Amen to that, nothing worse than a person who thinks they are right about the game when in reality have no clue why decisions were made. Many a time I have asked, "Have you actually played/coached/reffed the game before" and their response is usually "No, but I've been supporting for x amount of years".

Well done. Still doesn't mean you know about the game and why decisions are being made. Best one is when a person genuinley believes they could do a better job! It's laughable!

Well that, in a nutshell, is why RL will never get any bigger. The attitude that people can just move if they're annoyed by the people next to them who are drinking excessively, swearing and being aggressive.
Along of course with those who think only people who have "played the game" can comment on it. Usually they are the worst offenders for painting RL in a bad light.

I'll ask the question again, why do you need to drink to have fun?
Why can't you conduct yourself like a normal human being and manage to not wet yourselves for 40 minutes. That's all you have to do. It's really not difficult.

You want to look at why blue chip companies aren't falling over themselves to sponsor RL? It might have something to do with RL's image.

Why is it your business why someone might need to go past you during the game? They might not necessarily be going to get a beer. I have epilepsy and if I feel a bit strange the best thing for me to do is go get a bit of air and a bottle of water. But oh no, if I push past you I'm a scumbag who is ruining your viewing experience!

There are many reasons why someone needs to go past. Maybe they have bladder problems for example or have eaten a bad kebab and need to fire a torpedo out. Maybe they need to make a phone call or something.

Would you rather I had a seizure in the ground (which I have before btw) and upset everyone round me? Would you rather someone got their snake out and wazzed in the terraces or squatted and did a massive turd? Would you like someone to be on the phone talking loudly to be heard over the noise and basically shouting in your ear about Claire's new boyfriend or whatever??

There are many reasons why people will HAVE to go past you in the ground and it is none of your business as to why. We aren't going to not do it just to please a very small group of miserable and thoughtless people and quite frankly, as one of these people you are talking about, I find I quite offensive that there are people like you who share these ignorant views.

wow. Nice rant that had absolutely nothing to do with what you quoted. He was talking about people who drink, not who have a medical condition

Regards

King James

haha

The reason why RL will never get any bigger is sod all to do with this.

Look at cricket, its become massive / fashionable to attend over the last 10-15 years mainly due to consumption of alcohol.

RL's media image is one of being a Northern, working class sport. The RFL do not try to promote it in any other fashion and hence the nationwide media perception is that of it being a parochial minority sport.

For the record, my commute for a home game is approx 120 miles round trip. I generally have a pint pre game, taking it to my seat.

Blue chips avoid RL as its exposure is not being enough to mass markets. You might want to address that issue to Nigel Wood

You've missed the point of what I was saying, I was just using some examples of other reasons people could be going out to the bar area. Further back in the thread he was saying that people go back and forth to the bar or toilets too much which he reiterated in the post I quoted. I was saying that the poster is assuming that people are getting up to get a drink yet there may be other reasons. Does he ask everyone who is getting up where they are going? Why is it his business? Why is it any different if someone is getting a drink or going to do something else? They are still pushing past and apparently ruining his entire viewing experience regardless.

My point was that it isn't fair to pick out and have a go at people that like a drink without having a go at everyone else as well. If people want a drink that is their business and he should mind his own.

Regards

Yorksguy

Perhaps if we all drank Pimms instead of pints?

What on earth are you on about? Medical conditions? That is clearly nothing to do with this discussion.

I've never told anyone what to do. When people drink excessively and go to the bar or the toilet numerous times in 40 minutes and so push past me that is very much MY business. I paid the same amount of money for my ticket as they did. My behaviour is not affecting their enjoyment. Their behaviour is affecting mine.

It is not unreasonable to ask people to simply act like normal human beings at a family social event.

I would say that those who think it IS reasonable to drink several pints in 40 mins, swear loudly and repeatedly and go to the toilet numerous times in 40 mins are the ones who are at odds with accepted societal norms.

I'll say it again. It is not difficult for a human being to avoid wetting themselves for 40mins.

As for sports images, well cricket doesn't have a negative image to overturn. RL does.

You've missed his point again

Regards

King James

RL has needed a game wide ban on alcholol for several years now. The problem is clubs and fans can't part with it for 80 mins in a weekend.

