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National Forum

Will Rugby World Cup Harm Gaa.

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We all really want Ireland to do well and hopefully win the final but undoubtedly it has to effect the Gaa. Young lads who probably would have automatically opted for hurling or football may now be thinking of playing rugby.
With the massive television coverage and with the high profile of the Irish players and the game in general its inevitable that there will be a crossover to the oval ball. That will seriously dilute the Gaa club scene and subsequently at intercounty level.
There isn't really anything the hierarchy of the Gaa can do to stop the rot except maybe through promotion of our games and injecting even more energy into making it attractive to play hurling or football. No easy task I'm afraid but every club and county must work hard to hold on to the players they have and promote the games in schools, colleges and clubs. They are of course doing this already but now there is massive competition out there. So to sit on our hands is not an option.
I'm all for freedom of choice but we must fight tooth and nail to maintain high standards.
Winning the world cup would be great for us as a nation but will there be a cost to pay down the road?

Magpie2 (Wexford) - Posts: 736 - 12/10/2023 12:35:27    2508015

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Replying To Magpie2:  "We all really want Ireland to do well and hopefully win the final but undoubtedly it has to effect the Gaa. Young lads who probably would have automatically opted for hurling or football may now be thinking of playing rugby.
With the massive television coverage and with the high profile of the Irish players and the game in general its inevitable that there will be a crossover to the oval ball. That will seriously dilute the Gaa club scene and subsequently at intercounty level.
There isn't really anything the hierarchy of the Gaa can do to stop the rot except maybe through promotion of our games and injecting even more energy into making it attractive to play hurling or football. No easy task I'm afraid but every club and county must work hard to hold on to the players they have and promote the games in schools, colleges and clubs. They are of course doing this already but now there is massive competition out there. So to sit on our hands is not an option.
I'm all for freedom of choice but we must fight tooth and nail to maintain high standards.
Winning the world cup would be great for us as a nation but will there be a cost to pay down the road?"
I'd imagine there's still a lot of areas that have a strong GAA presence that have no rugby clubs around them, maybe more so in rural parts. It could be more of an issue in built up towns etc

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2687 - 12/10/2023 13:26:05    2508024

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Replying To Magpie2:  "We all really want Ireland to do well and hopefully win the final but undoubtedly it has to effect the Gaa. Young lads who probably would have automatically opted for hurling or football may now be thinking of playing rugby.
With the massive television coverage and with the high profile of the Irish players and the game in general its inevitable that there will be a crossover to the oval ball. That will seriously dilute the Gaa club scene and subsequently at intercounty level.
There isn't really anything the hierarchy of the Gaa can do to stop the rot except maybe through promotion of our games and injecting even more energy into making it attractive to play hurling or football. No easy task I'm afraid but every club and county must work hard to hold on to the players they have and promote the games in schools, colleges and clubs. They are of course doing this already but now there is massive competition out there. So to sit on our hands is not an option.
I'm all for freedom of choice but we must fight tooth and nail to maintain high standards.
Winning the world cup would be great for us as a nation but will there be a cost to pay down the road?"
The GAA and Rugby seasons used to dovetail fairly well. GAA club players would play some club rugby when their GAA season finished. Not sure how it works now with the split season? Not all rugby players though could take up hurling or football though. A second row, a hooker, a prop probably too big and slow for the skills needed but Keith Wood was a decent hurler when he was too small to play rugby.

No harm for the GAA though to increase efforts at promoting the games and bring new members young and old into the organisation. Maybe a GAA Cúl Camp mascot and a few GAA ambassadors to spark the interest of young children similar to how ALDI have the ad with Paul O'Connell and Kevin. link The ad billboards shown outside Aldi shops, well able to publicise themselves. They make me laugh anyway butI'm a bigger kid than our two at home. There won't be cost if the GAA spebd smartly to publicise the games a bit better. Even if we win the World Cup, which I hope we do, the schools rugby might seed a spike in interest. But club GAA with underage games continuing will continue to thrive and hopefully get even more members in.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8762 - 12/10/2023 14:19:37    2508041

