He can pass a ball 40 yards, but can he sign a photo?

[Shaggy]

Rugby is a real queer's game. I played it for 15 years before getting seriously injured so can't play it much any more.

None of this noncing about with diving or corrupt play. Players and fans all have respect for eath other and it is a much more pure sport than the farce football seems to be at the moment with UEFA and the like. One of the happiest sporting memories I have is the world cup final 2003 when we lifted the world cup, along with Liverpool winning the champions league they are probably the most tense I have ever been in a sporting context.

Balls to this "pure sport" nonsense. Pure homo-erotic dullness, more like.

Football is the people's sport. It elicits passion on streets from Reading to Rio, and from Dakar to Dorking. It is played in almost every country in the world for a reason - it's the best sport on earth, bar none.

No-one gives a **** about rugby, apart from everyone in Wales, a handful of other Brits, some S'th Efrikans, Kiwis and one or two Aussies.

You have to ask yourself, if rugby is so great, why is it such a minority sport?

[anfieldanfield]

Oh dear, what a nightmare Tony.

I don't have kids yet, but when I do, I'd rather my son grew up a raving homosexual than got into rugby...although, of course, they're pretty much the same thing anyway.

He'll soon realise.

[anfieldanfield]

Rugby is a real man's game. I played it for 15 years before getting seriously injured so can't play it much any more.

None of this noncing about with diving or corrupt play. Players and fans all have respect for eath other and it is a much more pure sport than the farce football seems to be at the moment with UEFA and the like. One of the happiest sporting memories I have is the world cup final 2003 when we lifted the world cup, along with Liverpool winning the champions league they are probably the most tense I have ever been in a sporting context.

Is that why they stamp on eachother's faces ?

[SouthAfricaRed]

My mates son is a fan, he's 9 years old and loves Gerrard.

However, as of late he has been showing interest in the darkside. Yes, he is starting to follow egg chasing. Its Wales and football is for poofs and peer pressure is beginging to take over. He has now started chasing eggs and has began looking negatively at football.

I think a signed photo from Gerrard will deffo get him back on track.

Whats the best way of doing this? Can I just send a request to the club or what?

Contact Dunk

[Shaggy]

Is that why they stamp on eachother's faces ?

Haha, yeah, the players have such respect for each other. Stamping on each other's heads, flurries of punches right into each other's face, neck high tackles.

That's respect is it? Well then they can keep their "respect".

There's a difference between being "a tough, real man" and a "a thug". If I went out to town tonight and carried on like most rugby players do I'd get locked up.

[Jazzmaster]

My mates son is a fan, he's 9 years old and loves Gerrard.

However, as of late he has been showing interest in the darkside. Yes, he is starting to follow egg chasing. Its Wales and football is for poofs and peer pressure is beginging to take over. He has now started chasing eggs and has began looking negatively at football.

I think a signed photo from Gerrard will deffo get him back on track.

Whats the best way of doing this? Can I just send a request to the club or what?

I have a signed Steven Gerrard Champions league jersey with the 5 times crest on the sleeve and the gold writing on the back. Not that im selling it or anything, i just take any opportunity to tell people i have it

[nobbylad]

My eldest lad plays football (and has done v. successfully for 6 years now) in a Saturday league and Sunday league. He also trains midweek.

He started playing rugby as well last year and trains straight after footy training midweek and plays straight after his Sunday league footy game.

He enjoys all sport but I have seen the benefits of him playing rugby....

- he is physically stronger now and more able to hold is own on the footy pitch
- his overall physical fitness has improved a great deal
- his agility means that on the rugby pitch he's more likely to stay out of trouble and can compete with the rest of the rugby lads as he is generally quicker and more nimble
- his behaviour (in terms of retaliation) has improved endlessly

Overall, he does get really knackered some weeks and every now and then, the rugby takes a back seat. As far as he is concerned, his passion is footy and he enjoys rugby. He is also the biggest Liverpool fan I know (after me).

Conclusive proof I would have thought that being a footy (Liverpool) fan and enjoying rugby can indeed, coexist.

[FatTony]

supporting rugby will make you grow up to be a better person and more tolerant, less likely to be a complete **** and start causing trouble

Rubbish.

This lad went off with his parents to Biarritz last week with the older son (15 odd) on their youth rugby tour. The first 2 nights the youth team caused havoc and came close to being thrown out for vandalism and roudyness, the final couple of nights the adults were the problem, stealing drinks, p*ssing all over the place etc. These adults (all the ones causing trouble and setting the example for future rugby players) are all players or ex players themselves.

I've been out before with this lot myself and a couple of them were causing trouble then. The one guy used to come into the bar where I worked whilst in Uni and took an instant dislike too me (think he threatened to rip my ears off or something as I served him a beer), anyway the rest of the team were no better. The only trouble we ever had in that pub was from the local rugby team after the game when they'd walk in with their team blazers on thinking they were this and that (the most arrogant bunch of people I have ever had the misfortune to meet). We ended up banning them but this went on for the best part of 2 years. What made things worse was that when they were out on their own or in pairs, they were always very quiet.

