Would you follow Wigan Rugby Union?

[Alex the Warrior]

I could never watch Union but those who predict a dire future for our sport are, I believe, correct.

This is a post I made on the Guardian prior to the GF.

Having the team that finished 5th be crowned champions two seasons in a row would just be too much of a farce. Super League think this is good for the sport! When the play-offs started, you could only win from 5th by beating every team who finished above you. Now it's far easier.

Why the poor crowds? People feel ripped off as they realise that the 27 'weekly rounds' (how's that for a name that puts it into context?) are worth relatively little. Six of the eight first round play-off games in the last 2 seasons have resulted in hammerings. That's what you get when teams in 8th, who lose more than they win, are deemed to have done well enough to qualify. You have a team like Leeds, with enough good players to go through the motions for 24 rounds and be in the play-off zone to go full pelt for 6 weeks and take the title. It is crazy, like clubcall and like the 'Millenium weekend'. What idiot decided that an uneven set of fixtures was a good idea especially when the top two teams have such differing standards of opposition to overcome in their extra game? These are played out in front of total crowds smaller than when these fixtures are played at the normal grounds. A sport that has a salary cap so restrictive that the RFU will offer sums to players many times what their clubs could offer even if they have the money in the bank. (Tomkins and Charnley will be prised away)

A great sport, run by morons. No wonder this season was my worst attended for about 15 years and my team finished top (and won a hub-cap).

[cpwigan]

I live in Orrell Village I came here after my application for idiot was denied due to me not being a resident I have to say that their is very little interest in union in the area, they cant even fill the Delph pub where they drink after games. They have a couple of senior teams who are not very good, their skill levels are rubbish, passing and tackling nowhere near good enough. It holds on in the area with diehard old farts who wont let it die and continue to blame Rugby League and Whelan for its own failure. The junior section is virtually non existant, totally eclipsed by Orrell ST James ARLFC who have about 11 teams at junior level.
Orrell RU had it all many years ago but when they tried to go professional they virtually bankrupted themselves paying overrated union players massive contracts and ex pro league players who couldnt believe there luck with the money they where paid. To be successfull in this day and age you need a rich sugar daddy who will throw money away on a team and we dont have many of them in Wigan.
Wigan RU is slightly different with a lot more teams at senior and junior level, they own there own ground which isnt bad, but they too have a prejudice against RL. If you ask them they will deny it but its there its like an unspoken secret.

The plan is to build a clubhouse, 3G pitch etc on the Upholland High School Playing Fields which are in Orrell, on the Orrell side of Sandbrook Road.

that's actually for the school and was schools idea, but they are trying to sell the whole lot, that will go for housing development if it does sell and not Orrell RU......anyway bugger all will happen if i get my way as i live backing onto those fields

Do you live in the new houses WW or the older houses furthest away from the school? The school has sold some unwanted land at the very bottom towards the railway line to the developer building at that end. My guess re the sporting developments would be that funding is easier when community sports groups are linked to it.

[slimshady]

The plan is to build a clubhouse, 3G pitch etc on the Upholland High School Playing Fields which are in Orrell, on the Orrell side of Sandbrook Road.

that's actually for the school and was schools idea, but they are trying to sell the whole lot, that will go for housing development if it does sell and not Orrell RU......anyway bugger all will happen if i get my way as i live backing onto those fields

Do you live in the new houses WW or the older houses furthest away from the school? The school has sold some unwanted land at the very bottom towards the railway line to the developer building at that end. My guess re the sporting developments would be that funding is easier when community sports groups are linked to it.

Iam with WW on the development front, we have enough new houses in Orrell and nothing for all the kids to do other than hang around the coop! Orrell RU have had their chance once already, had land given to them by a local farmer and then cashed it in to pay off their debts. They took Whelans money when he paid all the members a grand a piece and then they continue to harp on about how they were hard done to. I couldnt care less if they never have a ground again, theyve had their chance and to put it bluntly f#$k um.

