Can football learn from the Six Nations?
- 2 Feb 07, 01:30 PM
Three main things strike me about rugby, and the Six Nations in particular.
The first is the general level of interest in the tournament in recent years. With 主播大秀 coverage on television, interactive and radio - and billboards across the country promoting the tournament - it's difficult to avoid mention of the forthcoming matches, or fail to be even mildly hyped by the thrilling prospect of an event like the Calcutta Cup.
The second is the general organisation of the tournament. Speaking as an outsider, the Six Nations presents as a well-organised, well-attended and generally popular event. Crowd trouble is almost non-existent and the over-enthusiastic horse-play from players which characterised the game in the past is being gradually phased out of the game by the introduction of sensible rules and strict sanctions.
The third is technology. Rugby employs such blindingly obvious tools as radio microphones for refs to explain their actions to the players and crowd, (a technology which is almost a century old at its most basic level) and video action replays to assist in determining the outcome of controversial events.
All of this (to me at least), makes the game more interesting, and a thoroughly enjoyable spectacle.
Why can't football be more like that?
But I digress.
The point I had hoped to try and make was about the UK's football authorities organising a similar competition to the Six Nations on these fair shores, but I seem to have wandered.
I wouldn't wish to hijack this fine blog as a means of propounding my own shoddy views on British football, but I genuinely considered publishing my rather long-winded suggestion for a British 'Six Nations' football competition here, since my office colleagues tend to don their headphones when I set off on one of my trademark rants.
Seriously though, I won't waste your time with my trademarked proposal.
At least not until the SFA have had time to digest it.
Wales 27-18 England
Comments Post your comment
Don't think it could ever work without someone like Mourinho or Wenger complaining that their superstars are "tired and fatigued" from a tournament such as this. (Though are their any of Arsenals foreign legion in the teams?) It would have to be every other summer to fit with world cup and euro championships as well. The idea is nice (Would be a trophy for one of the teams at least) but i just don't see it happening.
Complain about this post
Didn't England abandon the idea of a 主播大秀 Championship when they were getting beaten by Wales & Scotland too frequently.
This lack of serious competitive international matches has held British football back in my opinion.
Complain about this post
1 - i thought this was a rugby blog? who cares who the football authorities do - they've made their bed.
2 - are you not aware of the ?
Complain about this post
I Agree, The sytem and general setup of the rugby Six nations is supurb..
Would it really be that hard to adopt a similar setup for some of the nations other great sports, Namely football?
The entertainment value of the rugby is always fantastic, and the involvment of technology into the sport really makes it easy for fans, and non fans alike, letting them follow every move and judgment that players and officials make.
for non-fans, ive seen it convert many to regular viewers, as they pick up the rules and and such a lot quicker than consulting their friend, or even their well oiled partner down the pub...
would it really be that difficult to set up a similar competition within the football community?
I for one would welcome it, certainly the opertunity once a year for Wales to throw all they have against England.. and i belive such a setup may help increase the standard of football played by the home countries, giving them a annual competition carrying more pride than prizes...
Complain about this post
Football did have a similar competion between the Uk's home nations in the 70's and perhaps into the early 80's! It took place at the end of the domestic season. (It might have been called the 主播大秀 Championship?)
Can anyone remember the trashing of the Wembley turf and goalposts by the Scottish "fans"?
Complain about this post
Great point.
Just imagine - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales competing every year.
We could even call it the "British 主播大秀 Chamionship".
If you look you might even find an old trophy in IFA HQ in Belfast. (from 1984)
Of course England might find it beneath them playing such lowly teams like Norn Iron and refuse to play.
Complain about this post
The main problem with Football is the overwhelming power of the clubs who would not want their players involved in 主播大秀 Internationals. They would prefer to rest or play for the Club - how long before a club sues the FA for the loss of a player due to an injury received playing for their Country.
What I suspect decent Football supporters really crave is the discipline of Rugby and lack of disrespect for the referee (at all levels - my son plays Rugby and I am glad not just because of the sport but also the inherent discipline).
I have attended a match at Twickenham where a single police woman controlled a few hundred rugby supporters crossing a road.
I am sure the true football supporter would crave this sort of atmosphere, get drunk,have fun, but stay in line and everybody is happy.
