Can any Ulster lads here tell me
Has Rugby become popular and "accpeted" by the nationalist community in the wee 6?
Would you see Ulster jerseys in Catholic Belfast? Are catholics 100% welcome in Ravenhill as opposed to Windsor Park?
Is rugby now THE cross community sport? As opposed to Ice Hockey!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 31/03/2010 10:08:40    604831

It is and it isnt Liam.

Have been to Ravenhill myself and have not felt out of place. Windsor park has a fair amount of s***bags around while the Rugby heads would be more of the welcoming side of the community.

I think most of it comes from the schools though. The big Rugby schools as far as I know are all protestant schools which means that it is bred in them that way.

I think Croke Park opening has also helped the situation. The amount of people I know from a protestant background who have gone down and commented on and commended Croke park shows that a respect is growing between the codes.

I remember a few years back city of Derry were in a relegation playoff and invited all the gaelic clubs out to support them, which was a great gesture. they have also visited our club since for blood runs etc.

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 31/03/2010 10:41:05    604853

Liamwalkinstown
County: Dublin
Posts: 2540

604831 Can any Ulster lads here tell me
Has Rugby become popular and "accpeted" by the nationalist community in the wee 6?
Would you see Ulster jerseys in Catholic Belfast? Are catholics 100% welcome in Ravenhill as opposed to Windsor Park?
Is rugby now THE cross community sport? As opposed to Ice Hockey!


Whaaat??

northpole (Derry) - Posts: 739 - 31/03/2010 10:46:57    604863

Rugby is getting more and more popular with Nationalists and long may it continue. I've been to Ravenhill countless times and it's a great atmosphere, no doubt helped by the fact that Rugby fans in general are a better breed than football fans. Wouldn't see too many Ulster tops worn by Nationalists though, it's still percieved as a Protestant sport and by wearing one people will assume what religion you are which is a pity. Hopefully in time it can become a true cross community sport which is something really lacking up here

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 31/03/2010 10:58:20    604889

Last time I watched Ulster at Ravenhill on Sky I saw 3 ' nationalist' Ulster flags ( Red & yellow one) in the crowd, so i guess the the answer to this question is Yes, it must be

Liam, i think an appropriate title for this thread would have been ' rugby in N.Ireland' and not ' Rugby in Ulster'. How many times on the site must it be stated that Ulster (9 counties) & NI are not the same place !!!!!!

Meath_bhoy (Meath) - Posts: 590 - 31/03/2010 11:06:34    604898

Ulster.......as in the TEAM......Ulster............Meath Bhoy..........

Anyway, sure we dont recognise NI as a seperate state on here!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 31/03/2010 11:28:44    604928

Derry_ledd
County: Derry
Posts: 1008

604853 It is and it isnt Liam.

Have been to Ravenhill myself and have not felt out of place. Windsor park has a fair amount of s***bags around while the Rugby heads would be more of the welcoming side of the community.

I think most of it comes from the schools though. The big Rugby schools as far as I know are all protestant schools which means that it is bred in them that way.

Isn't Methodist the big Rugby school in Belfast? I know Catholics going there.
And Derry_ledd I have to be careful how I phrase this but by the more welcoming side of the community do you mean middle class? Not suggesting you're a snob or anything just wondering if that divide exists and to what extent.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 31/03/2010 11:44:11    604955

Also, to add. Id often go out to the bars in Belfast to watch the International matches. They be packed to the rafters with people from both sides of the community cheering on Ireland and wearing the green. I thinks its great that people from both sides of the community have great pride in the Island that we live on - Ireland. Thats the way it should always be.

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 31/03/2010 11:47:24    604959

Derry_ledd
County: Derry
Posts: 1009

604959 Also, to add. Id often go out to the bars in Belfast to watch the International matches. They be packed to the rafters with people from both sides of the community cheering on Ireland and wearing the green. I thinks its great that people from both sides of the community have great pride in the Island that we live on - Ireland. Thats the way it should always be.

Is it really a community if there are two sides.

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 31/03/2010 12:00:23    604981

Roundball

Isn't Methodist the big Rugby school in Belfast? I know Catholics going there.
And Derry_ledd I have to be careful how I phrase this but by the more welcoming side of the community do you mean middle class? Not suggesting you're a snob or anything just wondering if that divide exists and to what extent.


