Rugby, 'weird thing posh people do'
Discussion
I'm from South Wales.
Rugby posh???
I recently bumped into a chap working locally who I'd played against when we were at school. His experience of playing second row was wearing the same shirt his father had worn when he was at the school. Not the same position, but the actual same shirt. It was confirmed by his Gran that she'd re-stitched the number onto the back of the shirt with green cotton when it ought to have been blue.
Same kit for twenty or more years? Doesn't sound like "posh" to me...
Rugby posh???
I recently bumped into a chap working locally who I'd played against when we were at school. His experience of playing second row was wearing the same shirt his father had worn when he was at the school. Not the same position, but the actual same shirt. It was confirmed by his Gran that she'd re-stitched the number onto the back of the shirt with green cotton when it ought to have been blue.
Same kit for twenty or more years? Doesn't sound like "posh" to me...
Derek Smith said:
There are some teams that are a bit posh though.
My then team, Worthing, were in National 3 and trying, and failing that year, for promotion. We were away in a critical match; lose and we were out of the running, win and at least we'd leapfrog the other team into third. Nailbiting stuff.
We were within a penalty of leading the match at half time. The stands cleared of the home supporters, but the away lot stayed put. When the whistle blew for the start of the second half, none of the home supporters had returned. It was really odd. Their players reacted to the loss of support and we put two quick tries past them, one converted. They were getting a bit frantic and we then got two penalties due to aggressive play, so we felt safe and went into slow mode.
The home supporters wandered back in dribs and drabs only to see their team lose without any bonus points.
It seems the boat race was seen as more important to the supporters, including those dressed in the club's garish jackets, than their own team.
The other side's players were so angry at the disappearing support that our guys stayed out of the changing room until they'd finished.
We didn't get promotion, much to our committee's relief, losing our #10 early in the next match for the remaining matches. The other team got into the playoffs and won. They were a well drilled side, at least when their supporters could be bothered to turn up.
Worthing need a result from their final match of the season to stay up. Should be a cracker.
Blimey, that was exciting. Have they offered you a job writing match reports for the local paper? My then team, Worthing, were in National 3 and trying, and failing that year, for promotion. We were away in a critical match; lose and we were out of the running, win and at least we'd leapfrog the other team into third. Nailbiting stuff.
We were within a penalty of leading the match at half time. The stands cleared of the home supporters, but the away lot stayed put. When the whistle blew for the start of the second half, none of the home supporters had returned. It was really odd. Their players reacted to the loss of support and we put two quick tries past them, one converted. They were getting a bit frantic and we then got two penalties due to aggressive play, so we felt safe and went into slow mode.
The home supporters wandered back in dribs and drabs only to see their team lose without any bonus points.
It seems the boat race was seen as more important to the supporters, including those dressed in the club's garish jackets, than their own team.
The other side's players were so angry at the disappearing support that our guys stayed out of the changing room until they'd finished.
We didn't get promotion, much to our committee's relief, losing our #10 early in the next match for the remaining matches. The other team got into the playoffs and won. They were a well drilled side, at least when their supporters could be bothered to turn up.
Worthing need a result from their final match of the season to stay up. Should be a cracker.
Back on topic, I think it's fair to say there are parts of the country where rugby union is more likely to be played and watched by people who could be considered 'posh'. I don't think you can be more general than that.
Kermit power said:
Total rubbish. Certainly there are some clubs who would fit the stereotype, but most local clubs have very local catchment areas, so if you're somewhere like Cobham or Windsor then you're likely to get the kids of the very, very well off.
If I look at the other coaches at our club, we've got all sorts. Coppers (loads of them for some reason), electricians and mechanics through to city brokers and pretty much everything in between. The only thing they've really got in common is rugby.
That used to be the old quote in the days of the amateur game didn't it, "Rugby, a game where a copper gets to punch a solicitor on his day off, but they both have a pint together afterwards!" If I look at the other coaches at our club, we've got all sorts. Coppers (loads of them for some reason), electricians and mechanics through to city brokers and pretty much everything in between. The only thing they've really got in common is rugby.
I grew up in the West Midlands which was much more football biased in schools (Villa were flying high at the time!) and only my grammar school in out town played rugby, we had to travel a bit for our away games. Fast forward 30 years, living in the South, loads of clubs about, lots of kids into it.