Personally, i like a drink but very rarely buy that overprices watered down stuff in the grounds.
Anyone who feels the need to want to drink more than 2 pints of that stuff wants their heads testing!

As for the argument, i can see both sides to it and i can relate to both sides, what 'him' is referring to is a small minority of people, for who the drinking is more important to the actual game on the field, this is usually seen at magic weekends etc, most people i know of and have seen maybe go to the bar/toilet once or twice, usually during breaks in play, i know i do, or i try to do.

What do you suggest they (the clubs) replace that income stream with?

Why ban something to suit a minority with a lack of tolerance ? As I have put on an earlier post, most stadia are not bulging at the seams for RL, you can always move?

Pints of Pimms

"income stream" excellent

If one person going for a beer or to the toilet means that 10 people have to stand up, or move out of the way, then who is the minority?

To be fair they want to stay in their seats. Union has put a lot of effort into crowd interaction and it certainly does this better than league. The amount of times the ball is lashed into the crowd when it looks like they may have to run with it or take a tackle is certainly impressive.

The crowd handle the ball more than some players.

If a ball is kicked into touch in rugby it's "lolol boring sport" when it's kicked into touch in Rugby League it's "oh that's great play, great kick"

Regards

King James

The circumstances surrounding when the kicks take place has a huge impact as to why it's considered boring in rugby union, if you had any grasp of either code you might have not made such a stupid statement.

As for the drinking at RL, it beggars belief that quite a large proportion of fans simply can't watch the match without the need to fill themselves with ale.
I'm one of a fair few who don't need to leave their seats at all though I will stand up periodically for clapping/when it gets exciting/scoring at t'other end and a HT stretch.

Jesus if my late 60s mother only has to go for a slash once in 2 hours I'm sure most can manage not to have to go for a wazz 2-3 times even with beer inside them.

CC Semi-final at Doncaster was crap aside from the result, FC fans standing throughout blocking the view and then meatheads on their way for yet another sodding pint.
I go to watch the rugby, I'm not interested in pre match 'entertainment' unless it's more rugby.
First and last time I sit with the plebs for such events as it really spoils the occasion.
If you want to have loads of ale, sod off down to the boozer.

Just, go away.

Not so for kicks out on the full

Going around in circles now.

Its not the 10 who are moaning about it, its a very small number of people on here. Again, its down to tolerance of others.

Or, as previously stated, those who feel strongly about it could always move themselves.

Perhaps the solution is to have non drinking areas?

The 10 who are not going for a slash and a beer

Fit everyone who's drinking with a catheter and a bag,thatll sort the problem

Late to this thread, but I have to say that as somebody who has been to almost every international at Twickenham since the 2015 6 nations commenced I have to agree with Woodward. The concourses at Twickenham are constantly buzzing with people throughout matches until the bars close. It is my general opinion (and this may well be a sweeping judgement) that a good percentage of people who attend matches at Twickenham are only there for the social side and basically to either do business or attend with fellow club members. The cost of the ticket (extortionate compared to many other sports) is irrelevant, its about being seen and having a jar or 12 with mates.

They are not overly interested in the fayre on the pitch. They simply go for a full day out and a stonking hangover the following day. This is bourne out by the lack of families that go (as a percentage of the crowd) compared to a big league match.

It is basically part of the social calendar and to be there is to be seen, especially amongst white middle class males. The same type that wouldn't lower themselves to watch a league match and certainly wouldn't mix with the type that attend football matches. In the summer they can be seen swilling fizz at a T20 cricket match or sat in the main stand at Lords paying £100 a ticket for a rain effected day of test cricket.

The RFU paly up to this. The footprint of bars and food outlets around Twickenham is now massive. Every food concession is there. Even Krispy Crème doughnuts can be bought in packs of 3 for either £5 for plain ones or £6 for fancy ones. The whole occasion for an individual with a ticket, enjoying a few beers and some food, would cost you in the region of £200. All money heading towards the RFU's coffers.
Compare that to the Stade De France where I went in March, were I paid £140 for 4 tickets (I've just got two tickets for the 6 nations next year for £105 each) which has very few bars and very few food outlets and you start to grasp the scale of the marketing machine that the RFU have at Twickenham.

So Sir Clive can whinge all he likes, the RFU won't care so long as every seat remains filled at every international, and every half decent fast food outlet and alcohol company adds to their commercial value.