Well that puts that to bed

[Davethedog]

So Rugby players are much better behaved than football players.

The only time they come under heavy observation by the press they prove to be as bad if not worse.

The only reason they get away with it at club level is, the press don't care.

[Philtaz]

Duncer,

You REALLY believe that the recovery rate for a footballer at internatioonal level ought to be the same as an international rugby player? The body of a rugby player takes far more battering in any level of the game!

Footballers and rugby players both have physio's, nutritionists etc yet you HONESTLY believe any footballer would receive the same physical battering, stresses and strains as anyone from the pack? The same bruised shoulders and back strains? Most footballers would bawl their eyes out at getting a cauliflower ear!

Get real!

[boxtops]

There's a fair few if you Google "football player assault" too, JL - and several of them sexual assault, not just duffing people up.

[Philtaz]

Just re-read your last paragraph, Duncer.

Footballers often do their utmost to injure opponents. You've never seen them grab testicles? What, not the famous pic of Gazza and Vinnie Jones? You also must have missed the career ending 'tackle' of Keane on Haaland, Gary Mabbutt's face after being elbowed, Ben Thatcher's forearm smash on Pedro Mendes and countless other physical assaults? At least when rugby players are found guilty they face harsh penalties, unlike their glamorous sporting colleagues.

[Duncer]

Philatz, yes, I REALLY (why the bizarre capitals by the way?), do believe that footballers face the same "degree" of stresses and strains, albeit in different areas. Rugby players may suffer in the shoulder and back region but footballers play at an unprecendented pace today and suffer calf, achilles, metatarsal and other injuries, so why should big tough rugger buggers only play two games in two weeks? Football is faster than it ever has been; whether or not it is better is an entirely different story and I find myself increasingly reverting to grass-roots football. I played both, as already stated, and found football physically tougher, and why would anyone want a cauliflower ear?

Yes, Gazza did have his nuts twisted by Vinnie Jones, but this was so exceptional it made the papers everywhere, including the Middle East where I worked at the time. It goes on all the time in scrums, and eye gouging has yet to happen in football as far as I am aware. However, both are low and cowardly types of attack that do rugby no credit. Yes, footballers do commit assaults, (and Keane is the rare exception of the sociopath made good/successful), but not with the monotonous regularity of rugby players who, at the same time, try to perpetuate this smug sense of superiority and moral high ground.

[piggynose]

philatz are you an armchair supporter, or have you played rugby and football at a high level?

[mickrog]

jl......i think the word thug should be directed at Loony Roony and not at true sportsmen like rugby players. At least we have our cricket team of whom we can be proud....no high salaries ...the will to win......and gents too.They are also winners and not a bunch of no hopers that wear the England football shirt.....

[jno]

jl won't like the cricket team, it contains people born overseas.

[mickrog]

just like most of the prima donnas in the Premier |League then isnt it

[Duncer]

On the subject of the "England" cricket team, after beating India I'm pleased they all took a well-deserved break back home............................



........................in South Africa.

Only joking England cricket fans, I have no real interest in the game, or opinions on it, apart from availing of the reduced beer at Woodvale CC on occasion, after attending Windsor Park.

Mickrog "True sportsmen like rugby players"????

Fisticuffs, gouging and nefarious scrum based activities are all so sporting, aren't they?

[mickrog]

diving in rugby....result........a try

diving in soccer....result........a free kick/penalty....or better still a red card for the other side.

yes....true sportsmen....lol

[Davethedog]

Blood in the mouth

In Football normaly a head n the teeth

In Rugby a visit to the joke shop - Yes I know just the once, good lads, never cheat blah blah blah

[Philtaz]

Piggynose,

Only played football at Sunday league level (centre back), played rugby in the Army at Unit and Garrisson level (lock/second row), so yes I've played both. Rugby is far more physically demanding, particularly at Premiership level IMHO.
Rugby players wouldn't leave the field/request treatment for the majority of injuries that so called top footballers do and certainly wouldn't fall screaming to the floor holding their face after having been bitch-slapped!

[Davethedog]

I agree about the physical thing but isn't the major difference between leaving or not leaving the fact rugbyplayers don't need to as the game carries on.

Also aren't there far more broken legs and concussions (genuine) in football?

[Philtaz]

Duncer,
I don't see it that rugby players 'try to perpetuate this smug sense of superiority and moral high ground'.

They just appear to have a different demeanour and ethos when it comes to playing sport professionally and probably tend to 'man-up' a little more in the face of physical adversity.

[pa___ul3]

I did play Saturady league football, I now play Saturday league rugby, I gave up the football because it's full of agro little gobshayts who swing a fist or elbow at the slightest thing. With the rugby you get tackled hard but fair, I even often get commended from the opposition for a good tackle, but I'm a winger so don't face the same level as macho confrontation the forwards face, it does often kick off there but it's usually calmed down quick enough.
Regarding having a week between games, in the WC I think this was just for the major nations, I believe Tonga had to play 4 games in 12 days. I'd also say that rugby is definitey more physically gruelling and I'm the type that covers every blade of grass in both sports, with the rugby you have a lot more upper body and back work to go with the running, if you were a hooker it makes sense that you didn't put yourself about as much as you might in footy!!
I think half the problem is because it's usually the posher schools that play rugby to any decent level, it's more encouraged there, so round here, it tends to be the better off lads who play rugby, and the scallies who play footy, although I'm very much neither!

[Duncer]

I agree with the generalised social differences between the sports, but my points are aimed more at the smug moral superiority of rugby, and the cowardice of gouging and it's ilk. Trying to blind another player on the ref's blind side is hardly "manning up".

I agree that footballers who fall to the ground in mock agony at the slightest touch are a joke; had I tried that when I played my team mates would have given me a bollocking, never mind anyone else. I blame the high financial stakes in the game today, not that that excuses it in any way; it is cheating - pure and simple. The fawning simpering media don't help either, and the wall to wall coverage of the cheats means that impressionable youngster copy their "roll models". Until UEFA or FIFA tackle this problem seriously, (lengthy bans and points deductions), then football will always suffer from this vile problem.

[Duncer]

And the mis-spelling in the last post was almost deliberate - many players are "roll" models when they are tackled.