The Corso Marauders Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Amsterdam

First topic message reminder :

Hello and welcome to the Virtual Rugby Pub, a place where you can come in for a sly beverage and discuss whatever's on your mind, or just eavesdrop on the regulars if you fancy a break from all the rugby chat.

The Pub has made its way to Amsterdam in honour of original publican Gibson who is finally back in gainful employment. One small step for man ...

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of former Corso Marauder Lawrence Dallaglio or young ice hockey prize winner (thanks to the v2ers) Chris Boyd.



Old pub https://www.606v2.com/t34157p950-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-sea-of-tranquility-luna#1518392

Spoiler:

[quote="Gibson"]

Notch wrote:It seems they are tolerant of a lot of things
Things that make them schitloads of money.

and very intolerant of a lot of other things.
Things that cost them money, or with no profit or control, to feed their self-interests.

I love Yanks. Ik ben en IBM'er.

Gib, don't be confused by the rantings of the extremists

There must be billions of suffering extremists so, As.

But hey, we all buy into it. No choice really. Being a pikey is not an option. I don't do tents or caravans. Love hugging trees though.

Well you're not going to see Mr Average or Mr Nomal spouting their views on Murdoch TV? I mean you've had a right-wing loony in charge of the Neths for a fair bit, but nobody thinks you're a bunch of extremists?

rugbydreamer wrote:I'm not quite sure.....

How you doing anyway Rodders? don't feel like I've spoken to you for a while

Hi dreamer, doing good thanks. Haven't been on much lately... thought yous deserved a wee break . Looks like your blog is going well, great stuff, keep up the great work

For the second week in a row Rory McIlroy has shown a high class field the way home in the USA. 
What a player!!

Night all.

ha! Cheers Rodders, I took a break from here myself for a lot of the summer too

Aye blog not going too bad, just under 250 hits today which I think is pretty good. Just need to make sure I keep updating it! (and figure out how to add pictures in..... )

Great start to Ulster's season though, you've got most of your star players to come back in starting too, as well as the return of Pienaar to look forward to. Promising signs

Nos da Rava

Thanks dreamer yeah very excited about Ulster this year, can't remember an Ulster side so good. Still trying to switch on to the rugby, Scarlets top of the league I think? Welsh rugby generally is in a very good place....exciting season ahead I hope.

Chat later

Top of the league yes, enjoying it to the full while I can


aye chat soon, off to get some kip now myself.

Can't believe the Olympics and Paralympics are now over. Such an inspiration and a joy to watch.

Nos da pawb.

Does anyone else think the Lions Tour schedule, games and venues are a bit of a letdown, when it comes to growing the game and having the classic tour feel?

Obviously a lot of people would have hoped the Lions played a Test somewhere on the islands and I certainly agree. Fiji have seriously struggled to find a sponsor but if the Lions came to town, they'd be flooded with them. But if not that, why not at least a game in Japan, either against the National side or the Barbarians, helping the continued promotion of the game in the run up to the World Cup in 2019.

Also, some of the tour matches, like against the Reds, could have been played in another part of Queensland, like Gold Coast or Townsville considering they will be having a Test in Queensland. Also, why not play the Waratahs in a stadium like Parramatta or Penrith, promoting the game in these areas?

And lastly, why not have the Test in Melbourne in the MCG. They've gone big everywhere else, why not try get 100,000 people to the Test?

Anyway, rant over!

Wow I'm getting addicted to NFL....going to be tired tomorrow!!

Morning All. Nobody stirring this morning?

and are on the stove. Help yourselves.

Munsty, hadn't thought about it, but you're right. There have certainly been plenty of raised eyebrows over the timings, and apparently there is a move afoot to sort that out before NZ in 2017.

Morning Rav, morning all - I'll take one of those - thanks

MBTGOG wrote:Does anyone else think the Lions Tour schedule, games and venues are a bit of a letdown, when it comes to growing the game and having the classic tour feel?

Obviously a lot of people would have hoped the Lions played a Test somewhere on the islands and I certainly agree. Fiji have seriously struggled to find a sponsor but if the Lions came to town, they'd be flooded with them. But if not that, why not at least a game in Japan, either against the National side or the Barbarians, helping the continued promotion of the game in the run up to the World Cup in 2019.

