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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that rugby players really show footballers up for the wimps that they are?

221 replies

HangingBasketCase · 07/02/2015 19:21

Just saw on the news that a Welsh rugby player was knocked out cold during their game with England last night, despite most likely being concussed he got up and carried on. Earlier in the game another player broke his nose, was strapped up and just carried on. Meanwhile footballers roll around on the pitch in mock agony when they break a sodding finger nail!

I'm a life long football fan, but I'm becoming more and more disillusioned with the game if I'm honest. The vile insults hurled at each other by fans, the over dramatic displays of "agony" because the played want a penalty thrown in their way. It's pathetic.

Why isn't rugby more popular than football?

OP posts:
JanineStHubbins · 08/02/2015 11:56

Gaelic Footballers and Hurlers are the most impressive of all IMO. All 'amateurs' yet reaching the highest levels of athleticism and fitness while holding down full time jobs. The voluntary ethos of the GAA is so much more appealing than the frequently crass aspects of other professional sports.

Celticlass2 · 08/02/2015 12:11

Agree with you Janine. We watch Gaelic football. Fascinating sport. My DH has been to a couple of matches.

Celticlass2 · 08/02/2015 12:18

One thing I would agree with is that some Welsh rugby fans are becoming embarrassing at how they are behaving towards visiting teams.

It's smacks of small mindedness and seems to be happening more and more as the Welsh teams performance is tending toward mediocre at best.

grovel · 08/02/2015 12:22

Blimey, no-one has posted the old chestnut. Rugby is a game for thugs played by gentlemen and football is a game for gentlemen played by thugs.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 08/02/2015 12:23

grovel I think it has been quoted on page 1.

Alisvolatpropiis · 08/02/2015 12:36

I find it really embarrassing that a small minority at the Wales games have started booing other teams national anthems. That isn't what rugby used to be like at all.

grimbletart · 08/02/2015 13:25

2.30 today - Women's six nations - England v Wales Smile

FightOrFlight · 08/02/2015 13:31

Unfortunately looks like it's not on tv grimbletart though its being live-streamed on the BBC sport website (come on Wales!)

HouseBaelish · 08/02/2015 13:47

Playing on with a head injury is just fucking idiotic. Rugby league takes head injuries very, very seriously as evidenced in the care and time given to Willie Tonga and Tomas Bosc when they were injured. 20 minutes after kick off, 3 minutes of the game had been played Grin But then rugby league has always seemed a vastly more sensible discipline than rugby union.

I forget who it was but someone said "footballers spend 90 minutes pretending they're injured, rugby players spend 80 minutes pretending they're not"

Sirzy · 08/02/2015 13:48

That was the longest game ever on Friday house! But better that than risk injuries to players.

TooHasty · 08/02/2015 13:52

Gymnasts show them both to be cissies!!

HouseBaelish · 08/02/2015 13:55

Sirzy - I was suffering from the comfort of my lounge. Was ready for bed at usual finish time Grin

Nomama · 08/02/2015 14:20

Can't support Wales, sorry. But I worked with 2 and taught 3 of the England women (and more who are currently in Rio)

Eng - er - land Smile

FightOrFlight · 08/02/2015 16:38

13 - 0 to Wales I do believe Grin

Well done ladies!

TywysogesGymraeg · 08/02/2015 16:41

Garland has said that North and Lee both passed all of the medical tests, and are both fine.

ghostyslovesheep · 08/02/2015 16:42

I am a football fan and my 2 eldest girl play football - non of us are testosterone fuelled Hmm

I hate all this shit

CommanderShepard · 08/02/2015 16:55

I love rugby in all its forms/codes but my favourite is wheelchair rugby, often known as murderball. Now they are hard as nails.

Nomama · 09/02/2015 09:23

Well done Welsh ladies. It was a close match. It was really nice to see Wales play what looks like a much stronger squad this year.

I was just disappointed that Non and the male commentator couldn't be bothered to use the names of the England players... it was a weird commentary... on an on about the best of England being in Rio (trying to get GB qualified for the Olympic 7s)... but not much about the team actually on the park.

But I am really biased as I could name 7 of them without having to see faces or numbers...

And also, I am very glad to see Women's rugby on the telly again. I just wish they would spruce up their 'professionalism' a bit Smile

BreakingDad77 · 09/02/2015 09:42

To me its the refereeing thats the problem in football, they should come down hard on all the play-acting and when they all crowd and harass the ref.

RuggerHug · 09/02/2015 10:33

as my name suggests I would be on the side of rugby over soccer(football=GAA in my house! [;)] ) and consider them the toughest sports players. Having had a few concussions in my life, but none from actually playing, I completely agree with pp saying you don't always realise at the time how bad it is. No way should someone be able to continue playing if there's even the slightest chance they have one! However I still think the work injury I've even seen in sheer viciousness was when I was playing and our prop got a full on BITE on the boob as the scrum went down. As in we could see the teeth+gum shield marks after that had gotten through a jersey, underarmour and a sports bra.

UsuallyLurking1 · 09/02/2015 10:51

Footballers have played on with broken necks.

Rugby players have brought fake blood onto the field to feign injury and trick referees.

As far as I'm aware no footballer has been suspended for forcing his finger up another players anus, has happened more than once in rugby

If you've ever had the misfortune to be in a pub, club, restaurant when a rugby club are in there I pity you, unless you enjoy watching grown men drink each other's urine

NeitherHereOrThere · 09/02/2015 10:53

A rugby mum here who spends several weekend mornings on the pitch watching DC play.

I agree that given how hard the RFU are trying to spread awareness about concussions, North should have been pulled off the pitch after the first hit - otherwise its setting a poor example as well as putting a life at risk.

It is also very easy for the player when pumped with adrenaline to carry on playing - my DC have played on not realising they have broken a finger/thumb until after the match.

Hockey is probably just as bad as rugby for injuries and I have lost count of the number of broken legs I have seen from football. As an ex equestrian, this has got to be one of the more dangerous sports...

UsuallyLurking1 · 09/02/2015 10:55

And that point above is bang on.

You shouldn't admire anyone who plays on after a head injury, they are an idiot. Consequences of CTE are proven, I wonder if his children (don't think he has them now, but is a young man) will think he's brave when he can't remember their names when he's 40

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 09/02/2015 11:04

Rugby is better anyway.

Football is packed with overpaid arses most of the time.

haha this! We have both in this house, ds1 is an avid football player and fan. His Saturday league matches were awful to watch, full of primadonna teenage boys who thought they were he next david beckham etc, parents who shouted and told their sons to foul other players, arguing and shouting at the ref. Fights between parents, all in a nice middle class area.

ds2 plays rugby and lacrosse, The crowds that I have come across, both whilst watching the dc play and at professional matches (London irish, wasps, Saracens etc) have all had a good atmosphere, fans of both sides in mixed stands and no trouble. Friendly banter at times but no atmosphere or trouble.

Now lacrosse that's a real sport for real men! tongue in cheek

highlighta · 09/02/2015 11:25

Seeing as I am in South Africa go Bokke yes i have to absolutely agree that rugby is a better sport........Wink

Our school doesn't even have a soccer team.

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