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Replying To CARPS: "The Leinster School's Senior Rugby final this year didn't fill Tallaght Stadium. There were about 9,000 at it.
The Leinster under 20 hurling final last year attracted a much larger crowd to Portlaoise. Must have been at least 15,000." It fascinates me how the anti rugby crowd purport to hate it but they still claim to know an awful lot about it! In your case, a curious fascination with attendances. Whatever takes your fancy.
Do you honestly think that Irish rugby care one iota about the attendance at a leinster u20 final or a Gaa club match or a Gaa school match or any Gaa match at any level? They couldn't care less! They'll just get on with developing their game and I can assure you that their attitude towards other sports is the best of luck to them.
Stop worrying about other sports and focus on improving Gaelic games. Park your prejudices and stereotypes. I guarantee if you went down to Tullow or Carlow rugby clubs they'd welcome you with open arms. You'd also find plenty of people there who play, support and love the GAA.
ThePowerhouse (Leitrim) - Posts: 230 - 29/04/2025 13:19:20
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Replying To ThePowerhouse: "It fascinates me how the anti rugby crowd purport to hate it but they still claim to know an awful lot about it! In your case, a curious fascination with attendances. Whatever takes your fancy.
Do you honestly think that Irish rugby care one iota about the attendance at a leinster u20 final or a Gaa club match or a Gaa school match or any Gaa match at any level? They couldn't care less! They'll just get on with developing their game and I can assure you that their attitude towards other sports is the best of luck to them.
Stop worrying about other sports and focus on improving Gaelic games. Park your prejudices and stereotypes. I guarantee if you went down to Tullow or Carlow rugby clubs they'd welcome you with open arms. You'd also find plenty of people there who play, support and love the GAA." I am not anti-rugby. I love rugby. Specifically club rugby. However, I find the professional games increasingly monotonous. Had an enjoyable day out at the Towns Cup final this weekend. Shame about the result.
My point is that it's not as popular as some claim. The figures don't back it up. And its level of popularity doesn't justify the huge coverage it's getting compared to other sports.
That's the debate here.
CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 853 - 29/04/2025 13:38:19
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Replying To CARPS: "AFAIK, all of the starting 15 who played Ireland's last rugby game went to private schools. I have given you two links already, if you need more... go find them yourself. Google is your friend.
Actually agree with you about RTE's GAA analysts being boring. But the rugby and soccer ones aren't any better." "all of the starting 15 who played Ireland's last rugby game went to private schools."
Robbie Henshaw didn't go to a private school.
Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2755 - 29/04/2025 13:51:28
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Replying To CARPS: "I am not anti-rugby. I love rugby. Specifically club rugby. However, I find the professional games increasingly monotonous. Had an enjoyable day out at the Towns Cup final this weekend. Shame about the result.
My point is that it's not as popular as some claim. The figures don't back it up. And its level of popularity doesn't justify the huge coverage it's getting compared to other sports.
That's the debate here." Surely the lack of coverage of GAA in comparison is the GAA's fault as opposed to some grand conspiracy by the IRFU, Micheál Martin and RTE? If Irish rugby take advantage of that failure then so be it.
There's no point blaming rugby when it's not their fault. As I said, they'll just keep doing their own thing.
ThePowerhouse (Leitrim) - Posts: 230 - 29/04/2025 13:55:40
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Replying To ThePowerhouse: "Surely the lack of coverage of GAA in comparison is the GAA's fault as opposed to some grand conspiracy by the IRFU, Micheál Martin and RTE? If Irish rugby take advantage of that failure then so be it.
There's no point blaming rugby when it's not their fault. As I said, they'll just keep doing their own thing." Indeed Michael martin who's son is the cork goalie
jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1512 - 29/04/2025 14:35:57
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Replying To jm25: "Indeed Michael martin who's son is the cork goalie" Tomsmith here.
When did you see a Gaa game on TV3 or it Virgin media 1 where a silver tongued ex Rugby player is a presenter ..
tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 4030 - 30/04/2025 15:06:08
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Replying To ThePowerhouse: "It fascinates me how the anti rugby crowd purport to hate it but they still claim to know an awful lot about it! In your case, a curious fascination with attendances. Whatever takes your fancy.