My old flatmate used to play semi-professionally, just as the game was going professional, he had some hilarious tales of antics on rugby tour. I foolishly let slip a few to my wife and, discussing what sports the currently 2yo junior PurpleTurtle Jr might play in years to come she exploded "He's not playing rugby, there's no way someone is putting a tampon up his bum and setting fire to it!!"
XCP said:
I played almost all my Rugby in the Bristol -Bath- Gloucester triangle, with numerous excursions over the bridge to Wales and The Forest, and occasional fixtures in Cornwall and the south west.
Certainly, in these areas, the idea that Rugby is posh in some way is way off the mark.
This, I think it is only posh in the South East.Certainly, in these areas, the idea that Rugby is posh in some way is way off the mark.
I grew up in Gloucestershire on the Wales Border (went to school in Wales). My school didn't have a football team until years after I left. Rugby is grass roots in this part of the world.
CubanPete said:
XCP said:
I played almost all my Rugby in the Bristol -Bath- Gloucester triangle, with numerous excursions over the bridge to Wales and The Forest, and occasional fixtures in Cornwall and the south west.
Certainly, in these areas, the idea that Rugby is posh in some way is way off the mark.
This, I think it is only posh in the South East.Certainly, in these areas, the idea that Rugby is posh in some way is way off the mark.
I grew up in Gloucestershire on the Wales Border (went to school in Wales). My school didn't have a football team until years after I left. Rugby is grass roots in this part of the world.
I played against them for the Police, and can recall some chap in the bar afterwards remarking that we were the only 'works team' on their fixture list.
I think it's all been said really. The comment is a lazy generalisation from someone who thinks rugby starts and ends with Twickenham.
The trouble is, at the professional level in England, the infrastructure for exposing kids sufficiently to get them to hit the academy's running is mostly in public schools (Bromsgrove, Hartbury, Sedgborough etc).
State schools generally prefer football (as do the kids) and what with funding cuts and so on that won't change any time soon.
As such the divide at the top level has some gap to close.
But as others have said, at an amateur club level it's always been a real mixed bag of backgrounds.
In fact I'd go so far as to say the game is an amazing leveller on that basis, and parts society and that journalist could probably learn a thing or two.
I was talking to a gentleman who went to England v Australia at Widnes - league obviously.
But wouldn't that be good? Playing a couple of internationals somewhere like Gloucester or Leicester - season tickets and club members get priority on tickets...
It won't happen for many obvious reasons, but it would help the top of the game diversify away from the Barbour jacketed Eden park wearing 'yuh, twickers, yuh' don't know rugby exists outside the 6 nations crowd
The trouble is, at the professional level in England, the infrastructure for exposing kids sufficiently to get them to hit the academy's running is mostly in public schools (Bromsgrove, Hartbury, Sedgborough etc).
State schools generally prefer football (as do the kids) and what with funding cuts and so on that won't change any time soon.
As such the divide at the top level has some gap to close.
But as others have said, at an amateur club level it's always been a real mixed bag of backgrounds.
In fact I'd go so far as to say the game is an amazing leveller on that basis, and parts society and that journalist could probably learn a thing or two.
I was talking to a gentleman who went to England v Australia at Widnes - league obviously.
But wouldn't that be good? Playing a couple of internationals somewhere like Gloucester or Leicester - season tickets and club members get priority on tickets...
It won't happen for many obvious reasons, but it would help the top of the game diversify away from the Barbour jacketed Eden park wearing 'yuh, twickers, yuh' don't know rugby exists outside the 6 nations crowd
Vocal Minority said:
The trouble is, at the professional level in England, the infrastructure for exposing kids sufficiently to get them to hit the academy's running is mostly in public schools (Bromsgrove, Hartbury, Sedgborough etc).
State schools generally prefer football (as do the kids) and what with funding cuts and so on that won't change any time soon.
Yup, we're a rugby town but all the state schools play football with the occasional session of Touch Rugby. All the Private school play contact Rugby from U10's which when the kids go to a club gives them a 2-3 year head start and can put off the kids who aren't used to it.State schools generally prefer football (as do the kids) and what with funding cuts and so on that won't change any time soon.
WestyCarl said:
Yup, we're a rugby town but all the state schools play football with the occasional session of Touch Rugby. All the Private school play contact Rugby from U10's which when the kids go to a club gives them a 2-3 year head start and can put off the kids who aren't used to it.
