Team GB

by HERSH Fri 27 Jul 2012, 8:33 am

First topic message reminder :

Having watch Team GB bundle their way to a draw last night in the Olympic football a thought struck me, wouldn’t it be great to have a Team GB in the rugby union world, every four years we could form a team and take on the worlds bests SH teams in a test match series.

What do you guys think?

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Fri 27 Jul 2012, 2:34 pm

Well jokes on the Irish anyway, look where chucking their lot in with the Euros got them.

We Britishers are having similar problems ourselves now however with London having colonised Reading, Wycombe and Oxford.

by LeinsterFan4life Fri 27 Jul 2012, 2:36 pm

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Well jokes on the Irish anyway, look where chucking their lot in with the Euros got them.

We Britishers are having similar problems ourselves now however with London having colonised Reading, Wycombe and Oxford.

Ye because we were doin so well under british rule???

by gregortree Fri 27 Jul 2012, 2:37 pm

Ohh yeah !

'North East Atlantic Archipelago Islands Lions'

Not only would this stir the blood, it would bring terror to SH teams and radio commentators alike.

by Smirnoffpriest Fri 27 Jul 2012, 2:44 pm

ScarletSpiderman wrote:
Kiwireddevil wrote:
anotherworldofpain wrote:Like only the GB commentators still say "South Sea Isles" ! Whereas people in the Pacific Islands find this very racist, imperalist and insulting.

Though it does point to a solution to the "British Isles" conundrum. We could call them the "North Sea Islands". Or the "Northwest Atlantic Archipelego" if you're feeling pedantic.

Because we brought the word British Isles over when we brought you lot civilisation (wich I could spell) so there

Actually the Irish and the rest of us celts should 'take back' the word British as it was here before the Anglo-Saxons, and encompased all the tribes living on the British Isles (and now Ireland) and Brittany

by sugarNspikes Fri 27 Jul 2012, 2:48 pm

This thread is going down the usual 'Wikipedia and my schoolboy history lessons state...' route Laugh

by Feckless Rogue Fri 27 Jul 2012, 2:52 pm

I don't think there's anything wrong with "British & Irish Lions".

by Smirnoffpriest Fri 27 Jul 2012, 2:55 pm

Neither do I - it does make it a lot simpler that Ireland competes in rugby as one team as otherwise you'd need the UK and Ireland Lions or the British and Northern and Republic of Ireland teams or something...

by anotherworldofpain Fri 27 Jul 2012, 2:58 pm

Feckless Rogue wrote:I don't think there's anything wrong with "British & Irish Lions".

Other than they can't win a test series, you mean?

by sugarNspikes Fri 27 Jul 2012, 3:03 pm

Four full British Isles breakfasts, please.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Fri 27 Jul 2012, 3:09 pm

anotherworldofpain wrote:
Feckless Rogue wrote:I don't think there's anything wrong with "British & Irish Lions".

Other than they can't win a test series, you mean?

I havent seen them getting beaten 60-0 recently, theres a lot to be said for some partners making the Lions a full time enterprise

by Chjw131 Fri 27 Jul 2012, 3:41 pm

Notch wrote:
Chjw131 wrote:All these people/media jumping on the Andy Murray 'British' bandwagon made me feel rather sad. It smacked of desperation. I was shouting 'Come on Tim' in the final but no one seemed to take any notice. As per usual....

Hmmm... so witty

Serious note. The great thing about the Lions is unlike Team GB in the Olympics or whatever there won't be any split IF* Scotland votes for independence. The Lions isn't about nationality, thats why it's special. It's the essence of rugby and flags and anthems don't come into it. We'll still be having the British and Irish and Scottish Lions Tours. Just have to have a think about that name eh? It's becoming more and more of a mouthful

(Obviously thats an incredibly big if right there.)

Yes it was rather, thanks for noticing old chap.

Despite the jibe, I have to concur with your sentiments on the Lions. They do transcend a lot of the usual national stereotyping and drum banging which goes on. It facilitates everyone concentrating on the great game that is Rugby Union. What other sports team in history has done that with such success?

The Harlem Globetrotters is about as close as I can get to it without veering completely into fiction.

by gregortree Fri 27 Jul 2012, 3:47 pm

The BaaBaas transcend nationality 'issues'

by **Notch** Fri 27 Jul 2012, 3:50 pm

Saracens transcend nationality issues Whistle

by gregortree Fri 27 Jul 2012, 3:55 pm

well if you want to go there, we have all the 'London' exiles, but then again we dont want to.

by ChequeredJersey Fri 27 Jul 2012, 3:57 pm

anotherworldofpain wrote:
Feckless Rogue wrote:I don't think there's anything wrong with "British & Irish Lions".

