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 mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 7:48 pm

sin e dude - do you watch the ryder cup?

This discussion we are having wouldnt happen with me and an irish golf fan i can tell you..

anyway peace dude Team GB - Page 5 769663

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 7:57 pm

mystiroakey wrote:sin e dude - do you watch the ryder cup?

This discussion we are having wouldnt happen with me and an irish golf fan i can tell you..

anyway peace dude

Yep - i do watch the Ryder Cup.

Anyway, you will enjoy this little vid of Obama meeting LA Galaxy - he talks of Robbie Keane as his Irish cousin and how he scored a goal within a few minutes of his first game and he talks about David Beckham having his own underware clothing line Wink

http://www.independent.ie/video/video-world-news/barack-obama-pays-tribute-to-irish-cousin-robbie-keane-3110057.html

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:00 pm

arrr - you do realise why he said that dont you- for a laugh.. He wouldnt have used that comparsion if the reverse wasnt actually true to the majority of USA..

We play as one in golf dude. just remeber team golf is only about the ryder cup. We also play in the seve trophy- uk and ire v contential europe Team GB - Page 5 732107

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:02 pm

Sin e just stop being so irish for a second- i applaud your love for your country though (now I know what some of the lads on the golf board feel when i bang on about donald and westy all day Team GB - Page 5 732107

)

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:22 pm

mystiroakey wrote:Sin e just stop being so irish for a second- i applaud your love for your country though (now I know what some of the lads on the golf board feel when i bang on about donald and westy all day )

Eh, its nothing to do with nationalism! All Obama is doing is claiming his Irish connections to appeal to the Irish-Amercian vote. Now if the President of the US thinks this is a good thing, why wouldn't Rory, a genuine (Northern) Irish man do exactly the same thing?

by ChequeredJersey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:24 pm

Because he doesn't need Irish Americans to vote for him and O'Bama does?

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:25 pm

what are you on about - i have made the point so many times- rory is nortern irish- if that makes people like him great- but that isnt gonna change by picking ireland in the oylimpics!! and in golf noone cares about the irish lads- they really dont give a scooby about any golfer based on nationality as what has been proven by gmac and poddy allready. They only care about there american goflers- or exciting up and coming talents from anywhere- I think you are failing to understand this simple concept.

sponserships are based on air time in the majors or the pga events. who will get that air time. Mcilroy gets that airtime so he is a big draw to potential sponsership. Tiger gets every shot played on telly- others like poddy or gmac only get it if they are doing well. Americans on the whole get the airtime.. If mcilroy stated he was irish or british tommorow it wouldnt make a blind bit of difference to the networks coverage of him!!

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:26 pm

mystiroakey wrote:arrr - you do realise why he said that dont you- for a laugh.. He wouldnt have used that comparsion if the reverse wasnt actually true to the majority of USA..

We play as one in golf dude. just remeber team golf is only about the ryder cup. We also play in the seve trophy- uk and ire v contential europe

I also remember Moss Keane's comment when asked what was the highlight of his British Lions tour? Wink

by Thomond Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:28 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:Soccer is also quite big in the US, just less so than NFL, NBA etc. They watch a lot of Prem League too.

Beckham is big for a soccer star in America but put it this way I'd say nearly as many people have heard of Hope Solo as heard of David Beckham. Soccer is growing in America but Beckham isn't as big as you guys make him out to be. Go to America and you will realise this. I asked about 20 people about soccer there, one who was wearing a jersey and he idn't know who I was talking about.

Heck I went to a sports shop there and the guy in the soccer section knew feic all about soccer he had heard of Beckham but he is not at as big as you make him out to be. Big yes but not unbelievably so.

As for Rory and GMac I would love for them to represent Ireland and I believe they should as they are members of the GUI, if they don't I will still be rooting for them but would be disappointed.. They're Irish, support anyone who is Irish or from NI doesn't matter what the feic they're in.