I think the situation here in Northampton is similar. The town's rugby team has far more support than the football team, but state schools are more likely to get the kids playing football. SpudLink said:
WestyCarl said:
Yup, we're a rugby town but all the state schools play football with the occasional session of Touch Rugby. All the Private school play contact Rugby from U10's which when the kids go to a club gives them a 2-3 year head start and can put off the kids who aren't used to it.
I think the situation here in Northampton is similar. The town's rugby team has far more support than the football team, but state schools are more likely to get the kids playing football. 
Think about it, Exeter itself is a very posh locale (OK we have chavs and junkies but by and large it's very middle/upper middle class). Whilst the current success of the Chiefs is obviously bringing them to the attention of a wider cross-section of people then by and large, yes, there is a bit of a difference in socioeconomic/demographic status between the average 'oi oi the lads' soccermen and the "I prefer to see the violence on pitch not in the pub after' rugbyfan. Arguably perceived rather than genuine in most cases.
SpudLink said:
I think the situation here in Northampton is similar. The town's rugby team has far more support than the football team, but state schools are more likely to get the kids playing football.
Hopefully it's similar, I was referring to Northampton. Actually the Saints do a lot of work visiting the local schools, however for whatever reason it' still only the odd tag Rugby game in between football training.
I was sitting in the stands at a National 2 match yesterday and talking to a committee member of the opposition when he poured out a shot of single malt and offered it to me.
At the end of the match which we won 50 : 5, we shook hands and wished one another the best for next season.
Does this make rugby posh?
It makes it very pleasant.
At the end of the match which we won 50 : 5, we shook hands and wished one another the best for next season.
Does this make rugby posh?
It makes it very pleasant.
I saw forced to play rugby union at school, over 20 years ago and still hate it with a passion. It put me off sport for over a decade and I'd quite happily deck the t
t of a PE teacher that forced it on me.
There are other reasons or my utter contempt for this hobby or pass time.
The constant bhing about football is another reason adding to my dislike. It's as thought Unions whole reason for being is that "it's better than football". I've lost interest a little, no, quite a lot really, in football, mainly because it's become a parody of itself, but the actual game itself is a good one. The Unionist will often site diving, cheating and general wimpyness of football players. I'm not condoning diving, but the rules seem to accept it and for cheating at least football player don't bring props on to the field of play to act out rehearsed cheating.
Union people will site the respect of the referee as a reason to love their hobby, but I put it to you, that the rules are so baffling that the players don't know which of the myriad of rules they have broken, which is why there was much gnashing of teeth when one international team read them and found a loop hole recently. Look at penalty kicks. In every other sport you have to make a major infringement to concede penalty, with many contests having no penalties at all, but Union will have 6 or 7 each game.
Then there's the wimpyness. This is particularly easy to see now we have large, HD tellies. Union has big, fleshy (I hesitate to use the world "muscular", having seen some of the lard arses that play union) crashing big fleshy parts of the body into each other. A bit of a bruise, relatively speaking and carry on. Now watch the slow motion footage of a football injury. Knees and ankles just aren't supposed to bend in those directions which tear ligaments, which really hurts and takes a long time to heal. Only a few weeks ago I had an ex army man come to work to test a machine. He could hardly walk and had played both union and football. Guess which game caused his injuries? That's right, football. He said his army physio said football was a terrible game for permanent injuries.
I went to agricultural college and for reasons I don't understand agriculture seems to favour union. All and I repeat all of the trouble at college involved at least one member of the rugby team and after a match, which were thankfully few, the trouble was much worse. I think it's referred to "high spirits" in union parlance and they're all jolly good chaps.
My brother has done a sports degree and played a lot of different sports, a lot of which was football, and doesn't have a good word to say about union. He has a pub he goes to with his old football mate where they go on a Saturday to watch Sir Jeff of Stelling or who ever does it now, bring the results in. I've been once and it's all very civilised. Until the union dheads turn up. It's like they've not been allowed out before and are drinking their first pint of beer.
Rugby union. An utter load of bks.
t of a PE teacher that forced it on me. There are other reasons or my utter contempt for this hobby or pass time.
