well then tennis when wimbledons on

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4202 - 27/06/2009 13:42:50    324719

Its whwere the Wombles live

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 27/06/2009 13:53:44    324729

Soccor and Rugby.

Doireegurlie (Derry) - Posts: 337 - 28/06/2009 11:04:26    325188

The same accusation could easily be thrown at GAA, 10 to 15 years ago GAA matches were only attended by hardcore GAA supporters, only the All Ireland finals sold out, and you rarely saw young (good looking) girls at GAA matches. However pretty much in tandem with the redevelopment of Croker and the Celtic Tiger GAA became sexy, and all of a sudden you saw people going to GAA matches that traditionally would not have gone near them. Likewise rugby since the advent of professionalism has grown from a minority sport to one that is now extremely sexy although that is obviously helped by the success of the national team and the provincial teams. Why that bothers people I do not know, I would only have become a big ruby fan in the last 15 years, but I would now rate it as one of my favourite sports after hurling, its a wonderful sport, and one thankfully that we happen to be quite good at.

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 28/06/2009 17:44:34    325449

Fair enough dhorse,i see what ya mean.however when entered into the heinekin cup the irish provinces would be considered clubs,like wasps or stade francais.

enda.muldoon (Derry) - Posts: 318 - 28/06/2009 21:14:42    325666

What about the Dublin Bandwagon.............. Or Corks Hurling band wagon fans(which you may see a drop in this seson),

JFK (Wexford) - Posts: 590 - 29/06/2009 09:32:28    326015

Point i'm making is these fans are no good to any sport and will just jump bewteen wagons so long as they can have something to cheer in the meantime. This is probably more evident in Limerick than anywhere else. You would see more Munster/Soccer jerseys walking around Limerick tahn GAA ones. I just feel that in the end its GAA that suffers. By the sound of it there is a few bandwagoners on this thread already. For me anyway I will stick with the GAA whether Limerick win, lose or draw. Another thing is ppl supporting Lpool, United etc when they have absolutley no connection to the team at all. Cannot understand that. That's my opinion, to which I am entilted.

Mick14 (Limerick) - Posts: 766 - 29/06/2009 15:15:04    326577

Mick14 why does it bother you so much that there are people out there that just do not like GAA and prefer rugby or soccer? Call them bandwagon supporters or whatever you wish, but if somebody does not like gaelic football or hurling it does not make them any less of an Irish person, they clearly just prefer other sports which is their democratic choice. Munster are as an Irish an institution as any Gaelic team, in relation to soccer while it would be preferable if we had our own local decent teams to support, down through the years Irish people have always supported English football teams and thats just the way it is. You mightn't like it, but even you Mick14 would be shocked at the amount of Gaels that support English (or Scottish) football teams.

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 29/06/2009 15:37:41    326609

Rugby is definitely a bandwagon sport. There are people around where i live who would pretend they are big supporters but could only name a handfull of players, would not know the rules and some would not even know the name of positions on the field. Even bandwagon supporters in the gaa know all about the game itself. Give me gaa any day where guys put every bit of effort they have got for their parish or for their county unlike in rugby in which they are paid. I will not be jumping on the rugby bandwagon any time soon.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1664 - 29/06/2009 15:51:51    326633

Not saying a person is more or less Irish by supporting one sport over another or am I saying that people shouldn't follow whom ever they choose. I just fail to understand it. (I acknowledge that I am out numbered on this topic but nonetheless I am just expressing my opinion)

Mick14 (Limerick) - Posts: 766 - 29/06/2009 16:35:32    326702

PK57 believe you me I have the height of respect for all GAA players, as while I never played at a decent level, I just can't comprehend how county lads train almost as much as professional sportsmen, but get nothing back in return. However that arguement is for another day as I fully believe that county players should be rewarded for their efforts in this day and age, but stop trying to make out that GAA players are superior to rugby players just because the rugby lads at the top level get paid. Rugby is arguably the most physical game on the planet, and they deserve every penny they get for what they put their bodies through, while I have great admiration for GAA players, they would not last two mins on a rugby pitch at that level, which is why they deserve the money they get.