[lucky 13]

Well my lad plays league at junior level. His team have been low on numbers, after losing a few players to other teams. A few called off games and training being cancled and a bit of unrest put me on the look out for another team, but we can't move because of ...... well it's a long story.
Anyhow he got an invite to a RU club with his mate, he was not happy about going( me and his grandads fault) but I said at least he would get to play and train until we sorted his RL out, and some parts of the game cross over.
When it's your kids you tend to see things in a different light, so after fooling him to go I turned up and watched with great determination to be un biased!! So after half an hour on a srum machine his face was ......to think of it just like his Mams, long and misserable Then they did a bit of ball work, a bit more like it but rugby wise they were miles behind what he was used to, in the practice him and his mate looked like a couple of kangeroos from the 82 tour, it ended up being great for him he, gained so much confidence. They had a practice match at the end and they looked great scoring a couple of tries other parents asked about where they played "League" I said "hurrrrghhh thats for ruffians" glad to know the devide is all well and healthy I did get the last laugh though as they took the ball and went the full length of the field inter passing to score I could not help myself "now thats a league try!!" to be honest it was like watching Wigan in the sevens and against bath even at that age you could see they wanted to get the ball run and pass.
The first game was, I will just leave it at annoying and after just getting back from training I must admit it bores me to distraction. Even though I could watch my lad play marbeles and enjoy it, union is as far removed from rugby and enjoyment as I can get. I can watch my lad play on a Sunday and get as much pleasure as watching Wigan even more so but if he was not playing I could never see myself paying to watch a union game or being payed to watch one for that matter!!

[Wes]

Didn't realise how many people on here live in orrell!?!

[x Wigan Warrior x]

The plan is to build a clubhouse, 3G pitch etc on the Upholland High School Playing Fields which are in Orrell, on the Orrell side of Sandbrook Road.

that's actually for the school and was schools idea, but they are trying to sell the whole lot, that will go for housing development if it does sell and not Orrell RU......anyway bugger all will happen if i get my way as i live backing onto those fields

Do you live in the new houses WW or the older houses furthest away from the school? The school has sold some unwanted land at the very bottom towards the railway line to the developer building at that end. My guess re the sporting developments would be that funding is easier when community sports groups are linked to it.

the land at the bottom has not been sold yet, no planning has been put in or approved, just the head teacher shouting her mouth off a little too early. They have been selling that section for over 17 years, no one is interested and also there are a few hidden problems with that piece of land too As for the private builder, i have spoken to him and he has only spoken to the head about her shouting from the hill tops about it......

[the_cow]

I would watch other sports that I find more entertaining before Union, such as football, boxing. Wigan Rugby Union already exists there is minimal interest in it. Orrell has plans to return to Orrell. I would say there is more interest in Union in that area but even then it is small scale.

I live in Orrell Village I came here after my application for idiot was denied due to me not being a resident I have to say that their is very little interest in union in the area, they cant even fill the Delph pub where they drink after games. They have a couple of senior teams who are not very good, their skill levels are rubbish, passing and tackling nowhere near good enough. It holds on in the area with diehard old farts who wont let it die and continue to blame Rugby League and Whelan for its own failure. The junior section is virtually non existant, totally eclipsed by Orrell ST James ARLFC who have about 11 teams at junior level.
Orrell RU had it all many years ago but when they tried to go professional they virtually bankrupted themselves paying overrated union players massive contracts and ex pro league players who couldnt believe there luck with the money they where paid. To be successfull in this day and age you need a rich sugar daddy who will throw money away on a team and we dont have many of them in Wigan.
Wigan RU is slightly different with a lot more teams at senior and junior level, they own there own ground which isnt bad, but they too have a prejudice against RL. If you ask them they will deny it but its there its like an unspoken secret.

Find this post pretty offensive- obviously another totally biggoted league fan- there are plenty on both sides of the divide that seem to have a hatred for the 'other'code for some unknown reason. Picking on a local amateur team is pretty petty- why not try having a moan about Sale.