The constant b
hing about football is another reason adding to my dislike. It's as thought Unions whole reason for being is that "it's better than football". I've lost interest a little, no, quite a lot really, in football, mainly because it's become a parody of itself, but the actual game itself is a good one. The Unionist will often site diving, cheating and general wimpyness of football players. I'm not condoning diving, but the rules seem to accept it and for cheating at least football player don't bring props on to the field of play to act out rehearsed cheating. Union people will site the respect of the referee as a reason to love their hobby, but I put it to you, that the rules are so baffling that the players don't know which of the myriad of rules they have broken, which is why there was much gnashing of teeth when one international team read them and found a loop hole recently. Look at penalty kicks. In every other sport you have to make a major infringement to concede penalty, with many contests having no penalties at all, but Union will have 6 or 7 each game.
Then there's the wimpyness. This is particularly easy to see now we have large, HD tellies. Union has big, fleshy (I hesitate to use the world "muscular", having seen some of the lard arses that play union) crashing big fleshy parts of the body into each other. A bit of a bruise, relatively speaking and carry on. Now watch the slow motion footage of a football injury. Knees and ankles just aren't supposed to bend in those directions which tear ligaments, which really hurts and takes a long time to heal. Only a few weeks ago I had an ex army man come to work to test a machine. He could hardly walk and had played both union and football. Guess which game caused his injuries? That's right, football. He said his army physio said football was a terrible game for permanent injuries.
I went to agricultural college and for reasons I don't understand agriculture seems to favour union. All and I repeat all of the trouble at college involved at least one member of the rugby team and after a match, which were thankfully few, the trouble was much worse. I think it's referred to "high spirits" in union parlance and they're all jolly good chaps.
My brother has done a sports degree and played a lot of different sports, a lot of which was football, and doesn't have a good word to say about union. He has a pub he goes to with his old football mate where they go on a Saturday to watch Sir Jeff of Stelling or who ever does it now, bring the results in. I've been once and it's all very civilised. Until the union d
heads turn up. It's like they've not been allowed out before and are drinking their first pint of beer. Rugby union. An utter load of b
ks. ReallyReallyGood said:
Of the first 10 listed, 9 went to boarding or grammar schools. I got bored after that.(Nathan Catt is the exception)
So schools full of kids with parents in the military or ones with no thickos.Not sure that makes it posh. Coming from a champagne swilling Guardian journalist it is a bit rich.
Willy Nilly said:
I saw forced to play rugby union at school, over 20 years ago and still hate it with a passion. It put me off sport for over a decade and I'd quite happily deck the tt of a PE teacher that forced it on me.
There are other reasons or my utter contempt for this hobby or pass time.
The constant bhing about football is another reason adding to my dislike. It's as thought Unions whole reason for being is that "it's better than football". I've lost interest a little, no, quite a lot really, in football, mainly because it's become a parody of itself, but the actual game itself is a good one. The Unionist will often site diving, cheating and general wimpyness of football players. I'm not condoning diving, but the rules seem to accept it and for cheating at least football player don't bring props on to the field of play to act out rehearsed cheating.
Union people will site the respect of the referee as a reason to love their hobby, but I put it to you, that the rules are so baffling that the players don't know which of the myriad of rules they have broken, which is why there was much gnashing of teeth when one international team read them and found a loop hole recently. Look at penalty kicks. In every other sport you have to make a major infringement to concede penalty, with many contests having no penalties at all, but Union will have 6 or 7 each game.
Then there's the wimpyness. This is particularly easy to see now we have large, HD tellies. Union has big, fleshy (I hesitate to use the world "muscular", having seen some of the lard arses that play union) crashing big fleshy parts of the body into each other. A bit of a bruise, relatively speaking and carry on. Now watch the slow motion footage of a football injury. Knees and ankles just aren't supposed to bend in those directions which tear ligaments, which really hurts and takes a long time to heal. Only a few weeks ago I had an ex army man come to work to test a machine. He could hardly walk and had played both union and football. Guess which game caused his injuries? That's right, football. He said his army physio said football was a terrible game for permanent injuries.
I went to agricultural college and for reasons I don't understand agriculture seems to favour union. All and I repeat all of the trouble at college involved at least one member of the rugby team and after a match, which were thankfully few, the trouble was much worse. I think it's referred to "high spirits" in union parlance and they're all jolly good chaps.
