QuoteGay activists praise rugby star Gareth Thomas's decision to come out
Speculation is growing that other gay sports stars may follow suit
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The shock decision by rugby union player Gareth Thomas to announce that he is gay has triggered speculation that other sports stars might come out. Thomas is Wales's most-capped player and a former British and Irish Lions captain. The fact that he has confirmed his sexuality while still playing the game has been praised by gay rights campaigners.
Yesterday the 6ft 3in, 16-stone rugby star said he hoped he could make a difference to others struggling with their sexuality. "I just want to thank everyone for the amazing response I have received, on behalf of me, my family and friends," Thomas said. "I hope that by saying this I can make a big difference to others in my situation."
But he said he did not want to be known as a "gay rugby player" and hoped people would treat his sexuality as "irrelevant" to his career. "What I choose to do when I close the door at home has nothing to do with what I have achieved in rugby," he said. "I'd love for it, in 10 years' time, not to even be an issue in sport, and for people to say: 'So what?'"
Thomas, who came on as a substitute for his team Cardiff Blues as they lost 23-7 to Toulouse in the Heineken Cup quarter-final yesterday, said the secret of his sexuality was like a "ticking bomb" which he had tried to suppress. "I just couldn't ignore it any more," he told the Daily Mail.
"It is very positive Gareth has come out while he is still an active player," said gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. "Many of the sports people who have declared their homosexuality have tended to do so after their careers are over.
"Rugby is a very macho sport and has traditionally had a very robust he-man, heterosexual image so it is really great that he has had the guts to be honest with himself and his fans. Hopefully this will ease the way for other gay and bisexual players to also come out."
There was overwhelming support for Thomas on internet fan sites and in online chatrooms. Many said they were not surprised. In the Welsh rugby community, Thomas's sexuality has been the subject of gossip for more than a decade.
Delme Parfitt, who co-wrote Thomas's autobiography, predicted the player would endure catcalls at matches. "Thomas is almost certainly going to have to turn a deaf ear to the odd wolf-whistle, or worse, homophobic insult," Parfitt wrote in the Western Mail. "But the truth is, those barbs were already coming his way long before he decided to go public."
Yesterday Thomas received the full backing of both the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Cardiff.
"He is most probably one of the most popular players among his peers," said Roger Lewis, WRU group chief executive. "While Gareth's private life is entirely irrelevant to his career as an international sportsman it would be remiss of the WRU not to remind him of the high esteem in which he is held in the game in Wales at a time when he has decided to bring such personal reflections to public notice."
Robert Norster, Cardiff Blues chief executive, said: "Gareth Thomas is a credit to Cardiff Blues who has truly brought honour to the jersey as a formidable player and a strong leader. His private life is his own concern and we will continue to acknowledge him for the qualities he brings to the squad as a player and an individual who exemplifies the values of commitment, determination and fair play we expect from our team."
Thomas said he decided to go public about his sexuality to "send a positive message" to other gay people, especially young people considering a career in sport. "It has been really tough for me, hiding who I really am, and I don't want it to be like that for the next young person who wants to play rugby, or some frightened young kid," he said.
A supporter of the children's charity NSPCC, Thomas added: "I don't know if my life is going to be easier because I'm out, but if it helps someone else, if it makes one young lad pick up the phone to Childline, then it will have been worth it."
He said he knew from the age of 16 or 17 that he was gay but could not accept it and feared his sexuality would affect his playing career. He made up stories about girls to fit in with his male friends and felt he was sometimes overly aggressive as he played the straight man.
Thomas, who said he was never attracted to a team-mate, said rugby was his "saviour" as playing allowed him to escape from his personal confusion.
But he realised in summer 2006 that he could no longer live a lie. He told his wife, Jemma, that he was gay and felt as if his life was "falling apart" as his four-year marriage broke down. He recalled how he broke down in tears in the changing rooms of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, after playing for Wales in November 2006 and confided his secret to coach Scott Johnson. Thomas said: "After keeping it secret for so long, I felt a huge rush of relief. Scott said: 'Right, I've got to speak now to three or four players in the Welsh team because you need the boys to surround you and support you. You can't cope with this on your own,' and he was right.
"He told two of my team-mates, Stephen Jones and Martyn Williams, and as I sat in the bar waiting for them, I was absolutely terrified, wondering what they were going to say. But they came in, patted me on the back and said: 'We don't care. Why didn't you tell us before?'"
