season ago it was 4 and none in top tier
20 seasons ago 3 in top 20 across D1 and D2
Couldnt get over the amount of empty seats at Ravenhill tonight for a big game.
Ulster rubby fans have turned on Dan McFarland despite producing absolutely fuckall in the academy in terms of brute forwards for a good decade. Them throwing money at Springboks and expecting Rocky Elsom/Doug Howlett/Pienaar level-impacts is pointless as none of these Vermuelen/Kitschoff types buy into the setup anymore. It’s all a nice payday from Rors McIlroy to stay fit for the international windows.
If I knew you were going to use the full force of Google to rebut my argument I’d have given it more attention. Proper clubs like Dungannon, Malone, Banbridge and Ballymena struggling is bad for the game here. Queens and City of Armagh being 2 of the top 3 in the province is a poor outlook.
Be more in your line anyway to provide some recommendations on things to do for some sons of Ulster spending this weekend in Cork.
I didn’t see it but I’m not surprised, it’s how things have been going. What doesn’t help either is that BBC Ulster no longer show the games, and TG4 is geoblocked presumably for fear that anyone that way inclined may turn up the volume when watching the game.
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Dungannon in a promotion final today ….