Nail Your Colours to the Board...!

[maestegmafia]

First topic message reminder :

I noticed a number of other fans on here finding that it often gets confusing as to which team other posters support.

Wondered if others would like to contribute a little about themselves and who they support and why.

[Effervescing Elephant]

From Exeter ergo Chiefs fan. Also can we drop the 'underdogs' tag now as we clearly kick ass.

[Portnoy]

In honesty I was referring to some English rugby fans who are well catered for by clubs.

I know lots of English rugby fans who don't actually support a team

Like Welsh, Scots and for all I know Italians Munkian? If a a club flag isn't allotted to a patch of land, it's not right not to choose to be independent/undecided?

[UlstermaninGlasgow]

Ulsterman born and bred but from out in the sticks so it didn't come naturally... Just fell into the mighty Dungannon RFC one year and it stuck.

Now in Glasgow and managed to get a job at Warriors so support them as well.

Got a soft spot for the way the Chiefs play, and it may also have something to do with the ex-Gannon man playing for them.

Of course I'm an Irish fan, but as my living and working in Scotland has had an effect on me I do support the kilted ones from time to time.

Southern Hemisphere wise, always liked the Tahs and got to visit Aus this summer so kind of adopted them, as well as the mighty Newcastle Knights...... (Don't judge me!)

And of course being a country lad from the heart of Tyrone, the mighty Red Hand County are my GAA team...

[Pal Joey]

In honesty I was referring to some English rugby fans who are well catered for by clubs.

I know lots of English rugby fans who don't actually support a team

Phew.

In my case I have a primary team in all codes in Australia - but for the overseas competitions (which I have only begun following recently with the increased exposure here in Oz) I have the luxury of having a 'pet' team or teams. Obviously I'm not as obsessed with those teams but I'm happy to see them perform well.

The list of teams I 'hate' is pretty substantial but I try not to dwell on any success they may have (survival instinct or denial?); nor do I gloat in their unsuccessful results as much as I used to when I was younger.

I'm a bit like that with England. I'm not a true pommie-hater in the Aussie sense of the word. Of course I don't want them to beat Australia but it doesn't distress me too much if they win against other home nations - compared to most people on here. Having said that I'd like to see Scotland and Ireland beat them more so than Wales (occasionally).

[munkian]

In honesty I was referring to some English rugby fans who are well catered for by clubs.

I know lots of English rugby fans who don't actually support a team

Like Welsh, Scots and for all I know Italians Munkian? If a a club flag isn't allotted to a patch of land, it's not right not to choose to be independent/undecided?

I'm struggling to understand your post but I don't personally know any Welsh, Scots or Itallians that don't support a club so I can only speak from what I know.

People who say they 'support' all English/Irish/Welsh/etc teams usually don't because they don't buy shirts and merchandise, they don't go to games and buy tickets and food/drink

[sugarNspikes]

Three words.

Pink Cowboy Hats.

[Dim]

I'm one of those English fans without a genuine club affiliation, something to do with growing up in the deepest darkest depths of rural west Dorset. First got into watching premiership rugby after the '03 World Cup and gravitated towards Tigers as they had a lot of the players from that team and they were good (I was young glory supporting seemed the way to go). Anyway they're probably the team I follow most but I wouldn't consider myself a bona fide fan.

Also have a soft spot for the West Country clubs, particularly Exeter who are probably my nearest club but also because several players I played with or against at school and U16 county level are now coming through for those teams.

In other competitions (SXV, Rabo etc.) I tend to begin watching matches as a neutral but tend to have picked the side I'm rooting for by half-time based on who has played the better or more enjoyable rugby.

Also as an aside, Chequered is that the Wellington in Somerset? If so it's a nice set up they've got, I played there a few years back in a Somerset u16 warm up match vs their colts side.

[Pal Joey]

OK, here's another angle on the 'support a team' claim. (might upset a few)

At the recent Wales in Oz series I was annoyed to see groups of fans from both sides going up and down the stairs between the bar and their seats... all throughout the match. Some of them 3 or 4 times.