Also, some of the tour matches, like against the Reds, could have been played in another part of Queensland, like Gold Coast or Townsville considering they will be having a Test in Queensland. Also, why not play the Waratahs in a stadium like Parramatta or Penrith, promoting the game in these areas?

And lastly, why not have the Test in Melbourne in the MCG. They've gone big everywhere else, why not try get 100,000 people to the Test?

Anyway, rant over!

That's a decent rant mate. Isn't the first game against the Barbarians on the way to Aus? Hong Kong maybe?
Not sure the Lions are well into "growing of the game" though.

Bore da pawb / good morning all, I'll have a Rava, if there's any left!

This time next week I'll be in Lanzarote. I cannot wait!

Rava,

They are playing the first game in Hong Kong but that is most certainly money making exercise. Allegedly, they want Asian players in the Barbarians side and not loads of former All Blacks and Saffas in the side but why not have that game in Japan?

Oh I agree Munsty, but you hit it on the head when you said money making. The whole thing is designed to make money first. Just think how many freeloaders will be part of this tour.

I'm just glad that the Test Matches are all in Australia.

It was a worry in the build up that Lions v Aus 1st Test was going to be in Hong Kong (like the Bedisloe often is)

red_stag wrote:I'm just glad that the Test Matches are all in Australia.

It was a worry in the build up that Lions v Aus 1st Test was going to be in Hong Kong (like the Bedisloe often is)

Oh wow, I didn't realise it was that bad.

It was like I was saying before on another topic, England are holding the World Cup in 3 years time. It will be happening right across the country but it doesn't feel like the RFU are doing much to build the excitement. Holding Tests outside of London just seems to be an absolute no go, because they want to keep making money.

red_stag wrote:I'm just glad that the Test Matches are all in Australia.

It was a worry in the build up that Lions v Aus 1st Test was going to be in Hong Kong (like the Bedisloe often is)

I think the failure of Hong Kong crowds to turn up for the last HK Bledisloe put a kybosh on that idea mercifully.

Morning all. It's cloudy, the Tube was jam-packed this morning, and Sky are going to take a week to re-connect our broadband at home

But at least we get to watch a nice parade go past the office this afternoon.

Good Morning all,

Some good points there Munsty. Hong Kong is not a bad venue for a Lion's lead up match. They'll sell it our for sure - more so than a 4th Bledisloe Cup game. Tokyo not a bad venue either.

Could have possibly played the NSW/Qld country game in a regional centre like Townsville or even Coffs Harbour. Toowoomba or Dubbo would have been really taking it to country areas but those venues are probably too small.

I was out near Penrith today. Not much of a rugby stronghold out there. However, with some clever marketing they could fill the ground which is not that big a capacity (20,000?) Parramatta is still NRL heartland but they could have played the NSW match there (27k). Maybe best that it's at the SFS (45k) considering it's got a bigger capacity than Parra stadium.

In Melbourne - Etihad is quite big but I agree the MCG would have been an epic place for the 2nd Test. An extra 40k would help the coffers and I'm sure they could change the paint line-markings during a week in June. They did that overnight during the weekend for the rugby match on Saturday night and the AFL final match on Sunday at Subiaco.

Like you say, Penrith and Parramatta are NRL heartland areas but if rugby wants to build its profile, it might be better long term for the game there.

I remember seeing a France-Australia RL International at Parramatta Stadium about 20 years ago... it was quite packed from memory. Lop-sided scoreline though.

I fear the NSWRU has been slow to react in recent times.
We now have Greater Western Sydney (AFL) and the newly established West Sydney Wanderers (A-League). Also, Sydney United have signed Alessandro del Piero on a 2-year deal. Rugby union is now clearly a poor 4th when it comes to winter sports.

The argument on the flip side is that you don't want to alienate the rugby union people by sending the Lions tour away from them.

I know what you're saying Stag, but rugby doesn't seem to have anywhere they can call their own apart from a few very small grounds.

MBTGOG wrote:I know what you're saying Stag, but rugby doesn't seem to have anywhere they can call their own apart from a few very small grounds.

"Rugby News" magazine in Aus has just folded too, and the Shute Shield hasn't been able to attract a naming sponsor for a year or 2. There's some serious shoring up of the grass roots in Aus needed.

