Replying To TheFlaker:  "If Rugby got ten times bigger it wouldn't have any impact on the GAA? Absolutely baffling stuff."

Replying To KillingFields:  "6 clubs but how many more teams are these clubs fielding than they were 20 years ago...
It cant simply be about number of clubs alone"

Replying To thelongridge:  "You always try to find some reason to challenge the obvious. Rugby is a minority sport."

Replying To KillingFields:  "Any major effect
Not baffling to say that at all.
If ruby did get that big 9t wouldnt negatively affect the gaa.
You love to come in and criticise eveyone saying hings like here where you say baffling stuff hen cant actually expand on that
Rugby if it got muxh bigger wpuldnt detrimenrally affect the gaa"

Replying To thelongridge:  "You always try to find some reason to challenge the obvious. Rugby is a minority sport."

Replying To KillingFields:  "Yet its way bigger than the vast majority of sports in every aspect. Playing numbers, support, financially
It's one of the principal sports in the country alongside gaelic, soccer and hurling
None of these are minority sports"

Replying To KillingFields:  "Yet its way bigger than the vast majority of sports in every aspect. Playing numbers, support, financially
It's one of the principal sports in the country alongside gaelic, soccer and hurling
None of these are minority sports"

Replying To Low2Joe:  "Doesn't come close to the 3 sports you've named. The 3 main sports cater for people from all different areas and backgrounds across the country.

Unfortunately the same can't be said for rugby. In saying that though I do enough going to the pub to watch some of the international games, like a lot of people."

Replying To ThePowerhouse:  "Utter nonsense! You're implying that you have to be from a certain background to play rugby?? You really haven't a clue if you think that.

There's a debate on here about clubs in Connacht. Ever been to Dunmore, Headford, Gort? Are you trying to say that only people from a certain background are welcome in these places along with loads of similar clubs around the country? If that was the case they simply wouldn't exist at all. The D4 types are in the vast minority in ordinary clubs around the country. In any event, whatever notions people may have are tested after a few games. Do they frequent the sidelines at Gaa and soccer matches? Most definitely. They think they're the next Andy Farrell, Dessie Farrell or Stephen Kenny. They've all the buzz words. Full kit ........

Are kids and their parents unique in dreaming about being successful? Of course they're not. That's sport. It's aspirational. You dream of being the next Henry Shefflin, Johnny Sexton, or David Clifford. You might be shite at one sport and find you're way better at another. You might be ***** at them all but you play it because you love it. I think it's great that people have a choice now instead of being dictated by geography. If you're born in a particular county its pre ordained whether you'll ever get near the top in GAA regardless of how good you are.

Are some of these rugby clubs struggling for numbers? Of course they are. Is that in an issue in the Gaa as well? Of course it is. The notion that the more clubs you have the better is nonsense. It makes sense if you have huge numbers but the opposite is also true.

As ever the GAA will blame other sports for their problems. Is it rugby or soccers fault that they're proposing to get rid of 5 counties from the hurling league? Maybe it's the fault of the GAA? Maybe it shows that their systems don't work or, shock horror, they couldnt care less about growing hurling outside the "homes of hurling" Maybe the GAA is open to a bit of discrimination of its own?

Rugby has established a very clear pathway for talent to move into academies. They have a very good system. They are making the most of what they have. Its a different system to the club and inter County system in the GAA. Soccer has its own system and its open to debate whether theirs is working.

Irish rugby is constantly identifying talent. The top schools dominate because its the system that's been in place for years and is well established but they are definitely trying to spread their reach. That doesn't necessarily mean that there will be an abundance of new clubs. Do you honestly think that Irish rugby are ignoring other talent because they didn't go to the right school or don't speak with the right accent? If you're good enough you'll get your chance.

Should the GAA be worried? No it shouldn't. But it will worry and it'll try and knock others instead of improving its own product and making it more attractive. Kids will decide for themselves and they'll laugh at the notion of "playing for the pride of the parish" They have choices now.

All that these stupid statements show is insecurity. Let's call a spade a spade. The only exclusion that happens is self inflicted. Lads come up with excuses as to why they don't play rugby and the easiest way to deflect from what they lack is to knock it."

Replying To bdbuddah:  "This topic is basically will the big interest in this year's rugby world cup harm the GAA.

People here, posted an obvious point, that there is few Rugby clubs, meaning Rugby hasn't/ won't pick up that many GAA players so because of this the threat to the GAA is not that big in reality.
One poster then continually found fault with this and posted statements arguing against this but was unable to back anything up.

People talked about how big the 1990 world cup and home coming was for Ireland and he took exception when people pointed out that the soccer team reaching the last 8 in the 1990 world cup was a much bigger achievement than Rugby teams doing the same because of soccer being so much more popular than rugby world wide but again would not back this up.

What riled people up on this topic I don't think was insecurity as much someone coming onto the thread and finding fault with anything posters said which didn't fit with his delusions of Rugby being a huge sport in Ireland and worldwide.
For me he's the main poster who has shown huge insecurity."

Replying To bdbuddah:  "This topic is basically will the big interest in this year's rugby world cup harm the GAA.

People here, posted an obvious point, that there is few Rugby clubs, meaning Rugby hasn't/ won't pick up that many GAA players so because of this the threat to the GAA is not that big in reality.
One poster then continually found fault with this and posted statements arguing against this but was unable to back anything up.

