I was just wondering if anyone knew why these 2 countries play under 1 team internationally. I don't think this happens in any other sport, so does anyone know why is happens in rugby?
I guess it has a lot to do with the fact that the IRB (then known as the IRFB) was founded in 1886, with Ireland as a founding member, and Ireland had independence in 1921. But again i presume their football team must have been split into 2, so why wasn't rugby?
Another reason why they may have stayed under the 1 team is that they are a tier 1 nation, and are within the top 8 teams in the world. However if they were to split back to North and Republic, you would simply get 2 tier 2 nations who would be far less competitive and would devalue the 6 nations and international game. Before you say it, I appreciate the club side Ulster is practically Northern Ireland. Despite the fact that they have a wealth of overseas talent they would still be tier 2, at best, on the international game.
If Ireland and Northern Ireland are merged, do you think other tier 2 nations will merge so we have more tier 1 nations? So Georgia and Russia could merge and be an extra team in the 6 nations.
do you guys know why the IRFU never split and whether you think they should or not?
Ireland and Northern Ireland
posted on 29/10/11
Bull Ireland was neutral .Yes Diarmud mc Murdoch invited Strongbow ever. Pity he overstayed hid welcome! Did the Irish invite the English to rob their land and vomit genocide on their people too? You speak some rubbish.
posted on 30/10/11
1988-12:
I think this is something we are going to have to disagree on for the time being. But if you accept the FAI point of view that they seceded because of player bias I would earnestly ask you to consider the following seriously.
[1] What else could they say! They could hardly say we want to break up the national FA cos we want more lolly or because we want a nice sinecure.
[2] If there was a bias against free state players why were Carey and many more regularly selected by the IFA?
[3] What possible motive could the IFA have for discriminating against Free State players? They would have been interested above all in selecting the highest calibre players available and fielding the strongest team possible. It doesnt make sense. If you say they had a downer against Republicans, well then you have to explain why they regularly selected NI Catholics, some of whom were no doubt of a Republican persuasion. At one time Belfast Celtic had 7 players in the national team! I know many were Prods, but not all.
[4] Why didnt the IFA sue the FAI? Well, I imagine they probably considered it. May even have sought legal advice. If so, any competent lawyer would have told them not to waste their time! Trying to prove something like biased selection for a team is, as you may imagine, extremely difficult, if not impossible! The legal attitude is generally that coaches have the right to select whoever they want for their teams. I dont know of a single case where such an action has ever been successful. Imagine trying to sue Glasgow Celtic for not selecting St. Pat McCourt on a regular basis! Something I would like to do, but a total waste of time!
moving on ...... Your gracious apology shows class. but really is totally unneccessary. You have done absolutely nothing to apologise for(really mean it!). I have not taken any offence at anything you've written. This whole subject is a very murky area. I doubt if the real truth will ever come out and maybe thats all for the best. Maybe its better all forgotten. Then everybody can become more friendly until one day some bright spark says, "Hey guys, instead of wondering if either of us are going to reach the finals of this or that tournament why dont we put out an All Ireland team which will virtually guarantee us all of a place in the finals of every major tourny!". Then we can really get her lit! Best of luck with Estonia!
PS. must say I really admire the stamina of you and JBP(?) thrashing your way thru all this historical stuff!
posted on 30/10/11
Sorry, JPB
posted on 30/10/11
Thanks When for bringing the discussion back to the subject of the article . We'll have just have to agree to disagree. Best of luck to your team with your new manager. Good players like Kenny Shiels and Jamie Ward who were overlooked by Worthington might now get a chance to prove themselves. That said ye have one he'll of a tough group for the WC Qualifiers.
posted on 30/10/11
Correction meant to type "thanks Shen".
posted on 30/10/11
1988-12:
Realised after posting late yesterday that Id made a bit of a cxck up replying to your point about why didnt the IFA sue. Cos I didnt have your post in front of me at the time, I got confused and started rambling on about the subject of suing over biased player selection when your point was obviously over why didnt the IFA sue the FAI for seceding. Sorry about that.
Anyway I think it comes down to the same answer -- It would have been very difficult for the IFA to win such a case. The FAI could simply have claimed with good reason that the Irish Free State represented a de facto "new country" and that they were simply setting up the national FA for this new country! Case closed. IFA humilated and substantially out of pocket! I guess they had a look at it and thought better to leave it alone. I think they probably thought than given time and pressure from various quarters, that the FAI would return to the fold.
posted on 30/10/11
"come back into the fold" not a chance! They soldiered on despite being ignored by the various British Fa's and also opposition from the GAA with their ridiculous ",foreign games" nonsense. Both Liam Brady and Johnny Giles were treated as outcasts by the Christian brothers for playing for the ROI schoolboys !
posted on 1/11/11
1988:
Imagine what an All Ireland team we would have had back in those days if we could have managed it; Best, Brady, Giles, Jennings, Irvine, McAvoy, etc. !
posted on 1/11/11
Same for the early 80's. Jennings O'Leary,Nelson,Lawrenson,Rice,Brady,Hamilton,Armstrong,Whiteside,Stapleton etc..
Didn't Arsenal have about 7 or 8 players from both the ROI and NIreland in their side in the late 70's early 0's.
posted on 8/12/11
I loved the guy who brought up the 12th century - jeez!!