Complain about this post
There used to be a Brit football competion (or am I showing my age) but it was abandoned because the English kept winning. Times may be right for the comp to return but I have my doubts. Football is a gents game played by thugs whereas rugby is a thugs game played (and watched) by gentlemen and in football the thugs (both players and spectators) would ruin the spectacle.
On the subject of technology it's high time that it was used in football. The arguement has been that it would slow the game down but the fact is that the game is now too fast for the refs to keep up. A simple goal line sensor would be a start.
Complain about this post
One minor point a 'British' six nations football competition might be a little difficult to achieve (Great Britain - England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales = 4 nations)
I am sure the police would love to discuss your proposal, at least it might drag them a away from their speed cameras for a little while.
:-)
Complain about this post
Two problems with that:
1. It would detract from the rugby Six Nations.
2. Could you really imagine the same well behaved crowds at an England vs Scotland football match
I do agree with you that video technology should be brought in to determine whether a fair goal has been scored. I also think there should be the same kind of citing in football as occurs in rugby. People found to have dived or who have made particularly bad fouls should be picked out on video after the game and banned. That would soon put a stop to the riduculous theatricals that we see on a weekly basis in football. I also think that a referee should have the ability to reverse a decision if he receives chat from the players trying to get cards given etc.
But given that these changes are unlikely football will continue to be a lesser spectacle.
Complain about this post
Ahh, remember those halcyon afternoons! The Tartan Army dancing in the Trafalgar Sq. fountains before heading north on the Jubilee line to help the Wembley authorities with the correct placement of the goalposts and pitch aeration!
Bringing back the home international and including the Italians and French is a wonderful idea; Italy might win something!
As for learning from rugby, not only would I encourage the use of radios and replays, I've long wanted football to use the 10 meter rule for dissent to match officials. The argument against replays usually go along the lines of "oh, they interrupt the flow of the game". Well, I would argue that a crowd of profaning ninnies gathered around a ref aren鈥檛 exactly the first word in getting the game going either.
10 mins in the sin bin for doing Greg Louganis impressions would also be a great help too.
Complain about this post
In my opinion there are many ways in which football could improve by taking ideas from the game of rugby.
Firstly the respect for the referee is on of the most important thing in the game of rugby and seems to be what is a major thing lacking from the game of football.
Why not bring in the back 10 yrd rule at a free kick situation this would stop al the abuse of the referee by players.
And the sin bin rule. Give the referee the abiltiy to send a player from the field to calm down..
Complain about this post
A home nations championship would certainly be better than most of the meaningless friendlies all the home nations seem to play these days!
Complain about this post
The competition, as I recall, wasn't shelved because England won but because there was little interest in the matches other than England v. Scotland.
Money was lost on the games involving Ireland and Wales.
Complain about this post
I have felt for a long time that the biggest thing missing in the game of football, which is I've been assured "the beautiful game" , is respect for the referee as shown in rugby where the players are generally built like a brick outhouse and yet are quite easily controlled by a wet blanket respectfully referred to as sir! I am of course talking about the ref who seems to have a lot more ammunition in his pocket than his counterpart in the much overhyped over paid over glamourised etc etc game of soccer. Lets not forget that rugby is the original football thats why all the clubs have rufc after their names, it's the rugby union football club part!!
Complain about this post
I'm all in favour of your idea. Why not bring back the 主播大秀 Nations? Excellent idea, good call my man.
Complain about this post
I wouldn't want to see a 主播大秀 Championship, seeing as football's fan culture is very different from rugby's. However a wider base of fans appear at bigger football tournaments that do behave somewhat better. Also Wales and both Irelands have better support and higher profiles than they used to. Club teams from the 2 Irelands play in the Setanta Cup, so there's some hope for cross-border play in football.
On technology, the lack of introduction of video replay, 10 yd rule, sin-bin and better discipline and respect (say by having ex-players as refs, rather than schoolteachers) just shows how dinosaurian football is. Both rugby codes, with less finance, can have these things. Even cricket does - it only has to apply to in-goal incidents and big fouls. The Jersey FA experimented with the 10yd in the 90s but it was rejected and I don't know why.
Football really needs to make a collective decision to come into the 21st Century - and that means people speaking up.