I don't mind a drink myself but my method is if you're going to get tanked - do so beforehand in the hours leading up to the match.
A few trips to the amenities will be required depending on the amount drunk obviously so the timing of that is critical. Blink during a game and you'll most likely miss something crucial. To be a true spectator or fan does require a certain degree of concentration.

However for me; I don't believe these types actually 'watch' nor remember the games they attend. Impossible - when your back is turned on the way up to the bar for the umpteeth time and you're so slotted you don't know what you're watching or simply concentrating on the next step to ensure none of that precious amber fluid is spilled. No way they can claim that they were there really, imo. They miss everything and only have one thing in mind - which obviously ain't the rugby. Complete joke if you ask me.

I was seated next to a true older Welsh rugby fan and we were both shaking our heads. He was embarrassed and so was I.

[red_stag]

Linebreaker,

I was at Northampton Saints v Munster in the Heineken Cup in Milton Keynes.

It isn't their usual stadium and the toilet and bar facilities there are really really really bad.

Anyway I was having a bit of banter with the Northampton fans behind me and at half time two of them went off and I didn't see them until 68 minutes gone. They said it took the queue that long to get them up to the top and get served.

I looked at them in amazement and said it to them that they missed nearly half an hour due to getting booze. They said that drink was necessary at a match???

[munkian]

OK, here's another angle on the 'support a team' claim. (might upset a few)

At the recent Wales in Oz series I was annoyed to see groups of fans from both sides going up and down the stairs between the bar and their seats... all throughout the match. Some of them 3 or 4 times.

I don't mind a drink myself but my method is if you're going to get tanked - do so beforehand in the hours leading up to the match.
A few trips to the amenities will be required depending on the amount drunk obviously so the timing of that is critical. Blink during a game and you'll most likely miss something crucial. To be a true spectator or fan does require a certain degree of concentration.

However for me; I don't believe these types actually 'watch' nor remember the games they attend. Impossible - when your back is turned on the way up to the bar for the umpteeth time and you're so slotted you don't know what you're watching or simply concentrating on the next step to ensure none of that precious amber fluid is spilled. No way they can claim that they were there really, imo. They miss everything and only have one thing in mind - which obviously ain't the rugby. Complete joke if you ask me.

I was seated next to a true older Welsh rugby fan and we were both shaking our heads. He was embarrassed and so was I.

You do get a lot of 'fans' from all clubs and countries that do this. You also get a lot of people at matches just to be see or say they were there- especially at Leinster matches

But fans that just go to International games generally aren't as dedicated or educated as fans that attend club games week in week out

[LordDowlais]

I am a valley boy born and bred, I have never left Merthyr to live anywhere else, but just becuase I do not support any region in particular it does not make me any less of a fan, does it ? O.k I was very bitter after what happened to the Warriors but I have since mellowed and I now go and watch all our regions play, I just like to cherry pick the best games, am I a glory supporter ? I don't think I am I just like to go to watch the best game I think is on at any one time, also I have no problem with people who only want to watch Wales as we live in a free society where people can choose to go and watch what they want.

[doctor_grey]

Linebreaker,

I was at Northampton Saints v Munster in the Heineken Cup in Milton Keynes.

It isn't their usual stadium and the toilet and bar facilities there are really really really bad.

Anyway I was having a bit of banter with the Northampton fans behind me and at half time two of them went off and I didn't see them until 68 minutes gone. They said it took the queue that long to get them up to the top and get served.

I looked at them in amazement and said it to them that they missed nearly half an hour due to getting booze. They said that drink was necessary at a match???

As a Saints supporter, I find that attitude surprising, and not at all representative. Most supporters are there precisely for the Rugby. Now, don't get me wrong, we do like our beer, but I don't think more than other folk. Watching in person or on tv, it is rare to see people walking up and down the aisles whilst the match is in progress. Even to visit the loo. I find our supporters to be knowledgeable, passionate, friendly, and pssionate. Not a bunch of drunks, as you portray.

[Pal Joey]

Staggy,

The wait at the bar was about 15 minutes, 5 mins to drink it

x 4 = 80 minutes.

They probably had to queue for a slash at half time too.

