Who do you support and why?

First topic message reminder :

Seen this done on another sport and thought it might be interesting to see who follows who on the rugby board.

Its a multi option so you can select your favourite Jeff, ML, SUPER15 teams couldn't fit in ALL the Top 14

Leinster + other Irish clubs/provs. Like Leicester too(Great supporters who know their rugby)

I would say who i support but that is pretty obvious. I am from Pembs, and was brough up being told that you support your local side and the nearest to local when it comes to top flight. So as a result I adopted Llanelli RFC as the team I was interested in, but I also had a soft spot for Neath and Pontypridd. That said with the advent of regionalism I would say I really got into rugby (not going out to the pub with my mate if the match was on TV), and I backed the Scarlets as I was from the region.

Sadly in my area there are numerous Ospreys supporters, so I have taken it upon myself to try and convert as many as possible to the Scarlets cause.

Pontypool - localish, supported them since a kid
The Dragons - my local region, season ticket holder
Bath - family connection
Wales and the Lions of course

Developing a liking for Exeter after their excellent first season following promotion.

Live in Dublin and from Wellington. Leinster and the Hurricanes.

Sadly in my area there are numerous Ospreys supporters, so I have taken it upon myself to try and convert as many as possible to the Scarlets cause.[/quote]


They'll never join the dark side of the force/Loughor bridge........

London Irish - Brilliant stadium, lively crowd and generally a good atmosphere at matches. Also I live pretty near them and have a bit of Irish blood. I went to all their Heineken Cup home games this year. Come on you Irish!

Leinster - They play exciting rugby, have great players and are located in one of my favourite cities. They've had some real characters in their squads over the years. Ollie Le Roux and Rocky Elsom were some of my favourites.

Toulouse - I just love the French way of playing rugby. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde was always a favourite player of mine and I loved watching him. Their fans are really partisan and I'd love to go to a Heineken Cup match in Toulouse one day.

Crusaders - Watching Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Dagg work their magic is always brilliant.

Teams I'm not too fond of are Leicester, Northampton and Munster.

Ulster, as I was born here, am bringing my children up here and - in a not unrelated matter - it is God's Own Province.

I had thought I also supported Glasgow and Leinster for familial reasons, and various other teams because of memorable matches I had seen them play. However, after contemplating this question when someone on Classic 606 asked it, I realised that actually, I support Ulster and underdogs. Pathologically. National pride, family ties, knock-on effect for Ulster, the style of rugby played - none will over-ride my desire to see a scrappy, determined team beat one with more resources, more history, more high-profile players, a more exciting or expansive game. Who's expected to lose? I love 'em, unless they're playing Ulster.

I was pretty taken aback when I realised it. But here I am, in my fourth decade, surprising myself. Word.

I primarily support Newcastle Falcons based on rugby union geography (or lack of it in my part of the world) and family ties. Although I like to keep an eye out on the three big northern teams; Newcastle, Sale and Leeds.

Since moving to Bath, I've had a mixed relationship with the club and it's fans. I've been supportive, disapproving and throughly annoyed by them at various points. Recently I've become somewhat reconciled with the organic mung bean eating, wax jacket wearing 'stop shouting so loud' fans I've met and am excited to see what the future holds for them and their new players.

There's a surprise. The recently crowned European Champions have most fans.

Glas a du wrote:There's a surprise. The recently crowned European Champions have most fans.

A stunning state of affairs which has taken me completely by surprise, all things told.

I bet they have a few votes as peoples second or Irish team.

Who cares? There are a whole bunch of knowledgable, intelligent and affable Leinster fans on here. Hard to begrudge them their success.

Success is always popular, and always will be.

I was reflecting on this earlier; I think I enjoyed supporting Ulster a bit more a few years ago. We were dire, but we went along with hope in our hearts. At times it was painful but no pre-match nerves. Now it is a new challenge; adapting to the weight of expectation of eventually achieving something big that surrounds the team. Make no mistake I want us back at our rightful place in Irish Rugby, but with that comes pressure. The nerves over next season are already building!

Real fans always know we'll always be there...

Make no mistake I want us back at our rightful place in Irish Rugby

You're almost there Notch,just overtake Munster and you'll be firmly ensconced in 2nd place behind the mighty Leinster.Then all will be right in Irish rugby