Complain about this post
Sin bins and the 10 metre rule for dissing the ref?. It's a no brainer- which, of course, is why it might take footballers some time to catch on. But once a team is a few goals to the bad as a result of ill-discipline, the players will retreat 10 metres quicker than you can say "Rokocoko".
Complain about this post
Its a non starter a six nation soccer competition. The last time the English soccer fans visited Dublin they trashed Lansdowne Road. In over a hundred years of rugby competition between the 5/6 nation countries there has never been any major incident with fans.
Complain about this post
A few years back, I took 10 BoBo's (blazers)and Police Commissioners to Twickenham to witness England versus Scotland. They were all involved in the organizing of the European Championship the following year in Holland and Belgium. They were flabbergasted to see only 3 Policeman in the stadium, 2 were playing for England and a former England player was there as a journalist. Later after the match I took them to Twickenham police station to hand them 3 files of arrests over the previous 24 hours. When we left Holland early in the morning, they were all convinced the Rugby supporter was a different person. On our way to the Stadium they soon realized that most of the hardcore soccer fans were present. It turned out that in Rugby the heroes are playing on the pitch, while in football............. I think we have lost heroes there.
What did the gentleman do with all the newly obtained knowledge???
Zero nacko nada. There is Football for you.
Jimme (38 years playing no.7)
Complain about this post
I say that the premiership be cut to 18 teams - contrevercial, especially as i am a West Ham fan, but it would cut the total games played by the top teams - in exchange for 2 more games in two of the football leagues - surely increacing turnover for the less well off clubs?
This would allow another 4 weekends - a winter break (sven) if you will, which could see the home national teams (eng, ire, n ire, sco, wales) play 4 competeitive games against each other, and give our national sides much needed bonding time, which it is always evident as missing during world cups and the like.
Technology should definately be used more in football - just to shut up people like Arsene Wenger.
Complain about this post
The main difference which makes rugby - both union and league - more enjoyable is the discipline of the players and the supporters (coming just as a policeman has been killed during rioting by soccer fans).
Rugby, owing to the emphasis on physical contact, is inherently more dangerous than soccer, hence the introduction of new rules for setting the scrum. Transgressions can be punished by penalty kicks, sending off or sin-binning. The introduction of the "sin bin" in soccer would bring major benefits - it could be used for back-chatting (a frequent problem in soccer)as well as more serious fouls that are borderline red card. Having seen transgressions by a number of goalkeepers in recent months, it would avoid referees feeling unable to send goalkeepers off - sinbinning would avoid this de facto exemption and, indeed, would be doubly effective in reducing transgressions by goalies. If a goalie were sent off for 10 minutes, the 10-man side would need to substitute a player with another goalkeeper - so the team would feel the effect even more. It would be a big disincentive for goalies to commit fouls.
Sinbinning would, in my view, improve the game. Watching a match with a 10-man side play for potentially 90 minutes (plus injury time and extra time) is very unsatisfying, but a short-handed side would only have a 10 minute wait to return to full strength although the other side would have enjoyed a powerplay - whether they would have taken advantage of that is another matter, of course.
Hopefully, sinbinning would reduce the number of fouls, diving and backchatting that currently takes place. Powerplays would encourage more opportunities for a full-strenght side to score making a more interesting match, while the extra man advantage would be short-lived.
Sinbinning should improve player discipline and bring extra excitement to otherwise dull games - with potential for improvement in the supporters' behaviour before, during and after matches.
Back to rugby union. I was fortunate enough to attend a large number of interationals last few years - not just at HQ, but Cardiff, Paris and Murrayfield - and have been dismayed by some rugby supporters (usually well-known for their good-natured, even-handed appreciation of great play) to start whistling to distract the kicker taking penalties or conversions. This seems particularly noticeable at Cardiff and, more recently, at Murrayfield (where the Mexican Wave also seems to have taken hold). Occasionally, it has been in evidence at Twickenham which was a great disappointment. The only ground where it was absent was the Stade de France, but then again, the French were giving the Rosbifs a good thrashing and England didn't get too many opportunities to kick at goal and with Charlie Hodgson doing the honours, Les Bleus were right in thinking that they didn't have much to worry about.
Here endeth the lesson.