[neilthom7]

Ulsterman born and bred here, started playing Rugby in school in Cookstown when I moved to High School, because I didn't want to play hockey lol.

[ChequeredJersey]

I'm one of those English fans without a genuine club affiliation, something to do with growing up in the deepest darkest depths of rural west Dorset. First got into watching premiership rugby after the '03 World Cup and gravitated towards Tigers as they had a lot of the players from that team and they were good (I was young glory supporting seemed the way to go). Anyway they're probably the team I follow most but I wouldn't consider myself a bona fide fan.

Also have a soft spot for the West Country clubs, particularly Exeter who are probably my nearest club but also because several players I played with or against at school and U16 county level are now coming through for those teams.

In other competitions (SXV, Rabo etc.) I tend to begin watching matches as a neutral but tend to have picked the side I'm rooting for by half-time based on who has played the better or more enjoyable rugby.

Also as an aside, Chequered is that the Wellington in Somerset? If so it's a nice set up they've got, I played there a few years back in a Somerset u16 warm up match vs their colts side.

Yes it is, good place to play rugby! How long ago was this?

[red_stag]

Linebreaker,

I was at Northampton Saints v Munster in the Heineken Cup in Milton Keynes.

It isn't their usual stadium and the toilet and bar facilities there are really really really bad.

Anyway I was having a bit of banter with the Northampton fans behind me and at half time two of them went off and I didn't see them until 68 minutes gone. They said it took the queue that long to get them up to the top and get served.

I looked at them in amazement and said it to them that they missed nearly half an hour due to getting booze. They said that drink was necessary at a match???

As a Saints supporter, I find that attitude surprising, and not at all representative. Most supporters are there precisely for the Rugby. Now, don't get me wrong, we do like our beer, but I don't think more than other folk. Watching in person or on tv, it is rare to see people walking up and down the aisles whilst the match is in progress. Even to visit the loo. I find our supporters to be knowledgeable, passionate, friendly, and pssionate. Not a bunch of drunks, as you portray.

Grey Im just talking about two fans. Im not portraying you all as a bunch of drunks.

[ChequeredJersey]

Oh, and more locally- imperial college medics

Wellington Rugby Club
And my old school

The last one because I went and obviously played there, Imperial because I go and occasionally play there, Wellington as it's where I lived/near where my parents still live, Edinburgh as it's near my brother and grandparents and Quins as it's my local Premiership club who play in a style I have enjoyed since I saw them 7-8 years ago and I am a Londoner in birth and live in London

Hey Chequered, my brother in law has just finished a two year stint at the London Imperial collage, it is a lovely place right in the middle of the city with a lot of history, its been there since the 1500's hasn't it ? Anyway we are all off to the Royal Albert Hall to see him get his cap and gown in October. Small world isn't it ?

So am I, as it happens, I got my BSc this year (we take one as part of our medical degree)- do you know what day his is?

[Poorfour]

My father was the son of a Scotsman but born in Cardiff and raised in Bristol (long story), and he grew up supporting Scotland until in his late teens he realised that he was to all intents and purposes English and switched allegiance.

I grew up with the same romantic attachment to Scotland and would support both Scotland and England (with some tricky decisions over allegiance in '84, '90, the '91 RWC and the '99 5N). But ultimately I made the same decision as Dad. I've always lived in England, so England it is.

Eight years ago my wife made the point that we should really support club rugby as well, so we went to the nearest Premiership club, which was Quins. Within a season we were hooked, which has meant we've supported them through the lowest points of their history to the highest.

I'm also a big fan of Exeter (and their fans), and have a lingering respect for Leicester. I don't get enough control over the TV remote to follow other leagues closely, but if I had to pick a Rabo team it would probably be Leinster.

[doctor_grey]

Linebreaker,

I was at Northampton Saints v Munster in the Heineken Cup in Milton Keynes.

It isn't their usual stadium and the toilet and bar facilities there are really really really bad.

Anyway I was having a bit of banter with the Northampton fans behind me and at half time two of them went off and I didn't see them until 68 minutes gone. They said it took the queue that long to get them up to the top and get served.