Do you honestly think that Irish rugby care one iota about the attendance at a leinster u20 final or a Gaa club match or a Gaa school match or any Gaa match at any level? They couldn't care less! They'll just get on with developing their game and I can assure you that their attitude towards other sports is the best of luck to them.
Stop worrying about other sports and focus on improving Gaelic games. Park your prejudices and stereotypes. I guarantee if you went down to Tullow or Carlow rugby clubs they'd welcome you with open arms. You'd also find plenty of people there who play, support and love the GAA." I have to agree with you.My lads gave up rugby two years ago and rugby club still send texts saying they would love to see them back at any stage.They always and ever wish the best of luck to GAA lads when they are in finals and vice versa.
Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 429 - 30/04/2025 16:03:59
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Replying To tomsmith: "Tomsmith here.
When did you see a Gaa game on TV3 or it Virgin media 1 where a silver tongued ex Rugby player is a presenter .." Tom, can I respectfully suggest that you never apply for an Intercounty P.R.O job because you most probably would get it.
supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3178 - 01/05/2025 09:18:17
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Replying To Alwaysencourage: "I have to agree with you.My lads gave up rugby two years ago and rugby club still send texts saying they would love to see them back at any stage.They always and ever wish the best of luck to GAA lads when they are in finals and vice versa." How much were the rugby subs for the year per person?
Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2309 - 01/05/2025 13:23:04
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Replying To Bon: "How much were the rugby subs for the year per person?" Can't remember but we're either on a par with the other sports they were playing at time.
Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 429 - 01/05/2025 19:10:00
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Replying To Bon: "How much were the rugby subs for the year per person?" FWIW, if you're asking from the belief that rugby tends to be much more expensive than other codes, I don't think that tends to be the case in what rugby would term "the provincial towns".
Where are I am myself, Gorey & Enniscorthy are the closest rugby clubs. Membership in Gorey is €80 up to U12, and €90 for anything after that up as far as U18. Enniscorthy is €60 all the way up to U18.
Local soccer club is €50 + €2 per match, which could be anywhere from 10 to 15 or maybe 18 matches per season, depending on which division they're in and how they do in the Cup.
My GAA club is €30 up to U10 and €50 for U12 to U18, and the €50 can be discounted to also be €30 if part of a family package.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2856 - 01/05/2025 22:52:17
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Replying To Cockney_Cat: ""all of the starting 15 who played Ireland's last rugby game went to private schools."
Robbie Henshaw didn't go to a private school." One out of 15. Striking a blow for the proletariat.
CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 853 - 02/05/2025 12:09:02
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Replying To CARPS: "One out of 15. Striking a blow for the proletariat." You were wrong, not for the first time. Facts are not your strong point.
Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2755 - 02/05/2025 13:13:28
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Replying To Pikeman96: "FWIW, if you're asking from the belief that rugby tends to be much more expensive than other codes, I don't think that tends to be the case in what rugby would term "the provincial towns".
Where are I am myself, Gorey & Enniscorthy are the closest rugby clubs. Membership in Gorey is €80 up to U12, and €90 for anything after that up as far as U18. Enniscorthy is €60 all the way up to U18.
Local soccer club is €50 + €2 per match, which could be anywhere from 10 to 15 or maybe 18 matches per season, depending on which division they're in and how they do in the Cup.
My GAA club is €30 up to U10 and €50 for U12 to U18, and the €50 can be discounted to also be €30 if part of a family package." Gaa is still great value for a family. The rugby isn't too crazy either and the soccer sounds reasonable. Lots of good options there for kids which is the most important thing.
Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2309 - 02/05/2025 13:23:50
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I am not a rugby fan, but Heineken cup semi final was gripping stuff. Glad in a way Leinster lost. The hype if they won would have been enormous. Pro rugby Media would have had a melt down. Sorry if this sounds bitter towards the game. I am just thinking of our local GAA teams.
galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2614 - 03/05/2025 20:49:04
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Tomsmith here
Somewhat glad to see Leinster not getting over the Line in the semi-final as we would be subjected to a wile rage of Rugby pundits exposing all that is good about that game
I feel of the 3 big sports that one is generally played by people that would have aprofessional background or their parents would ..