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:31 pm

Thomond the question was who is biggie in the states- robbie keane or beckham?

its clearly beckham'- because he is a star , robbie is just a footballer, but they dont really care about that sport on the whole. even though it is doing okish

by HammerofThunor Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:33 pm

LeinsterFan4Life, any links because all I could find was this

RUGBY: OLYMPIC SEVENS: ALL RUGBY players on the island of Ireland will play with an Ireland Sevens team in any future Olympic Games. The IRFU have said categorically all players under their auspices would play with an Ireland side and would not be part of a British team when rugby is introduced to the Olympic Games programme in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

That would rule out Ulster players opting to play for Britain, if they so wished. Speaking at the launch of the IRFU Rugby Sevens structure, IRFU director of rugby Eddie Wigglesworth made it clear any British side would comprise players from England, Scotland and Wales and that Team Britain could not cherry-pick players from Northern Ireland, if they were IRFU players.

“The understanding in relation to Team GB at the moment is that players will be selected for Team GB from the unions within their jurisdiction, which means players from Scotland, England and Wales will be representing GB. Players who play within the IRFU jurisdiction fall within the Irish Rugby Union. We do that with the agreement of the other unions,” explained Wigglesworth.

When asked if the IRFU would strongly resist any moves by Britain to entice players, Wigglesworth said they didn’t need to as the position was clearly defined. “We are not resisting anything,” he said. “We are just saying that is the de facto position. It’s not a question of flexibility or any thing like that. That’s the understanding.”

If Ireland do not qualify for the Games, which is a strong possibility as there is currently no ranked international team playing the Sevens game here and because the IRFU has somewhat ominously advised that an international Sevens program would be greatly disruptive to the 15-man game.

In addition, no qualification process for teams has been yet devised and the only definite at this point is the International Olympic Committee (IOC) must announce a qualification process two years before 2016.

“That hasn’t been discussed by the union,” explained Wigglesworth in the event of Ireland not qualifying for the Games and Britain coming looking for players.

“Theoretically, I wouldn’t have any view because it would be the view of the union which would hold sway and not my view. We haven’t even discussed that aspect.

“The only thing you need to be aware of is that the teams that play in the Olympic Games are going to be the best teams in the world playing Sevens. The fact of the matter is that to be at that level requires a very substantial period of preparation and the reality is that period of preparation would conflict unbelievably with the 15-aside program. That’s the issue. That’s the big difficulty.”

On the face of it the IRFU, starting from point zero, have an enormous task ahead, if it decides to seriously compete. They will not make a decision until 2013 on the issue of a professional Irish Sevens side and refute the suggestion that to qualify for Rio with just two or three years’ serious preparation is unrealistic despite other sports operating on four- or even six- or eight-year Olympic cycles.

“We would not accept it’s too late,” added Wigglesworth. “I would think at two years out, maybe three, it would be sufficient time to do what we want to do, to play in a participation program. I’m not saying that would guarantee you a position within the 12 at the Olympics but certainly making a decision in 2013 leaves sufficient time for us to participate.

“We are starting today and that’s the announcement of the club Sevens and provincial Sevens that will allow players to be identified, so that if we did decide to turn on the water in 2013 we have the Sevens players.”

From April last year I think

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:35 pm

Why do you want another link? It sums it up well there.

by Thomond Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:36 pm

I don't think that's really debatable. Keano like Wink

Clearly it's Beckham as for Barack meeting Keane votes, Irish American market.

Romney's trip to Europe involves him meeting British PM, meeting Taoiseach Enda Kenny, going to Poland or meeting Polish PM in London he is visiting another country too (can't remember it at the top of my head). Why? Those countries make up the greatest number of Ancestry in America. It gets people onside.

by HammerofThunor Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:39 pm

Well I said they weren't banning anyone, it was an agreement over selection. I said they haven't had a discussion on what would happen if Ireland didn't qualify.

You seemed to disagree with my post when all I did was sum up the above post. Therefore I assumed you had additional information and asked for a link

by HammerofThunor Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:40 pm

Italy?

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:42 pm

I hate that romney bloke.. He has alot of work to do

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:46 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:Because he doesn't need Irish Americans to vote for him and O'Bama does?

Rory wants big brand endorsements.

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:49 pm

yeah and do you know how he will get them?

obviously not

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:52 pm

Thomond wrote:I don't think that's really debatable. Keano like

Clearly it's Beckham as for Barack meeting Keane votes, Irish American market.