I looked at them in amazement and said it to them that they missed nearly half an hour due to getting booze. They said that drink was necessary at a match???

As a Saints supporter, I find that attitude surprising, and not at all representative. Most supporters are there precisely for the Rugby. Now, don't get me wrong, we do like our beer, but I don't think more than other folk. Watching in person or on tv, it is rare to see people walking up and down the aisles whilst the match is in progress. Even to visit the loo. I find our supporters to be knowledgeable, passionate, friendly, and pssionate. Not a bunch of drunks, as you portray.

Grey Im just talking about two fans. Im not portraying you all as a bunch of drunks.

OK, thanks for the clarification.

Saints supporters sometimes get, I believe, a bad rap because the city is admittedly not so lovely (as compared to the people, for instance). Historically the city was an old style industrial centre and is struggling to change over to a modern economy, as are a number of cities. Hence it has had a reputation as a hammered down, almost provincial back-water. I believe that is changing, which is good.

I came to be a Saints supporter by choice, not by birth, working there for a number of years. I find the people warm and friendly. It is a Rugby community to the core, which is rare and fantastic. Saints are a terrific family friendly club which is apparent once anyone sets foot inside the Gardens. So this strange reputation of Saints as a bunch of tosspots, which I only hear from people outside the community, is so far from the truth that I sometimes feel compelled to defend them.

[XR]

Born in Cardiff, grew up supporting Cardiff RFC and when regionalisation came along, i started supporting the blues as well.

[tigertattie]

don't get me started on folk who go to games that don't actually watch.

I've been in the unfortunate position of being at Edinburgh vs Glasgow games at Murryfield where the glasgow fans are just jumping about like loonies and not actually watching the game. To the extent where I've had to get up and move seats so I could watch the game rather than watching them jump about in front of me and obstructing the view

And as for Scotland vs England. Sheesh. Half the folk in the stadium are there as it is fashionable and not because they want to watch it. I want to open rugby up as much as the next person, but it's bloomin annoying sitting beside a group of toffs from edin Uni who spend the whole match takling about how much aftershave they can drink or how they are missing out on thier dressage practise with thier tutor named Tarquin!
I've even had girls sitting constantly asking what was going on as they didn;t have a clue about the rules of the game!

Yes, open up rugby, but not to the expense of the exisiting fans please!!!

Rant over!

[munkian]

I don't mind being asked the rules etc but yeah, people that go to international matches with corporate tickets don't usually go to watch the game. They are just there to be seen.

[doctor_grey]

don't get me started on folk who go to games that don't actually watch.......................

And as for Scotland vs England. Sheesh. Half the folk in the stadium are there as it is fashionable and not because they want to watch it. I want to open rugby up as much as the next person, but it's bloomin annoying sitting beside a group of toffs from edin Uni who spend the whole match takling about how much aftershave they can drink or how they are missing out on thier dressage practise with thier tutor named Tarquin!
I've even had girls sitting constantly asking what was going on as they didn;t have a clue about the rules of the game!

Yes, open up rugby, but not to the expense of the exisiting fans please!!!

Rant over!

Hey don't mess with Tarquin. Patty Labelle Tarquin was my 'instructor' inn many of life's mysteries. Very willing lass, I must admit. All for a fifty.............

[ChequeredJersey]

Yeah but bringing friends who don't know the rules to games has taught several of my friends the rules and gotten them interested in the sport

[LordDowlais]

Oh, and more locally- imperial college medics

Wellington Rugby Club
And my old school

The last one because I went and obviously played there, Imperial because I go and occasionally play there, Wellington as it's where I lived/near where my parents still live, Edinburgh as it's near my brother and grandparents and Quins as it's my local Premiership club who play in a style I have enjoyed since I saw them 7-8 years ago and I am a Londoner in birth and live in London

Hey Chequered, my brother in law has just finished a two year stint at the London Imperial collage, it is a lovely place right in the middle of the city with a lot of history, its been there since the 1500's hasn't it ? Anyway we are all off to the Royal Albert Hall to see him get his cap and gown in October. Small world isn't it ?

