The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub

First topic message reminder :

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 only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no defacing the Tommy Bowe photo on the bar. That's a banning offence

So pull up a chair....what'll it be?

Stag,we can't run a professional soccer league in this country so I don't think we could really run GAA professionally. Also if the season was on the same time as it is now surely there wouldn't be much change?

IF there was the money to do it, then rugby would probably lose it but thankfully that will most likely never ever be the case.

MBTGOG wrote:IF there was the money to do it, then rugby would probably lose it but thankfully that will most likely never ever be the case.

Thanks Munsty thats basically what I was wondering. IF it happened could we stave off the GAA or would we win over more disgruntled GAA fans.

Actually Cari, there's still room for provincial rivalry in GAA. The Railway Cup is a competition between the four provinces.

To further confuse rugby folk, Leinster play in Green, Munster in Blue, Ulster in Yellow and Connacht in White.

It's not massively popular, but then again, rugby clubs used to be more important than the provinces in Ireland.

Is soccer professional over in Ireland? Are the players paid much if it is?

Stag,

I think that rugby would have to do a serious promotional drive and would need to solidify it's own areas as GAA would become more aggressive. Rugby would need to market itself as the Winter sport and try live harmoniously with GAA and not fight against it.

MBTGOG wrote:Rugby would need to market itself as the Winter sport and try live harmoniously with GAA and not fight against it.

I don't think the IRFU would but I agree they should. The sports are seriously competitive rather than harmonious in Ireland.

It's a mix of semi pro and pro. Back in the good days (05-07) guys were getting paid around 3-4 grand a week. Although those were the top players. You wonder why Cork City and other clubs went bust when there paying guys that much and only getting crowds of around 3000 every two weeks.

Ah OK thanks Thom. I just wondered as I don't hear much about Irish soccer but there are a few premiership supporters over there too.

Hello from Donegal. Not been on much, not going to be on much. Off walking this afternoon

Everyone is a premiership supporter tht's why the League of Ireland is failing.

Hello Notch in Donegal. Enjoy your walk

I think from a fan base Rugby would lose in some areas. but at the moment people like Mickado has his Rugby Season and GAA season alternating between the two so I don't think that it would be an issue.

From a players point of view, I don't think many players currently playing pro rugby would turn their backs on Rugby to play GAA.

But I am guessing your point is that a lot of kids coming through would and therefore this would dilute our player pool.

That said, most kids playing these sports aren't thinking as far as professional level so I don't see why they would choose a different path based on that.

Anyone else see that Ian Gough referred to Tommy Bowe's "native Northern Ireland".

Isn't he from Monaghan?

mickyt wrote:That said, most kids playing these sports aren't thinking as far as professional level so I don't see why they would choose a different path based on that.

Tell that to 15 year olds in "rugby schools" or the well known GAA schools. They all want to play for their province or county

I don't claim to know a thing about GAA sports, but the advantage that rugby will always have is that it offers its players the chance of national honours and international competition. That's bound to be a hell of an incentive, I'd have thought.

Enjoy your walk, Notch.

Hello,

Had a great night last night. Still in Charleston, SC and went to a karaoke bar last night. I did my usual Sweet Caroline (or South Carolina to appease the crowd ) and after I'd finished a guy came up to me and was like are you a rugby player? So I ended up chatting with him and this girl (who actually played) for a while.

Then on the way home I stopped for pizza and got chatting to some guy for a while about the RWC. I was so buzzing to have actually had two decent rugby chats in America though, it's untrue. Really made my night.

Lucky - in GAA they have a team that plays against teams from USA and Australia which must be an equally big honour for them to play in. The Irish team is made up of the best players from across the counties.

Rev - that's really cool. Were you wearing your Dragons shirt at the time?

USA? If you're thinking of the international rules it's just Ireland v Australia.

Thomond wrote:USA? If you're thinking of the international rules it's just Ireland v Australia.

Yeah OK Thom...I'm learning, I'm learning... There are teams around the world though. I don't know if they have inter competitions, but it was the International Rules I was trying to think of.

Yeah I had it on Cari. The Dragons fans are doing a thing where you get photos taken with some merchandise in different locations. It's going to be a feature in our programme too. So I thought this place was a pretty rare place to get a snap done.

Obviously my rugby pals from last night didn't know them. Not that I bothered asking though, it was just obvious. I'm just happy enough that everybody I speak to knows of Wales. The majority of Americans I have spoken to before don't know about Wales.

Rev - yeah that's cool when Wales is recognised by people from further afield. That's a really good idea about the shirt as well. I bet you'll be the one with the most unusual locations

red_stag wrote:

mickyt wrote:That said, most kids playing these sports aren't thinking as far as professional level so I don't see why they would choose a different path based on that.