My brother has done a sports degree and played a lot of different sports, a lot of which was football, and doesn't have a good word to say about union. He has a pub he goes to with his old football mate where they go on a Saturday to watch Sir Jeff of Stelling or who ever does it now, bring the results in. I've been once and it's all very civilised. Until the union dheads turn up. It's like they've not been allowed out before and are drinking their first pint of beer.
Rugby union. An utter load of bks.
Wow! Are you actually able to type with a chip that large on your shoulder, or do you need a speech to text converter?t of a PE teacher that forced it on me. There are other reasons or my utter contempt for this hobby or pass time.
The constant b
hing about football is another reason adding to my dislike. It's as thought Unions whole reason for being is that "it's better than football". I've lost interest a little, no, quite a lot really, in football, mainly because it's become a parody of itself, but the actual game itself is a good one. The Unionist will often site diving, cheating and general wimpyness of football players. I'm not condoning diving, but the rules seem to accept it and for cheating at least football player don't bring props on to the field of play to act out rehearsed cheating. Union people will site the respect of the referee as a reason to love their hobby, but I put it to you, that the rules are so baffling that the players don't know which of the myriad of rules they have broken, which is why there was much gnashing of teeth when one international team read them and found a loop hole recently. Look at penalty kicks. In every other sport you have to make a major infringement to concede penalty, with many contests having no penalties at all, but Union will have 6 or 7 each game.
Then there's the wimpyness. This is particularly easy to see now we have large, HD tellies. Union has big, fleshy (I hesitate to use the world "muscular", having seen some of the lard arses that play union) crashing big fleshy parts of the body into each other. A bit of a bruise, relatively speaking and carry on. Now watch the slow motion footage of a football injury. Knees and ankles just aren't supposed to bend in those directions which tear ligaments, which really hurts and takes a long time to heal. Only a few weeks ago I had an ex army man come to work to test a machine. He could hardly walk and had played both union and football. Guess which game caused his injuries? That's right, football. He said his army physio said football was a terrible game for permanent injuries.
I went to agricultural college and for reasons I don't understand agriculture seems to favour union. All and I repeat all of the trouble at college involved at least one member of the rugby team and after a match, which were thankfully few, the trouble was much worse. I think it's referred to "high spirits" in union parlance and they're all jolly good chaps.
My brother has done a sports degree and played a lot of different sports, a lot of which was football, and doesn't have a good word to say about union. He has a pub he goes to with his old football mate where they go on a Saturday to watch Sir Jeff of Stelling or who ever does it now, bring the results in. I've been once and it's all very civilised. Until the union d
heads turn up. It's like they've not been allowed out before and are drinking their first pint of beer. Rugby union. An utter load of b
ks. Still, at least I suppose it explains why football fans can turn up at the game, have a few beers and then sit in the stands with the opposition fans without any problems, whereas the police have to segregate rugby fans to ensure there's no violence, eh? Oh... Hang on a minute....
As for penalties, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make? If you get that confused by the scoring in rugby, then for Christ's sake please don't ever look at the scoring in Gaelic games scoring! It would make your poor little brain explode and dribble all over that shoulder chip of yours!
Willy Nilly said:
Union people will site the respect of the referee as a reason to love their hobby, but I put it to you, that the rules are so baffling that the players don't know which of the myriad of rules they have broken, which is why there was much gnashing of teeth when one international team read them and found a loop hole recently. Look at penalty kicks. In every other sport you have to make a major infringement to concede penalty, with many contests having no penalties at all, but Union will have 6 or 7 each game.
Laws.Team I play for are based in Dulwich (Kings College Hospital RFC) and have a massive mix of players, but we're all united by the sport.
Rugby has a great camaraderie and really feel like a team. Turning up to matches wearing the same no1s and having a few drinks after the game too.
My housemate plays football for a SW London team, he says majority are Oxbridge, but he's not really liking it as they just rock up to the game, play the match and go home. The clubs they play against have no clubhouses and no real team rapport.
Nowadays with the opportunity to play whatever sport, I don't think many can be seen as posh. Just an old stereotype that people love to push.
Rugby has a great camaraderie and really feel like a team. Turning up to matches wearing the same no1s and having a few drinks after the game too.
My housemate plays football for a SW London team, he says majority are Oxbridge, but he's not really liking it as they just rock up to the game, play the match and go home. The clubs they play against have no clubhouses and no real team rapport.
Nowadays with the opportunity to play whatever sport, I don't think many can be seen as posh. Just an old stereotype that people love to push.
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