London Irish Takeover

[Will95]

I'd go watch a Reading rugby game, I would never see a Irish game. Rugby club is dull though, much prefer international, despite so few good countries.

[Stranded]

Can't wait, I hate the fact Irish don't come from around here (different county never mind town!) and have prevented the growth of an actual Reading rugby team.

I'm not sure they have. In fact they've probably encouraged far more people to get interested in rugby than before.

Unfortunately Reading rugby club are so far down the league system that few are going to be tempted to watch them without them rising far higher.

Even when Reading were much higher, old National Div 3 level and an excellent side to watch they did well to get 500 through the gate. I know a lot of people at the club and all are supportive of LI being here. In fact at most LI games that don't clash with local games, which is most you'll see club ties or blazers from all the local clubs there.

[St. Brynjar]

I'd go watch a Reading rugby game, I would never see a Irish game. Rugby club is dull though, much prefer international, despite so few good countries.

Why would you never go see an Irish game? They're your local team. Does a name really piss you off that much?

[peterroyal76]

I'd go watch a Reading rugby game, I would never see a Irish game. Rugby club is dull though, much prefer international, despite so few good countries.

Why would you never go see an Irish game? They're your local team. Does a name really piss you off that much?

I'm not sure they're 'our local ' team really though.
They may be called London irish, but at the moment they're neither. I wouldn't go and see them either.

[Will95]

I'd go watch a Reading rugby game, I would never see a Irish game. Rugby club is dull though, much prefer international, despite so few good countries.

Why would you never go see an Irish game? They're your local team. Does a name really piss you off that much?

No, but I couldn't support a side that wasn't local to me (which, dress it up how you will, London Irish aren't the local side, they just play here). Sport is about pride in and supporting your area to me, and to do that I'd watch Reading, not London Irish.

[Stuka]

Do London Irish sing pro-IRA songs and things about the famine?

[Nameless]

I'd go watch a Reading rugby game, I would never see a Irish game. Rugby club is dull though, much prefer international, despite so few good countries.

You have a bizarre attitude to sport !

You'd watch mid level club rugby just because the team involved happened to be named after a local town but you wouldn't watch top class club rugby in your town because the club has the wrong name. Presumably you would never watch Barcelona, or Bayern Munich, and do you only watch England international rugby or would you lower yourself to watch the All Blacks (the best sporting team in any sport, ever)
Irish are a bit hit and miss in terms of performances and results. They have plenty of really exciting three quarters, but the pack is often not competitive so the backs don;t get enough good possession. On their day they can be good and in James O'conner and Marlon Yarde they have two very, very good players.

I'm over egging a bit I know, each to their own but I find it bizarre that anyone with an interest in sport can point blank refuse to watch a team just because they don;t like their name !

[Stuka]

Well you would say that because your username is "Nameless"

Some people attach great significance to names, but I take your point that a rose by another name smells just as sweet.

[Gordons Cumming]

Maybe if they cut the prices from a ridiculous £28 for a Standard Ticket (£32 on Matchday) they would get more takers

Bloody hell - £28?!!!

When I've briefly considered going I always thought it would be a good idea as it would be about £10 a ticket or something. That's a lot more than I thought.

I thought it was £20!

[tmesis]

Maybe if they cut the prices from a ridiculous £28 for a Standard Ticket (£32 on Matchday) they would get more takers

Bloody hell - £28?!!!

When I've briefly considered going I always thought it would be a good idea as it would be about £10 a ticket or something. That's a lot more than I thought.

I thought it was £20!

It is £20 if you pay in advance, otherwise it's £26
http://www.london-irish.com/MatchdayTicketPricing

Rugby is becoming hugely expensive though. Many clubs at the top now charge £50 or so for a fair number of their seats.

[Will95]

I'd go watch a Reading rugby game, I would never see a Irish game. Rugby club is dull though, much prefer international, despite so few good countries.

You have a bizarre attitude to sport !

You'd watch mid level club rugby just because the team involved happened to be named after a local town but you wouldn't watch top class club rugby in your town because the club has the wrong name. Presumably you would never watch Barcelona, or Bayern Munich, and do you only watch England international rugby or would you lower yourself to watch the All Blacks (the best sporting team in any sport, ever)
Irish are a bit hit and miss in terms of performances and results. They have plenty of really exciting three quarters, but the pack is often not competitive so the backs don;t get enough good possession. On their day they can be good and in James O'conner and Marlon Yarde they have two very, very good players.

I'm over egging a bit I know, each to their own but I find it bizarre that anyone with an interest in sport can point blank refuse to watch a team just because they don;t like their name !

My family contains New Zealanders so All Blacks are my third side (plus, oxf*rd the Aussies) and my mums family is all Welsh, so I'll watch England, Wales and New Zealand, but not anyone else. I don't watch other teams football games really, world cup finals, Champions League final, FA cup final etc. aside. I think I really have presented myself wrong though tbh. I'd watch them, yes, as a neutral, but I would NEVER support them.

[Ian Royal]

I just wouldn't pay to watch Rugby.

[St. Brynjar]

I'd go watch a Reading rugby game, I would never see a Irish game. Rugby club is dull though, much prefer international, despite so few good countries.

Why would you never go see an Irish game? They're your local team. Does a name really piss you off that much?

No, but I couldn't support a side that wasn't local to me (which, dress it up how you will, London Irish aren't the local side, they just play here). Sport is about pride in and supporting your area to me, and to do that I'd watch Reading, not London Irish.

Like it or loath it, Irish are local to you. I'm not going to argue with you but I find it very odd you'd let something this trivial prevent you from at least casually following a team.

I just wouldn't pay to watch Rugby.

/thread

[M Brook]

Do London Irish sing pro-IRA songs and things about the famine?

Yes, but like Liverpool fans they probably don't realise what they're singing.

[Optimist]

Do London Irish sing pro-IRA songs and things about the famine?

They play "Fields of Athenry" before and after every game, which is a famine-related song, though I expect the majority of fans don't realise this and just see it as the song that all Ireland sports teams sing.

[Nameless]

Do London Irish sing pro-IRA songs and things about the famine?

Yes, but like Liverpool fans they probably don't realise what they're singing.

I'm guessing you don't know the words that the Liverpool fans sing either.....

[M Brook]

Do London Irish sing pro-IRA songs and things about the famine?

Yes, but like Liverpool fans they probably don't realise what they're singing.

I'm guessing you don't know the words that the Liverpool fans sing either.....

All round the Fields of Anfield Road
Where once we watched the King Kenny play (and he could play)
Stevie Heighway on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
Of the glory round the Fields of Anfield Road

[FRIDDY109]

Maybe if they cut the prices from a ridiculous £28 for a Standard Ticket (£32 on Matchday) they would get more takers

Bloody hell - £28?!!!

When I've briefly considered going I always thought it would be a good idea as it would be about £10 a ticket or something. That's a lot more than I thought.

Uni students can get tickets for like £15 i think it is. I got 4 tickets for £40

[AthleticoSpizz]

Do London Irish sing pro-IRA songs and things about the famine?

They play "Fields of Athenry" before and after every game, which is a famine-related song, though I expect the majority of fans don't realise this and just see it as the song that all Ireland sports teams sing.

Barely a "rebel song" surely?

I have drank in the bars of East Belfast that were within spitting distance of Gawn Street, the once HQ of the UDA (Glentoran Cougars, H&W Welders Bar etc etc) which were most definately Protestant back in the 1980's, they were quite happy to sing along to F of A when the resident "showbands" played it....normally at least twice a night.

[Stuka]

Don't the Loyalists sing a different version? Fields of Ballynafeigh