Would you follow Wigan Rugby Union?

[DaveO]

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.

As I am sure many people on here know eldest lad played RU as a junior for Chester. There is no RL here so what you say above struck a chord with me. "I could watch my lad play marbeles and enjoy it". That is exactly how it was for me with him playing RU.

He has now gone to University and guess what? They have an RL team. He has signed up for that and his first comment to me about it was "It's far more brutal but miles better".

I have to say though we had a great time as father and son at Chester RU. We went on tour to South Africa and had several tours in the UK (which were for the Dad's really - beer :- ) ).

The thing is though that junior set up is divorced from the senior club. The juniors are seen as an inconvenience not an asset. So RU has not got it right all the way and Chester is not un-typical.

Having watched my son play RU for several years does that make me any more likely to watch pro RU? No. I have watched pro RU in this country, in Ireland and in South Africa under modern RU rules and it is still rubbish.

Junior Ru was fine. You have less players on the pitch in junior and mini RU so its little different than RL in many respects. Once you get 15 players on the pitch as the players get older all the emphasis is on forward play and the pack and my God that is boring.

[devon jim 1]

In responce to Alex the Warrior Couldn't agree with you more

[bocco]

in an article I read, maybe a year ago,that only 2 RU clubs in England run at a profit Leicester & Glouster if memory serves me correctly.RU has serious issues as well. The main issue it is boring to watch.

[exile in Tiger country]

I would watch other sports that I find more entertaining before Union, such as football, boxing....

... paint drying, grass growing, cement hardening. All better spectator sports than RU.

[lucky 13]

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.

As I am sure many people on here know eldest lad played RU as a junior for Chester. There is no RL here so what you say above struck a chord with me. "I could watch my lad play marbeles and enjoy it". That is exactly how it was for me with him playing RU.

He has now gone to University and guess what? They have an RL team. He has signed up for that and his first comment to me about it was "It's far more brutal but miles better".

I have to say though we had a great time as father and son at Chester RU. We went on tour to South Africa and had several tours in the UK (which were for the Dad's really - beer :- ) ).

The thing is though that junior set up is divorced from the senior club. The juniors are seen as an inconvenience not an asset. So RU has not got it right all the way and Chester is not un-typical.

Having watched my son play RU for several years does that make me any more likely to watch pro RU? No. I have watched pro RU in this country, in Ireland and in South Africa under modern RU rules and it is still rubbish.

Junior Ru was fine. You have less players on the pitch in junior and mini RU so its little different than RL in many respects. Once you get 15 players on the pitch as the players get older all the emphasis is on forward play and the pack and my God that is boring.

I have only seen him play one game Dave. Not sure if you know how the rules re ptches are set? It seems almost set up to stop the kids playing with any space. His age group play on a third of a pitch with 13 players. He's a bit fed up already he plays full pitch at RL and gets to run and pass every set more or less. He struggled first game of RU to get one ball ALL GAME!! even though the coach said " give the league lads the ball"

His game of league is off at weekend and after asking him does he want to play RU he pulled his face. Maybe if he had not played league it would be better for him. Maybe if I had not seen him play RL it would be easier for me

[Brianed0]

I played RU all my playing life. I used to watch Orrell too, However I have always enjoyed watching RL a lot more.

RU is a great game to play, particularly if you play in the forwards (I was a hooker).

I do believe RU has improved as a spectator sport over the last 10 years, but is still so boring to watch. The skill levels cannot begin to compare with RL. Passing, tackling, break making, vision etc is so poor.

The fact that there are 15 players means that missed tackles are more forgiving since there is often someone else to beat after that.

As we all know, RU is much better spectator sport in the southern hemisphere. Not clear why that should be since the RU can afford to pay the big wages for the big players.

Anyway, back to the topic, would I watch Wigan RU. I would probably give it a try, but I know I will always prefer to watch Wigan RL.

[deancartwright1990]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hell noooooooooooooooo

[michael inch stoke]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hell noooooooooooooooo

Ditto :exc:

[DaveO]

I do believe RU has improved as a spectator sport over the last 10 years, but is still so boring to watch. The skill levels cannot begin to compare with RL. Passing, tackling, break making, vision etc is so poor.

I have watched a few 1st grade RU games in recent years live due to being on tour with my sons team. I saw a game in Ireland Leinster v Munster. Now this game has a HUGE rivalry supposedly on a par with Wigan v Saints.

I don't think I have ever been as bored at a sporting event than I was watching this game. The teams spent virtually the entire game kicking the ball back to each other and both seemed utterly clueless as to any way to attack that might involve putting on a move.

The crowd drove me nuts as well. The "singing" was simply one set of fans literally droning "Leeeeinsterrr" followed but the other lot droning "Muunnsterrr".

As we all know, RU is much better spectator sport in the southern hemisphere. Not clear why that should be since the RU can afford to pay the big wages for the big players.

I saw a game in South Africa as well. This was better and was a high scoring game but I don't think is par for the course as once it gets serious the rules are a huge hindrance to open rugby as it is easy to close a game down.

Crowd was much better. Once they found out we were from England they were very friendly including shoving lots of strange food our way (some sort of beef jerky stuff)!

Anyway, back to the topic, would I watch Wigan RU. I would probably give it a try, but I know I will always prefer to watch Wigan RL.

I'd try but as I said earlier in the thread its unlikely I would watch it in the end. I would be expecting to be disappointed in that I think it would be inevitable that even if Wigan tried to play a southern hemisphere style the established UK clubs would just try and slow the game down and that is what would happen.

[DaveO]

I have only seen him play one game Dave. Not sure if you know how the rules re ptches are set? It seems almost set up to stop the kids playing with any space. His age group play on a third of a pitch with 13 players. He's a bit fed up already he plays full pitch at RL and gets to run and pass every set more or less. He struggled first game of RU to get one ball ALL GAME!! even though the coach said " give the league lads the ball"

My lad went through mini's, juniors and then onto junior and senior colts. If I remember correctly they only got onto full sized pitches on a regular basis in the junior colts (aged 16). I am pretty sure they also got some chances in the last year of being a junior but access to the full sized pitches was not guaranteed. In the early years the mini and junior game has even fewer players on the pitch down to 8 and 11, then 13.

Goal kicks were not taken until very late on and kicking the ball from the hand was actively discouraged because they were all so rubbish at it! Basically kicking it anywhere which usually meant all you did was give possession away and stood a very good chance of having the ball run back at you for a try.

His game of league is off at weekend and after asking him does he want to play RU he pulled his face. Maybe if he had not played league it would be better for him. Maybe if I had not seen him play RL it would be easier for me

We did have the odd league player turn up at Chester but not many. My lad was a back and so could also go an entire game without getting more than a couple of passes. Most young players soon realise this and so if they have any size at all about them they try and play in the pack.