So am I, as it happens, I got my BSc this year (we take one as part of our medical degree)- do you know what day his is?

I think it is during the last week of October on a Monday and going into Tuesday, although he is limited to people who can see him, so it is his mother and farther and my wife, his big sister, who takes priority but he is trying to wangle tickets for me and my two daugters.

[ChequeredJersey]

Yeah, it's meant to be 3 guests. Mine is a bit earlier but good luck to him

[tigertattie]

Yeah but bringing friends who don't know the rules to games has taught several of my friends the rules and gotten them interested in the sport

that is what we want. Folk bring mates and getting them interested.
It's the total randoms who turn up themselves that get on my wick.

Even if the randoms are there to learn about the game and thus watch it to learn. Thats cool. Happy to tell you the differance between a ruck and a maul. Just don;t turn up because you think there might be a chance you can wave on the TV screens!

[Dim]

I'm one of those English fans without a genuine club affiliation, something to do with growing up in the deepest darkest depths of rural west Dorset. First got into watching premiership rugby after the '03 World Cup and gravitated towards Tigers as they had a lot of the players from that team and they were good (I was young glory supporting seemed the way to go). Anyway they're probably the team I follow most but I wouldn't consider myself a bona fide fan.

Also have a soft spot for the West Country clubs, particularly Exeter who are probably my nearest club but also because several players I played with or against at school and U16 county level are now coming through for those teams.

In other competitions (SXV, Rabo etc.) I tend to begin watching matches as a neutral but tend to have picked the side I'm rooting for by half-time based on who has played the better or more enjoyable rugby.

Also as an aside, Chequered is that the Wellington in Somerset? If so it's a nice set up they've got, I played there a few years back in a Somerset u16 warm up match vs their colts side.

Yes it is, good place to play rugby! How long ago was this?

Would have been about 4 years ago now I suspect, only played at the club ground once as I played my club rugby in Dorset and was only playing for Somerset due to being at school there.

[ChequeredJersey]

I'm one of those English fans without a genuine club affiliation, something to do with growing up in the deepest darkest depths of rural west Dorset. First got into watching premiership rugby after the '03 World Cup and gravitated towards Tigers as they had a lot of the players from that team and they were good (I was young glory supporting seemed the way to go). Anyway they're probably the team I follow most but I wouldn't consider myself a bona fide fan.

Also have a soft spot for the West Country clubs, particularly Exeter who are probably my nearest club but also because several players I played with or against at school and U16 county level are now coming through for those teams.

In other competitions (SXV, Rabo etc.) I tend to begin watching matches as a neutral but tend to have picked the side I'm rooting for by half-time based on who has played the better or more enjoyable rugby.

Also as an aside, Chequered is that the Wellington in Somerset? If so it's a nice set up they've got, I played there a few years back in a Somerset u16 warm up match vs their colts side.

Yes it is, good place to play rugby! How long ago was this?

Would have been about 4 years ago now I suspect, only played at the club ground once as I played my club rugby in Dorset and was only playing for Somerset due to being at school there.

Ah, a couple of years too recently for me! Where did you go to school in Somerset?

[Dim]

Would have made it a very small world if I'd have played against you in that match! I was at Taunton School.

[ChequeredJersey]

Would have made it a very small world if I'd have played against you in that match! I was at Taunton School.

I went to Wellington School. At least you didn't go to Kings...

[ChequeredJersey]

Or, God save us all, Queen's...

[Dim]

Would have made it a very small world if I'd have played against you in that match! I was at Taunton School.

I went to Wellington School. At least you didn't go to Kings...

That does make it a pretty small world. I managed to just dodge the Kings bullet but it was a close run thing and I could easily have ended up there.

[ChequeredJersey]

Luckily your soul got to stay intact

[ChequeredJersey]

Actually if you played Welly Schhol you may have played my brother!

[Dim]

Definitely played them on many occasions and even if I'm about a year out I played two years of 1st XV rugby so there's a decent chance of overlap. Anyway might be best to stop derailing the thread with talk of Somerset schools not sure many others will be interested...

