The Rugby Thread

[Slinky Skills]

It was bad behaviour but you probably see **** like that week in, week out in Rugby games all over the country. The difference being rugby lads just get on with it, it's the norm in the way.
. I don't agree with what he did but the ****er did knock him off the ball. Probably wasn't expecting to be walloped like that mind.

****ing punch that was. If you ever want to learn to **** someone that's how to do it.

[Zapater]

The difference between football and other sports is that footballers are rewarded for behaving like pussies. Their is sadly no masculinity left in the game. Imagine the reaction from the whole game if a rugby payer behaved like that. They would be ostracised by the opposition, team mates, supporters etc.

I hate to say it, but many football games are becoming unwatchable to me due to the amount of bull**** there is. I wish they could get on with it. I don't understand how players can roll around on the floor for no/minimal contact where we see much more in other sports taking place and players dust themselves off and get back up without complaint.

[TheElephantMan]

Whilst I agree that some footballers are ****houses, rugby is still as boring as ****. That's where the discussion ends for me.

[ChesterDave]

Players getting on with it and being manly is a crap excuse for rugby to avoid dealing with the ****ing thugs that play it.

Its a frequent defence that rugby fans put out there, and what they are saying is that violence is commonplace but we are cool with that.

[Shaggy]

Dan Roan @danroan
Ben Flower handed 6 month ban for punch on Lance Hohaia during rugby league's Grand Final. No word on whether he'll face criminal charges

[Shaggy]

Players getting on with it and being manly is a crap excuse for rugby to avoid dealing with the ****ing thugs that play it.

Its a frequent defence that rugby fans put out there, and what they are saying is that violence is commonplace but we are cool with that.

I hope that Flower bloke is cool with his six month ban and possible criminal charges. So much thuggery in that sport and their standard response is to lambast the "pussies" who play/watch football. Such big men........with their cauliflower ears.

[Zapater]

Whilst I agree that some footballers are ****houses, rugby is still as boring as ****. That's where the discussion ends for me.

'Some' is an understatement, you'd be hard pressed to list 5 players whom aren't from the last 10-15 years. I used to try and defend it when my rugby supporting friends took the piss, but it's become impossible. It's the reality with footballers but I've noticed that people who watch a lot of it, have no concept of it as they're so used to it.

I don't personally find rugby boring, but obviously each to their own. Above you say it's stop start, but when players ion football drop to the ground for no reason, start rolling around, then half of their team start yelling at the ref it wastes well over a minute only for it to happen again 2 minutes later.

Players getting on with it and being manly is a crap excuse for rugby to avoid dealing with the ****ing thugs that play it.

Its a frequent defence that rugby fans put out there, and what they are saying is that violence is commonplace but we are cool with that.

That's bull****, I watch both sports regularly and it's really not the case. Most times in a rugby match all the players run toward eachother and grab the opponents shirt and push. There is rarely punches actually thrown. It's all handbags. Considering both are 'contact sports' implies that contact to some degree should be legal which is often not the case in football.

Obviously there are more incidents in rugby as it's a more aggressive sport, but it's not fair to say that's commonplace. Also it's not like there aren't thugs in football, it's laden with them, particularly the supporters so it's a bit ridiculous saying 'rugby fans are fans of violence'.

[Zapater]

Also, it's not fair to paint rugby and league with the same brush. Completely different culture and fanbase.

[Shaggy]

I read this earlier

Flower did so, landing successfully with his first punch. He didn't need to follow it up with a second but he did. If he hadn't, maybe both players would have been given yellow cards by referee Phil Bentham and allowed to play on.

But the second punch warranted a red card and he can expect a lengthy suspension on the back of it.

Oh so it was the second punch that warranted a red card, the first punch to the head only warranted a yellow!

I've seen/read about rugby players punching an opponent in the face and receiving yellow cards or being "sin-binned" for a few minutes

And they preach to footballers about behaviour.

[RichC]

I read this earlier



Oh so it was the second punch that warranted a red card, the first punch to the head only warranted a yellow!

I've seen/read about rugby players punching an opponent in the face and receiving yellow cards or being "sin-binned" for a few minutes

And they preach to footballers about behaviour.

Standard fare in rugby , give them a yellow card which gives them a 10 minute sin bin to cool down, it actually works well and does stop the spectacle of rugby being ruined whereas a player dives holding his face a la Robben in football when not being touched and ruins the entire game.

Not defending Flowers obviously but in general rugby is far more sensible in the way its officiated than football and there is certainly less kidology to try and get an opposition player sent off.

You have to remember there is a **** load of testosterone flying about on a rugby pitch which is why there is a certain level of leniency for stuff like that.

[Zapater]

Standard fare in rugby , give them a yellow card which gives them a 10 minute sin bin to cool down, it actually works well and does stop the spectacle of rugby being ruined whereas a player dives holding his face a la Robben in football when not being touched and ruins the entire game.

Not defending Flowers obviously but in general rugby is far more sensible in the way its officiated than football and there is certainly less kidology to try and get an opposition player sent off.

You have to remember there is a **** load of testosterone flying about on a rugby pitch which is why there is a certain level of leniency for stuff like that.

Also the fact there are penalty tries (avoids situations like Suarez vs Ghana in the 2010 WC) and that the refs have mics so the players don't swear at and abuse them. It goes on, football could improve a lot by incorporating some of the rules.

[TheElephantMan]

No - no more rules!!! Rugby is **** because of all the rules, it's just stupid. Far too many rules. If a sport has to be endlessly explained then it fails to be entertaining.

[Vermilion]

How many more times must i hear this!

'If someone did that in the street they'd be in jail'

It's bollocks! First offence, provocation, no premeditation, two punches in total, no guarantee he'd be banged up! imo, tbh, i think it would be very unlikely.

Some people must live in a fluffy pink capsule where everyone wears teddy bear onesies! Or never go out at the weekends! If every ****er that did that was banged up, well, the jails are full already.

I'd actually go as far to say, that if both parties involved agreed that no damage was done, and to live and let live, the police may not even make an arrest.

[ric.williams]

great game, great atmosphere, great sport. shame i had to go to old trafford to watch

[Vermilion]

No - no more rules!!! Rugby is **** because of all the rules, it's just stupid. Far too many rules. If a sport has to be endlessly explained then it fails to be entertaining.

How about a new Rule that says no more rules ?