Nice feel good thread!

[Jack Reacher]

I was just thinking how GOOD rugby is not only as a sport but as a guide to peace on earth (far stretching but hear me out).
I was in Paris over the weekend and hundreds of Toulouse and Castres supporters where wandering about in all the regalia and whenever the two 'tribes' met there was nothing but banter, singing and handshakes, you would NOT get that with football. Not 2 hours later we stumbled across a 'peaceful' protest of maybe 50-70 Ivorians and within minutes it had turned violent and the riot police were called in and a few poor chaps were running from angry mobs very lucky not to have their heads kicked in.
Has there ever been a need to separate supporters at any level of rugby? What other events can you have 40-50,000 people supporting rival teams in complete harmony? Has there ever been gangs affiliated with rugby, corruption - no, political intervention - no, racism - 100% NO.
So out of all the major man made cultures we choose to follow (religion, art, science, politics, sport) rugby really is the only one left that has a global reaching that remains so civilised and fair.
Thoughts please.

 

[Tony Manx]

I was just thinking how GOOD rugby is not only as a sport but as a guide to peace on earth (far stretching but hear me out).
I was in Paris over the weekend and hundreds of Toulouse and Castres supporters where wandering about in all the regalia and whenever the two 'tribes' met there was nothing but banter, singing and handshakes, you would NOT get that with football. Not 2 hours later we stumbled across a 'peaceful' protest of maybe 50-70 Ivorians and within minutes it had turned violent and the riot police were called in and a few poor chaps were running from angry mobs very lucky not to have their heads kicked in.
Has there ever been a need to separate supporters at any level of rugby? What other events can you have 40-50,000 people supporting rival teams in complete harmony? Has there ever been gangs affiliated with rugby, corruption - no, political intervention - no, racism - 100% NO.
So out of all the major man made cultures we choose to follow (religion, art, science, politics, sport) rugby really is the only one left that has a global reaching that remains so civilised and fair.
Thoughts please.

Golf where the pros call fouls on themselves as opposed to the pros in rugby who dive or look to have their opponents yellow carded or scream at the ref to go to the TMO.............just saying!!f!

 

[Jack Reacher]

Golf where the pros call fouls on themselves as opposed to the pros in rugby who dive or look to have their opponents yellow carded or scream at the ref to go to the TMO.............just saying!!f!

I wasn't really looking into sportsmanship and you are referring to football players not rugby players - thats another debate, I was mentioning how the entire global rugby community embraces the love of the sport which is still a derision of tribal territory battles which for centuries has produced bloodshed, but as rugby supporters we respect opponents, officials, rules and other cultures.

 

[SimonG]

Hmmm..well to balance this out somewhat.

The Christmas Truce...British and German soldiers called a ceasefire during WWI and played football during it. A memorial game was also played on the battlefield in 2008.

Pele...Nigerian Civil War called a 48 hour ceasefire to watch Pele play an exhibition game.

Nelson Mandela...Robben Island prisoners were FINALLY granted a ball by the white enslavers to play football...to which Mandela stated it made them "feel free again". On South Africa being awarded host status for the 2010 WC in 2004, Mandela cried while holding the FIFA World Cup trophy. Of course we don't need to go into the what Rugby represented in South Africa and the incredible gesture made by Mandela at the RWC.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I was just thinking how GOOD rugby is not only as a sport but as a guide to peace on earth (far stretching but hear me out).
I was in Paris over the weekend and hundreds of Toulouse and Castres supporters where wandering about in all the regalia and whenever the two 'tribes' met there was nothing but banter, singing and handshakes, you would NOT get that with football. Not 2 hours later we stumbled across a 'peaceful' protest of maybe 50-70 Ivorians and within minutes it had turned violent and the riot police were called in and a few poor chaps were running from angry mobs very lucky not to have their heads kicked in.
Has there ever been a need to separate supporters at any level of rugby? What other events can you have 40-50,000 people supporting rival teams in complete harmony? Has there ever been gangs affiliated with rugby, corruption - no, political intervention - no, racism - 100% NO.
So out of all the major man made cultures we choose to follow (religion, art, science, politics, sport) rugby really is the only one left that has a global reaching that remains so civilised and fair.
Thoughts please.

Yes you do. I see 'feel good thread' again equates to snobbery and a circlejerk. **** that.

 

[RyotoTheDragon]

Meh. Its pretty much just for entertainment like all other sports. Definitely not a guide to peace on earth haha. Humans will be humans.

 

[Jack Reacher]

Yes you do. I see 'feel good thread' again equates to snobbery and a circlejerk. **** that.

Ummm, hardly. I see your avitar claims 'there is no need to be upset' You've just taken my opinion referred to it as snobbery, group male gratification and sworn. So you've obviously got upset by my opinion which is fine but you can't tell me I'm wrong.
I agree with you and I may have over generalised football but I have been to a lot of rugby matches and you usually come out of the stadium bantering with the opposite fans where is the very few football matches I've been to I've been called a fn c**t, been told to die etc and I just go as a neutral with mates. I'm not looking for an argument here, purely stating my observations.
Thanks

 

[dasNdanger]

I think the difference between the atmosphere among football (soccer) fans and rugby fans is this...