Orrell first team are a truely amateur team currently playing in the 6th tier of 9 regionally where the majority of the other clubs get paid to play- nice little £50/£100 left in your shoe after a game. They are doing their best given not having a steady source of income and half the first team retiring last year. The majority of the guys there just play for fun and I would estimate half of the players go to watch Wigan RL on a regular basis, so obviously any 'prejudice' does not come from the players. In relation to support strength, the crowd that turns up at SJR is actually bigger than most other clubs in the league, the majority just go home after the game and not to the pub.

In relation to Wigan RU and their 'prejudice' against league, don't they have a number of ex-league amateurs playing there and also a ex-wigan academy player. They can't be that prejudicial!

In relation to Orrell St. James, they are renoun for having a strong junior section and bringing through several players. I have no issues with there success and wish them the best.

In relation to the moans about Orrell looking to form a partnership with Upholland High, I would imagine that this is to tap into Lottery funding and the like. If the school gets new sports facilities and Orrell get a clubhouse, I cannot see what the issue is, other than the NIMBY moans which will be experienced with any type of development any where in the country. Regarding the previous mismanagement of Orrell, the view that the club has had it's chance and doesn't deserve a clubhouse & ground is ridiculous. If this was applied to Superleague, then Bradford, Wakey & London amongst others would be playing amateur rl from their local playing fields.

My personal take is that I enjoy playing union, but don't particularly enjoy watching union. The southern hemisphere internationals are entertaining, but the club rugby in Europe is like watching paint dry most of the time. I much prefer to watch RL, hence having a season ticket at Wigan. If Wigan RL turned into Wigan RU, then I would probably go and watch for the first season, just to see how if it held my intrest. However, if they played rugby any thing like Sale did when I went to watch them in 2010, I wouldn't be going for long...

[jobo]

I would watch other sports that I find more entertaining before Union, such as football, boxing. Wigan Rugby Union already exists there is minimal interest in it. Orrell has plans to return to Orrell. I would say there is more interest in Union in that area but even then it is small scale.

I live in Orrell Village I came here after my application for idiot was denied due to me not being a resident I have to say that their is very little interest in union in the area, they cant even fill the Delph pub where they drink after games. They have a couple of senior teams who are not very good, their skill levels are rubbish, passing and tackling nowhere near good enough. It holds on in the area with diehard old farts who wont let it die and continue to blame Rugby League and Whelan for its own failure. The junior section is virtually non existant, totally eclipsed by Orrell ST James ARLFC who have about 11 teams at junior level.
Orrell RU had it all many years ago but when they tried to go professional they virtually bankrupted themselves paying overrated union players massive contracts and ex pro league players who couldnt believe there luck with the money they where paid. To be successfull in this day and age you need a rich sugar daddy who will throw money away on a team and we dont have many of them in Wigan.
Wigan RU is slightly different with a lot more teams at senior and junior level, they own there own ground which isnt bad, but they too have a prejudice against RL. If you ask them they will deny it but its there its like an unspoken secret.

Do you really think there is an anti RL bias at Wigan Rugby Union? It hasn't been my experience, even going back years to the 70's. People were welcomed as either players or members regardless of their sporting background. It was a similar thing at Orrell as I recall. There was definitely a friendlier atmosphere, probably because they were amateur and the social side was great.

[cpwigan]

Personally, I would think Orrell returning to Orrell would be a good thing. I know they do some coaching at Upholland High. Surely if Orrell got better sporting facilities that would benefit the children of Orrell? I am not sure you can half building these days. You only have to look at Standish to see that.

Wigan RU seem to be quite happy existing in a League area. Many greats like Mike Gregory had spells at Wigan RU as juniors. Martin Gambles (IIRC) plays firsts for Wigan RU and previously played Championship RL.

[slimshady]

I would watch other sports that I find more entertaining before Union, such as football, boxing. Wigan Rugby Union already exists there is minimal interest in it. Orrell has plans to return to Orrell. I would say there is more interest in Union in that area but even then it is small scale.