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Replying To Bon:  "I'd imagine there's still a lot of areas that have a strong GAA presence that have no rugby clubs around them, maybe more so in rural parts. It could be more of an issue in built up towns etc"
That's very true Bon but will we see rugby clubs springing up all over the country. That would include rural towns and villages. The rugby association are perfectly within there rights to promote and grow their game and undoubtedly will expand its membership and build new grounds. All I'm saying is that we can't afford to stand still. The Gaa is a great organisation.it has it's flaws but by and large it has provided us with fantastic entertainment down through the years.
However it must keep looking forward. Changing the rules where necessary, ground improvements,
Proper training facilities, intensive coaching for referees and officials, community involvement,
Unlikely but a reduction in the cost of tickets to attract more people to attend games, increase advertising by sponsors to reach a wider audience,
As the saying goes " prevention is better than cure"
Now is the time to get our house in order.waiting and hoping will get us nowhere.

Magpie2 (Wexford) - Posts: 736 - 12/10/2023 14:21:05    2508043

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "The GAA and Rugby seasons used to dovetail fairly well. GAA club players would play some club rugby when their GAA season finished. Not sure how it works now with the split season? Not all rugby players though could take up hurling or football though. A second row, a hooker, a prop probably too big and slow for the skills needed but Keith Wood was a decent hurler when he was too small to play rugby.

No harm for the GAA though to increase efforts at promoting the games and bring new members young and old into the organisation. Maybe a GAA Cúl Camp mascot and a few GAA ambassadors to spark the interest of young children similar to how ALDI have the ad with Paul O'Connell and Kevin. link The ad billboards shown outside Aldi shops, well able to publicise themselves. They make me laugh anyway butI'm a bigger kid than our two at home. There won't be cost if the GAA spebd smartly to publicise the games a bit better. Even if we win the World Cup, which I hope we do, the schools rugby might seed a spike in interest. But club GAA with underage games continuing will continue to thrive and hopefully get even more members in."
Tadg Furlong was a good footballer and hurled for Wexford underage.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 12/10/2023 15:45:11    2508055

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Replying To Magpie2:  "We all really want Ireland to do well and hopefully win the final but undoubtedly it has to effect the Gaa. Young lads who probably would have automatically opted for hurling or football may now be thinking of playing rugby.
With the massive television coverage and with the high profile of the Irish players and the game in general its inevitable that there will be a crossover to the oval ball. That will seriously dilute the Gaa club scene and subsequently at intercounty level.
There isn't really anything the hierarchy of the Gaa can do to stop the rot except maybe through promotion of our games and injecting even more energy into making it attractive to play hurling or football. No easy task I'm afraid but every club and county must work hard to hold on to the players they have and promote the games in schools, colleges and clubs. They are of course doing this already but now there is massive competition out there. So to sit on our hands is not an option.
I'm all for freedom of choice but we must fight tooth and nail to maintain high standards.
Winning the world cup would be great for us as a nation but will there be a cost to pay down the road?"
I can only talk about what I know and to be honest, in Leitrim anyhow, the chances of more rugby clubs popping up is slim. There's one at the moment in the entire county, Carrick on Shannon, which has been going since the 70's (although did disband in the 90's & was reformed in the 00's). They have a pitch but don't have a clubhouse (in fairness are working to getting that sorted out). At the end of the day, if new clubs are to pop up they need facilities and as it stands they're in short supply and require serious investment to get off the ground. Any parent I know are exposing their children to multiple sports anyhow so I wouldn't see why we'd be fearful of as an organisation. Children will play the sport they enjoy and there's not a thing you can do to stop that. I think we'll be safe enough in Connacht anyhow but I get that the GAA shouldn't sit on their laurels either.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2433 - 12/10/2023 16:41:44    2508064

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Can't see it ever usurping GAA in Donegal anyway. There are rugby clubs in Ballyshannon, Donegal Town & Letterkenny (maybe Inishowen too, not sure) but it is very much a niche sport up here. We simply don't have any sort of rugby tradition up here which is why I found it completely laughable when Neil Francis described Ireland as "Rugby Country" that time. Or maybe it he declared that rugby was now the national game. Some aul nonsense like that anyway.

I have nothing against the sport. It's very enjoyable to watch but I don't think it'll ever catch on to the extent that it'll challenge the GAA in Donegal, whether Ireland win this WC or not.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10470 - 12/10/2023 17:40:24    2508074

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It makes no difference to me if Ireland do well or not. I won't be watching any of the games.

