The Rugby Thread (Part 2)

[LionelRitchie]

Useless info of the day: his oldman is the CEO of C&C

[Fagan_ODowd]

@LionelRitchie

@neilld

He seems to be perceptibly quicker than most backrows

Fucker is lightening fast. Saw him trample over my brother at top speed one day! The lad can motor

Serious wheels.

[Fagan_ODowd]

@LionelRitchie

Useless info of the day: his oldman is the CEO of C&C

Whose father is CEO of C&C?

[TheUlteriorMotive]

I
Look forward to hearing why on his podcast

[LionelRitchie]

Chief Commercial Officer, sorry

Sheahan

[Fagan_ODowd]

@LionelRitchie

Chief Commercial Officer, sorry

Clarification noted, bucko.

[glasagusban]

Wealth = better rugby rugby players.

[Biff_Egan]

Except in Limerick. Need to be a docker or a binman

[Aertel220]

“Rud” O’ Connor comes across as very petty towards Jacques Nienabar in the Indo podcast. Seething because he used “we” instead of them when referring to South Africa. Making a mountain of a molehill regarding that interview. I’d be cynical enough regarding Nienabar’s intentions but it’s no wonder the Saffers despise the Irish media when you hear the likes of this carry on.

[the_rattler]

Journalists are obsessed with interviews. Throwing questions at managers and players makes them feel part of the game/sport.

[Cheasty]

Outstanding

[PhattPike]

BANTZ!

[Fagan_ODowd]

Dear Mary: My boyfriend and his family and friends are obsessed with rugby and talk about it non-stop. I feel I’ve nothing in common with them

​

Summarise

​

Mary O’Conor

“If any of your children were to show an interest in rugby, you will have a built-in cheerleader for them.” Image: Getty

Question: I have known my boyfriend for many years and he is a very good provider. He cares for me and my children from my last relationships. He works hard and gets us everything we want and is a patient ‘dad taxi’ for the kids.

He LOVES rugby. I do enjoy seeing him get excited about matches and he seems to enjoy it a lot.

But, here is the problem: he talks about rugby to his friends, his friends talk about rugby all the time. I don’t even think they follow a specific team. Any team, any match seems to garner interest: international, junior, school, all the matches get the same level of interest.

Since he moved out of his family home and in with me, I’ve met his parents and siblings. Guess what? All they talk about is rugby. His parents have rugby stuff displayed in their house. My girlfriends would openly mock me if they saw anything sporty on the walls of my place. When I tell them, they say I need to put my foot down and rein him in.

What can I do here? I love my boyfriend, but I don’t have anything in common with his friends or family. But I don’t want people to be asking ‘Why is he with her? She doesn’t even like rugby?’

Mary replies: As the American Thanksgiving holiday that just passed, when we were exhorted to be thankful for all the goodness in our lives, I feel you might just be thankful for your boyfriend rather than complain about his obsession with rugby.

He is a caring father figure for your children, he provides for you all and seems an all-round good guy. Most important of all, you love him.

And loving someone entails loving them ‘warts and all’. He could probably list some things that he doesn’t like about you but he probably sees past that and embraces all of you.

Your boyfriend obviously comes from a sporting family where rugby above all else was revered. You didn’t.

But that doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with either of you. I totally disagree with your girlfriends when they tell you to put your foot down with regard to rugby. Why should you do that? You are not writing to tell me that he is obsessed with porn, or having an affair, or mean with money, or using coercive control. That is just a sample of what people write to me about and their stories are sometimes harrowing.

There are lots of things that you can talk to your boyfriend’s family about other than rugby. I’m sure there are things that you are passionately interested in, hobbies that you enjoy or travels that you have made. They would probably be delighted to have a change of topic and happy to get to know you better. I’m also sure that nobody will judge you just because you are not a rugby aficionado. Variety is what makes people interesting – it would be a very dull world if everybody shared the same passions.

A bonus for you would be that if any of your children were to show an interest in rugby, you will have a built-in cheerleader for them.

You can contact Mary O’Conor anonymously by filling out the form below or email her at dearmary@independent.ie. All correspondence will be treated in confidence. Mary O’Conor regrets that she is unable to answer any questions privately.