Complain about this post
The main difference which makes rugby - both union and league - more enjoyable is the discipline of the players and the supporters (coming just as a policeman has been killed during rioting by soccer fans).
Rugby, owing to the emphasis on physical contact, is inherently more dangerous than soccer, hence the introduction of new rules for setting the scrum. Transgressions can be punished by penalty kicks, sending off or sin-binning. The introduction of the "sin bin" in soccer would bring major benefits - it could be used for back-chatting (a frequent problem in soccer)as well as more serious fouls that are borderline red card. Having seen transgressions by a number of goalkeepers in recent months, it would avoid referees feeling unable to send goalkeepers off - sinbinning would avoid this de facto exemption and, indeed, would be doubly effective in reducing transgressions by goalies. If a goalie were sent off for 10 minutes, the 10-man side would need to substitute a player with another goalkeeper - so the team would feel the effect even more. It would be a big disincentive for goalies to commit fouls.
Sinbinning would, in my view, improve the game. Watching a match with a 10-man side play for potentially 90 minutes (plus injury time and extra time) is very unsatisfying, but a short-handed side would only have a 10 minute wait to return to full strength although the other side would have enjoyed a powerplay - whether they would have taken advantage of that is another matter, of course.
Hopefully, sinbinning would reduce the number of fouls, diving and backchatting that currently takes place. Powerplays would encourage more opportunities for a full-strenght side to score making a more interesting match, while the extra man advantage would be short-lived.
Sinbinning should improve player discipline and bring extra excitement to otherwise dull games - with potential for improvement in the supporters' behaviour before, during and after matches.
Back to rugby union. I was fortunate enough to attend a large number of interationals last few years - not just at HQ, but Cardiff, Paris and Murrayfield - and have been dismayed by some rugby supporters (usually well-known for their good-natured, even-handed appreciation of great play) to start whistling to distract the kicker taking penalties or conversions. This seems particularly noticeable at Cardiff and, more recently, at Murrayfield (where the Mexican Wave also seems to have taken hold). Occasionally, it has been in evidence at Twickenham which was a great disappointment. The only ground where it was absent was the Stade de France, but then again, the French were giving the Rosbifs a good thrashing and England didn't get too many opportunities to kick at goal and with Charlie Hodgson doing the honours, Les Bleus were right in thinking that they didn't have much to worry about.
Here endeth the lesson.
Complain about this post
The main difference which makes rugby - both union and league - more enjoyable is the discipline of the players and the supporters (coming just as a policeman has been killed during rioting by soccer fans).
Rugby, owing to the emphasis on physical contact, is inherently more dangerous than soccer, hence the introduction of new rules for setting the scrum. Transgressions can be punished by penalty kicks, sending off or sin-binning. The introduction of the "sin bin" in soccer would bring major benefits - it could be used for back-chatting (a frequent problem in soccer)as well as more serious fouls that are borderline red card. Having seen transgressions by a number of goalkeepers in recent months, it would avoid referees feeling unable to send goalkeepers off - sinbinning would avoid this de facto exemption and, indeed, would be doubly effective in reducing transgressions by goalies. If a goalie were sent off for 10 minutes, the 10-man side would need to substitute a player with another goalkeeper - so the team would feel the effect even more. It would be a big disincentive for goalies to commit fouls.
Sinbinning would, in my view, improve the game. Watching a match with a 10-man side play for potentially 90 minutes (plus injury time and extra time) is very unsatisfying, but a short-handed side would only have a 10 minute wait to return to full strength although the other side would have enjoyed a powerplay - whether they would have taken advantage of that is another matter, of course.
Hopefully, sinbinning would reduce the number of fouls, diving and backchatting that currently takes place. Powerplays would encourage more opportunities for a full-strenght side to score making a more interesting match, while the extra man advantage would be short-lived.
Sinbinning should improve player discipline and bring extra excitement to otherwise dull games - with potential for improvement in the supporters' behaviour before, during and after matches.
