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I'm aware there's usually a wee bit of interest on this forum around the Six Nations, but are there any actual rugby fans that regularly follow Edinburgh (or Glasgow)?
Heading along to the quarter final tie against Stade Francais at Murrayfield on Friday night, for what should be a better spectacle than the freezing cold experience of the game against the Southern Kings last weekend!
I could never get into club rugby. It should be technically as good,if not better, than the international game but somehow it lacks the glamour.
It's never too late!
I'm a fairly regular attendee at both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Two or three games per year each. Edinburgh, as I'm a Hibby I obviously prefer this side of the country and also four of their squad are from my club Alloa rugby club originally. Glasgow due to the fact that Alloa is linked to them through the SRU as all clubs are to one or other of the pro clubs. Want to see them both win but it is Edinburgh first. Glasgow have done really well to increase crowds and have got a real club feel about them. Hopefully Edinburgh can do the same with the move to Myreside
I don'y profess to being a true rugby follower but I do enjoy the Friday night games on Alba. I've been to Scotstoun to watch the Warriors a couple of times and have to admit that it was a great atmosphere. And shock horror, the tannoy system was loud and clear and the catering was fantastic.:greengrin
Most of my mates are rugby fans and being from the west support Glasgow. I like the games on Alba on a Friday evening as I've finished work and have a couple of beers. I go up to Scotstoun about once a season and support them except when they play Edinburgh, but there they have over the years slowly built up a loyal support base. Winning regularly is obviously a good starting point.
Edinburgh's move to Myreside is also a good start and hopefully more locals will go out to see them, but there's a long way to go to match the weegies in terms of atmosphere.
There's a massive difference between the respective sets of fans, highlighted by the game between the two at Murrayfield before Christmas. The weegie fans despite being in a considerable minority, were much louder and not lacking in their ability to bawl, whereas Edinburgh fans were like sheep in comparison and not inclined to utter a sound until the dying moments when they scored the winner. Until that point they made more noise when a nipper scored a try at half time.
Me and my son are what you could say, rather more vocal and like to get a bit more involved in a game (especially this one) even to the extent of abus-disagreeing with the ref (!) - such as Peter Wright likes to do on the radio. We were shouting a bit (no swearies) and folk were turning round to look at us, horrified, as if we'd just abused their mother, something I've experienced before at Murrayfield.
This may not be the best example, as a substantial proportion of the big crowd seemed to be families and the like who probably go to a game once a year and didn't know much about who was playing or doing what.
This is something Richard Cockerill will have to take into account if he wants to improve the atmosphere at Myreside. (I.e. me 'n' the boy won't be there to do it for him!)
Big rugby fan here.
When I moved here I started to watch a few Edinburgh games to support my now local team but its 20 quid a game and 25 if you don't book in advance which for the pro 14 is pretty steep IMO. Don't mind paying 20 quid etc to watch champions cup but to see the pro 14 I wont pay it, especially now they've moved grounds. Cant afford hibs and 20 quid to watch Edinburgh.
Cardiff blues when I was last there was 15 quid on the terrace for champions cup and it was about 13 quid for pro 14. Probably a bit more expensive now but I'm sure the terrace is still <20 quid.
Our club is off on it's biannual trip to wales for the six nations. For the first time in 50 years we don't have a game to play as we are struggling for players to go. I am also not attending the match on the Saturday as it was £80 per ticket from the SRU. I have seen enough Scotland v Wales matches in my time so I would rather filter that £80 through my kidneys!! Will still be a great four days away as always, although Swansea , where we have gone for decades is a bit rundown and rough nowadays with loads of nightclubs and bars closed down. Tickets for the Calcutta cup match went up to £105!!!
WRU have been charging 75 quid up for games for about the last 10 years. I try go to as many Scotland games as I can as compared to home Scotland is cheap. I can get tickets for 25 quid for some games. Even the all blacks game I only paid 50!!
About six years ago there was a crowd of is in the Millennium stadium, we had all paid £64 for our tickets and were surrounded by Welsh folk who had paid £16 for the same seats. We can get a two coarse meal plus two free drinks for £20 in a club in Swansea with a big screen and that still leaves £60 for more beer throughout the rest of the day! Prices are getting mental now. I paid the equivalent of £8 for the 2nd and 3rd Lions tests in Aus in 2001. That would just about buy you a burger at the matches now.