[ChequeredJersey]

True

[Notch]

I'm from Belfast and the first rugby I ever saw was all at Ravenhill (home of Ulster Rugby) when my dad used to bring me along to Schools Cup Finals there and of course inter-provincial matches.

When Ulster won the European Cup in 1999 he took my brother and I to most of the games along the way including the Final. That was the clincher I'd say. Not just for me being an Ulster fan, but a rugby fan in general.

[Away and bile yer heid]

From Exeter ergo Chiefs fan. Also can we drop the 'underdogs' tag now as we clearly kick ass.

I love the " underdog " tag. The more that believe it, the more that will understimate us. :

[doctor_grey]

Methinks your days of being underestimated are officially over. You pop 40 points on someone and you have to hand in your underdog tag. Welcome to the big boys, gents. Its a small club, but does need shaking up from time to time.

[PJHolybloke]

On the subject of supping pints during the game, I don't have a problem with that at all, I like a and at the Rec you're allowed to buy 6 pints of whatever at a time (there's an Elf 'n' Safety limit, possibly to do with drowning), you get your cardboard tray with a handle on and you're sorted; for the first half at least.

[HammerofThunor]

I don't understand people who are 'massive rugby fans' yet don't support a specific club.

I don't have any specific club really. From Stoke and I didn't even know there were two codes until I was about 20. Spent a year living in Bath where I first came across the game. Watched the HEC final (2001) and really enjoyed it but didn't know the rules (living with a half French girl so the win over Stade was good). Didn't really watch much or was aware what was not (didn't really know about the 6 nations). Started seeing a Welsh girl in 2002. Watched some of the World Cup in 2003 (Samoan game and final definitely). Started watching some games on tele with my father-in-law when I moved to Swansea in 2005, asking the rules etc. Eventually got hooked. Since then I've moved back to England but Hull is about as far from a professional club as it's probably possible in England Doncaster are probably the closest. I've been to see Leicester a bit as brother lives there. I've been to Ospreys games when I go visit the in-laws (but games always seem to be on Fridays when we go back for the weekend). Also have a couple of shirts (a signed Leicester one from one of their winning seasons that my brother got me). But I generally enjoy watching any English side; particularly the ones with plenty of young English players (so the Quins v Wasps game was excellent at the weekend). But it chops and changes. I was planning on forcing myself to support Sale as the closest to where I grew up and a 'NW' side but most of their homes games are on a Friday and it takes me 2 hours+ to get there. Also they keep insisting on having a truck of foreigners (yes other Brits count) and it puts me off.

[Guest]

From Risca (obviously), so I support the Dragons as a season ticket holder (a fairly big commitment seeing as I don't know what games I am able to make.

Play for Risca 1.5's. Maybe more a 2 now I'm in my thirties. If I don't play for or watch either Cuckoos side, I'll watch Crosskeys at Pandy Park or Ebbw Vale if my mate's (who plays for them) dad goes wherever he is playing.

I also watch the Annual RAF Interservice match at home and will probably do Army v Navy at Twickenham fairly soon.

[albaook]

From Fife, but working in Edinburgh

Rabo: Edinburgh. Painful to watch at times, but has to be done despite what it does to my blood pressure!
Aviva: Sale
S15: Bulls. Was lucky enough to be taken to a game when I was working in Joburg, so followed them ever since.
Six Nations: Scotland.

[overlordofthewest]

From Dowlais (SW Valleys) originally. Moved about a lot so have 'soft spots' as spoken about for quite a few sides.
Anyway, to stick to format of sorts

Club - Pontypridd (also Dowlais and Merthyr in lower divisions)

Pro 12 - Scarlets all the way. (Regions never worked for a large group of fans at the heads of the Valleys. You can't be expected to go from supporting Ponty for most of your life to suddenly support your main rivals and mortal enemy - Cardiff - so many people, myself included had Llanelli as a sort of second team pre regions as they played an exciting brand of rugby. Fortunately all the Welsh regions are fairly close from there so making the games isn't an issue, the result is a sizable pocket of Scarlets supporters in Dowlais/Merthyr and we've never looked back).