[gilgamboa]

@Fagan_ODowd

Mary replies: As the American Thanksgiving holiday that just passed, when we were exhorted to be thankful for all the goodness in our lives, I feel you might just be thankful for your boyfriend rather than complain about his obsession with rugby.

He is a caring father figure for your children, he provides for you all and seems an all-round good guy. Most important of all, you love him

Good girl Mary this wan doesn’t know she is born

[Bandage]

Great advice from Mary alright. I’d have been thinking along similar lines & nobody is expecting this lady to be an expert or will think any less fondly of her if she was to say…I wouldn’t know a line out from a scrum myself! Her partner’s friends & family will giggle in a kind & inclusive rather than mocking way & will gladly broaden the conversation topics.

[Diabhal]

I’d hazard a guess that maybe 5% of all professed rubby fanatics would actually know the sport and pass the bar exam when it comes to the many laws. I wouldn’t be in that 5% either because I’d rather mutilate myself than follow Schools Cups in any sport.

[tallback]

@Fagan_ODowd

Dear Mary: My boyfriend and his family and friends are obsessed with rugby and talk about it non-stop. I feel I’ve nothing in common with them

​

Summarise

​

Mary O’Conor

“If any of your children were to show an interest in rugby, you will have a built-in cheerleader for them.” Image: Getty

Question: I have known my boyfriend for many years and he is a very good provider. He cares for me and my children from my last relationships. He works hard and gets us everything we want and is a patient ‘dad taxi’ for the kids.

He LOVES rugby. I do enjoy seeing him get excited about matches and he seems to enjoy it a lot.

But, here is the problem: he talks about rugby to his friends, his friends talk about rugby all the time. I don’t even think they follow a specific team. Any team, any match seems to garner interest: international, junior, school, all the matches get the same level of interest.

Since he moved out of his family home and in with me, I’ve met his parents and siblings. Guess what? All they talk about is rugby. His parents have rugby stuff displayed in their house. My girlfriends would openly mock me if they saw anything sporty on the walls of my place. When I tell them, they say I need to put my foot down and rein him in.

What can I do here? I love my boyfriend, but I don’t have anything in common with his friends or family. But I don’t want people to be asking ‘Why is he with her? She doesn’t even like rugby?’

Mary replies: As the American Thanksgiving holiday that just passed, when we were exhorted to be thankful for all the goodness in our lives, I feel you might just be thankful for your boyfriend rather than complain about his obsession with rugby.

He is a caring father figure for your children, he provides for you all and seems an all-round good guy. Most important of all, you love him.

And loving someone entails loving them ‘warts and all’. He could probably list some things that he doesn’t like about you but he probably sees past that and embraces all of you.

Your boyfriend obviously comes from a sporting family where rugby above all else was revered. You didn’t.

But that doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with either of you. I totally disagree with your girlfriends when they tell you to put your foot down with regard to rugby. Why should you do that? You are not writing to tell me that he is obsessed with porn, or having an affair, or mean with money, or using coercive control. That is just a sample of what people write to me about and their stories are sometimes harrowing.

There are lots of things that you can talk to your boyfriend’s family about other than rugby. I’m sure there are things that you are passionately interested in, hobbies that you enjoy or travels that you have made. They would probably be delighted to have a change of topic and happy to get to know you better. I’m also sure that nobody will judge you just because you are not a rugby aficionado. Variety is what makes people interesting – it would be a very dull world if everybody shared the same passions.

A bonus for you would be that if any of your children were to show an interest in rugby, you will have a built-in cheerleader for them.

You can contact Mary O’Conor anonymously by filling out the form below or email her at dearmary@independent.ie. All correspondence will be treated in confidence. Mary O’Conor regrets that she is unable to answer any questions privately.

Mary ran right over the top of her there, and rightly so

[glasagusban]

@Fagan_ODowd

When I tell them, they say I need to put my foot down and rein him in.

I can’t get over this line.

[Aertel220]

This wan lucky enough to find some fella to take her on with chaps and all and she having second doubts because he likes to watch a bit of rugby.

[Diabhal]

Stuey Tuesdays needs to tell about 25 Connacht players to pick a trade instead of this rubby messing.