Meant to say on that last one that now that Rugby has become so big for TV now costs for everything have gone through the roof and wee clubs like mine are starting to struggle. Bigger clubs are hoovering up any available talent and if they dont quite make it then they are never encouraged back to their original clubs. A lot are discarded and stop playing. SRU are focused big time on pro teams then a small number of the big clubs and the rest of us are toiling for playing numbers. When I first started playing at Alloa we had three teams every week plus U18s etc. Now we only get a 2nd XV out about 40% of the season. I've played 3 times this season just to get a team out and I'm 49!
Is joining a club the best way to get involved in the social rugby scene and (as a side bonus) a good way to get tickets for the international games? I've never touched a rugby ball in my life, let alone having played the sport, and I'm a recent convert truth be told. But I'm hooked (no pun intended)! Apart from my dad, I also don't have any 'rugby mates' yet, so while there IS a club in my town, I don't want to pester them when I likely can't toss a ball 10 yards in a straight line and I'm built like a twig :greengrin
Ticket cost is definitely a big factor - I was too late to buy the season ticket for the Scotland games this year, so I've missed out on the France and England games, and I'd love to attend both! But the hundreds of pounds being quoted on various sites is excessive!
I was at the Stade Francais game this evening and it was a wonderful experience - we were actually stood on the Murrayfield pitch watching live Challenge Cup rugby, and it was a fantastic game too!
Where is it you live? I would encourage you to get down your local club. If you become a member you will be able to order international tickets through them. It won't make it any cheaper but can almost guarantee a ticket excerpt for England matches. We were 57 tickets short of what we asked for for that match but got all we asked for for the rest of the six nations games. I don't go to many Hibs away games anymore so when Hibs are away I tend to go and watch Alloa play( still sometimes play for 2nd XV!). You will find that you can have a beer or two and watch the game and the so ail side will be good. What age are you and are you interested I playing? If so, don't let size put you off, anyone can play at any size.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylar
Those will be rugby club tickets. I think the WRU offers cheaper tickets to all member clubs then whatever is left (if any) goes public sale. Some games are hard to get tickets for even if you are a rugby club member.Quote:
Originally Posted by weecounty hibby
The SRU are releasing a limited batch of tickets for the France game this morning at 10. It is a pain as we were going to try get tickets but I’m on a course this morning so I won’t be able to get online until lunchtime.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylar
Managed to get 2. They have put the prices up a but though, bronze tickets now 50 quid a pop. Sure they were only 30 odd last year!!Quote:
Originally Posted by overdrive
Unfortunately the break on my course was at 11 by which point they had sold out.
Sat in a queue for an hour this morning only for the page to reset just as the queue counter thingy hit almost finished! By the time I signed back in it was only single seats. Was livid!
To answer your earlier question weecounty, I live in Lanark, so we do have a rugby club here in the town. I've never really thought about playing, but I do prefer team sports to gyms etc for keeping fit, so perhaps I'll pop up and speak to the folks that run the club :agree:
After years of decline, there now appears to be a significant increase in rugby union interest throughout Scotland. The advent of the professional game in Scotland was not popular in the previous rugby union hotspots such as the Borders and it didn't when their team was disbanded and the SRU decided to concentrate resources on the two city teams.
Time is a great healer and we now have a new generation of rugby followers who see both Edinburgh and Glasgow as "club sides." Its encouraging to see the number of younger players who have come through the academy systems and established themselves in the professional squads.
After many seasons of being the poor relations as far as the home nations were concerned, the national team are showing promise and for once, let's hope they can live up to expectations in this years Six Nations championship.
