Team GB Olympic Rugby XV

First topic message reminder :

Obviously 15 a side Rugby is unlikely to be involved in the Olympics in the foreseeable future. However, if the 15 a side game was currently in the Olympics this is what I'd imagine the team would look like. (So pretty much the Lions, excluding players from the Republic of Ireland) I'll try to make my selection as fair as possible nation wise, some tough calls!

15. B.Foden (England)
14. T.Bowe (N.Ireland)
13. J.Davies (Wales/England)
12. M.Tuilagi (England/Samoa)
11. T.Visser (Scotland/Holland)
10. J.Hook (Wales)
09. M.Phillips (Wales)

08. D.Denton (Scotland/Zimbabwe)
07. C.Robshaw (England)
06. S.Ferris (N.Ireland)
05. A.Wyn-Jones (Wales)
04. R.Gray (Scotland)
03. D.Cole (England)
02. R.Best (N.Ireland)
01. G.Jenkins (Wales)

16. R.Ford (Scotland)
17. A.Corbisiero (England/U.S)
18. A.Jones (Wales)
19. I.Evans (Wales/South Africa)
20. S.Warburton (Wales/England)
21. D.Care (England)
22. D.Cipriani (England/Trinidad)
23. G.North (Wales/England)

Other players in the squad - L.Halfpenny (Wales) C.Ashton (England) J.Roberts (Wales) R.Priestland (Wales) M.Blair (Scotland) T.Faletau (Wales/Tonga) G.Parling (England) E.Murray (Scotland) M.Rees (Wales) J.Marler (England)
:
*Couldn't help but include some of the players dual nationalities

rodders wrote:

sugarNspikes wrote:
Excuse the ignorance, but why is it a problem with rugby and not athletics or other sports?

There isn't a problem. This is all hypothetical and based on speculation.

The IRFU have said no Irish players, within their juristiction, are allowed to play for GB in 7's in 2016. As they fund the provinces and pay for wages, player development etc. I think they are well within their rights to do so, whether it is fair or not is another debate. This only applies to players based in Ireland.

There is no evidence that any Irish players have an issue with this and all this talk of sanctions and punishment of rogue Irish players is pure fantasy at this stage.

Hopefully it will not be an issue because we should have a sevens team for the olympics.

Cheers for the info, Thomond and rodders

There's nowt like a bit of hypothetical speculation when there's no real rugby on (except for that SH basketball stuff ).

I don't think we will get a team in. Would we have to play in the circuit to do so? Or at least go through some qualifying, we don't have a 7s team like, we palyed in the WC of it alright but we have no specialists for it at all.

There are only 12 teams for 2016 apparently

Yes but Thomond just because we don't enter a team in 2016 doesn't mean we won't in future tournaments. Its important that the precedent is set now so there are no complications if and when Ireland do enter a team.

Of course, I think any guys who plays or has ambitions should to play for the Irish national team should be opting for our Olympic team, we compete as Ireland at the Olympics like. I would be incredibly disappointed is someone opted for GB. Doubt we qualify this time but 2020 could be doable if we get moving on promoting 7s in the next few years.

I'm sure Ireland could sort out a 7s side in time to get it on the next world 7s circuit. Spain have a team competing as do Kenya, I'm sure they'll let Ireland in. Surely it'll be a good experience for the young players that go and play it as well?

That way there will be an established team set up and ready to try for Olympic qualification.

As the IRFU have made the decision there is no option for individual player to opt for either side if they are based in Ireland. Thats why I see no issue.

I can't see playing Olympic 7s being such a burning ambition that a player decides to leave the country to be free to opt for Team GB. Playing in HECs, 6Ns, RWCs and Lions tours is the pinacle for Irish Rugby players not Olympic 7s.

Also remember that Ulster branch are part of the IRFU and would have had their input, presumably taking into account their players best interests, into the desicion.

It makes a good old debate but there's a load of hyperbole about this.

The other thing of course is if like the football...Wales, N.Ireland and Scotland ban their players from playing for GB. Several of the Welsh however have played anyway.....making the GB team effecitvely England and Wales.

More England to be honest GF

They're not banned Geordie. The FAs have said they don't support the concept but its up to the players.

Stuart Pearce just hasn't selected them.

GeordieFalcon wrote:The other thing of course is if like the football...Wales, N.Ireland and Scotland ban their players from playing for GB. Several of the Welsh however have played anyway.....making the GB team effecitvely England and Wales.

Is that why there are no scots on the GB mens football team?

The Scots aren't very good is one of the main reasons. Same for NI players, all the good ones are playing for ROI Which is good and bad really, hate to see NI lose players,.

Thomond wrote:The Scots aren't very good is one of the main reasons. Same for NI players, all the good ones are playing for ROI Which is good and bad really, hate to see NI lose players,.