Romney's trip to Europe involves him meeting British PM, meeting Taoiseach Enda Kenny, going to Poland or meeting Polish PM in London he is visiting another country too (can't remember it at the top of my head). Why? Those countries make up the greatest number of Ancestry in America. It gets people onside.

Not too sure about that. Once Beckham was out of Man Utd & Premier League he lost a massive audience. Sky tout the Premier League all over the world.

I was in China on holiday in 2007 - and Tottenham (and Robbie Keane) seemed to be on the TV all the time. It was just weird seeing Robbie all the time!

Interesting that the only replica shirt I saw was a Roy Keane Manchester United one (didn't see too many of them to be honest).

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:53 pm

Sin e i think you are in fairy land mate- robbie keane isnt even big in the uk. Sorry pal but he just isnt big anywhere. no disrespect to him

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:56 pm

by the way beckham was just plugged to 200 countries only yesterday, and they would have all allready known who he was.. anyway I dont really want this debate lol-its pointless

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:57 pm

mystiroakey wrote:yeah and do you know how he will get them?

obviously not

Why would I need to know what to do?
He dumped his British management in favour of a Dublin management team, so obviously, like you, his British management could not get it!

by Don Alfonso Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:57 pm

I think that stance by the IRFU is appalling, but there you go.

In theory, if Jared Payne were picked by the NZ 7s team, would they allow him to play for them? What about if Zebo wanted to play 7s for the country his da was from originally?

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:59 pm

Sin é wrote:
mystiroakey wrote:yeah and do you know how he will get them?

obviously not

Why would I need to know what to do?
He dumped his British management in favour of a Dublin management team, so obviously, like you, his British management could not get it!

what are you talking about lol- your nuts pal!!!

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 28 Jul 2012, 8:59 pm

HammerofThunor wrote:Well I said they weren't banning anyone, it was an agreement over selection. I said they haven't had a discussion on what would happen if Ireland didn't qualify.

You seemed to disagree with my post when all I did was sum up the above post. Therefore I assumed you had additional information and asked for a link

I didnt disagree with your post. I said the IRFU said that they werent letting irish players represent GB. Which they arent

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:00 pm

he gets good endorsements allready sin e. He is only bothered about winning events mate,he changed management firms as people/players do. But if he wants to get big endoresments he should speak to david beckham

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:06 pm

Don Alfonso wrote:I think that stance by the IRFU is appalling, but there you go.

In theory, if Jared Payne were picked by the NZ 7s team, would they allow him to play for them? What about if Zebo wanted to play 7s for the country his da was from originally?

It looks like Team GB (as in Wales, Scotland & England) won't pick them anyway, but I suppose the way they look at it is that if they opt for Team GB, they become NIQ and cannot be selected for Ireland again.

They can do it, but they will have to be hired on a NIQ spot if they want to play for Ireland. It would be similar situation for Jared Payne wanted to go back to NZ having played for Ireland.

by ChequeredJersey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:09 pm

Sin é wrote:
ChequeredJersey wrote:Because he doesn't need Irish Americans to vote for him and O'Bama does?

Rory wants big brand endorsements.

Yeah I forgot that the UK didn't have any big brands...

Gods, I shouldn't be getting involved in this

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:10 pm

He wants an ireland v england/britain thing- not gonna happen though. cant be bothered with this anymore!

by HammerofThunor Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:10 pm

LeinsterFan4life wrote:
HammerofThunor wrote:Well I said they weren't banning anyone, it was an agreement over selection. I said they haven't had a discussion on what would happen if Ireland didn't qualify.

You seemed to disagree with my post when all I did was sum up the above post. Therefore I assumed you had additional information and asked for a link
I didnt disagree with your post. I said the IRFU said that they werent letting irish players represent GB. Which they arent

That's not what they said. They said that Irish players wouldn't be picked by the RFU/WRU/SRU for the Olympic team because it's what they agreed. Eddie Wigglesworth specifically says they (the IRFU) aren't restricting anything.

From the sounds of it they aren't going to allow any of the Provincial players time off for the Olympics anyway (at least the decent ones) so it doesn't matter much.

by ChequeredJersey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:12 pm

It's hilarious how much Romney has screwed up with what should have been his easiest visit, the UK.