Jeff - Quins. Lived in Twickenham for a number of years in my youth. Usually Id support a lower division side when I moved to a new area (fortunately been settled for years now so no need anymore) but a mate took me to watch the Quins and I was impressed enough by them to keep watching (used to have a soft spot for Bath as a mate lived there and was a big fan, plus Ieuan Evans went there to play. However, HERSH has put me off a little as he's the only Bath fan I come across these days and he's so anti Welsh).

Super rugby - Reds. Simply as the first super 12 game I watched was - not sure vs Reds. Reds were underdogs but played the most exciting rugby and still lost. Followed them when on Sky ever since.

T 14 - Simply haven't got one. Only see them in the HC and as a result usually support whoever they're playing as Pro 12 and Jeff teams will have my support over them (sorry to any French watching, you can't make yourself want someone to win though).

International - Wales as Im Welsh, second team is always Ireland as my fathers Irish.

[LordDowlais]

From Dowlais (SW Valleys) originally. Moved about a lot so have 'soft spots' as spoken about for quite a few sides.
Anyway, to stick to format of sorts

Club - Pontypridd (also Dowlais and Merthyr in lower divisions)

Pro 12 - Scarlets all the way. (Regions never worked for a large group of fans at the heads of the Valleys. You can't be expected to go from supporting Ponty for most of your life to suddenly support your main rivals and mortal enemy - Cardiff - so many people, myself included had Llanelli as a sort of second team pre regions as they played an exciting brand of rugby. Fortunately all the Welsh regions are fairly close from there so making the games isn't an issue, the result is a sizable pocket of Scarlets supporters in Dowlais/Merthyr and we've never looked back).

Jeff - Quins. Lived in Twickenham for a number of years in my youth. Usually Id support a lower division side when I moved to a new area (fortunately been settled for years now so no need anymore) but a mate took me to watch the Quins and I was impressed enough by them to keep watching (used to have a soft spot for Bath as a mate lived there and was a big fan, plus Ieuan Evans went there to play. However, HERSH has put me off a little as he's the only Bath fan I come across these days and he's so anti Welsh).

Super rugby - Reds. Simply as the first super 12 game I watched was - not sure vs Reds. Reds were underdogs but played the most exciting rugby and still lost. Followed them when on Sky ever since.

T 14 - Simply haven't got one. Only see them in the HC and as a result usually support whoever they're playing as Pro 12 and Jeff teams will have my support over them (sorry to any French watching, you can't make yourself want someone to win though).

International - Wales as Im Welsh, second team is always Ireland as my fathers Irish.

Do you still live in Merthyr Overlord ?

[thebandwagonsociety]

Leinsterman and a Leinster fan. I've always gone to a good few games each year, but realised it was getting a bit tricker to stay under cover at the RDS in 08 season so took the leap for a season ticket from 09 season. As the leap coincided with Leinsters current run, look like a bit of a bandwagon supporter only coming on board when the winning started, hence the name

[tigertattie]

Surely folk cannot say they are fans of all these different teams!!!

Rabo team, Jeff team, ozzie team, french team...........

Surely you can only really be a fan of one or two depending on professional/amatuer status

I follow Musselburgh (local team) and Edinburgh (nearest Pro side)

I can't say I'm a fan of an english team, an ozzie team.......... I never have, nor ever will go to any of thier games (unless they come to play Edinburgh)

[overlordofthewest]

LordDowlais - yes, been settled here for a number of years. I assume you're a Dowlais boy yourself.

tigertattie - if others are like me then I support the Scarlets. That's my team and they are who I watch when able to, whose tops I buy and where I take my young son. The Scarlets are the side I get most emotional over (even more so than Wales).
The other teams in other countries I try to follow on TV and have no emotional attachment to, just would rather they win than the others in that league.

[SubsBench]

Country - Wales, I'm Welsh so wouldn't support anyone else

Region - Scarlets, Llanellli supporter before Regionalisation so automatic really

Club sides - Don't go to as many as I should, occasionally go to see Llandeilo RFC as that's where I live. Keep an eye on how Llandovery do in the Premiership and how Penygroes RFC and Llandybie RFC are getting on.

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