PattyONeill (Derry) - Posts: 265 - 12/10/2023 19:27:42    2508087

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I don't think it'll have any and if it does it'll be very minimal. Rugby is still by and large a closed shop sport to try break into and very select schools orientated which has held it back worldwide and not a good way to grow a sport, look at the way its imploded in Australia who use the same system as Ireland while Rugby league and AFL have ontinued to balloon in popularity and even soccer has probably overtaken it in a lot factors. League and AFL would be very similar to GAA here in that it's widely played at all levels and clubs are the way players break-through, more accessible to everyone and have more of that sense of community and representation. Not saying the Irish team aren't a great representative of us, they're probably the most likeable and diverse (not private schooled or D4 based, although there is still a lot of that) and Ronan O'Gara summed it up about that group and how he understood why people didn't like the Rugby team etc. But in terms of actual playing numbers I don't think Rugby is ever really going to be at the level GAA and soccer is in this country, I also don't think Rugby results effect people the same way the local club or county do or local soccer club or national soccer team do. Like there is a great feel good factor about the Rugby and good talking point and everyone is behind them but if they loose its not going to hit the same or on as wide a scale. It's still a minority sport in the country and I don't think there's been any huge uptake in playing numbers really, like there's more GAA clubs in Cork than there is in the whole of Ireland. I think GAA and soccer are about 70 years ahead of rugby in terms of playing numbers, clubs, attachment and place in day to day life. Us Irish do enjoy a bandwagon too and we all do hop on it. Seen polls how its the nations most popular sport...in terms of people watching it, and doing a poll like thag when its a world cup and weve a good chance of winning was all just marketing it in a way, still has very very low playing numbers and a very distant 4th or 5th sport in the country. Around 1990 there was talk that Soccer would effect GAA and all that. If it didn't happen with the 2nd biggest sport in the country taking from GAA it sure ain't going to happen with Rugby. It doesn't have that embedded culture in our localities bar a few in Dublin and Limerick with tiny pockets around the country. But let's enjoy the great Rugby team we have atm, we're all Irish people and always want to see a Irish team do as well as possible. it's not often we can say we might be world champions at any sport, doesn't matter if it's not played in many countries its still a huge deal and would be an amazing achievement and we do get the full nation behind Irish teams going well so it'll be an amazing occasion if they win the next day and continue on the journey.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 332 - 12/10/2023 19:50:55    2508088

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Replying To Magpie2:  "We all really want Ireland to do well and hopefully win the final but undoubtedly it has to effect the Gaa. Young lads who probably would have automatically opted for hurling or football may now be thinking of playing rugby.
With the massive television coverage and with the high profile of the Irish players and the game in general its inevitable that there will be a crossover to the oval ball. That will seriously dilute the Gaa club scene and subsequently at intercounty level.
There isn't really anything the hierarchy of the Gaa can do to stop the rot except maybe through promotion of our games and injecting even more energy into making it attractive to play hurling or football. No easy task I'm afraid but every club and county must work hard to hold on to the players they have and promote the games in schools, colleges and clubs. They are of course doing this already but now there is massive competition out there. So to sit on our hands is not an option.
I'm all for freedom of choice but we must fight tooth and nail to maintain high standards.
Winning the world cup would be great for us as a nation but will there be a cost to pay down the road?"
short answer No,

germac (Down) - Posts: 586 - 12/10/2023 20:56:52    2508093

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My young lads play rugby from October to February and hurling & gaelic from March to end of September.

Though I'd imagine as they get older hurling will get the nod full time.