Other than they can't win a test series, you mean?

That's Bryce Lawrence's fault. As we've now accepted, globally, that he's a liability, can we please reverse all results that he was on the officiating team for?

by Rava Sat 28 Jul 2012, 1:30 am

ChequeredJersey wrote:Hey, according to this article I'm reading on Golf at the 2016 Olympics, the top 15 players get in regardless of Nationality, then after that each country is only allowed 2 representatives. How does that work? Seems ludicrously unfair given that the entire field will end up being American

Shows you know nowt about world golf then CJ.

by ChequeredJersey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 2:29 am

Yeah fair enough, golf is t up in my favourite sports, but the way Olympic rankings work for almost every other sport would restrict such a lasers numerical advantage for any single country. Like Btazil isn't allowed 4 football teams, is it? Or GB is only allowed 1 sprint cycler. It seems, to me as an admitted outsider who can take or leave golf, to be a poor selection criterion

by Rava Sat 28 Jul 2012, 2:37 am

Fairynuff CJ. Hug

by ChequeredJersey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 2:40 am

Wow. Spell check failed me there. Spun it is time to go to
Bed and sleep
Off the drink I think. Night night

by Don Alfonso Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:47 am

Will Ireland attempt to field a rugby 7s team for the next Olympics? Might we see some NI players playing for GB seeing as Ireland are currently uninterested in 7s?

by ChequeredJersey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:04 am

I think for the Olympics they'll put a decents 7s team out

by HammerofThunor Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:23 am

What are the rules for eligibility? Is it similar to football? U23 with 3 over 23.

We'll still be having the British and Irish and Scottish Lions Tours

Why wouldn't it be still British and Irish Lions? Last time I looked Scotland was on Britain.

Actually the Irish and the rest of us celts should 'take back' the word British as it was here before the Anglo-Saxons, and encompased all the tribes living on the British Isles (and now Ireland) and Brittany

I think you're thinking of 'Briton'. British just means you're from Britain and these were the names given to us by the Romans not our own. Instead you've taken up the word 'Celt' instead (and that was given to you by an Englishman).

I will say the Team GB team was introduced as 'Great Britain' last night. If it is supposed to include Northern Ireland then that was pretty shading. Not including Wales in the England and Wales cricket team is one thing. But Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom team? Also, how stupid does "Team GB" sound? I'm already sick of it. Why can't they just use "England and friends"?

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:28 am

Don Alfonso wrote:Will Ireland attempt to field a rugby 7s team for the next Olympics? Might we see some NI players playing for GB seeing as Ireland are currently uninterested in 7s?

Rugby players from NI are not allowed to play for GB. The IRFU have already made a statement about the subject.

by Thomond Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:30 am

Don Alfonso wrote:Will Ireland attempt to field a rugby 7s team for the next Olympics? Might we see some NI players playing for GB seeing as Ireland are currently uninterested in 7s?

IRFU is an all Ireland organisation if the lads don't play for Ireland (remember we compete as Ireland not Republic in the Olympics) I suspect the IRFU would make sure those people don't represent Ireland again however right or wrong (I think it's wrong) that is.

by **rodders** Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:37 am

LeinsterFan4life wrote:
Don Alfonso wrote:Will Ireland attempt to field a rugby 7s team for the next Olympics? Might we see some NI players playing for GB seeing as Ireland are currently uninterested in 7s?
Rugby players from NI are not allowed to play for GB. The IRFU have already made a statement about the subject.

Irish 7s is not a new thing I don't understand why this question keeps popping up. If Ireland enter a 7s team then, as with previous 7s teams and the 15 man game, this will include players from NI.

www.irishrugby.ie/16065_16068.php

by sugarNspikes Sat 28 Jul 2012, 11:08 am

We can just just call it Great Britain and Ireland like they did in rugby league when Brian Carney played.

Ok, so some folk will always just shorten it to Great Britain (or England)...

by ChequeredJersey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 11:16 am

For the 2016 Olympics, after GB of course, part of me wants either the likes of Fiji or even a less renowned rugby country like Kenya to get medals in the sevens. The first (or samoa etc) would give these countries a great boost on the international scene, the latter would help raise rugby awareness

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 12:34 pm

sugarNspikes wrote:We can just just call it Great Britain and Ireland like they did in rugby league when Brian Carney played.

Ok, so some folk will always just shorten it to Great Britain (or England)...