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:14 pm

mystiroakey wrote:he gets good endorsements allready sin e. He is only bothered about winning events mate,he changed management firms as people/players do. But if he wants to get big endoresments he should speak to david beckham

He gets good endorsements, but if he wants to get Tiger-like endorsements his Irish persona (next best to being American) will be more popular in the US than being British.

He dumped his British management because he thought they were poor and if anyone saw his website before he changed, they would have agreed. It was something like what the local soccer team would produce. His British management didn't want him to base himself in the US (probably because they had no expertise there either).

And if he wants to get big endorsements, he should start winning again (though I personally am delighted that he seems to be a normal lad who is enjoying life with his new squeeze).

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:16 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:
Sin é wrote:
ChequeredJersey wrote:Because he doesn't need Irish Americans to vote for him and O'Bama does?

Rory wants big brand endorsements.

Yeah I forgot that the UK didn't have any big brands...

Gods, I shouldn't be getting involved in this

What big brands have they got in the US?

by HammerofThunor Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:19 pm

Sin é wrote:
Don Alfonso wrote:I think that stance by the IRFU is appalling, but there you go.

In theory, if Jared Payne were picked by the NZ 7s team, would they allow him to play for them? What about if Zebo wanted to play 7s for the country his da was from originally?

It looks like Team GB (as in Wales, Scotland & England) won't pick them anyway, but I suppose the way they look at it is that if they opt for Team GB, they become NIQ and cannot be selected for Ireland again.

They can do it, but they will have to be hired on a NIQ spot if they want to play for Ireland. It would be similar situation for Jared Payne wanted to go back to NZ having played for Ireland.

I haven't seen anything to suggest that the IRFU would do that. So far they've just said it doesn't matter because they're not being considered for selection. I think all that would happen is they wouldn't give contracted players the time off to compete and train in the Olympics. There may be internationals but there's nothing for 7s or the Olympics as far as I'm aware. Employers have to allow the competitors to compete. Would any of the English clubs release players? I doubt it.

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:21 pm

why do you keep calling one firm british and the other irish- this has no bearing - if he really truely wanted to crack the states endorsement wise he would have signed with an american firm anyway. I am not sure how many times I have to explain to you that being british or irish is irrelevant to golf- rory will only ever get tiger like endorsements if he wins major after major. being irish is irrelevant- but he flaming well is anyway- so what the heck are you talking about- him playing for britain or ireland in the oylimpics will not change that one iota!!

the point of bringing up beckham is that he has the biggest endorsements in the usa out of any uk or irish sportsman therefore this disproves your irish point completely, secondly the 100% irish(ROI) golfers can even win 3 majors and still be invisible(poddy)

your in some complete dream world, not gonna explain it again to you pal

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:30 pm

mystiroakey wrote:why do you keep calling one firm british and the other irish- this has no bearing - if he really truely wanted to crack the states endorsement wise he would have signed with an american firm anyway. I am not sure how many times I have to explain to you that being british or irish is irrelevant to golf- rory will only ever get tiger like endorsements if he wins major after major. being irish is irrelevant- but he flaming well is anyway- so what the heck are you talking about- him playing for britain or ireland in the oylimpics will not change that one iota!!

the point of bringing up beckham is that he has the biggest endorsements in the usa out of any uk or irish sportsman therefore this disproves your irish point completely, secondly the 100% irish(ROI) golfers can even win 3 majors and still be invisible(poddy)

your in some complete dream world, not gonna explain it again to you pal

It has a bearing if, like you, that firm has no appreciation for the cache of being Irish in the US. Pretty much every US president have gone out of their way to court the Irish vote because it is massive there. I think Ireland is the only country in the world that has a pre-arranged date with the US president every 17th March in the White House.

edit: Beckham & his Mrs are media whores, they'd do anything (sarong LOL) to make a few bob.

I've no doubt that Harrington would have difficult getting endorsement in the US market, specially since he plays the European Tour. Can't see David Beckham doing many endorsement in the US if he was still playing for Real Madrid.

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:32 pm

Football is a minority sport in the usa, and you think that even robbie
keane is more popular. Now considering the highest paid sportsmen in the
world are golfers, basketball players, nfl dudes,boxers,etc,etc- would
you be suprised that in 2012 beckham was the 8th highest paid sportstar
in the world with 50 million dollars??

