Comments on: Campaign to make rugby the new national sport of England http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england Rugby Union opinion and discussion, for the fans, by the fans. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:50:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Alan Feather http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-6308 Alan Feather Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:22:40 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-6308 I forgot to add: There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night Ten to make and the match to win A bumping pitch and a blinding light, An hour to play, and the last man in. And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat. Or the selfish hope of a season's fame, But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote "Play up! Play up! And play the game! How very far from the sentiments of most (association) football players. As you can probably tell, I am principally a cricket fan. I forgot to add:

There’s a breathless hush in the Close to-night
Ten to make and the match to win
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play, and the last man in.
And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat.
Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame,
But his captain’s hand on his shoulder smote
“Play up! Play up! And play the game!

How very far from the sentiments of most (association) football players. As you can probably tell, I am principally a cricket fan.

]]> By: Alan Feather http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-6307 Alan Feather Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:19:34 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-6307 I enjoy both codes in Rugby but there is no prospect whatever of Rugby being made the National Sport of England for several reasons. Firstly, and most importantly, there is no official National Sport and it is unlikely in the extreme that there will ever be one. Most people, I believe, would say that cricket and football have a much better claim to being the National Sports but for different reasons. Cricket is a fundamental part of English culture. The spirit of fair play that even today imbues most cricket is widely regarded as being essentially English and the sound of leather on willow is one of the enduring images of Englishness. Cricket is surely the most English of games. Football on the other hand, which is a game for unwashed yobs (unlike rugby or cricket), is much the most popular game in England and is likely to stay that way unfortunately. I enjoy both codes in Rugby but there is no prospect whatever of Rugby being made the National Sport of England for several reasons.

Firstly, and most importantly, there is no official National Sport and it is unlikely in the extreme that there will ever be one.

Most people, I believe, would say that cricket and football have a much better claim to being the National Sports but for different reasons.

Cricket is a fundamental part of English culture. The spirit of fair play that even today imbues most cricket is widely regarded as being essentially English and the sound of leather on willow is one of the enduring images of Englishness. Cricket is surely the most English of games.

Football on the other hand, which is a game for unwashed yobs (unlike rugby or cricket), is much the most popular game in England and is likely to stay that way unfortunately.

]]> By: Asher http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-2224 Asher Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:36:11 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-2224 Cricket is the national sport right? Cricket is the national sport right?

]]> By: chicabona http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-2223 chicabona Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:18:03 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-2223 Hey! I'm new to the world of Rugby as well, and enjoying my stay :D Can someone tell me what's the difference between Rugby Union and Rugby League? I'm confused!! Cheers!! Hey! I’m new to the world of Rugby as well, and enjoying my stay :D
Can someone tell me what’s the difference between Rugby Union and Rugby League? I’m confused!!
Cheers!!

]]> By: spike http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-2222 spike Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:57:08 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-2222 by the way that is a different "spike" to the one who usually posts articulate opinions and insights...i.e. me! by the way that is a different “spike” to the one who usually posts articulate opinions and insights…i.e. me!

]]> By: England's footballers make me proud...to be a rugby supporter http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-2217 England's footballers make me proud...to be a rugby supporter Thu, 22 Nov 2007 09:39:49 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-2217 [...] Campaign to make rugby the new national sport of England [...] [...] Campaign to make rugby the new national sport of England [...]

]]> By: Jimbo http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-2221 Jimbo Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:20:44 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-2221 <p>Is that right Spike? Why have you bothered to comment on a rugby union website? Sad chippy chap you are. Don't really understand people like you. The two sports are completely different. The main difference being that England has a sporting chance of winning this world cup. Unlike England's chance of winning the farce that is the rugby league world cup where only 3 countries take League seriously. League is a good sport too, but the club game is far more important and a far better spectacle than the international game. Why don't you just get behind the national team which currently seems to be the only major English sporting team that has any chance of winning a world cup.</p> Is that right Spike? Why have you bothered to comment on a rugby union website? Sad chippy chap you are. Don’t really understand people like you.
The two sports are completely different. The main difference being that England has a sporting chance of winning this world cup. Unlike England’s chance of winning the farce that is the rugby league world cup where only 3 countries take League seriously.
League is a good sport too, but the club game is far more important and a far better spectacle than the international game. Why don’t you just get behind the national team which currently seems to be the only major English sporting team that has any chance of winning a world cup.

]]> By: spike http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-2216 spike Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:05:05 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-2216 Are you sure it weren't rugby league you were watchin on setanta. Union is shite. Are you sure it weren’t rugby league you were watchin on setanta. Union is shite.

]]> By: Jonno http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-2220 Jonno Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:03:17 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-2220 Really useful comment malvino! Oscar, great to hear that you have also embraced a passion of many of us here in the UK. Really useful comment malvino! Oscar, great to hear that you have also embraced a passion of many of us here in the UK.

]]> By: James http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/campaign-to-make-rugby-the-new-national-sport-of-england/comment-page-1#comment-2218 James Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:07:14 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=355#comment-2218 Got to start somewhere palsy! Got to start somewhere palsy!

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