Did they do that in rugby league? I never knew that.

by Don Alfonso Sat 28 Jul 2012, 12:42 pm

rodders wrote:
LeinsterFan4life wrote:
Don Alfonso wrote:Will Ireland attempt to field a rugby 7s team for the next Olympics? Might we see some NI players playing for GB seeing as Ireland are currently uninterested in 7s?
Rugby players from NI are not allowed to play for GB. The IRFU have already made a statement about the subject.

Irish 7s is not a new thing I don't understand why this question keeps popping up. If Ireland enter a 7s team then, as with previous 7s teams and the 15 man game, this will include players from NI.

www.irishrugby.ie/16065_16068.php

it keeps popping up because of the paucity and shoddiness of Irish 7s. The IRFU doesn't give a monkey's about 7s. That's why. And given that it might be good for NI union players who could get some fantastic experience and exposure, would the IRFU just rule out them playing for a GB team.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 12:46 pm

Don Alfonso wrote:
rodders wrote:
LeinsterFan4life wrote:
Don Alfonso wrote:Will Ireland attempt to field a rugby 7s team for the next Olympics? Might we see some NI players playing for GB seeing as Ireland are currently uninterested in 7s?
Rugby players from NI are not allowed to play for GB. The IRFU have already made a statement about the subject.

Irish 7s is not a new thing I don't understand why this question keeps popping up. If Ireland enter a 7s team then, as with previous 7s teams and the 15 man game, this will include players from NI.

www.irishrugby.ie/16065_16068.php

it keeps popping up because of the paucity and shoddiness of Irish 7s. The IRFU doesn't give a monkey's about 7s. That's why. And given that it might be good for NI union players who could get some fantastic experience and exposure, would the IRFU just rule out them playing for a GB team.

Yes the IRFU would and has. It would create divisions in the team.

by sugarNspikes Sat 28 Jul 2012, 3:31 pm

LeinsterFan4life wrote:
sugarNspikes wrote:We can just just call it Great Britain and Ireland like they did in rugby league when Brian Carney played.

Ok, so some folk will always just shorten it to Great Britain (or England)...
Did they do that in rugby league? I never knew that.

Yeah, I saw it in the paper today. The national anthem was kept as GSTQ. Carney didn't sing.

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 3:59 pm

sugarNspikes wrote:
LeinsterFan4life wrote:
sugarNspikes wrote:We can just just call it Great Britain and Ireland like they did in rugby league when Brian Carney played.

Ok, so some folk will always just shorten it to Great Britain (or England)...
Did they do that in rugby league? I never knew that.
Yeah, I saw it in the paper today. The national anthem was kept as GSTQ. Carney didn't sing.

I think there is a move to bring back the Great Britain team in rugby league as the welsh are now declaring for England.

Brian Carney also got into a bit of trouble with the tabloids for refusing to pose with a Union Flag.

"I just didn't think it was appropriate," he says. "I'm an Irishman. I'll never be anything else but an Irishman. That doesn't mean I'm anti-English. I'm very, very far from being anything like that and I'll be as proud as can be to line up with these fellows.

"But Keith Wood plays for the Lions and they wouldn't ask him to hold the Union Jack, would they? It's just not appropriate, any more than it would be to ask Andy Farrell to pose with the Australian flag."

For the record - GMAC has said he is declaring for Ireland. I think maybe Rory was caught on the hop (and young) at the time he was asked - I'd expect him to declare for Ireland - he always speaks highly of the GUI and about what they did for him.

Andrew Trimble also said he wouldn't dream of playing for any team other than Ireland. I think team sports are different maybe to individual sports in that you would want to stick with those you always played with.

By the way, that was a fantastic show last night. Really enjoyed it - a bit weird seeing Noel Manning scoring a try being featured! Surprising they chose rugby (which isn't an olympic sport). They could have used soccer as NI has its own soccer team.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:02 pm

Sorry its inappropriate to pose with the flag, but entirely appropriate for him to play rugby for them?

I assume that most NI players who play Union for Ireland dont refuse to wear green and pretend to like Guinness when they do it?

by Thomond Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:04 pm

I think the Irish cricketers who play for England would feel the same. It's your best chance of playing top flight rugby league or cricket so you have to take it.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:05 pm

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Sorry its inappropriate to pose with the flag, but entirely appropriate for him to play rugby for them?

I assume that most NI players who play Union for Ireland dont refuse to wear green and pretend to like Guinness when they do it?

He did play rugby union for ireland. But ye it is strange that he wouldnt pose with a union jack but was happy to play for GB

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:06 pm

Thomond wrote:I think the Irish cricketers who play for England would feel the same. It's your best chance of playing top flight rugby league or cricket so you have to take it.

