Comments on: England must host the 2015 Rugby World Cup

By: Greg Smith

Greg Smith — Mon, 11 May 2009 06:36:22 +0000

Not as funny as England 2015 eh ?

It’s SOUTH AFRICA 2015 – everyone knows that’s only fair but lets see – few things nicer than watching the old farts show their true corrupt selves

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:49:06 +0000

Was that meant to be wit, Greg?

By: Greg Smith

Greg Smith — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:41:49 +0000

@Pothale – I think you’re the type with a tongue to be kept FAR from boys, schools and anything involving guides and balls.

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:31:26 +0000

Hmmmm Bob I suspect you didn’t notice the tongue firmly in my cheek when I posted the above. I’m all for England hosting the next RWC for reasons outlined earlier.

By: bob

bob — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:28:14 +0000

pothole, I wasnt implying that only england has real players and supporters, there are otehr nations… but not Dubai or some other such place where the only draw is money… and not an African nation (except SA) where the only reason is political correctness. The 2015 RWC should be in England because it’s a good palce for rugby, has a massive all nation support base and it wants it… as for a ball in every school and a coaching guide, that goes for UK schools as well!

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:21:00 +0000

Making sure that “every school has at least one ball and a coaching guide” is a particular favourite sentiment of mine – I know a few boys schools that have none. Not when I played against them anyway.

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:18:22 +0000

“let it be hosted where it will be appreciated by real rugby players and supporters”

Now that’s more like it, Bob. None of these Jonny foreigners getting involved – makes the whole thing very messy.

By: Greg Smith

Greg Smith — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:17:10 +0000

You girls are hilarious… but 2015 is SOUTH AFRICA

Ireland are big fish in a small 2nd division pond called Northern Hemisphere rugby. I first watched Ireland play LIVE in the 1970′s against Border at East London’s BRU… they were rubbish then… and over near half a century… they’re still rubbish. Stick to GAA, Hurling and mucking up the IRB’s administration.

By: bob

bob — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:02:02 +0000

It has to be remembered too, that England has a massive ex-pat population from most contries in the world… 250,000 kiwis, more Aussies, enough Saffers to fill a stadium, and London is actually the 5th largest “French” city… that’s how many Frenchies live there… so whoever makes the quarters will have a massive “home” support. With the recession not going away for a few years yet, England is the one contry in the world where everyone who might figure in the last 8 will have a gurantee of big support, even if nobody travels to England who isnt already there.
All the talk of other nations is misplaced… rugby grows because kids play it, kids play it because they are given the chance at school and at clubs, not because it’s on TV… Africa might have 1 billion people, but they wont be watching on TV… soccer is huge in Africa, not because they host a world cup and watrch it on tv, but because they are out playing it. Let the RWC be hosted where it will make the money without compromising its traditions or integrity, let it be hosted where it will be appreciated by real rugby players and supporters, and let the money it makes be spent on making sure evey school in the world that wants one, has at least one ball, and one coaching guide…. and of coursse a gilt framed picture of His Holiness Johnny Wilkinson (may his house be forever blessed).

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:01:19 +0000

Well obviously on the surface, 35 million people versus 100,000 looks like a more attractive market, but you have to look beyond the simple numbers on these things. I mean imagine if the IRB looked at everything in rugby as just simply about money? It’s much more than that, you know.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:52:08 +0000

Surely Ghana is a greater IRB priority than Wicklow? Apparently here’s a huge black market demand for Newport Gwent Dragons jerseys in Ghana.

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:49:15 +0000

Actually – I think he might have a point.

I’m going to start a campaign for Wicklow to host the 2023 WC – they haven’t had one there yet. It’s all a big SANZAR/UK/France plot that they’ve tried to cut us out.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:48:57 +0000

Makes me look forward to the Lions tour that much more. There’s going to be some great discussions in the SA bars this summer.