Back to rugby union. I was fortunate enough to attend a large number of interationals last few years - not just at HQ, but Cardiff, Paris and Murrayfield - and have been dismayed by some rugby supporters (usually well-known for their good-natured, even-handed appreciation of great play) to start whistling to distract the kicker taking penalties or conversions. This seems particularly noticeable at Cardiff and, more recently, at Murrayfield (where the Mexican Wave also seems to have taken hold). Occasionally, it has been in evidence at Twickenham which was a great disappointment. The only ground where it was absent was the Stade de France, but then again, the French were giving the Rosbifs a good thrashing and England didn't get too many opportunities to kick at goal and with Charlie Hodgson doing the honours, Les Bleus were right in thinking that they didn't have much to worry about.
Here endeth the lesson.
Complain about this post
What can football learn from rugby?
My proposal is that the dives by footballers in whatever league is counted over the season, and the XV players who have dived the most have to play a game of rugby against the champions of the equivalent rugby league. I'd pay a lot of money to watch that game. It might encourage them to stick with playing football rather than playacting. I quite liked the game before it was over-run by show ponies.
I say this with reference to the premiership in particular. I haven't seen much football from the other home nations, they may not be so bad.
Complain about this post
I think it would be great to have such a tournament. We could hold it every second summer and it would give teams like Scotland (CUM ON), Wales and N Ireland the chance to win a trophy. The teams would be, if i was setting it up, Scotland, England, Wales, Eire, Northern Ireland and France. All these teams have great home records in all competitions so it would make a great tournament.
One flaw with ths would be the willingness of managers to disrupt their pre-season to let the players play in such a tournament.
Complain about this post
Rugby is too clever for footballers. It's about self control as well as ability. Sure the like of John Terry can kick a ball but as soon as the referee blows his whistle they (the footballers) throw a tantrum.
Also rugby is a far btter game fom an entertainment point of view. Even if one team is 30 points ahead of the other with only 5 minutes to go, the leading team can't simply kick the ball around and waste time but keep attacking and therefore not boring like football can be.
Rugby: A game for thugs played by gentlemen.
Football: A game for gentlemen............
Complain about this post
How about an all-star game in the way that the NHL does ? The players could be voted for by the fans, the championship winning coach and FA cup winning coach could manage or get the coachs voted for by the fans as well.
I seem to recall that the football authorities said the the 主播大秀 Championship would be replaced by the Rouse Cup. A challenge trophy which was played for once and then forgotten.
Complain about this post
It is interesting to hear the positive reaction to the new stuff in rugby union like video replays, radios on the referees, sin bins, citing, etc. All these ideas rugby union copied from rugby league in the last few years!
It's a shame rugby league can't really support an annual international competition like the six nations though. The reason may be the same that football doesn't - the power of the clubs compared with the national federation. The 6N is certainly a great event.
Complain about this post
There is another point you failed to make - rugby is actually interesting to watch... unlike football.
Complain about this post
Wasn't the 10 yard rule tried in the football league a few years back and then scrapped. Goal line technology wouldn't be bad, but stopping for replays would be tedious and still wouldn't stop Ferguson, Wenger etc moaning. 主播大秀 International Champ would be a waste of time for England, 3 shots at embarasment every year, but no credit for winning.
Complain about this post
Football would benifit greatly from a 10 minute sin binning for a yellow card.
Sin binning is an immediate punishment for the crime and the supporters love it!
At the moment you can stop a goal with an illegal tackle and still stay on the pitch. Madness.
Its the discipline and fair-play of Rugby I like, Football lets itself down with lack of discipline, on and off the pitch.
Complain about this post
How's it going, all you true rugby lads, boyos, lassies & colleens out there?
T鈥檞as the night before the 6-N and all good children were in bed, pretending to be asleep 鈥 with one eye open. Bit like myself. Looking forward to it? God, I can't wait. It's like Christmas Eve all over again, only with oval- shaped balls and no tinsel!
Irelands鈥 Dodgy front row? I really think some people are showing a wee bit of ignorance here. Personally, methinks they are soccer supporters who have just made the switch from the Wendy-ball game to mess with our buzz. People who have just woken up to the best team sport in the World. That's ok too. Bless them.
Let me put it this way:
路 Paul (who鈥檚 Jonno?) O鈥 Connell.
Best in his position in the World, by far. Now Captain of HC Winners 2006.
路 Donnacha (forget the shorts ref, I want to kill someone, NOW!) O鈥 Callaghan
- see POC.
Those two together, form the best lineout duo in the World 鈥 ask the AB鈥檚. Ask anyone.