Is it a rule in cricket that you can only play for one country? If so, why could joyce and morgan play for both ireland and england?

by Thomond Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:08 pm

I don't know much about cricket but I think because Ireland aren't a test nation you can go from Ireland to play for England. You can't swap willy-nilly though. After Joyce played for England I think he had to wait a few years before palying for Ireland again.

by asoreleftshoulder Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:16 pm

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Sorry its inappropriate to pose with the flag, but entirely appropriate for him to play rugby for them?

I assume that most NI players who play Union for Ireland dont refuse to wear green and pretend to like Guinness when they do it?

He played for Great Britain and Ireland so yes it's appropriate.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:29 pm

Sin é wrote:
sugarNspikes wrote:
LeinsterFan4life wrote:
sugarNspikes wrote:We can just just call it Great Britain and Ireland like they did in rugby league when Brian Carney played.

Ok, so some folk will always just shorten it to Great Britain (or England)...
Did they do that in rugby league? I never knew that.
Yeah, I saw it in the paper today. The national anthem was kept as GSTQ. Carney didn't sing.

I think there is a move to bring back the Great Britain team in rugby league as the welsh are now declaring for England.

Brian Carney also got into a bit of trouble with the tabloids for refusing to pose with a Union Flag.

"I just didn't think it was appropriate," he says. "I'm an Irishman. I'll never be anything else but an Irishman. That doesn't mean I'm anti-English. I'm very, very far from being anything like that and I'll be as proud as can be to line up with these fellows.

"But Keith Wood plays for the Lions and they wouldn't ask him to hold the Union Jack, would they? It's just not appropriate, any more than it would be to ask Andy Farrell to pose with the Australian flag."

For the record - GMAC has said he is declaring for Ireland. I think maybe Rory was caught on the hop (and young) at the time he was asked - I'd expect him to declare for Ireland - he always speaks highly of the GUI and about what they did for him.

Andrew Trimble also said he wouldn't dream of playing for any team other than Ireland. I think team sports are different maybe to individual sports in that you would want to stick with those you always played with.

By the way, that was a fantastic show last night. Really enjoyed it - a bit weird seeing Noel Manning scoring a try being featured! Surprising they chose rugby (which isn't an olympic sport). They could have used soccer as NI has its own soccer team.

Have you got any quotes from the players. I can see gmac representing us but mcilroy has come out and said he was british. He also used to have a union jack head cover for his putter.

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:37 pm

he said he was british last year leinster

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:39 pm

LeinsterFan4life wrote:
Thomond wrote:I think the Irish cricketers who play for England would feel the same. It's your best chance of playing top flight rugby league or cricket so you have to take it.
Is it a rule in cricket that you can only play for one country? If so, why could joyce and morgan play for both ireland and england?

ireland doesnt play test cricket- the only test team they can play for is england. If your irish you qualify to play for the england and wales cricket team.

you can switch but as said above it takes a few years(but obviously you will onloy be able to play in the shorter formats if you switch to ireland)

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:43 pm

anyway onto mcilroy- i would be happy for him to represent Ireland or GB- no dramas at all.

Its one of them that if he was asked by britain i think he would take it- but if he wasnt and then ireland asked i think we would accept..

Which is fine and dandy in my eyes. We dont have the same issue in golf as other sports!

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:51 pm

mystiroakey wrote:he said he was british last year leinster

I know thats what i said

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:53 pm

Ok i just read back and didnt realise that the top 15 get in and then we get 2 picks- this seems abit stupid.. Anyway no dramas because britain could easily have 5 players in that top 15 anyway(even if the macs go irish)-

This top 15 could actually cause a stir in regards to who picks what team!

but i wouldnt count your chickens on any of these players being in the top 15 in 3-4 years time!! that is a very long time in golf lads

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:54 pm

LeinsterFan4life wrote:
mystiroakey wrote:he said he was british last year leinster
I know thats what i said

sorry i meant sin e! i was backing you up

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:56 pm

mystiroakey wrote:anyway onto mcilroy- i would be happy for him to represent Ireland or GB- no dramas at all.

Its one of them that if he was asked by britain i think he would take it- but if he wasnt and then ireland asked i think we would accept..

Which is fine and dandy in my eyes. We dont have the same issue in golf as other sports!

I would like for him to represent ireland since he was happy enough to be funded by the GUI. If he represents GB it will create a division in the GUI and will damage golf all round in ireland.But in saying that if his heart lies with playing for GB we shouldnt stop him.

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 4:58 pm

The fact is tho leinster you have to take the rough with the smooth- your football and cricketers mainly play under our system..

Golfers are never really funded anyway its way more private sector that gets them playing. And those golf courses rory played on are in the UK.