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:46:27 +0000

Now when you’re living in South Africa obviously, KO. The whole centre of the universe must be sitting outside Greg’s house. He has the persecution complex to go with it.

Maybe we should buy him an Atlas for his birthday.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:27:30 +0000

You don’t want to split hairs? Europe is a rather big place.

By: Greg Smith

Greg Smith — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:19:44 +0000

I don’t want to get into splitting hairs……. but

If you’re a fan….and live in a part of the world like -

OZ & NZ, handy enough, a hop across the ditch… 87 NZ..OZ…. 2003 OZ….2011 NZ (hardly 24 years in reality)

UK – France… *call it England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales… whatever… the whole fekking place is as big as the STATE I live in…
and they’ve had WALL TO WALL rugby in their backyards, basically

Coming back to NZ… the place is on the edge of the planet… the time zones out of whack with civilization… and they have 3 million people… BUT… if those buggers had their way… EVERY RWC would be there !

Now… Africa has 1 BILLION people… lets fek them over… aim for Japan or SE Asia or the Middle East…

Rugby development in Africa is DUE now…….. its OVER DUE now….. forget South America or Japan until Africa is sorted

And 2015 is South Africa….. I tell you….. otherwise…. the IRB can take the game and try flog it elsewhere…

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:50:10 +0000

1991, 1999 and 2007 for the UK???

What planet are you living on, Greg? Can you not read facts?

Australia had a gap of 16 years between the two tournaments it was involved in.
New Zealand have had a gap of 24 yeras
South Africa had theirs 14 years ago.
Wales 10 years ago
France 2 years ago

England, Scotland or Ireland haven’t hosted one on their own yet. And I wouldn’t call holding two or three matches hosting a tournament.

By: Greg Smith

Greg Smith — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:39:41 +0000

Typically… you’ll find an Aussie trying to con the world… the blood my grandfather warned us about ?

It’s SOUTH AFRICA 2015 ! The ONLY logical or reasonable choice… but… it’ll probably go to Japan if we apply current rugby union reasoning… while a true rugby union POWER is robbed, suffering a QUARTER century 1995 -2019 vaccuum … nice guys you lot are – I’ll be dead by then !

1987 – 2003 (16 years) Oz & Nz then 2011(8 years) … I’m talking about ‘waiting’ gaps

1991, 1999 (8 years) then 2007(8 years) for the UK…

24 years for the AFRICANS …. fek them hey ! 1995 – 2019 !!!

We should just KILL OFF rugby in Africa – lets just go with the flow and embrace football … rugby unions a mess anyhow.

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:28:01 +0000

Uou should check your own facts first, Greg. 2007 was France not the UK.

The facts are that the RWC has been hosted by:

1987 – Australia and New Zealand – Joint hosts
1991 – Jointly hosted by Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland and France
1995 – South Africa – sole host
1999 – Wales – sole host – but used stadia in Scotland, England, Ireland and France
2003 – Australia – eventual sole hosts after NZ withdrew from co-hosting
2007 – France sole hosts – they used stadia in Wales and Scotland
2011 – New Zealand – sole hosts

So Australia have co-hosted and been sole hosts
New Zealand have co-hosted and sole hosts
South Africa have been sole hosts
Wales – have co-hosted and been sole host
France have been co-hosts and sole host
England have co-hosted only
Ireland have co-hosted only
Scotland have co-hosted only

Scotland, Ireland or England have never been sole hosts.
Ireland and England have had their stadia used twice.
England have also hosted a final match.
And Scotland and Wales are the only nations to have their stadia used in three world cups.

Of the major rugby nations, Ireland and Scotland have never hosted a RWC final.

By: Greg Smith

Greg Smith — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:44:48 +0000

@Jimbo —> Tut, tut… it’s not my job to educate you mate… NEW ZEALAND co-hosted with Australia AND 2007 co-hosts ? The UK ? no ?

