The ABE test.

First topic message reminder :

ABE (anyone but England).

Just respond honestly.

There is an ABE complex amongst some 'British' fans both here and v1

look at the current poll. That's why I posted it.

(You did however magnificently undermine the debate by declaring yourself as non-Celtic)

Touche stag, touche

Rabo Direct. Ja!

roddersm wrote:

Boyne wrote:We are all God's children.

Unless you play rugby on a sunday.

Hilar

roddersm wrote:

Boyne wrote:We are all God's children.

Unless you play rugby on a sunday.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:No, they've changed the name now, Rodders - it's the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Magnificent 7 League this season.

Who qualify as the unmagnificent other 5?

(Now that's really going to up the bun-fight stakes)

I love watching good rugby regardless of the teams. That said I am a Celt and proud of that too. I'll always support wales first, but am then pretty neutral for all other games. I whole heartedly cheered England on in the 2003 final. I love the welsh/english banter provided it is meant to be fun and light hearted and not a veiled attempt at wendyball thuggery. So long may the banter continue, the beer flow and the wonderful game of rugby be the real winner

TB - but for the sake of this thread you are completely anti-English. It's expected...

red_stag wrote:Grey, I know its not meant as offensive or anything just a term I don't buy into it.

Well, to be fair you're making me a tad confused after that and your first post

I find the notion of being labelled "Celtic" actually insulting.

stag so you would not like to be called a celt in a rugby sense, as in lumped in with scotland and wales, which is fair enough we are seperate teams, i thought reading this you didnt like the idea of descending from the celtic peoples.

Portnoy wrote:(You did however magnificently undermine the debate by declaring yourself as non-Celtic)

Apologies if I did. I thought I agreed with you in one of my posts saying that the is in fact an 'Anyone But England' attitude amongst a lot of fans. I took part in your quiz but saw no reason that I should be labelled a Celt in doing so.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:No, they've changed the name now, Rodders - it's the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Magnificent 7 League this season.

Lucky, I do like CRM's stuff, a bit twee at times maybe

Grey - I know its not said with the intention of being offensive. I always just get annoyed and irritated by the term in a rugby sense. I think it dilutes all of our achievements and dismisses the different cultures we have.

Portnoy - this thread should have come with the warning

'Light blue touch paper and stand well back'

Portnoy wrote:There is an ABE complex amongst some 'British' fans both here and v1

look at the current poll. That's why I posted it.

(You did however magnificently undermine the debate by declaring yourself as non-Celtic)

Portnoy, in what some might reasonably claim is a passive-aggressive way, I believe that you have asked a question in such a manner as to ensure that you will have the highest likelihood to get the result you're after - does it make you feel happier? If you imagine that your poll proves anything, I honestly think you've lost it

Flip?

whatthe Flip isbritishwhenitsathome?

This thread should be called the ABE question. It’s hardly a test.

greybeard wrote:

luckless_pedestrian wrote:No, they've changed the name now, Rodders - it's the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Magnificent 7 League this season.

Who qualify as the unmagnificent other 5?

(Now that's really going to up the bun-fight stakes)

Well Ulster for a start, obviously.

Yeah, but what will happen if Scotland votes for independence?

Does the Isle of Man have a rugby team?

luckless_pedestrian wrote:

greybeard wrote:

luckless_pedestrian wrote:No, they've changed the name now, Rodders - it's the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Magnificent 7 League this season.

Who qualify as the unmagnificent other 5?

(Now that's really going to up the bun-fight stakes)

Well Ulster for a start, obviously.

I think it's time for the ABU (Anyone But Ulster) test.

Cornwall does

ABU? That's a persecution complex that is

Glas a du wrote:Cornwall does

I hardly think the Piartes of Menspants or whatever they are called counts as a national side any more than complaining when a pasty factory relocates to the border with Devon counts as a distinct ethnicity

Everyone knows that Ulster is just a 'token' representation in Ireland!

Glas Du

Careful now the Cornish class themselves as Celt and not English to!!! I know, I married one lol

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Everyone knows that Ulster is just a 'token' representation in Ireland!

I have no time for the nordies

except ferris

and best

and trimble

and court

and actually paddy wallace

oh and all the good young lads

the rest you can keep, and that mcguiness chancer trying to be prez

D24tress wrote:
the rest you can keep, and that mcguiness chancer trying to be prez

Sorry he comes free with Paddy Wallace.

Another good reason not to pick Wallace!

TBJ9625 wrote:Glas Du

Careful now the Cornish class themselves as Celt and not English to!!! I know, I married one lol

The Corns do all sorts of things which Id question .... but Im glad to see they are widening the gene pool a bit, even if they do consider your lot cousins.

