ulsterman vagabons like yourself should not comment on issues you dont understand best stick to the peasent game of soccer overpaid thugs supported by thugs

booboo (Cork) - Posts: 1382 - 30/04/2011 16:27:21    921057

Was that a squeak from the criminal province? Cork! Only ever had one rebel and they shot him. I do like that.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9819 - 30/04/2011 16:43:57    921070

You could well be right about the number of soccer clubs v rugby clubs but the tide is turning and rugby is making big in roads in places it didn't even exist before.

Given that it barely existed anywhere outside the private schools up till recently, that isn't much of a boast.

Rugby will never surpass soccer for one basic reason; it can't be played on the street on in the schoolyard. Soccer will always be King of the foreign sports.

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 30/04/2011 16:48:49    921073

the most sucessful county in ireland ulsterman yummy!

booboo (Cork) - Posts: 1382 - 30/04/2011 17:01:10    921079

ulsterman whos going to your listen opinion your the very man who said cork were a BUSTED FLUSH last year ha ha!

booboo (Cork) - Posts: 1382 - 30/04/2011 17:06:25    921080

well done leinster great win go all the way now

booboo (Cork) - Posts: 1382 - 30/04/2011 17:16:02    921083

A man who doesn't rate O'Driscoll blatantly knows nothing about the sport so let's ignore him. For some reason he's talking about rebels being shot on a Rugby thread, the man's obsessed. That game showed why Rugby is better than football, fantastic spectacle. Well done Leinster, commiserations to Munster

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 30/04/2011 17:31:25    921086

Brian O Driscoll is without doubt the greatest rugby player ever in this country; And I think he is up there with the greatest who have ever played the game!

MARNELL (Westmeath) - Posts: 728 - 30/04/2011 21:51:40    921243

I'm not a huge rugby fan, prefer the gaa and soccer but the match yesterday was so much better than the champion league and the el crassico.

As for O'Driscoll being overrated, thats ridiculous. The man didn't have a great game yesterday but when the chips were down and the game was on the line it was O'Driscoll screaming for the ball for the winning try. A pure class act and always performs on the biggest stages both offensively and defensively, remember his thumpin tackle against South Africa in the last minute last year, true great!

stringbean (Tyrone) - Posts: 134 - 01/05/2011 20:41:10    921704

Brian O'Driscoll is one of the greatest sportsmen that have ever graced these shore, one of our very few, genuine world class athletes and is a national hero as far as I'm concerened. His behaviour both on and off the field of play has been exemplary and he is an example to others in other fields of sport in how to conduct themselves. As far as I'm concerned you can keep your Sky league and that excuse of a champions league, give me the professional rugby game as a spectator sport any day.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 01/05/2011 21:19:36    921739

What a performance by Leinster up against one of the pwerhouses in Europe in Toulouse. It was some game of rugby and Leinster really showed what they were made of to pull off a great win.

There were some terrific performances, Heaslip was immense, Strauss again showing what a great signing he has been and Gordon D'Arcy showing some much needed form. But again, well what more can be said of Brian O'Driscoll. I think it's put to bed that he''s the greatest Irish rugby player of all time, but in all honesty he could be the greatest rugby player of all time, and the greatest Irish Sportsman ever. When he hangs up his boots two or three men wouldn't be able to fill the whole left behind.

So Northampton next. Will be a hard match, but as Ulster showed they can be got at. No disrespect to Ulster but Leinster are a couple of notches above them at present so hopefully Leinster might just have a bit too much for them, but it will be a mighty match. Keep it up though Leinster, there's a little province out west praying for the Boys in Blue to get the job done on May 21.

Not sure what happened to Munster. Conor O'Shea really has Quins playing some decent stuff now, but i think they will come unstuck against a rebuilding Stade.

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 03/05/2011 10:23:34    922411

Excellent win for the lads, hope the rest of the country gets behind them now aswell for the final, would be a great boost of confidence for rugby fans around the country if Leinster wins the cup ahead of the World Cup later this year.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 03/05/2011 11:05:48    922442

it was a great match and i really enjoyed it from what i can remeber - way too much champers was had pre match but it was enjoyable all the same. Leinster will romp home in the final and connacht will be in the HC! :)

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 03/05/2011 12:18:11    922517

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 2608

922442 Excellent win for the lads,

OOPS, fatal error. lf you were a gentically pure rugby fan you would automatically say ghoys, lads play Soccer or GAA

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 03/05/2011 12:45:00    922545

dhorse

OOPS, fatal error. lf you were a gentically pure rugby fan you would automatically say ghoys, lads play Soccer or GAA


Darn it!! My bad, I don't cross the liffey much in fairness dhorse, our kind ain't welcome round them parts. Would eh, fellows and chaps also suffice if I forget to say ghoys?

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 03/05/2011 13:24:43    922587

excellent news that the HC will remain pay per view- the irfu flexed its muscles as the leading sporting organisation in the country and the government reached the right decision. Eamon Ryan signed his political demise the day he messed with the working or the irfu- a great day for rugby a great day for the most popular sport in ireland

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0504/1224296003237.html

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 04/05/2011 13:02:37    923333

How is it good news that less people will be able to watch Rugby? I personally want the sport to continue to grow and the more exposure it gets the more it will grow

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 04/05/2011 13:09:07    923338

I think it's a double edged sword the issue of tv rights. While it would be great to see the games free to air on all networks, i can see where the irfu are coming from in terms of the money obtained from tv rights.

It's been on ppv tv for the last few years, and as already pointed out rugby is on a definate high at the moment both in viewing figures and attendances, so it all comes down to if it ain't broke, why fix it.

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 04/05/2011 13:35:45    923372

PP any rugby supporter will pay the subscription to sky without question as they know its value for money- i nor the irfu couldnt care less about some fool with a passing interest who is only watching something because its free while the irfu is out of pocket to the tune of 12 million per annum. in popularity terms rugby is king in ireland at present so we dont really need any more followers. i suppose its the difference between a supporter and a fan- a supporters pays to follow their team a fan doesnt- so why gives fans anything- the irfu is selling out all competeitive fixtures- you cant get HC tickets for love nor money so i say why hand over your brand for free - its complete madness. 12 million could pay the connacht and ulster contribution each year- and people want to hand that away for free- thank god people seen sense

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 04/05/2011 14:07:15    923398

You don't want any more followers to Rugby? That's where we differ I guess, I'm happy with the increase in popularity these past few years but want to see this continue, you seem happy to have the numbers stay as they are. Very unambitious of you I must say. The more people who watch Rugby the more people who will take it up or start to follow it. By dramatically decreasing the audience in turn surely you decrease the numbers who will get involved in it. This has to be balanced against the 6 or 7 million Euro the IRFU would lose but it's certainly not as clear cut as you're suggesting

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 04/05/2011 14:22:46    923428