______________________

Methodist and Inst would probably be the two biggest rugby schools in Belfast, they are predominately protestant, but Im sure youre right in that there is Catholics at it too.

And, I wasnt making a class distinction at all, while it might be there, the point I was making is the Rugby fans would be more accepting of who I am, i.e. A GAA fan from Derry (Not Londonderry), while you are most likely to find bigots at the Soccer games, who would have a hatred of me.

But you raise an interesting point with the classes, but I think that may be more to do with the fact that the so called "lower class" areas would be the most segregated, with people who have very limited interaction and therfore understanding with those on the other side of the "divide". If you know what I mean.

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 31/03/2010 12:00:45    604982

Rugby in Ulster is fed by the shall we call them "better" schools as it is in the other provinces including Munster.

northpole (Derry) - Posts: 739 - 31/03/2010 12:14:55    605011

Like Derry Ledd I have been to Ravenhill on a quite a few occasions and and never fail to have a great time. ULSTER Rugby is very inclusive, you never feel marginalized and the fact that rugby playing schools are in the main 'Protestant' is surely a fault of the Catholic schools who choose not to take part. My nearest rugby playing school Dalriada takes pupils from all sides of the community.

One of the things I really enjoy about Ravenhill is the complete absence of aggro in the stand, both sets of supporters just try and out cheer each other. Its great to stand beside a guy/girl from Cardiff, Edinburgh or Dublin and enjoy a game even though the weather at times can test the fans.

I have tickets for the Cardiff game on Friday night and I'm really looking forward to it.

caughtredhanded (Tyrone) - Posts: 602 - 31/03/2010 12:15:16    605012

Genuine question here.Why did so many schools only allow rugby as the sport for their boys? Was it preparing them for service with the empire as it was then?

northpole (Derry) - Posts: 739 - 31/03/2010 12:17:59    605017

northpole
County: Derry
Posts: 608

605011 Rugby in Ulster is fed by the shall we call them "better" schools as it is in the other provinces including Munster.

You have never been near St. Munchins Secondary School have you? The big Rugby schools in Limerick are not the fee paying ones (Villiers, Glenstall etc.)

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 31/03/2010 13:12:22    605126

roundball
County: Tipperary
Posts: 607

605126 northpole
County: Derry
Posts: 608

605011 Rugby in Ulster is fed by the shall we call them "better" schools as it is in the other provinces including Munster.

You have never been near St. Munchins Secondary School have you? The big Rugby schools in Limerick are not the fee paying ones (Villiers, Glenstall etc.)


Roundball is that where the wee lads on the wizard of oz went to school?

northpole (Derry) - Posts: 739 - 31/03/2010 16:31:59    605518

A catholic boys school in Derry has a rugby team, St Columb's College

Orlaith (Derry) - Posts: 4282 - 31/03/2010 17:04:42    605582

Aye it is North pole, we often make that joke.

It has also produced the likes of Anthoy Foley, Keith Wood, Jerry Flannery, Keith Earls and Marcus Horan though.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 31/03/2010 17:12:38    605589

I think I once said that Belfast had got an ice hockey team to bring the middle clases, and Davy Erwin, together. And that Ulster winning the Heinekin in 1999 was part of the peace process, to bring us all together in Dublin for the final.

Rugby on the protestant side is basically 100% middle clasMunster and Leinster jerseys however are acceptable. A strange place is the "north".

Methody is at the bottom of the Malone Road, Belfast's richest/poshest area. This however has been "conquered" and is now predominantly Catholic, with many of my old school mates from the Falls Road/Andersonstown now living there. Their children attend Methody.

Hopefully the above helps.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 02/04/2010 21:23:33    607748

Patrique

A teacher in St. Malachy's once mused over starting a rugby team when I was there but was stopped in his tracks. He had a bout 30 potential players lined up but other sports in the school weren't very warm about the idea and the clergy not very interested either.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9822 - 02/04/2010 21:56:55    607794

My post doesn't make sense as large bits of it are missing.

Suffice to say it is ok to wear an Ireland, Munster, Leinster, Stade Francais or Leicester jersey, but an Ulster jersey is still seen by many as representing one side of the community.

You would not be allowed to wear Ulster regalia to work in the N.I civil service for instance.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 03/04/2010 12:48:21    607898