He admitted cheating on Jemma with male partners and said he considered suicide as he felt so "horrible and guilty". He said he still loved his estranged wife, who he describes as "the nicest person in the world".
Thomas's decision to come out as a gay man is unusual but not unprecedented. Earlier this year Irish hurling star Dónal Óg Cusack, 32, announced he was gay. Welsh rugby Referee Nigel Owens came out in 2007. The same year, after his retirement from the US NBA basketball league, John Amaechi confirmed that he was gay in his memoir, Man In The Middle.
However, homosexuality is still considered taboo in many sports. Tatchell drew a comparison between rugby and football. "It is interesting that a couple of rugby and ex-rugby players have come out in recent years but still not a single professional football player," Tatchell said. "However, given there are 500 professional football players, statistically about 50 of them are probably gay or bisexual yet none have felt able to be open about their sexuality. Quite a few fear negative reactions from team-mates and fans and others are anxious they might lose sponsorship. Others feel their clubs would not be supportive."
Is this news? I thought all rugby players were gay?
But seriously, cool move. Sports is one of the "celebrity" areas where coming out is still a big step and often can destroy a career.
Waiting for Brazen's comments in particular. :P
It's funny how gay people marry women under false flag in this day and age.
I wouldn't say 'rugby players from Wales are gay!' too loud if you're ever in Swansea Mart :P
When I saw this on the news I couldn't help but wonder; will this man be rolling in dick?
Being a big tough macho rugby bloke should play well with homos right?
One potentially worrying outcome I can see here is when Wales play some African or Oceanian country whose knowledge of homosexuality is similar to that of a typical 10 year old kid. You could get some Fijian (or whatever) players refusing to play him....will be interesting.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 07:20:46 AM
I wouldn't say 'rugby players from Wales are gay!' too loud if you're ever in Swansea Mart :P
I'm trolling for Brazen's reaction. :ph34r:
1) Thomas is a winger, half his team mates already knew he was gay.
2) Thomas is a "player" not a "players"[sic]
3) He's a Lions Captain, he don't need to prove his manliness to nobody.
If however Gavin Henson came out
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nobody would be surprised.
Quote from: Tyr on December 20, 2009, 08:47:37 AM
When I saw this on the news I couldn't help but wonder; will this man be rolling in dick?
Being a big tough macho rugby bloke should play well with homos right?
One potentially worrying outcome I can see here is when Wales play some African or Oceanian country whose knowledge of homosexuality is similar to that of a typical 10 year old kid. You could get some Fijian (or whatever) players refusing to play him....will be interesting.
Wtf. Why is this a worrying outcome? If they don't want to play, then it's a default win.
Quote from: Viking on December 20, 2009, 09:36:04 AM
If however Gavin Henson came out
nobody would be surprised.
Well, Charlotte Church :P
International Gay Rugby Association & Board (IGRAB) (http://igrab.net/)
Personally, ever since I've seen the annual French rugby team calendar "Dieux du Stade" (Gods of the Stadium), I began rooting for the blue shirts:
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Quote from: Viking on December 20, 2009, 09:39:37 AM
International Gay Rugby Association & Board (IGRAB) (http://igrab.net/)
Is it a pun? :D
iGrab :lol:
Do you have rugby in Poland?
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 09:38:28 AM
Quote from: Viking on December 20, 2009, 09:36:04 AM
If however Gavin Henson came out
nobody would be surprised.
Well, Charlotte Church :P
she probably already knows if she is a fag hag or not...
Quote from: Martinus on December 20, 2009, 09:36:46 AM
Wtf. Why is this a worrying outcome? If they don't want to play, then it's a default win.
Which of course is very good for rugby.
I think the impact may just go a little bit deeper than that.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 09:42:12 AM
Do you have rugby in Poland?
Not really. I mean, probably some people play it as a hobby but there is no championship or league that I am aware of. Poland is squarely in the football world (soccer for the Yanks), with some offshoots into volleyball and basketball.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 09:42:12 AM
Do you have rugby in Poland?
Pope John Paul II played Rugby for Poland.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 07:20:46 AM
I wouldn't say 'rugby players from Wales are gay!' too loud if you're ever in Swansea Mart :P
however, if wales had just lost to scotland or italy the day before you'd probably get the response "damn rite thay are!"
Quote from: Viking on December 20, 2009, 09:51:31 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 09:42:12 AM
Do you have rugby in Poland?