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 1041 - 12/10/2023 21:26:14    2508098

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Replying To Magpie2:  "We all really want Ireland to do well and hopefully win the final but undoubtedly it has to effect the Gaa. Young lads who probably would have automatically opted for hurling or football may now be thinking of playing rugby.
With the massive television coverage and with the high profile of the Irish players and the game in general its inevitable that there will be a crossover to the oval ball. That will seriously dilute the Gaa club scene and subsequently at intercounty level.
There isn't really anything the hierarchy of the Gaa can do to stop the rot except maybe through promotion of our games and injecting even more energy into making it attractive to play hurling or football. No easy task I'm afraid but every club and county must work hard to hold on to the players they have and promote the games in schools, colleges and clubs. They are of course doing this already but now there is massive competition out there. So to sit on our hands is not an option.
I'm all for freedom of choice but we must fight tooth and nail to maintain high standards.
Winning the world cup would be great for us as a nation but will there be a cost to pay down the road?"
a cost of what . a young lad getting payed to play a vastly superior game to gaelic football . easy choice in my opinion . the gaa is in no way an attraction compared to rugby at elite level . pretty simple really

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 2022 - 13/10/2023 09:06:32    2508110

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Don't see it happening here anyway. Gaelic Football is king and always will be in my opinion. Few lads play rugby for the local towns each side of us but they are ones who usually aren't good enough for Gaa or lads who warm the bench. That may sound harsh but it's reality.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12262 - 13/10/2023 10:17:09    2508118

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Don't see it happening here anyway. Gaelic Football is king and always will be in my opinion. Few lads play rugby for the local towns each side of us but they are ones who usually aren't good enough for Gaa or lads who warm the bench. That may sound harsh but it's reality."
It isnt reality at all. inverse is also true.
Theres plenty playing gaelic not good enough for the rugby or lads who would warm bench in rugby.

Gaelic football and soccer will always be ahead in terms of numbers but rugby has increased in numbers and popularity and if we continue to do better at pro level and number of clubs increases then rugby will be fine.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 4010 - 13/10/2023 11:02:40    2508130

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Can't see it ever usurping GAA in Donegal anyway. There are rugby clubs in Ballyshannon, Donegal Town & Letterkenny (maybe Inishowen too, not sure) but it is very much a niche sport up here. We simply don't have any sort of rugby tradition up here which is why I found it completely laughable when Neil Francis described Ireland as "Rugby Country" that time. Or maybe it he declared that rugby was now the national game. Some aul nonsense like that anyway.

I have nothing against the sport. It's very enjoyable to watch but I don't think it'll ever catch on to the extent that it'll challenge the GAA in Donegal, whether Ireland win this WC or not."
I do enjoy watching it as a game but have little attachment to the team.

This i recognise as a prejudice based on my experience of rugby in Dublin and particularly its supporters and the way it is still largely run.

Nothing at all to do with the players of course, but I'm nearly 60 so not going to change at this stage! I don't wish them badly either!! Be a few old work colleagues mind you who i would cross the road to avoid if they win :-)

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4550 - 13/10/2023 11:04:51    2508131

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Rugby is absolutely no threat to the GAA.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8929 - 13/10/2023 11:08:03    2508134

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People who enjoy other sports follow the Rugby World Cup, because it is a major event, with an Irish team involved, with a chance of winning the tournament. The quarter final v NZ, tomorrow night will attract a huge viewership, including myself. When the tournament ends, or Ireland's interest ceases, GAA supporters will revert back to their club/ county. It is great for Ireland to be involved this year, and every good luck to them.
Rugby will still be a minority sport in Ireland after Gaelic games, and soccer, when this year's competition ends.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1879 - 13/10/2023 11:14:45    2508138

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Replying To PattyONeill:  "It makes no difference to me if Ireland do well or not. I won't be watching any of the games."
Fair enough but this adds no value whatsoever to this topic...

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 13/10/2023 12:05:45    2508154

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Replying To PattyONeill:  "It makes no difference to me if Ireland do well or not. I won't be watching any of the games."
Hopefully this news doesn't filter through to the team.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8929 - 13/10/2023 12:21:19    2508159

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Rugby is absolutely no threat to the GAA."
I wouldn't quite say that... I can't see an explosion of rugby clubs for sure but in the cities and larger provincial towns it will always be a threat. Look at the likes of Ratoath, it has a soccer, GAA & rugby club in the town and it's not even the largest town in Meath. Outside of that it probably won't be but of course that will depend on where the nearest club is... parents are prepared to travel long distances (well in Leitrim they are anyhow). The big problem that Rugby will have is the lack of investment to put into facilities and people on the ground with the knowledge and know how to develop the game.... that's a lot harder to do than people think.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2433 - 13/10/2023 12:39:42    2508162

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