Well said. The introduction of regional rugby has totally ruined the club game in Wales. Supporters of teams being told by the WRU they should now be supporting their rival. For example supporters of Pontypridd being told to support Cardiff and my home town team Pontypool being told to support "NEWPORT gwent dragons". Only the stand along regions like Cardiff and the Scarlets do well but I have to say that the ospreys have been successful also as that Was the Neath/Swansea ospreys and they played in black and white so both sides were happy with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden Bear
I played against Lanark a few times before our club disbanded - Mid-Argyll. Good bunch of guys and their (Portakabin) changing rooms were about the warmest I've ever experienced. A rugby club is usually a good set-up for socialising, even if you're not a player, as they like folk just coming along to watch or helping out and training nights are great for fitness. My own physique was not obviously that of your international rugby player (tall and erm, slim), but I always kept a decent level of fitness and it didn't stop me playing for 34 years! I remember standing beside the great John Rutherford in a pub and thinking, how come he's so wee and yet so good?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylar
Cheers TP - I've made contact, so I'll see what they say!Quote:
Originally Posted by The Pointer
I don't know if I'm in the minority here or not, but I'm pleased to see Edinburgh are to play the remainder of their games this season at Murrayfield, and are considering a move back away from Myreside, as they don't feel it's creating a consistent matchday experience. They're talking about setting up a small 6k seater stadium on the side pitch at Murrayfield for the smaller games, and still being able to utilise the main arena for the bigger games.
For me, getting Myreside and getting parked etc is a bugger. If I can park my car at Ingliston and get the tram into Murrayfield for games, I'll 100% buy a season ticket for next year.
I'm a bit of the opposite.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylar
I've fancied going to Edinburgh games regularly for a couple of years and trying to get into club rugby and really understand the game. It's the thought of rattling around in a circa 70K seater stadium with a 2 or 3000 crowd that puts me off. I went to a game at Myreside recently and enjoyed the atmosphere but it did all feel a bit temporary. I accept the logistics and facilities around Murrayfield are better as well. The small stadium within the Murrayfield complex definitely seems the right way to go as the small set up at Glasgow seemed excellent on my one visit there.
Looks like Edinburgh will be back at Murrayfield for the rest of the season. I don't know the exact reason as I only heard the tale end of the radio report.
Here's the Beeb report.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43121142
You won't get tickets to internationals (the relationship between the Scottish Touch Association and the SRU isn't good as I understand it) but have you thought about touch rugby as a way to get into the sport and keep fit with a good social scene?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylar
Glasgow Lions have a big membership I think and run training twice a week with games most Saturdays through the summer. They also take part in tournaments throughout the UK. They welcome players of any standard from seasoned rugby players to people who have never touched a ball before, so you'll not feel out of place.
I stopped playing union a few years ago due to other commitments and started playing touch up here in Inverness and it is a great game. Played through the summer as well so the added bonus of playing in the good weather and less risk of injury.
The SRU have started their own version of touch called Tartan Touch which runs at rugby clubs through the summer but it isn't as good IMHO as proper touch rugby.
That's Myreside done with then as Edinburgh rugby terminate agreement early and move back to Murrayfield for the remainder of the season.
Interesting to see what happens next. Talk of building a temp stadium on the pitches at the back of Murrayfield.
Must admit when I've been to Edinburgh rugby I've really enjoyed it but the 20 quid a game is steep.
If they qualify for champions cup and don't push ticket prices up then I might go to a lot more games next season. Might even consider getting a season ticket. In fact as 180 quid isn't bad for the pro 14 and champions cup games. I'm sure they give you the friendlies for free at the start of the season as well.
I believe Watsonians were the driving force in terminating the agreement. The demands Edinburgh were putting on them with regards to essentially banning them from using their own ground were unsustainable.Quote:
Originally Posted by nellio
I think the pitch was poor as well as they had to move a few games back to Murrayfield anyway because the pitch wasn't up to scratch.
just now its a temporary arrangement going back to murrayfield, they may well end up back at myreside next season but nothing has been decided yet
Given it up for goodQuote:
Originally Posted by allant1981
http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/1...ement-myreside
Heading along to Murrayfield tomorrow for the Edinburgh vs Cardiff Blues quarter final. Looking forward to it. Hoping for an Edinburgh win of course.
Went to both Challenge & Champions Cup finals last year at Murrayfield. Really enjoyed both matches.
I went to both those too. Though they were great value.
Looking good for the playoffs and a champion cup spot. All pro 14 games at home now.
5.45 kick off time I see. I'll be at ER this afternoon but will be back home about 6pm so I'll see most of the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by hfc rd
Aye its on sky.