People talked about how big the 1990 world cup and home coming was for Ireland and he took exception when people pointed out that the soccer team reaching the last 8 in the 1990 world cup was a much bigger achievement than Rugby teams doing the same because of soccer being so much more popular than rugby world wide but again would not back this up.

What riled people up on this topic I don't think was insecurity as much someone coming onto the thread and finding fault with anything posters said which didn't fit with his delusions of Rugby being a huge sport in Ireland and worldwide.
For me he's the main poster who has shown huge insecurity."

Replying To updwell:  "Agree 100% with you, it's nothing to do with insecurity from GAA people, I personally don't watch and don't like the game of rugby but I can see that the players for the most seem to be sound lads and likeable. The problem I have is with the media fan boys and a certain element of the fans who are not likeable and totally arrogant. We have had them.telling us for the last year they were going to win this WC and even after defeat there is no criticism of the team or individual players but it's all we were unlucky and aren't thay all great. It's the only fan base I can think of in any sport where there is no angry fans towards their own team or people annoyed at losing (again), it comes across as a very cold, passionless support who are only there for the drink or the party. I know some lads from Limerick who followed clubs to Dublin for AIL games but had to leave the clubhouse bars after being ignored and basically not being wanted there as there not the D4 type. Maybe this is why the some don't like the game rather than insecurity."

Replying To updwell:  "Agree 100% with you, it's nothing to do with insecurity from GAA people, I personally don't watch and don't like the game of rugby but I can see that the players for the most seem to be sound lads and likeable. The problem I have is with the media fan boys and a certain element of the fans who are not likeable and totally arrogant. We have had them.telling us for the last year they were going to win this WC and even after defeat there is no criticism of the team or individual players but it's all we were unlucky and aren't thay all great. It's the only fan base I can think of in any sport where there is no angry fans towards their own team or people annoyed at losing (again), it comes across as a very cold, passionless support who are only there for the drink or the party. I know some lads from Limerick who followed clubs to Dublin for AIL games but had to leave the clubhouse bars after being ignored and basically not being wanted there as there not the D4 type. Maybe this is why the some don't like the game rather than insecurity."

Replying To updwell:  "Agree 100% with you, it's nothing to do with insecurity from GAA people, I personally don't watch and don't like the game of rugby but I can see that the players for the most seem to be sound lads and likeable. The problem I have is with the media fan boys and a certain element of the fans who are not likeable and totally arrogant. We have had them.telling us for the last year they were going to win this WC and even after defeat there is no criticism of the team or individual players but it's all we were unlucky and aren't thay all great. It's the only fan base I can think of in any sport where there is no angry fans towards their own team or people annoyed at losing (again), it comes across as a very cold, passionless support who are only there for the drink or the party. I know some lads from Limerick who followed clubs to Dublin for AIL games but had to leave the clubhouse bars after being ignored and basically not being wanted there as there not the D4 type. Maybe this is why the some don't like the game rather than insecurity."

Replying To Viking66:  "They aren't cold or passionless. They are realistic. Unlike all the bandwagoners and idiot pundits that created them, any real rugby fans I know, including myself, weren't expecting us to win the World Cup. We felt we had a chance, along with 3 other teams. There was no more than a score between any of the 4 teams in the games after the 1st game, so we were pretty much proved right in what we thought in the lead up to the RWC. The only slight surprise was how well England performed, but when you consider how big the game is over there it wasn't a huge shock."

Replying To zinny:  "Viking, the reality is that there are a lot of people in the GAA who despite what they say dislike Rugby simply because its played by an Ireland team and it captures the attention across the whole Island and Internationally. Its something the GAA will never have and doesn't need but any time either Soccer or Rugby do well the prejudices come out and a lot of it stems from petty jealousy. The lad talking about lads being their for the drink and the party - well show me one GAA county where that doesn't seem to be the case now when a team is doing well. Wexford would fill Croke Park when going well but couldn't get a full house against Kilkenny last year in the Park when faced with relegation. A measure of success for other sports I would think is how much GAA lads complain about them. If people don't respect other sports then they do not understand the value of sport."

Replying To zinny:  "Viking, the reality is that there are a lot of people in the GAA who despite what they say dislike Rugby simply because its played by an Ireland team and it captures the attention across the whole Island and Internationally. Its something the GAA will never have and doesn't need but any time either Soccer or Rugby do well the prejudices come out and a lot of it stems from petty jealousy. The lad talking about lads being their for the drink and the party - well show me one GAA county where that doesn't seem to be the case now when a team is doing well. Wexford would fill Croke Park when going well but couldn't get a full house against Kilkenny last year in the Park when faced with relegation. A measure of success for other sports I would think is how much GAA lads complain about them. If people don't respect other sports then they do not understand the value of sport."

Replying To seadog54:  "A lot of truth in what you say, in reality all team sports have their share of supporters who only follow a winning team and GAA is no exception. The need to knock a very good national rugby team is beyond me. Overhyped by media, D4, private schools and so on. What do they expect, media telling the lads they have no hope, just accept team will never be good enough. I admit I thought we had a great chance of winning the WC, however we met a NZ team on top form and came out second best on the day. Our day will come, there is an abundance of young talent coming through and rugby is very much alive and well in Ireland, great support in all matches and top viewing figures for SA and NZ games. Looks like Saturdays game Leinster v Munster will be a sell out as will all the inter pro's between now and Christmas. Six Nations to look forward to, plus the GAA season is only around the corner, thank God for sport."