路 Simon Easterby (Llanellis鈥 finest and their Captain) 鈥 A true leader of the form team, which could win the HC 2007 (6 from 6 in a Hell of group). Go the Welsh! (but never on a Sunday).
路 John (the Bull) Hayes 鈥 he breads bulls and practices scrum-aging with them on his days off 鈥 he鈥檚 from Munster. May God forgive me, but I love Munster, and I鈥檓 a die-hard Leinster fan.
路 Marcus (lighting) Horan 鈥 for a prop he is deceiving 鈥 loves getting stuck-in. Loves the ball in his hands. Give him the ball!
路 David (the Pace) Wallace 鈥 open-sider whose time has come 鈥 watch this fella go 鈥 oops sorry he鈥檚 gone ! (Munster, Munster)
路 Neil (Screwball) Best. The Aussies were excreting themselves at the mere site of the man. (Tugiri 鈥 the poor man-mountain is STILL shaking in his boots to this very day). Best shook him to the inner-depths of his soul. The Saafis - (World class hard men) saw this and tried to avoid him - to no avail. Bless.
Don鈥檛 blame them and he鈥檚 on the bench, for Gods sake!
What is Neil B. going to do to those little curly-haired Welsh fellas when he comes on? Shudder to even think. Woody鈥檚 主播大秀 quote of the day against the Aussies 鈥淏est is just, well, he鈥檚 just mad really!鈥) Magic stuff!
路 Jerry (The Arrow) Flannery 鈥 solid at the set piece. Throws the ball arrows , hits bull鈥檚-eyes in the lineout every time. Bit of an animal as well, which is nice. Just watch him grow into a World-beater this year.
路 Dennis (World class) Leamy 鈥 A player who will help take Ireland to the next level this year. In the 6-N and the WC. Irreplaceable. A class act. As important to the team as BOD is. In my humble opinion.
Your Honors, I rest my case.
By the way have ye seen our Back-row? Apparently they are pretty handy with the ball as well. I heard they are developing along nicely, behind the scenes. (Leinster, Leinster!) Or, is it just wee rumour that鈥檚 going around? What do you reckon ? Mmmm, nice.
We鈥檒l be grand.
Everyone has to learn sometime. Please correct me if I'm wrong (I'm not) but are our forwards not mostly made of the same front-row that won the best Rugby club Championship in the World last year? Sure, I鈥檓 probably wrong.
Bless them Eddie, for they know not what they say.
Can't wait for Ireland's (Munster鈥檚, Llanelli & Ulster鈥檚) front-row to push those who don鈥檛 know yet back 50 metres! Bless ye all. We still love you. It reminds the rest of us all, as to why we choose to watch a real Man鈥檚 game and not Wendy-Ball.
Soccer v Rugby 鈥 the ethos of sport.
Soccer still tries to achieve the same ethos at lower levels 鈥 the same Mums and Dads doing the same Saturday morning runs as their Rugby equivalents.
I did. I used to love it and Gaelic football. Gaelic football still has it and still protects its core ethos. Every village in Ireland has a team and it is a social gathering, moulded from history and hard times. This is why we will be watching Rugby this year from probably one the best Stadiums in Europe. This was built by the efforts of these Mums and Dads in liitle towns all over the Country,
at grassroots level and was helped financially by an enlightened Government 鈥 at the time. They are now allowing us into their Gaelic Holy-of-Holies. Please respect it. You will get that respect back two-fold. It is a joy to behold on All-Ireland Final day. The colour and spectacle of families, friends from both contestants. Thus showing the real reason for sport - mutual respect, team-spirit and the will to compete(at whatever level)- and of course to try and win!. Do you remember that in soccer?
The problem with soccer is at the top level, and the shame is that the kids are watching it more than playing it. The example they get from it is truly appalling. Kids are diving now on Saturday mornings, because they watch their heroes do it. It is blatant cheating.
What hope is there for a game that encourages kids to behave like that ?
The stuff true rugby legends are made of, are the dedicated supporters at all levels of Rugby across the N.H - who follow their kids teams on mucky, windy days and travel with like-minded people to enhance and entrance the Stadia and the Cities that make up the 6-Nations. They actually leave the places they visit better than they found them.
