Batman plays rugby in Brazil!

This story just caught my eye.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17419311

It is strange in so many ways, Police using a retired officer in a Batman costume to try to prevent crime? How much more strange do you want?

The thing that struck me as the most weird of all is that the Caped Crusader in one of the must famous Footballing nations is playing rugby with the kids!

Isn't that just great?

Just checked and Brazil is currently ranked 35th in the World, although I hear they fancy themselves against Ireland's scrum after yesterday!

Batman for Ireland coach. We have the coach we deserve, not the one we need! ;-)

Only if he comes with Robin. Then we have a deal.

"Gadzooks Batman, why are we going backwards?"

"Have no fear little one. Rest assured we shall use the Bat-Clone to reproduce a brand new cross-era super-team. BOD, POC, Woody, Kyle, Willie-John, Gibson, Campbell, O'Reilly, Hickie, Shaggy, Geoghan and Slattery, for the NZ Tour and the RWC. We will leave the 6-N as it will be beneath us. Like Argentina, we shall join and form a new SH 5-N. This will enable us to actually compete at a RWC"

"Galloping pond-lizards Batman! That is genius. You are my Super-Hero."

"I know Robin, I know."

If I may make a quick point of order?
Do you want a man, dressed all in black, wearing tights, a body suit with ears and a cape, touching your children? The guy being interviewed appeard to dig this just a little too much.
The only redeeming feature was the Rugby (naturally).

I get to Brazil twice a year and, believe it or not, they have an active Rugby culture. SPAC, the Sao Paulo Athletic Club, founded by expat Brits in the 1880s has always played Rugby and football. Even today. Maybe the sun addled their senses, resulting in football becoming very big and the Rugby not so much. But Rugby is growing, and the schools are preparing kids for the Rugby in the Olympics. But, I have never seen a Brasilian wearing a Batman suit.

And, not for nothing, don't you think their is something not quite right about the relationship between Batman and Robin, the 'Boy Wonder'? Putting a boy in clear stockings, to me, is just not quite right.

The fake accent fooled no-one!

The guy in the Batman suit is actually you, isn't it Dr Grey?

Even the username is a heavy hint.

Grey?

Yeah, really Black but I can't admit it more like!

doctor_grey wrote:If I may make a quick point of order?
Do you want a man, dressed all in black, wearing tights, a body suit with ears and a cape, touching your children? The guy being interviewed appeard to dig this just a little too much.
The only redeeming feature was the Rugby (naturally).

I get to Brazil twice a year and, believe it or not, they have an active Rugby culture. SPAC, the Sao Paulo Athletic Club, founded by expat Brits in the 1880s has always played Rugby and football. Even today. Maybe the sun addled their senses, resulting in football becoming very big and the Rugby not so much. But Rugby is growing, and the schools are preparing kids for the Rugby in the Olympics. But, I have never seen a Brasilian wearing a Batman suit.

And, not for nothing, don't you think their is something not quite right about the relationship between Batman and Robin, the 'Boy Wonder'? Putting a boy in clear stockings, to me, is just not quite right.

Scandalous accusation Doc. You need to open yer Bat-Mind bud. Ok so they like wearing tights. Be honest. Don't you? I wear mine, in Winter, at rugby games. People call them long-johns, but they havent seen my sheer silk seamed ones. In fairness, I only wear my full Leinster Batman regalia at home. De missus loves me in it, specially when I jump from the wardrobe onto the bed... But why does she laugh so much?

Holy Ladyboys, Batman! Kerrrpow!

Interesting facts about rugby in Brazil.

Well, now we know how you hurt that shoulder!

Gibson, You are cracking me up. Very funny.
Do you wear Bat-Thong undies and have a Bat-Trapeeze in your Bat-Boudoir?

doctor_grey wrote:Gibson, You are cracking me up. Very funny.
Do you wear Bat-Thong undies and have a Bat-Trapeeze in your Bat-Boudoir?

You know far too much already Doc.

And I dont want to scare the other Doc. She thinks I am a respectable, up-standing pillar of normal society. I want to keep it that way.

I'll admit to a Bat-Cage...

In all seriousness, 2 trips a year to Brazil? How cool is that? Never been. One of my little wishes.

Gibson,
Brazil is a very interesting place. The people there are very friendly and have the nicer bits of old world courtesy.

I get there twice per year. Once for medical lectures. This is fun because its in the dead of our winter and it is warm and fun. Lots o booze. Lots o caiparinhas (don't have one with passion fruit. You will never remember what you did, but the womens might be hapy). Lots o dancing too.

The second time I go is more serious. Performing operating room training with new surgical techniques. In the OR for almost two weeks straight. No booze because I won't have a drink two days before any surgery.

So I haven't seen very much of the country. Never been to Rio. But the Sao Paulo beaches (about 2 hours away) are nice. There in a German city in the south called Blumenau which is still mostly German and has a pretty fair Oktoberfest. But the pearls of the country are the women. They have a style which makes the blood boil. Even the women not quite so pretty have a style which simply kills.

Oh Doc, Latino girls have that something all right. Its in the way they move, the way they dress and in the way they think. Love it. South Amercia is full of it. Venezuela would be my choice.
Great work ethic by the way. Deadly serious business on one trip. Lots of fun on the other. Way to go. Mucho respect.

MrsP wrote:The fake accent fooled no-one!

The guy in the Batman suit is actually you, isn't it Dr Grey?

Even the username is a heavy hint.

Grey?