Thats very true. It is very much the ugly duckling of sports it seems.

Certainly when we are dealing with businesses and suppliers in Australia many of them (in places like Cairns, Perth, Newcastle, Canberra, Coffs Harbour etc) are genuinely unaware the Lions is on at that time because I suppose they don't have the Test games. It is a million miles away from NZ for the Rugby World Cup.

There was another rumour this week about re-establishing the Australian Rugby Championship... for about the 3rd time.

It's hard to believe we go from local suburban comps to Super 15 with nothing in between. That would be the way to go but the last experiment failed in 2007. Attendances were very, very poor and money was lost.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Rugby_Championship

Natwest are an infuriating bank. That is all!

MBTGOG wrote:Natwest are an infuriating bank. That is all!

A slogan for you: "It's for the best, I can attest, For you to invest, In your Natwest." (Paul Butters)

Ravam, did you get my WhatsApp

Ulster Ravens v Munster A

Ulster v Munster

Both on Friday in Belfast

Stag, I have replied on What's App.

We can do the Ravens game no problem.

Rava what route would you recommend driving into Belfast on Friday. We'll be leaving derry around 5.

Normally we come in via Ravenhill rd and park at Ardenlee but the traffic can be epic. Do you have a better suggestion? Cheers.

What is WhatsApp?

And good afternoon pawb. How is everyone?

Miserable day here (but of course tis Monday and back to work!)

And I've another blydi wisdom tooth flare up

Dreamer its an app for smartphones that allows people to chat for free using the internet. It works just like text messages.

Very handy

I'll have to get that app, sounds great.

Well I'd have to say, I most certainly disagree with Mr. Butters. They really have been an incredibly poor bank to me since I moved here.

Dreamer,

It's an instant messaging service you can get on phones. As long as you have the net, you can send texts to phones all around the world for free. Very useful.

ah wow, never heard of that before, I'll have to look into getting it me thinks. Cheers for the info Stag.

Munsty why not get a new bank. There loads of choice.

What'sapp is an app on iPhone etc, where you pay 69p for it, then can send free texts (inc groups) and picture messages all over the world. Kind of like skype without the calls.

Afternoon all. Back in work today after the wedding. Flipping ruined me getting up at half four to drive back. Worse than that, I have to head straight from the clash of the two Cardiff regions (Dragons v Blouse) to Brize to fly on a little trip on Saturday. Going to be a long day is that.

The two Cardiff regions?

Rev,

You paid 69p? I got it for free.

Stag,

I might do, but this one is very helpful as my father and aunt have a shared Natwest account and they can transfer money across a lot quicker than they would if I was with another bank.

and diolch Munsty too

Rev why'd you pay 69p. Its a free app no?

That sounds like a seriously long day!

Risca Rev wrote:What'sapp is an app on iPhone etc, where you pay 69p for it, then can send free texts (inc groups) and picture messages all over the world. Kind of like skype without the calls.

Afternoon all. Back in work today after the wedding. Flipping ruined me getting up at half four to drive back. Worse than that, I have to head straight from the clash of the two Cardiff regions (Dragons v Blouse) to Brize to fly on a little trip on Saturday. Going to be a long day is that.

Watch out Assad, the big man is coming to get ye

red_stag wrote:Rev why'd you pay 69p. Its a free app no?

That sounds like a seriously long day!

69p if you're going to use it in far off jungles and mountain passes in Afghan and the loike!

MBTGOG wrote:Rev,

You paid 69p? I got it for free.

Stag,

I might do, but this one is very helpful as my father and aunt have a shared Natwest account and they can transfer money across a lot quicker than they would if I was with another bank.

Munsty it cost 69p for the iphone app. Free for Android.
And it isn't that great given you haven't sent me a message since I helped you to get it set up quite a few months ago

You're more than welcome Dreamer. How are you by the way? It has been a long long time since I last talked to you. I see you're moving on the journalist ladder!

rugbydreamer wrote:and diolch Munsty too

Viber is another app worth having too, Shovey - free calls on WiFi

Dreamer its great for group chats. Can be quite funny sometimes.

Rev are you flying back the same day or is it Saturday And Sunday?