I am a keen follower of rugby union, mainly due to my younger brother who plays a bit. Unlike with cricket and football I don't have a great knowledge of the technicalities of the game, I've never really played it properly. However I do have very strong views on the development of Irish rugby which is what I care about most. The current domestic set-up in Ireland is poor although I do concede it is getting better. There is clearly a huge market for rugby in Ireland and I believe the opportunity exists to rejuvenate the organisation thus improve standards. It is a crime in Ireland that we don't have any major sporting teams to follow (don't mention GAA its amateur and should always stay that way making it what it is). The Belfast Giants are demonstrating that there is the people out there willing to attend, but come on Ireland can never be any good at ice hockey and we want to watch our own people take on the rest of the world not some money-grabbers from the US who didn't make it over there. The future to me is in having four or five professional teams in the whole of the island. Of course they would need more than eight games a season, hence the usefulness of the celtic league which should be the teams main and only league. A ten team league would be ideal giving the time for internationals and european rugby. Currently there is just too many matchs. If Ireland had only five teams they could build good grounds for each of the teams and I'm sure bring in people, I would be there. At the minute though watching Dungannon along with about only 200 others doesn't do it for me. If the games gonna be professional make it professional not half professional. Of course my ideas rely on various things, i.e. television deals for the league, but something should be done. At present there is poor marketing, facilities, media coverage and too much snobbish traditionalists in high places.
On a high note Ireland still though have a good side at the minute. |