Thomand those players are from derry. Which has a large republican population. The likes of gibson was never going to play for NI because he considers himself irish. NI are not losing anyone.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:More England to be honest GF

Like the cricket team then. Well, that's England and Wales (and SA).

Thomond wrote:The Scots aren't very good is one of the main reasons. Same for NI players, all the good ones are playing for ROI Which is good and bad really, hate to see NI lose players,.

Do you think that james forrest is good enough for that squad? He had a fantastic season for celtic

I don't think so SPL is a rubbish league. Don't like Celtic

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Thomond wrote:The Scots aren't very good is one of the main reasons. Same for NI players, all the good ones are playing for ROI Which is good and bad really, hate to see NI lose players,.

Thomand those players are from derry. Which has a large republican population. The likes of gibson was never going to play for NI because he considers himself irish. NI are not losing anyone.

OK I'm not getting into this hot potato because its a complex one and don't care much for Football anyways BUT....

The IFA are developing these players and many are playing for NI at underage levels before defecting at senior level when the FAI come calling.

The likes of gibson was never going to play for NI because he considers himself irish. NI are not losing anyone.

Wasn't there a young lad who played NI Under 20s but turned his back on NI to play for ROI? I think as with all the home unions bar possibly England (though Hargreaves springs to mind) the Irish Football lot try to recruit any decent player with an Irish connection.

I can't see playing Olympic 7s being such a burning ambition that a player decides to leave the country to be free to opt for Team GB. Playing in HECs, 6Ns, RWCs and Lions tours is the pinacle for Irish Rugby players not Olympic 7s.

If the NI player wanted to play in the GB 7s team as Ireland weren't offering one he could merely tell the IRFU to do one and go play in either England or France. He might lose out initially in terms of the 6Ns and RWCs but with the short residency rules that wouldn't effect him to much as he could play for someone else in the fullness of time and the Lions and HEC would only require him to sign for a good club and find form in order to play in both.

Exactly Rodders, they are losing lads they spent time developing. Similar with McClean (cracking player have loved him since he was with Derry)

rodders wrote:They're not banned Geordie. The FAs have said they don't support the concept but its up to the players.

Stuart Pearce just hasn't selected them.

Well i think the likes of Bale etc who initially said he was available then pulled out..with a very suspicious injury is curious.

I dont understand why the FA's are so against it.

Thomond wrote:Exactly Rodders, they are losing lads they spent time developing. Similar with McClean (cracking player have loved him since he was with Derry)

Thats all I'm saying on it Thomond. It's not a good situation although I can understand why it happens. It's a sad state of affairs all round but I'll leave it to soccerball fans to debate the solutions

There isn't a solution and it is pretty sad to see really. Only solution would be calling Doc Brown. They're releasing some Deloreans next year I think. Could be a runner

GeordieFalcon wrote:
I dont understand why the FA's are so against it.

The reason given was that the Irish, Welsh and Scottish FAs feared it would eventually lead a more permenant GB team which may threaten their own national sides existances.

They didn't ban players participation though and said that players would not be punished if they played.

Because there's a big risk that FIFA will reduce the amount of representation the different Home Nations have on the FIFA board, sufferly dimishing their imput and influence and could very well lead to FIFA getting the Home Nations to play as Britain instead of as seperate countries - now don't get me wrong, I love supporting Britain but not at the expense of having a Wales team to support - there shouldn't ever be a situation where you have to choose between being/supporting Wales or Britain - the choice should be automatic, you're both and you can support both.

Also with nations taking players away from each other Michael Owen was born and went to school in North Wales and a few other players as well - though of course we've had the lions share with players like Vinny Jones...

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Because there's a big risk that FIFA will reduce the amount of representation the different Home Nations have on the FIFA board, sufferly dimishing their imput and influence and could very well lead to FIFA getting the Home Nations to play as Britain instead of as seperate countries - now don't get me wrong, I love supporting Britain but not at the expense of having a Wales team to support - there shouldn't ever be a situation where you have to choose between being/supporting Wales or Britain - the choice should be automatic, you're both and you can support both.

I'm with you on that, but what I don't understand is why weren't the English FA against it as well? Surely they had just as much to lose as the other national sides in the GB set-up? They may have voiced concerns, but I don't remember hearing them. Sure, England would probably make up the lions share of any GB side but no England fan would want to lose the national side either.

rodders wrote:

Thomond wrote:Exactly Rodders, they are losing lads they spent time developing. Similar with McClean (cracking player have loved him since he was with Derry)

Thats all I'm saying on it Thomond. It's not a good situation although I can understand why it happens. It's a sad state of affairs all round but I'll leave it to soccerball fans to debate the solutions

I dont care much about football either but can you blame catholics from NI for not playing for NI after what happened to neil lennon?