On the world's sports stage, rugby is the underdog and football reigns supreme. And as fans of the underdogs, it's just natural for supporters of different teams to find a sense of camaraderie knowing that, despite our team loyalties, we are supporters of the greatest (and most underrated) game on earth.


das

 

[SimonG]

I think the difference between the atmosphere among football (soccer) fans and rugby fans is this...

On the world's sports stage, rugby is the underdog and football reigns supreme. And as fans of the underdogs, it's just natural for supporters of different teams to find a sense of camaraderie knowing that, despite our team loyalties, we are supporters of the greatest (and most underrated) game on earth.


das

Ummm nah. The difference in atmosphere (among other thing) is due to class. One is a private school game, the other is the working class game of the people. Well mannered chappies vs Joe bloggs from down the road. There are some other factors but that is the crux of the difference.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Ummm, hardly. I see your avitar claims 'there is no need to be upset' You've just taken my opinion referred to it as snobbery, group male gratification and sworn. So you've obviously got upset by my opinion which is fine but you can't tell me I'm wrong.
I agree with you and I may have over generalised football but I have been to a lot of rugby matches and you usually come out of the stadium bantering with the opposite fans where is the very few football matches I've been to I've been called a fn c**t, been told to die etc and I just go as a neutral with mates. I'm not looking for an argument here, purely stating my observations.
Thanks

Oh, my bad. You're right. We rugby fans are obviously superior to the football untermenschen. Three cheers for us.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Ummm, hardly. I see your avitar claims 'there is no need to be upset' You've just taken my opinion referred to it as snobbery, group male gratification and sworn. So you've obviously got upset by my opinion which is fine but you can't tell me I'm wrong.
I agree with you and I may have over generalised football but I have been to a lot of rugby matches and you usually come out of the stadium bantering with the opposite fans where is the very few football matches I've been to I've been called a fn c**t, been told to die etc and I just go as a neutral with mates. I'm not looking for an argument here, purely stating my observations.
Thanks

Not to be an ass, but being called a fvcking cvnt is normal in South Africa. That type of name calling isn't seen as offensive as in other countries. To be perfectly honest, I have been to Rugby, Soccer and Cricket matches, both international and provincial. And the only time that there were fights or non-peaceful action between spectators was after Rugby matches.

I think the generalisation is a bit OTT, and that hooliganism in certain sports are very much part of certain countries/regions.

 

[Tony Manx]

I wasn't really looking into sportsmanship and you are referring to football players not rugby players.

Actually, no, I was referring to increasing blatant examples of what has been happening in top class rugby! If you have not noticed diving to get penalties, players waving invisible cards to the ref, players making the video signs, then you have not been watching the Top 14, the Premiership or the Rabo................

Not to be an ass, but being called a fvcking cvnt is normal in South Africa. That type of name calling isn't seen as offensive as in other countries. .

...um and someone asked me why I appear prejudiced against the Africaans!

 

[TRF_heineken]

Actually, no, I was referring to increasing blatant examples of what has been happening in top class rugby! If you have not noticed diving to get penalties, players waving invisible cards to the ref, players making the video signs, then you have not been watching the Top 14, the Premiership or the Rabo................



...um and someone asked me why I appear prejudiced against the Africaans!

I say that only because we have worse words than the "c" word... Especially in Afrikaans

 

[Big Ewis]

...um and someone asked me why I appear prejudiced against the Africaans!

yes Tony, it's cool over there. In South Africa, you punch someone straight in the face to say 'good morning' to him, you kick your wife in the butt to ask for a beer or food, and you throw your car on people who bothered you while driving. Don't make fun, you ought to be tolerant of other cultures and shouldn't mock them.

I say that only because we have worse words than the "c" word... Especially in Afrikaans

....*sigh* ok, I'll be the one asking...what words do you have that are worse then ?

 

[SimonG]

"nice feel good thread"

:lol:

 

[Big Ewis]

"nice feel good thread"

:lol:

what, is smt bothering you, you fkng c*nt ??!!!!!!!

 

[SimonG]

Poor Jack Reacher. Not what he had in store. Anyway...

"Kumbaya my lord, Kumbaya"

 

[Thingimubob]

Ummm nah. The difference in atmosphere (among other thing) is due to class. One is a private school game, the other is the working class game of the people. Well mannered chappies vs Joe bloggs from down the road. There are some other factors but that is the crux of the difference.

I hate it when people generalise rugby as a "private school" sport, as it's not always the case outside England! I'd say most Welsh supporters would prove that and rugby's early players/supporters here probably had more in common with the Rugby League lot than their "private school" counterparts in England!

 

[dasNdanger]

"nice feel good thread"

:lol:

das

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

I'm not sure if it works the same in England, Scotland or Wales but over here anyway it's either Grammar school (+private) or Secondary. I can tell you I don't think 1 Secondary school could provide a team worthy of competition. Infact there probably wouldn't be enough interest to get 23 guys together to play. However nearly all Grammar schools could provide atleast 3 teams per age group. (Bigger schools like Methody Inst and Campbell can provide 5), so there definitely is a correlation..