Tell that to 15 year olds in "rugby schools" or the well known GAA schools. They all want to play for their province or county

I agree with you stag, but I don't think they are thinking about Money when they are making that decision. so therefore some things might not change.

ah Rev that's awesome they knew about Wales. Whenever I've gone to America and say I'm from Wales, they always just ask which part of England it's in

Any excuse to tell this anecdote: I remember reading an interview with the Super Furries in the late '90s where they were talking about their recent tour of the States. Apparently every time they told people they were from Wales, the response would be, 'oh, I'm so sorry to hear about your Princess.'

mickyt wrote:

red_stag wrote:

mickyt wrote:That said, most kids playing these sports aren't thinking as far as professional level so I don't see why they would choose a different path based on that.

Tell that to 15 year olds in "rugby schools" or the well known GAA schools. They all want to play for their province or county

I agree with you stag, but I don't think they are thinking about Money when they are making that decision. so therefore some things might not change.

No not about money. Just about being a pro athlete

That's what I like about GAA. it must be the most committed non professional sport in the world. people aspire to make it to the top regardless of being a pro or not..

I think its a sport to be proud of. but I just not sure things would change drastically if it went PRO

Lucky/Dreamer - I found that when I lived in England every time I said I was from Wales, some people proceeded to ask me if I knew their mate/long distance relative from somewhere in Wales, or they'd start moaning about a bad holiday they'd had in Pwllheli/Tenby/Rhyl like I cared

Radiohead bore me. There, I've said it.

You are not alone

red_stag wrote:Anyone else see that Ian Gough referred to Tommy Bowe's "native Northern Ireland".

Isn't he from Monaghan?

He was born in belfast (or armagh) wasn't he? Anyway get your own Bowe, stag! You didnt want Mccilroy so you can't have bowe!

mickyt wrote:That's what I like about GAA. it must be the most committed non professional sport in the world. people aspire to make it to the top regardless of being a pro or not..

I think its a sport to be proud of. but I just not sure things would change drastically if it went PRO

Ditto.

Rodders - Tommy's from Craigavon.

Craigavon, Armagh, Belfast it's all the same.....

My Irish geography is about as bad as my Irish pronounciations, I wasn't sure which bit Craigavon is in.

Greybeard, I know they're supposed to be an 'important' band and all that, but they played one of their songs on the radio just now and talk about a snoozefest.

Cari wrote:My Irish geography is about as bad as my Irish pronounciations, I wasn't sure which bit Craigavon is in.

OK geographically they are not the same but contextually they are

Craigavon is just outside Belfast I think and the less said about armagh the better .

Rodders - what makes it more confusing for me is that Tommy is always referred to as a Monaghan man, and he supports their GAA team.

I've actually got shocking news for you all.............Newport was sunny when I was there an hour ago

prop - I bet the river still looked like an open sewer though!

You leave the Usk alone, Cari! It know it's an ugly river and it cries itself to sleep some nights.

Cari wrote:Rodders - what makes it more confusing for me is that Tommy is always referred to as a Monaghan man, and he supports their GAA team.

How does he refer to himself? I suppose geographically these places are not too far apart and that is were he has spent most time maybe?

Anyway the key point of course is that he is an Ulster man!

Risca Rev wrote:Hello,

Had a great night last night. Still in Charleston, SC and went to a karaoke bar last night. I did my usual Sweet Caroline (or South Carolina to appease the crowd ) and after I'd finished a guy came up to me and was like are you a rugby player? So I ended up chatting with him and this girl (who actually played) for a while.

Then on the way home I stopped for pizza and got chatting to some guy for a while about the RWC. I was so buzzing to have actually had two decent rugby chats in America though, it's untrue. Really made my night.

Isn't the Green Beret training centre just outside Charleston, SC?

luckless_pedestrian wrote:You leave the Usk alone, Cari! It know it's an ugly river and it cries itself to sleep some nights.

I'll happily leave it alone unless I'm caught short and need to poo in it!

I am shocked and appalled!

Cari wrote:

luckless_pedestrian wrote:You leave the Usk alone, Cari! It know it's an ugly river and it cries itself to sleep some nights.

I'll happily leave it alone unless I'm caught short and need to poo in it!

Girls don't poo!!!!

I'll think youll find it is Asbo, Suspicion Arises Subsequently

1F is back on the pitch training next week

Mickado!!

Hughie - yeah someone was saying he posted that on Twitter. Wonder what's happening with this erm...incident he was in bother about?