(Its OK to be massivley offensive about them, they dont allow hold with this internet magic down there)

does o'gara's tackling come with norris

ABE

Anything But Extremely Irritating Polls

Over here the Robot 12 is still called the ligue Celtique,even the Italians are now Celts

D24tress wrote:I'm celtic and would prefer any celtic team to when over them.
However i would support england against the 3n and france

Bravo that chap!!

D24tress wrote:does o'gara's tackling come with norris

Well according to Sin and BlueMuff, ROG can perform no matter who is president. Sexton on the other hand.......

Isle of Man have 3 rugby clubs, according to my quick google search: http://www.rugbyclubs.info/rugbyunionclubs.php/Isle_of_Man/37/1/ I assume they just play in the English league as club teams, as Jersey and Guernsey do.

The Manx are an odd lot, they claim to be Gaelic but all speak English with a hint of Scouse.

I am Welsh first and foremost and want us to beat all, I have lived in Scotland for a decade so Scotland is my second team followed by Ireland and England. During the world cup I want all the northern hemisphere teams to do well unless they play Wales. I do enjoy rugby though and when New Zealand are on song you can't help but admire (french can do that occasionally as well).

Robbo - so why don't they play in the Rabo league? They shouldn't be in the English league...

TBJ9625 wrote:I love watching good rugby regardless of the teams. That said I am a Celt and proud of that too. I'll always support wales first, but am then pretty neutral for all other games. I whole heartedly cheered England on in the 2003 final. I love the welsh/english banter provided it is meant to be fun and light hearted and not a veiled attempt at wendyball thuggery. So long may the banter continue, the beer flow and the wonderful game of rugby be the real winner

yeah you've ruined it now, someone take the keys of the Outrage Bus off him

red_stag wrote:

Portnoy wrote:(You did however magnificently undermine the debate by declaring yourself as non-Celtic)

Apologies if I did. I thought I agreed with you in one of my posts saying that the is in fact an 'Anyone But England' attitude amongst a lot of fans. I took part in your quiz but saw no reason that I should be labelled a Celt in doing so.

The ABE syndrome is mainly a local syndrome - here in the BIs.

And I think that 'Celtic Nations' or derivatively 'Celts' is reasonable shorthand.

I was not prepared however to be spun by Irish objections about being classed as Celtic. I'd be more prepared to apologise to the Cornish or Bretons. But not Gaels. Seems wrong and unnecessarily picky.

I was just guessing, but further research shows that Douglas RFC play in the South Lancs/Chesire Division. I don't think any of the Isle of Man teams are particularly good, so they wouldn't be Rabo level. They could affiliate to one of the individual unions other than the RFU, but have chosen to affiliate with the RFU. I know with Jersey and Guernsey the RFU subsidise their travel for their away games (and opposing team's travel for their home fixtures), so I assume they do the same with the teams on the Isle of Man. Maybe as it's a quicker and easier journey (and the RFU have more money to subsidise this travel) they chose the RFU and the English leagues as a matter of convenience?

I'm Scottish and I would have no problem describing myself as celtic.

I like to see Wales do well.

Ireland I don't really care for, mostly because of all the bickering between the provinces at international time is a wee bit boring.

Finally I love to see England get cuffed. Not because I dislike England. In truth I have a lot of English relatives. Herin lies the problem, when England do well my phone gets bombarded with Pro England slogans and songs from my gloating cousins, uncles etc so naturally I like to see them get mashed and have some peace.


Lastly the look on English pundit's faces when they (England) lose is also very soothing. Guscott and Daglow look all stroppy when England get humped, this provides me with some ammusement.

Portnoy Why not have the option...

I'm Celt and naturally want my own team to win.I'm only interested in other results if they have a impact on my team.

That gets my vote.

didnt realise there was an English team. I know there is a team called england but surely a good handful of their players aren't actually english!!!

But ABE stands for Anyone But England, as in Anyone But the team that goes by the name of England, regardless of the ethnic origin of the players that make up said team.

oh right.

so its like disliking a club side like say the Leicster Tigers???

Club sides like Leicester Tigers don't have to abide by IRB regulations on qualifications. The team that goes by the name of England, regardless of the ethnic origin on the players that make up said team do.

so can the tigers get this IRB qualification too so???

caoimhincentre wrote:didnt realise there was an English team. I know there is a team called england but surely a good handful of their players aren't actually english!!!

It is a bit rich coming from the land of "project players" but meh... Best avoid the tedious "eligibility" argument for now I guess.