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

rodders wrote:

Thomond wrote:Exactly Rodders, they are losing lads they spent time developing. Similar with McClean (cracking player have loved him since he was with Derry)

Thats all I'm saying on it Thomond. It's not a good situation although I can understand why it happens. It's a sad state of affairs all round but I'll leave it to soccerball fans to debate the solutions

I dont care much about football either but can you blame catholics from NI for not playing for NI after what happened to neil lennon?

I'm not blaming anyone I'm just disputing the point that NI aren't losing players. Its not the FAI that invest in grass roots football and player development here its the IFA.

The players are well within their rights to opt for ROI, and I do understand why many would, but I don't agree that it is right for someone like McClean to come through the youth system, get coached and developed by the IFA and then come out and say he never had any intention of playing for NI at senior level.

sugarNspikes wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Because there's a big risk that FIFA will reduce the amount of representation the different Home Nations have on the FIFA board, sufferly dimishing their imput and influence and could very well lead to FIFA getting the Home Nations to play as Britain instead of as seperate countries - now don't get me wrong, I love supporting Britain but not at the expense of having a Wales team to support - there shouldn't ever be a situation where you have to choose between being/supporting Wales or Britain - the choice should be automatic, you're both and you can support both.

I'm with you on that, but what I don't understand is why weren't the English FA against it as well? Surely they had just as much to lose as the other national sides in the GB set-up? They may have voiced concerns, but I don't remember hearing them. Sure, England would probably make up the lions share of any GB side but no England fan would want to lose the national side either.

That's what suprised me about lots of English fans, they almost didn't seem bothered if they lost their national team. With the English FA the only thing I can think of is that they have a lot more power and influence within FIFA and were confident they wouldn't be affected greatly by any reduction in representation for Britain (ie the 'celtic' nations would lose more than the English).

But I'm just guessing

rodders wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

rodders wrote:

Thomond wrote:Exactly Rodders, they are losing lads they spent time developing. Similar with McClean (cracking player have loved him since he was with Derry)

Thats all I'm saying on it Thomond. It's not a good situation although I can understand why it happens. It's a sad state of affairs all round but I'll leave it to soccerball fans to debate the solutions

I dont care much about football either but can you blame catholics from NI for not playing for NI after what happened to neil lennon?

I'm not blaming anyone I'm just disputing the point that NI aren't losing players. Its not the FAI that invest in grass roots football and player development here its the IFA.

The players are well within their rights to opt for ROI, and I do understand why many would, but I don't agree that it is right for someone like McClean to come through the youth system, get coached and developed by the IFA and then come out and say he never had any intention of playing for NI at senior level.

Ok fair enough im not gonna debate it anymore because im not a soccer fan so im not educated enough about the subject. sure we'll leave it there i dont want the irish to take over the thread.

Michael Owen was born and went to school in North Wales and a few other players as well

SP, Owen was born in Chester. His dad was a scouser (and footballer), his dreams were always to play for Liverpool and England.

I'm with you on that, but what I don't understand is why weren't the English FA against it as well? Surely they had just as much to lose as the other national sides in the GB set-up?

The chances of FIFA diminishing England's standing in world football is nil. The Premiership is far to powerful a league for England to swept under the carpet. The smaller unions are worried that Fifa might try and shove them under the duristiction of the English FA and get them to compete as Great Britain or the United Kingdom (if including NI). Pretty unlikely that will happen though as it would be massively unpopular on all fronts.

It wouldn't be unpopular with lots of nations in the world and others wouldn't really care, it would just be unpopular in the UK

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Michael Owen was born and went to school in North Wales and a few other players as well

SP, Owen was born in Chester. His dad was a scouser (and footballer), his dreams were always to play for Liverpool and England.

I may be wrong on this but wasn't Owen an Everton fan? And he may have been born in Chester, like many people from the North East and Mid East of Wales their parents have to go over the border to give birth as that's where the closest hospitals are (like me, I'm a Turk through and through but was born in Swansea as the Llanelli hospital is so p!ss poor and underfunded it can't handle maternity), he lived and grew up in Wales until he was picked up by the Liverpool youth system.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Ok fair enough im not gonna debate it anymore because im not a soccer fan so im not educated enough about the subject. sure we'll leave it there i dont want the irish to take over the thread.

No I agree, I'm in the same boat, its not something I think too much about. We'll park that one

It wouldn't be unpopular with lots of nations in the world and others wouldn't really care, it would just be unpopular in the UK

Not really SP there are smaller countries that would be concerned over possible 'groupings'. It would also be a serious overstepping of Fifa power, which in the wake of the dodgey dealings and fraud some board members face would not look at all good and a lot of football associations would start to get worried about the amount of power and the direction that power was being aimed.

I may be wrong on this but wasn't Owen an Everton fan?

I thought it was Carragher that was brought up as an Everton fan. Hence the rumours about him always wearing long sleeves in order to cover an Everton tattoo (they were garbage but they did the rounds a while).