THe second sport is played by local peolpe at local clubs
The third sport is generally played by wanabee ( or thieir parents ) who would like to make it big in that sport.
These fellows generally end up with cushy jobs in the service industry after ending playing .
tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 4030 - 04/05/2025 09:11:00
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Tomsmith here
Speaking to Gaa people all over the Country , its the same story some Gaa pro's dont do enough to try and get underage publicity in some Counties.
I feel that Clubs should demand at the end of each year a report from the PrO that deals with underage in each County and see where Publicity is falling down .
We are lucky in Cavan we have the Celt which takes all the stuff PRO's give them and we get good publicity
I am told other sports are better organised where match reports from the home PRO are mandatory
tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 4030 - 07/05/2025 09:07:24
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Funny how Leinster got 25k to a Champions Cup quarter final and 41k to a semi final. Europe's premier rugby competition! If that was the Dublin footballers the missing crowds would be headline news!
Munster's crowds for regular URC games in Thomond are very small, 5 to 7k, they call out bigger figures but adding 10/11k of season ticket holders that rarely show for league games. Actual bums on seats numbers are small.
We never hear about this. Rugby seem to be really good at filling GAA stadia. If you put next Friday's Munster v Ulster clash in Pairc Ui Caoimh I'd say they'd nearly fill it. They would market the hell out of it, Peter O'Mahony's last interpro game .. great hype, they are great at event marketing - Pete's last stand, fare well to the legend!! Connaught's "test in the West" was another great example.
The GAA stadia really seems to pull in the crowds for rugby games. I suppose it is something for the marketing guys to go to latch on to.
On the run of the mill stuff though, I don't know if Munster are doing better that the GAA counties in the province. On a weekend when Munster draw 6 or 7k to Thomond, Cork hurlers could have 20k i the Park, Kerry footballers could have Tralee filled, Tipp or Clare hurlers could have another 6 or 7k attending their home league game. Massive GAA numbers by comparison.
The GAA could definitely do better but maybe we over estimate how well rugby are doing and we'd generally consider them the gold standard for marketing.
dahayeser (Cork) - Posts: 368 - 07/05/2025 10:53:48
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Rugby is hyped up the nth degree in this country, mainly by the south Dublin based media. It doesn't justify its hype. The games are overrated, a large amount of the players overrated too (Peter O'Mahony for example, can anyone name one extremely important game he was an actual game changer in?)
You have to admire how a niche sport like rugby attracts such attention. It is an awful sport to watch, like a bad game of junior b football in November. Yet the razzmatazz that flows from it is unreal.
boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 284 - 07/05/2025 11:17:21
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Replying To dahayeser: "Funny how Leinster got 25k to a Champions Cup quarter final and 41k to a semi final. Europe's premier rugby competition! If that was the Dublin footballers the missing crowds would be headline news!
Munster's crowds for regular URC games in Thomond are very small, 5 to 7k, they call out bigger figures but adding 10/11k of season ticket holders that rarely show for league games. Actual bums on seats numbers are small.
We never hear about this. Rugby seem to be really good at filling GAA stadia. If you put next Friday's Munster v Ulster clash in Pairc Ui Caoimh I'd say they'd nearly fill it. They would market the hell out of it, Peter O'Mahony's last interpro game .. great hype, they are great at event marketing - Pete's last stand, fare well to the legend!! Connaught's "test in the West" was another great example.
The GAA stadia really seems to pull in the crowds for rugby games. I suppose it is something for the marketing guys to go to latch on to.
On the run of the mill stuff though, I don't know if Munster are doing better that the GAA counties in the province. On a weekend when Munster draw 6 or 7k to Thomond, Cork hurlers could have 20k i the Park, Kerry footballers could have Tralee filled, Tipp or Clare hurlers could have another 6 or 7k attending their home league game. Massive GAA numbers by comparison.
The GAA could definitely do better but maybe we over estimate how well rugby are doing and we'd generally consider them the gold standard for marketing." What difference does it make to the GAA how rugby are doing? Plenty of players and supporters will play or follow hurling, football, rugby and soccer and play or attend all sports if they have a chance. And they might only play or watch one sport. Each to their own.
GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7970 - 07/05/2025 11:59:35
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