ERGO… after 2011……. UK x2 …. NZ x 2 …. France x 2 … Australia x 2 ——-> not so ? South Africa = ONLY 1995

Of the MAJOR rugby superpowers…. South Africa is the ONLY country to have a one off involvment !

Check YOUR facts before you accuse those, who accuse others of rubbish

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:59:52 +0000

Yeah – right on. And all of the major rugby nations haven’t hosted the RWC once – let alone twice. (some of them wouldn’t want to,)

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:24:46 +0000

@Greg Smith:: Utter rubbish! 1987 was in NZ, 2011 will be in NZ. That’s the FIRST time the tournament will have been held twice in the same country. 1991, the final was at Twickenham, 1995 in SA, 1999 at the Millennium Stadium, 2003 in Australia, 2007 in France. Get your facts right before accusing others of rubbish.

By: Greg Smith

Greg Smith — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:01:58 +0000

Rubbish… you’re just STIRRING.. EVERYONE knows it is 2015 South Africa

Stop this North vs South hemisphere rubbish … who began dividing the world like this ? It’s idiotic !

South Africa 2015 it’s a no brainer – All the major rugby nations have hosted the RWC twice except South Africa.

It’s SOUTH AFRICA… see you there !

By: pothale

pothale — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:56:08 +0000

Talking of oval ball games – here’s a new sport I just encountered. For reasons that will become quickly obvious, I’m an instant fan. Can we open up a thread on this new sport – it’s bound to get some discussion?

Here’s the link for people to make their own judgement: http://www.lingeriebowl.com/seattlemist/index.html

By: pothale

pothale — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:33:44 +0000

Well I never. There’s a coincidence.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:14:00 +0000

Yes. I also hear that there is a game called Rugby League.

By: pothale

pothale — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:50:58 +0000

Is there a school actually called Rugby?

By: Gladstone

Gladstone — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:25:08 +0000

Anybody into circles within circles?

STUFF HAPPENS alludes to Wagner. Wagner co-wrote the music to Leni Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will. And SHEEK mentions Paths of Glory which starred George MacReady as the villainous general. Coriolanus, Shakespeare’s play about another villainous general, was once wittily reviewed by a theatre critic as “A triumph of the Will.”

Okay, now you’re wondering how I’m going to get a rugby reference into this.
Easy.
George MacReady was related to the famous 19th century English actor and manager
William MacReady who played Coriolanus in the above-mentioned production.
And where was William McReady educated?
Rugby.

By: Ian Noble

Ian Noble — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:07:56 +0000

Frankly…… should have been tacked onto the end of para 1.

By: Ian Noble

Ian Noble — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:05:34 +0000

Spiro

Yes England would tick all the boxes and would make a very good fist of RWC2015. However, I just wonder whether it is worth all the hassle. The RFU gets in the neck from all and sundry, not least from down under and yet they fall over themselves to play against England as the tests are great revenue generators.

My personal view is that Italy would be great choice for RWC 2015 and give England a break of a couple of Novembers from always playing against the SH. Frankly they are getting a little repetitive and losing their marketing appeal.

Just to clear a couple of points, England have never held a RWC the others have always been in association with Ireland, Scotland or Wales. If they do wish to use the Millenium Stadium, it will hired as any other venue whether it is Old Trafford, St James Park, Wembley etc because it is fit for purpose. The voting history on the IRB is not a home nations stitch up, look at the voting history for other RWC bids and as likely as not the home nation vote is always split unlike the SH.

As some 35,000 supporters are due to support the Lions in SA, it is anticipated that the numbers wishing to go to RWC2011 will be even greater possibly up to 50/60,000. Add in other countries supporters and because of the infrastructure in NZ I can’t see how it will be able to cope. There are not enough camper vans or decent hotels to met demand and the outcome will be a smaller, homely, quiet tournament, OK underwritten by the NZ government but hasn’t the RWC outgrown that perception. Both Japan and Italy have the track record for putting on large successful World tournaments, and as I have always said Japan should have been awarded RWC2011.