I though Owen was born in Chester but grew up in Hawardan(?) just inside the Welsh border? His parents are English aren't they?

His dad is a scouser and he was born in Chester dunno where he was brought up Rodders, probably is Wales. Either way he's English and not stolen from the Welsh, so we should get back to topic.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Why is the GB team in this olympics not called GB and NI - like it usually is.

Since the Sydney Olympics the team is only been called "Team GB", some people occasionally add "& NI" to be PC, but the British Olympic Association refuse to officially include reference to NI.

They've also refused to change the name to "Team UK" as they say it still wouldn't please everyone and they prefer the sound of Team GB.
This hasn't stopped some Northern Irish athletes from competing (and winning medals) for Team GB, but I am sure it's a factor to others who choose to compete for Ireland instead.

On the Rugby 7s side of things, as Ireland's team seems like it will be made up of amatures from the AIL, some profesional Northern Irish players could be tempted to play for Team GB, but it would be strongly discouraged by the IRFU as players would lose their time off at summer training for the olympics and would risk injury just before the start of the season. So I think it would be unlikley they'd play.

ChequeredJersey wrote:His name is Robshaw4England- think he might be a fan!

Personally I'd pick Rennie at 7

mmm, thanks for pointng that out, i had managed to figure that out

ReadBetweenthePosts wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Why is the GB team in this olympics not called GB and NI - like it usually is.

Since the Sydney Olympics the team is only been called "Team GB", some people occasionally add "& NI" to be PC, but the British Olympic Association refuse to officially include reference to NI.

They've also refused to change the name to "Team UK" as they say it still wouldn't please everyone and they prefer the sound of Team GB.
This hasn't stopped some Northern Irish athletes from competing (and winning medals) for Team GB, but I am sure it's a factor to others who choose to compete for Ireland instead.

On the Rugby 7s side of things, as Ireland's team seems like it will be made up of amatures from the AIL, some profesional Northern Irish players could be tempted to play for Team GB, but it would be strongly discouraged by the IRFU as players would lose their time off at summer training for the olympics and would risk injury just before the start of the season. So I think it would be unlikley they'd play.

Bit unfair to NI athletes do you not think?

mowgli wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:His name is Robshaw4England- think he might be a fan!

Personally I'd pick Rennie at 7

mmm, thanks for pointng that out, i had managed to figure that out

I wondered, because if you figured it out your question was pretty redundant

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Michael Owen was born and went to school in North Wales and a few other players as well

SP, Owen was born in Chester. His dad was a scouser (and footballer), his dreams were always to play for Liverpool and England.

I'm with you on that, but what I don't understand is why weren't the English FA against it as well? Surely they had just as much to lose as the other national sides in the GB set-up?

The chances of FIFA diminishing England's standing in world football is nil. The Premiership is far to powerful a league for England to swept under the carpet. The smaller unions are worried that Fifa might try and shove them under the duristiction of the English FA and get them to compete as Great Britain or the United Kingdom (if including NI). Pretty unlikely that will happen though as it would be massively unpopular on all fronts.

+1

Given the history of the game and the influence of the english FA there is absolutely NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER of the 'home' nations being forced into 1 GB/UK team. The FA aren't worried about because they know it will never happen. FIFA may be full of corrupt halfwits but they would have no chance (nor desire) of pushing that one thro'. I guess the other FAs must be worried about their influence at FIFA and are just making a stand.

Be more interesting if you done this with some sort of Olympic ruling such as only 5 players can be 23 or over.

ChequeredJersey wrote:

mowgli wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:His name is Robshaw4England- think he might be a fan!

Personally I'd pick Rennie at 7

mmm, thanks for pointng that out, i had managed to figure that out

I wondered, because if you figured it out your question was pretty redundant

only if you have no grasp of sarcasm, which evidently, you don't.

Ok chaps, have been in touch with the beeb re the medals table and it turns out ROI are just shoite at this sort of thing.

Carpe Diem wrote:Ok chaps, have been in touch with the beeb re the medals table and it turns out ROI are just shoite at this sort of thing.

Ye your right, with our massive population and with the amount of money that is pumped into athletics in this country, you would expect us to challenge the top 5 in the medal table. I dont see why we are doing so bad.

Do you know how many athletes you sent to this Olympics Leinster4life? I can't imagine it's a huge amount for the reasons you state above, but I'm just interested

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Do you know how many athletes you sent to this Olympics Leinster4life? I can't imagine it's a huge amount for the reasons you state above, but I'm just interested

66

Ahh I see that's lower than I thought considering it's almost a home Olympics for Ireland, obviously it would be low and nowhere near the huge (500+) teams of China, USA and Britain (and NI) in this Olympics

Still hopefull they can get a decent haul of medals and some golds.