There really also wouldnt be any divide in ireland and it wouldnt affect your golfers at all. Golf is nothing like rugby

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 5:01 pm

mystiroakey wrote:The fact is tho leinster you have to take the rough with the smooth- your football and cricketers mainly play under our system..

Golfers are never really funded anyway its way more private sector that gets them playing. And those golf courses rory played on are in the UK.

There really also wouldnt be any divide in ireland and it wouldnt affect your golfers at all

Yes they do get funded i know because i play golf and i have had mates that play under the GUI. They get equipment and travel expenses paid for and get their competion entry fees paid.

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 5:03 pm

[quote="LeinsterFan4life"][quote="mystiroakey"]anyway onto mcilroy- i would be happy for him to represent Ireland or GB- no dramas at all.

Its one of them that if he was asked by britain i think he would take it- but if he wasnt and then ireland asked i think we would accept..

Which is fine and dandy in my eyes. We dont have the same issue in golf as other sports!

I would like for him to represent ireland since he was happy enough to be funded by the GUI. If he represents GB it will create a division in the GUI and will damage golf all round in ireland.But in saying that if his heart lies with playing for GB we shouldnt stop him.

Rory has changed his management to a Dublin company and his career is in the US now - being Irish will appeal to those millions of Irish Americans.

I really think he was caught on the hop that time he said he would play for GB.

Here are some recent quotes from him (Padraig Harrington has said that he thinks that both GMac & Rory should declare for GB as getting 4 Irish golfers to the Olympics would be better (think its a bit selfish of Paddy that!)

Rory McIlroy admits he faces an agonising decision over who to play for in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The Holywood star, 22, must choose between Ireland and Great Britain when golf returns to the Olympic arena for the first time in 112 years.

And while Padraig Harrington insists that McIlroy should put emotion aside and choose Team GB to give other Irish players the chance to battle for Olympic gold under the tricolour, McIlroy knows he will cause of storm of protest no matter which side he chooses.

Speaking in Tucson this week, McIlroy said: “I wish my decision wasn’t as big a deal as it is going to be but I know that as soon as I make it, it is going to be a huge deal.

“Whatever way I choose it is going to upset someone. I’ve played for Ireland my whole life at amateur level, playing under the GUI.

“But this is completely different. It’s professional golf. You look at my flag this week and I play under the Northern Ireland flag. World Cup you play as a United Ireland team, the same as the rugby team, the cricket team or the hockey team.

“But the thing about the Olympics is that you have to choose sides and it would be nice not to have to choose.

“Maybe by that time the Olympics comes around the decision will be made for me and I can only get on one team.

“Hopefully that is not the case and I will still be in the top 15 in the world. And if that’s the case, that means that I will have to choose. It’s a decision I wish I didn’t have to make.”

McIlroy straddles all camps these days and a quick look at this week’s newspapers will show how he is claimed by the British, Northern Irish and Irish press as one of their own.

And he knows that there is little chance of the Olympics becoming a non-issue with the R&A giving organisers guarantees that the top players will be available for the Rio de Janeiro Games.

His girlfriend, the Danish tennis star and world No 4 Caroline Wozniacki, finished ninth in her bid for a singles medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

And McIlroy knows first hand how determined she is to win a medal at this summer’s London Olympics.

He said: “The Olympics is a big deal now in tennis and being close to it, I know how big a deal it is for Caroline to play and how much she wants to have a medal.

“So maybe if I get a taste for it, I will really appreciate what it is. But up until then, I’d still view this event as a bigger event than the Olympics.

“It’s going to be hard to make this decision and if I knew that I wasn’t going to upset someone I wouldn’t mind.

“But because I am going to upset one side or the other, it is a difficult position to be in. I didn’t put myself in this position, it is just something that has been thrust upon me.”

In the hypothetical case that he were to opt for Ireland, McIlroy said: “That won’t upset English people, or Scottish people or Welsh people. It will upset some Northern Irish people so it is just a very tough one.

“One thing I do know and that’s that golf is going to be fantastic for the Olympics.”

McIlroy’s pal Graeme McDowell is in the same boat when it comes to Olympic allegiance and wishes the decision was taken out of his hands.

G-Mac said: “Padraig said Rory and I should claim Great Britain and free up more spots in the world rankings for Irish players. But this is four years down the line.

“We don’t know what is going to be happening in four years’ time. I hope myself and Rory and many more Irish players are in the top 15 in the world and it will be a great problem to have.

“But right now it’s a tough decision and I’d prefer if someone made that decision for me.”

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/28/rory-mcilroys-olympic-headache.html

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 5:05 pm

Really, we dont in england, its all private sector- many will sponser kids and obviously we get very cheap membership and play county stuff- but how is the GUI funded?

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