I live in Orrell Village I came here after my application for idiot was denied due to me not being a resident I have to say that their is very little interest in union in the area, they cant even fill the Delph pub where they drink after games. They have a couple of senior teams who are not very good, their skill levels are rubbish, passing and tackling nowhere near good enough. It holds on in the area with diehard old farts who wont let it die and continue to blame Rugby League and Whelan for its own failure. The junior section is virtually non existant, totally eclipsed by Orrell ST James ARLFC who have about 11 teams at junior level.
Orrell RU had it all many years ago but when they tried to go professional they virtually bankrupted themselves paying overrated union players massive contracts and ex pro league players who couldnt believe there luck with the money they where paid. To be successfull in this day and age you need a rich sugar daddy who will throw money away on a team and we dont have many of them in Wigan.
Wigan RU is slightly different with a lot more teams at senior and junior level, they own there own ground which isnt bad, but they too have a prejudice against RL. If you ask them they will deny it but its there its like an unspoken secret.

Find this post pretty offensive- obviously another totally biggoted league fan- there are plenty on both sides of the divide that seem to have a hatred for the 'other'code for some unknown reason. Picking on a local amateur team is pretty petty- why not try having a moan about Sale.

Orrell first team are a truely amateur team currently playing in the 6th tier of 9 regionally where the majority of the other clubs get paid to play- nice little £50/£100 left in your shoe after a game. They are doing their best given not having a steady source of income and half the first team retiring last year. The majority of the guys there just play for fun and I would estimate half of the players go to watch Wigan RL on a regular basis, so obviously any 'prejudice' does not come from the players. In relation to support strength, the crowd that turns up at SJR is actually bigger than most other clubs in the league, the majority just go home after the game and not to the pub.

In relation to Wigan RU and their 'prejudice' against league, don't they have a number of ex-league amateurs playing there and also a ex-wigan academy player. They can't be that prejudicial!

In relation to Orrell St. James, they are renoun for having a strong junior section and bringing through several players. I have no issues with there success and wish them the best.

In relation to the moans about Orrell looking to form a partnership with Upholland High, I would imagine that this is to tap into Lottery funding and the like. If the school gets new sports facilities and Orrell get a clubhouse, I cannot see what the issue is, other than the NIMBY moans which will be experienced with any type of development any where in the country. Regarding the previous mismanagement of Orrell, the view that the club has had it's chance and doesn't deserve a clubhouse & ground is ridiculous. If this was applied to Superleague, then Bradford, Wakey & London amongst others would be playing amateur rl from their local playing fields.

My personal take is that I enjoy playing union, but don't particularly enjoy watching union. The southern hemisphere internationals are entertaining, but the club rugby in Europe is like watching paint dry most of the time. I much prefer to watch RL, hence having a season ticket at Wigan. If Wigan RL turned into Wigan RU, then I would probably go and watch for the first season, just to see how if it held my intrest. However, if they played rugby any thing like Sale did when I went to watch them in 2010, I wouldn't be going for long...

I couldnt care less if you find it offensive, Ive played at both Orrell RU and Wigan RU and know from my own experience that Rugby Union resents RL. Ive had Referees who have shown open hostility because my team mates and I had played RL, when putting hard but fair tackles in, being penalised and comments like your not playing RL now.
Its an underlying dislike for all things Rugby League, not everyone but a lot of your older grammar school old boys who think that they are better than us common Rugby league men. To be fair to Wigan RU I think they do suffer a bit with the disciplinary panels because they are seen as having a lot of former RL players. Dont think Orrell RU suffer the same fate.
My bigotry is more towards the code than the clubs but I do believe that ORUFC were the architects of their own downfall, maybe they are truly amateur but thats not always been the case as their demise proves.
Not a clue how you can enjoy playing Rugby Union unless you play it more like Rugby league, forget the kick and clap crap and run everything. We had success at Wigan playing that way and yes some RL lads are still there but I do have to say the social side is good and Ive made a lot of friends playing there. Wigan RU to my knowledge does not pay players or coaches and they own their own grounds. Whelans already got his toe in at St John Rigby so thats probably why ORUFC need to find a ground.