My local town team in the forest of dean were exactly the same as the welsh lot. I walked into the rugby club with a couple of mates for a beer, had a few stares off a few lads and a few of them jumped straight at us. The same happened a few weeks later. These were grown blokes too, late 20's, 30's etc. We were late teens.

5 or 6 of the rugby club also came to the village local pub the once. Challenged us to arm wrestles (how macho) however one or two of my mates were farming lads and not exactly weak. Anyway, my mate broke the one blokes arm, complete accident and there was genuine concern for the guy at the time. The following weekend the whole rugby team came over and smashed the place up when there were only 3 or 4 people in there.

I worked in as a barman for 4 years whilst a student and can categorically say the rugby players are a bunch of ar5eholes. I'd have footballers in the pub any day of the week. Rugby fans love to shout about football hooligans and no, you never see trouble by the fans at the games, but the players are a different kettle of fish, and the loutish behaviour continues to be promoted, even at schoolboy level.

[Shaggy]

Rubbish.

This lad went off with his parents to Biarritz last week with the older son (15 odd) on their youth rugby tour. The first 2 nights the youth team caused havoc and came close to being thrown out for vandalism and roudyness, the final couple of nights the adults were the problem, stealing drinks, p*ssing all over the place etc. These adults (all the ones causing trouble and setting the example for future rugby players) are all players or ex players themselves.

I've been out before with this lot myself and a couple of them were causing trouble then. The one guy used to come into the bar where I worked whilst in Uni and took an instand dislike too me (think he threatened to rip my ears off or something as I served him a beer), anyway the rest of the team were no better. The only trouble we ever had in that pub was from the local rugby team after the game when they'd walk in with their team blazers on thinking they were this and that (the most arrogant bunch of people I have ever had the misfortune to meet). We ended up banning them but this went on for the best part of 2 years. What made things worse was that when they were out on their own or in pairs, they were always very quiet.

My local town team in the forest of dean were exactly the same as the welsh lot. I walked into the rugby club with a couple of mates for a beer, had a few stares off a few lads and a few of them jumped straight at us. The same happened a few weeks later. These were grown blokes too, late 20's, 30's etc. We were late teens.

5 or 6 of the rugby club also came to the village local pub the once. Challenged us to arm wrestles (how macho) however one or two of my mates were farming lads and not exactly weak. Anyway, my mate broke the one blokes arm, complete accident and there was genuine concern for the guy at the time. The following weekend the whole rugby team came over and smashed the place up when there were only 3 or 4 people in there.

I worked in as a barman for 4 years whilst a student and can categorically say the rugby players are a bunch of ar5eholes. I'd have footballers in the pub any day of the week. Rugby fans love to shout about football hooligans and no, you never see trouble by the fans at the games, but the players are a different kettle of fish, and the loutish behaviour continues to be promoted, even at schoolboy level.

Erm...



This "rugby people have so much decorum" is a hilarious pile of horse****. A complete and utter myth, perpetuated by deluded rugby people who seek to elevate themselves above football supporters.

[PTP]

I have a signed Steven Gerrard Champions league jersey with the 5 times crest on the sleeve and the gold writing on the back. Not that im selling it or anything, i just take any opportunity to tell people i have it

Nice - I have a hardback copy of Fowler's autobiography signed "To Mike(thats me), Best wishes Robbie Fowler"

[rushscored4]

you can follow Welsh rugby and Liverpool football club. Supporting rugby will make you grow up to be a better person and more tolerant, less likely to be a complete Welsh **** and start causing trouble

Nah, rugby is a sport followed by big fat blokes called Rory, Timothy and, erm, Tony...

[SouthAfricaRed]

Rugby is a real man's game. I played it for 15 years before getting seriously injured so can't play it much any more.

None of this noncing about with diving or corrupt play. Players and fans all have respect for eath other and it is a much more pure sport than the farce football seems to be at the moment with UEFA and the like. One of the happiest sporting memories I have is the world cup final 2003 when we lifted the world cup, along with Liverpool winning the champions league they are probably the most tense I have ever been in a sporting context.

Rugby has caused you an injury, that will start taking its toll as you age, but you will encourage youngsters to do the same

Rugby players feign injury all the time to disrupt attacks and give their mates a chance to catch their breath. The last test between NZ and France clearly showed that.

I would never encourage any youngster to take up Rugby. The game is not the fun amateur game it used to be. Players now deliberately try and hurt each other and the impact the modern game has on the body is just not worth it IMO.

[ARIMAN]

Rugby went downhill with the introduction of body armour/protection.

After that every clown I played with tried things they really shouldnt have - dangerous for themselves and others

[Revo]

its the kids life let him do what the **** he wants

[FatTony]

it was really tongue in cheek initially.

I just want to get him excited about LFC again