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 30/06/2009 01:07:27    327225

Munster Rugby is a Bandwagon magnet at the moment.Up to around 2001 i used to attend Munster games with a few mates,a few pints etc.But since the Bandwagon got rolling i stopped going.Your average Munster,or Leinster fan, hasn't a clue about the sport they profess to follow religiously.Most wouldn't have a notion regarding the clubs,and their demise.The actual numbers playing rugby in Munster has recently been reported to have dropped dramaticly,not that Munster or Leinster plc will lose too much sleep over that. A lot of people,not all,that are fanatical about supporting Munster in our Parish have no involvement in local clubs,that might involve a bit of work ,real commitment.Those that want to put all their energys into being part of the crowd are of course entitled,but its all a little false to me.A person who travels all over the place watching Munster or Leinster,but has never bothered to see how the local underage etc are geting on ,in my eye's not a true sportsperson.Those that put their efforts into their local clubs,especialy the kids,whatever the sport,deserve far more respect and praise.

eastgael (Limerick) - Posts: 629 - 30/06/2009 08:04:09    327283

ridiculous thread lads, the gaa and other sports are just as bad. Most counties get tiny attendances for league games but much bigger for championship. Success breds interest/bigger crowds in every sport.

Alot of lads on this site with chips on their shoulder about rugby

D4 (Dublin) - Posts: 63 - 30/06/2009 11:38:55    327422

D4. A constructive argument is not a chip. Notice that if there is criticism of rugby A. A chip on shoulder or B. Anti British are the used. In fact only last week I was almost physically attacked by a guy because I was not a follower of Munster rugby. I was told that no matter what your main sport is, you MUST support the guys.
I have given my viewpoint of the game on numerous posts and I will lwave it at that.

Real Kerry Fan (None) - Posts: 2957 - 30/06/2009 11:59:07    327454

No ones denying there are bandwagons when teams become successful,but in my experience,the rugby bandwagon has become unbearable. the munster bandwagon is huge and growing,and it is as much if not more about the session before and after the games.The vast magority of these bandwagoners have never attended club games...Shannon,Garyowen,Young Munster,Cork Con etc. At least when i attend a GAA club game or a County game the supporters you meet are on the whole,genuine supporters that are or were involved at some level and have a basic knowledge of what they're talking about.

eastgael (Limerick) - Posts: 629 - 30/06/2009 12:13:45    327470

Wimbledon was very good in the 80's. Fash the bash, Wise, Sanchez ect. They even beat Liverpool in the FA Cup Final.

Fredthered (Donegal) - Posts: 1144 - 30/06/2009 13:36:37    327601

You get bandwagon supporters at every sport. Rugby is on a high at the moment, and as a result the fair-weather supporters are out in force. These are the same people who appeared in Markievicz Park on Sunday, but couldn't tell you the name of their local club, never mind it's players. These are the same people who'll be calling on their "connections" to get AI tickets in September.

I was involved in Sligo RFC at underage level, and saw the amount of effort put in by the coaches, the committee and the parents of players. These people now struggle to get tickets to Ireland games, because of the hangers-on. It's the exact same with my GAA club. When tickets are available for big games, people come out of the woodowrk that have never been seen at a club game, but they will be screaming blue murder if they don't get a ticket. It happens in every sport.

black&white (Sligo) - Posts: 1628 - 30/06/2009 14:30:24    327686

id say either rugby or cricket. i cant stand rugby and ye see al the 16 year old girls who dont know what offside in rugby is, wearing all there munster and leinster jerseys. you also see people in ireland jumping on the cricket bangwagon. once they win a few matches everyone is out buying the jerseys. typical.

shotgunwilly (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 30/06/2009 15:05:34    327727