They meet new friends and leave behind, not aggression, just happy memories shared.
Q Munster! They are the ones who have shown the way in this respect - home and away. They are not just team 鈥 they are a religion ! There can be 50,000 Munster supporters in a stadium and when the opposition is taking a penalty-kick 鈥 you could hear a pin drop. It is beautiful experience to behold. Enough said. Romantic idealism? Yes. Guilty as charged. But it has been true for me as long as I have been involved with rugby. I am afraid I cannot say the same about any other sport, except Gaelic games (Hurling and Football). These sports have always been this way. Long before rugby.
It is true that soccer has so many dedicated, decent followers. I used to be one, until the real big money over. Then they (the top players) - started going to acting classes.
I am afraid it repulses me now to watch it at the highest level.. Sorry about that, soccer people. But it is sadly true. Look around you. Wake up and smell the wintergreen.
It鈥 s not too late. Or is it? Change it. Stop buying the jerseys. Stop buying the season-tickets. Tell them at the top you are not happy with what鈥檚 going on. It鈥檚 that simple. Hurt their pockets and they will listen , because that is what it is all about for the soccer 鈥渂usinessmen 鈥. No money and its not funny, for them. Ah well.. if only..
I love Rugby. I love meeting and learning from most of the people I meet on the way. The Welsh, English, Scottish, Italian, French, Aussies, South Africans. It is more than a sport. It is more a way of life. More a way to behave 鈥 home and abroad. I truly hope, that with the advent of heavy sponsorship (as demanded recently by the French in the HC, soon to be followed by the RFU) - that it does not drop to the levels of the cynical mire that is now Soccer. I don鈥檛 think I could suffer that. I don鈥檛 want to be around if and when it happens. That鈥檚 how much I care, about the most intelligent and beautiful team-sport spectacle to behold on Earth. Bless.
By the way, did you hear the one about the Irish front-row?
Bring it On Auntie-Beeb!
Leinster-mad by birth & design, Munster lover by choice, Irish to the bone.
European in nature (Netherlands).
Complain about this post
Please note that "Britain" is the island comprising England, Wales & Scotland. Ireland ("Northern" or Republic of) has always been Ireland -check the description on your UK passport front-cover if you disbelieve. C'mon Ireland!
Complain about this post
* Steven Greenwood wrote:
Lets not forget that rugby is the original football thats why all the clubs have rufc after their names, it's the rugby union football club part!
You dont know much about the origins of rugby, do you? I think you'll find it was first brought about during a game of football.
Complain about this post
>> it's difficult to avoid mention of the forthcoming matches, or fail to be even mildly hyped by the thrilling prospect of an event like the Calcutta Cup.
Trust me I'm a football supporter - I didn't even know it was on and I couldn't give a monkey's.
I miss the home internationals though - but not the Northern Ireland and Wales games. I'd like to see a regular meaningful tournament to replace the ridiculous friendly internationals.
How about England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland (or All Ireland if they could stop arguing about it), Italy, France, Germany, Holland.
If this happened every year I'd more or less guarantee you that the world cup winners would be one of those seven every time. If you brought in Spain, and played it in two groups of 4 - each team plays each other once - luck of the draw for home or away, top 2 go through to home and away 2 leg semi's and a one off final rotating through each country annually.
And no more 8 half time substitutions against Jamaica and Cyprus
Complain about this post
The players are better sportsmen. When watcking football you see that if a free kick is given against the opposite the player that has the ball just smacks it as far as they can away from where the free kick should be taken (Man U are terrible for this!) But when there is a foul in rugby the ball goes straight to the kicker so footie can learn for this.
Complain about this post
The players are better sportsmen. When watcking football you see that if a free kick is given against the opposite the player that has the ball just smacks it as far as they can away from where the free kick should be taken (Man U are terrible for this!) But when there is a foul in rugby the ball goes straight to the kicker so footie can learn for this.
Complain about this post
good idea, but would never happen. think about it, england and the other five nations to come to that will always have other requirments with qualifying for the european championships for two years and then the world cup for two years. plus the football season is already packed as it is with carling cup, fa cup, premiership, champions league and as fore mentioned internationl qualifaction.