Ok i am gonna ask you a question- if beckham was irish how much more would he have earnt?

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:35 pm

why is paddy not cared about in the states(3 majors!!), why is rory the biggest thing since sliced bread yet has said he is british? why is gmac disregarded yet has said he would play for ireland in the olympics and won a major?

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:35 pm

but the biggest question to all this is- why the heck do you care?

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:37 pm

why so you keep editing your posts to answer my posts- do it underneath pal

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:38 pm

mystiroakey wrote:Football is a minority sport in the usa, and you think that even robbie
keane is more popular. Now considering the highest paid sportsmen in the
world are golfers, basketball players, nfl dudes,boxers,etc,etc- would
you be suprised that in 2012 beckham was the 8th highest paid sportstar
in the world with 50 million dollars??

Ok i am gonna ask you a question- if beckham was irish how much more would he have earnt?

Is LA Galaxy paying him 50 million dollars or is it a composite of UK & US earnings (he is whoring himself with the Olympics among other things)?

For the record, I said that Keane would be more popular in the Irish-American community than Beckham would be.

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:39 pm

mystiroakey wrote:why so you keep editing your posts to answer my posts- do it underneath pal

Anything to oblige Hug

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:41 pm

Look sin e mate i cant do this anymore- ok, speak soon. I must leave for now lol- you have broken me for the moment

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:44 pm

mystiroakey wrote:why is paddy not cared about in the states(3 majors!!), why is rory the biggest thing since sliced bread yet has said he is british? why is gmac disregarded yet has said he would play for ireland in the olympics and won a major?

Paddy plays the European tour.

All Rory says is that he is Northern Irish (and said that he would probably play for GB in the Olympics when put on the spot).

Is Gmac disregarded?

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 9:57 pm

ok last point paddy plays on the uspga tour and is a full member.. probally best you at least know the facts. you may not realise but many play in both

yes gmac only gets coverage if he is doing well on the golf events- very much one of the pack, us coverage do not care unless he is up there- just another interntional player to them- but i do watch it week in week out..

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:16 pm

mystiroakey wrote:ok last point paddy plays on the uspga tour and is a full member.. probally best you at least know the facts. you may not realise but many play in both

He hasn't won anything there since 2008 (Out of sight, out of mind).

yes gmac only gets coverage if he is doing well on the golf events- very much one of the pack, us coverage do not care unless he is up there- just another interntional player to them- but i do watch it week in week out..

He still seems to be asked a lot if he is British or Irish! I saw an interview by a US tv crowd where he had to explain his situation (his mom is a catholic and his dad a protestant).

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:28 pm

sin e-- you thought paddy didnt play in the states? i am starting to struggle with your arguments mate

what is it you want me to acknowledge?

how do we end this debate pal?

by Sin é Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:40 pm

mystiroakey wrote:sin e-- you thought paddy didnt play in the states? i am starting to struggle with your arguments mate

what is it you want me to acknowledge?

how do we end this debate pal?

Of course Paddy plays in the States, but he bases himself in Europe where he mainly plays (unlike Rory & Graeme McDowell) who are a bit more choosy about the European tournaments they play in.

I don't need you to acknowledge anything.

We end the debate by not discussing this any further.

by mystiroakey Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:46 pm

thats all completly immaterial(well actually just plain wrong!)- rory and gmac also play on the euro tour!

i dont think you even watch golf mate- all three have played in exactly the same euro tour events this year...

poddy has been a pga tour member longer than rory(rory only joined this year!!!)

good night

by **rodders** Sat 28 Jul 2012, 10:56 pm

LeinsterFan4life wrote:
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.

And its the right call by the IRFU to do so because it takes the decision out of the players hands, although I honestly don't believe that there is a single player who would choose GB over Ireland. As Notch says team sports are different from individual sports.

GMac and Rory will choose who they choose and the wheel in the sky will keep turning. They'll be out to win medals for themselves and as Harrington says in some ways it would be better for Ireland if they declare for GB but either way their decision should be respected and kept in perspective.

Alan Campbell rowed for GB today, Paddy Barnes will be boxing for Ireland yet no one bats an eyelid... I don't know why people are stolking up controversy where there is none.

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