Yeah, really Black but I can't admit it more like!

Madam, I didn't see your post yesterday. I want to know how you saw through my disguise. I thought my fake acccent was quite good. Now I am depressed, back to the drawing board to act out my sickie behaviour.

Brazil aren't too bad at rugby, I read years ago that the game had a massive boost there because their international fly half was actually a Brazilian pop star as well, so he helped spread the gospel!

This has to be the greatest headline ever.

Rugby is growing in South America...Uruguay is the next team after Argentina on the continent.

Away from that rugby is growing elsewhere...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2016834/Los-Angeles-Rugby-conversion-for-LAs-gangs.html

This report is quite old...but it shows it is hitting unusual areas...imagine some of those young americans from the gangs really taking it seriously....

Nice one Geordie.

Love to see and hear that the game is growing in other countries. Really dont like the way the IRB over-protect and give full advantage to - the Top 8 at the RWC. The way they treat the rest at the RWC is despicable. It has to change. We (under the IRB) must be more inclusive and invest time, shekels and interest in it.

Its getting a lot bigger in the USA too. Not sure that's all good. Look what they've done to soccer. But hey, the Yankee dollah could help the rest grow too. As long as we dont have rah-tah girlies and ads every 5 mins, during a game.

Hauld on a cotton pickin... might liven it up a bit.

Just joshin.

If we really love the Game, we should be writing more articles on its status in the World outside of the NH and the New World. Promote it. Spread the word. Instead of all this inter-bickering between the Home Nations and France. Way to go.

Ah sure its a mad idea Ted. Never catch on.

Gibson wrote:Nice one Geordie.

Love to see and hear that the game is growing in other countries. Really dont like the way the IRB over-protect and give full advantage to - the Top 8 at the RWC. The way they treat the rest at the RWC is despicable. It has to change. We (under the IRB) must be more inclusive and invest time, shekels and interest in it.

Its getting a lot bigger in the USA too. Not sure that's all good. Look what they've done to soccer. But hey, the Yankee dollah could help the rest grow too. As long as we dont have rah-tah girlies and ads every 5 mins, during a game.

Hauld on a cotton pickin... might liven it up a bit.

Just joshin.

If we really love the Game, we should be writing more articles on its status in the World outside of the NH and the New World. Promote it. Spread the word. Instead of all this inter-bickering between the Home Nations and France. Way to go.

Ah sure its a mad idea Ted. Never catch on.

What about a thread on the International bit...where people from those areas can comment on developments or games...

Ie Africa and Asia all have a version of the 6n's..and the Euro Nations. It would be interesting to hear about those games...

Excellent idea Big Man. Lets pick a developing(rugby-wise) country each and start it off.

I'll pick Nederland. The home of Tim McVisser. So much potential here for the game and there are clubs all over. They are slowly falling in love with the 6-N and RWC here. I am doing my bit for the club game in every Pub I hit. I hit a lot of pubs.

18 million more Leinster fans coming roysh up...

Next up... Patagonia. They are Welsh, soooo...

Gibson wrote:Nice one Geordie.

Love to see and hear that the game is growing in other countries. Really dont like the way the IRB over-protect and give full advantage to - the Top 8 at the RWC. The way they treat the rest at the RWC is despicable. It has to change. We (under the IRB) must be more inclusive and invest time, shekels and interest in it.

Its getting a lot bigger in the USA too. Not sure that's all good. Look what they've done to soccer. But hey, the Yankee dollah could help the rest grow too. As long as we dont have rah-tah girlies and ads every 5 mins, during a game.

Hauld on a cotton pickin... might liven it up a bit.

Just joshin. If we really love the Game, we should be writing more articles on its status in the World outside of the NH and the New World. Promote it. Spread the word. Instead of all this inter-bickering between the Home Nations and France. Way to go.

Ah sure its a mad idea Ted. Never catch on.

Now why didn't I think of that?




Hang on a minute.....

Before we go to developing Rugby countries, I think Rugby in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji requires a detailed on-site visit and analysis by the experts here on these boards. There, out in the South Pacific with those warm tropical beaches, the soft light breeze, a cocktail in one hand gazing out as the sun goes down. This could take weeks, months or years of study............

And when our work there is done, we visit Tahiti. Just for a rest.

Got the stuff Grey, thanks!

Not had a chance to read it all properly yet!

Glad you got it. Let me know what you think. Then I can get back in my Batman suit.......

Don't let me stop you there Grey!

doctor_grey wrote:Before we go to developing Rugby countries, I think Rugby in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji requires a detailed on-site visit and analysis by the experts here on these boards. There, out in the South Pacific with those warm tropical beaches, the soft light breeze, a cocktail in one hand gazing out as the sun goes down. This could take weeks, months or years of study............

And when our work there is done, we visit Tahiti. Just for a rest.

I dont know why Doc, but Im slowly falling in virtual lurve with you man. I'll go on that Tour with ya. On a pure consultancy basis you understand? I'll handle Social Events.

Yes. Help enable the 2nd tier to a place at the Top Table. One they deserve. Give them the backing (and equal rest-time in RWC's for a start) Even if just to show the developing countries the intent.
That alone, would help accelerate the World game. The IRB should lead by example. And the supposed Top 8 - should back it up. Lets enhance this gig.

If they really love rugby and not just winning by default, in a smug, self-supporting, inward-looking - monopoly. Funded by the IRB.

Then help it. Feed it. Stop feeding off it. And reap the benefits for the World game.