Complain about this post
Im in Favour of the 主播大秀 Nations Championship! Maybe a break in the season like just after FA Cup 3rd round until the friendly week which is like 1st 2nd week of Feb! Can get 5 games maybe the tournament played over 2 weeks lie a mid week fixture and weekend ones! Like others have mentioned Prem to be cut to 18 and lower leagues increased to accomodate this and more money for them! The technology rugby uses i find it hard to go into football people will complain its taking up too much time esp when managers already moan about the length of injury time! But some of it will fit in at some point..
Complain about this post
hmm there are many valid points on this but i think a few points should be cleared up. Football has tried the 10 yard rule (think is 10 metres in rugger but same difference) not sure why they scrapped it but think is because it often actuli becomes a disadvanteage to the attacking team since the ideal place for a freekick is about 25 yards out thus 10 yards forward makes this an indirect freekick in the area, much less likely to lead to a goal; tho why the attacking team couldn't be offered the option i dont know. Secondly the man who makes the point that rugby was the original football seems to be somewhat confused. Rugby was invented by people playing FOOTBALL in rugby when one of the players picked the ball up, thus i think it might be safe to say football might just have preceded rugby.
Complain about this post
i agree with the fact that football should get upto date ie technology but can you really imagine a six nations football tournament. 70 odd thousand england scotland,ireland,wales anyone really in a ground an have no trouble, no abuse to players or a reasonable argument from the "top" coaches. although in previous years the player for club country row has come up an rugby maybe needs to learn like football an rather than throw in a cheeky mid week game between internationals, the league should have a sanction if more than say 4 or 5 first choice players are in international teams then the match is re-arranged to another date. although it does cause upsets in the league as teams like leicester have lost players so allows teams who would normally struggle to fight on an even playing field.
Complain about this post
hmm there are many valid points on this but i think a few points should be cleared up. Football has tried the 10 yard rule (think is 10 metres in rugger but same difference) not sure why they scrapped it but think is because it often actuli becomes a disadvanteage to the attacking team since the ideal place for a freekick is about 25 yards out thus 10 yards forward makes this an indirect freekick in the area, much less likely to lead to a goal; tho why the attacking team couldn't be offered the option i dont know. Secondly the man who makes the point that rugby was the original football seems to be somewhat confused. Rugby was invented by people playing FOOTBALL in rugby when one of the players picked the ball up, thus i think it might be safe to say football might just have preceded rugby.
Complain about this post
There is nothing that football can learn from either code of Rugby.
Football is too far gone in terms of institutionalised cheating and corruption.
And I used to be soccer mad, but would not now walk across the road to watch it for free.
Sad.
Martyn Green
Complain about this post
Not read the other comments, so sorry if i am repeating others. Sorry to contradict the deluded and ignorant, Gareth, but I thought they stopped the annual England vs Scotland game because of repeated Scottish hooliganism. It was also getting a little monotanous as the English Premiership was pulling away from the SPL and fewer and fewer Scots were playing in the EPL. There was even a cup awarded but I can't remember it's name.
In answer to the article. It would never happen because of hooligans, governing bodies, club vs. country conflicts etc. So, many reasons it's not worth considering.
Complain about this post
36. At 05:48 PM on 03 Feb 2007, Stephen wrote:
"How about England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland (or All Ireland if they could stop arguing about it), Italy, France, Germany, Holland."
Could you actually see this happening? You're basically calling for another European championships, but without smaller nations such as Czech Rep., Sweden etc's involvement. What would be the point of that? I think a small home championship held maybe every two years would be possible, but this idea is real pie-in-the-sky stuff...!
Complain about this post
36. At 05:48 PM on 03 Feb 2007, Stephen wrote:
"How about England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland (or All Ireland if they could stop arguing about it), Italy, France, Germany, Holland."
Could you actually see this happening? You're basically calling for another European championships, but without smaller nations such as Czech Rep., Sweden etc's involvement. What would be the point of that? I think a small home championship held maybe every two years would be possible, but this idea is real pie-in-the-sky stuff...!
Complain about this post
Just to remind some folks, N.Ireland were the last British Champions in 83-84, and the record sttod at England 54 wins to Scotlands 41. Hardly convincing. Maybe the return of the 主播大秀 championship would teach some of the 'superstars' a lttle bit of pride in the jersey!
Complain about this post