Pope John Paul II played Rugby for Poland.
He's better known playing center for the Cracow Halos basketball team 1967-71.
Quote from: Martinus on December 20, 2009, 06:39:33 AM
Is this news? I thought all rugby players were gay?
Well of course you did, you think everybody is gay.
Quote from: Martinus on December 20, 2009, 09:45:58 AM
Not really. I mean, probably some people play it as a hobby but there is no championship or league that I am aware of. Poland is squarely in the football world (soccer for the Yanks), with some offshoots into volleyball and basketball.
I am always in awe how so much of the world plays only one sport. How boring.
Quote from: Valmy on December 20, 2009, 04:06:50 PM
I am always in awe how so much of the world plays only one sport. How boring.
Loads of Euros play other games, they just don't watch them. Basketball's very popular, for example. It's the only American sport that's really taken off in a number of Euro countries. I think its advantage is that it's like football. It's pretty easy to play as you want to (there's loads of courts around, anywhere can serve for football) and is flexible in terms of numbers and so on.
Of course it's not the case in the UK. Sports tap into the English love of making rules so we have loads :bowler:
Quote from: Valmy on December 20, 2009, 04:06:50 PM
Quote from: Martinus on December 20, 2009, 09:45:58 AM
Not really. I mean, probably some people play it as a hobby but there is no championship or league that I am aware of. Poland is squarely in the football world (soccer for the Yanks), with some offshoots into volleyball and basketball.
I am always in awe how so much of the world plays only one sport. How boring.
The world outside of North America is rather poor. The fact that all you need is a ball is a big deal.
Uhm, volleyball and basketball aren't offshoots of soccer.
Quote from: dps on December 20, 2009, 06:05:28 PM
Uhm, volleyball and basketball aren't offshoots of soccer.
I think he's saying that everyone watches football and that volleyball and basketball are offshoots of fandom not like a sporting tree of life :)
Quote from: Martinus on December 20, 2009, 09:45:58 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 09:42:12 AM
Do you have rugby in Poland?
Not really. I mean, probably some people play it as a hobby but there is no championship or league that I am aware of. Poland is squarely in the football world (soccer for the Yanks), with some offshoots into volleyball and basketball.
http://www.pzrugby.pl/ (http://www.pzrugby.pl/)
http://www.azs-awf.waw.pl/www/index.php?menu=4614969fs9e3281_&sid=5 (http://www.azs-awf.waw.pl/www/index.php?menu=4614969fs9e3281_&sid=5)
Mart, sports is simply not your thing. Just stick to gay and law stuff, kthks. :P
Quote from: The Brain on December 20, 2009, 07:19:34 AM
It's funny how gay people marry women under false flag in this day and age.
Aren't those women known as "beards". Not the literal kind, but the slang terminology (or so TV tells me).
Anyway, Rugby players are - in general - a strange bunch. I know a fair few who seek to validate their own (heterosexual) sexuality by doing incredibly gay things, like dressing up as French maids for a night out, going on gay pride marches through Amsterdam for a stag weekend, competitive press-ups with your cocks dipping in a pint glass and the loser having to neck both pints, etc... It really does makes me worry...
Quote from: Palisadoes on December 20, 2009, 10:02:32 PM
Anyway, Rugby players are - in general - a strange bunch. I know a fair few who seek to validate their own (heterosexual) sexuality by doing incredibly gay things, like dressing up as French maids for a night out, going on gay pride marches through Amsterdam for a stag weekend, competitive press-ups with your cocks dipping in a pint glass and the loser having to neck both pints, etc... It really does makes me worry...
It makes perfect sense! After 12 - 15 pints of beer.....
I've done the cockdipping thing, but it was strictly dip own privates in own beer which is then poured in own mouth. Female rugby players are notoriously lesbian though.
Much of the very strange behaviour regarding homosexuality is related band of brothers bit as well as to the close body contact on the pitch. However this has not affected the many gays who are out and play (with and against me). For most of the "homophobic" bit in rugby it is dealt with the same way that Muslims are dealt with; Workarounds. Drinking games with Muslims means that we "normal" people have to
drink quaff their
random alcoholic impositions duly earned reprimands.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 04:31:45 PM
Loads of Euros play other games, they just don't watch them.
Ok I guess I am in awe about how they only follow one sport. I mean as a sports fan I would want more than just one sport to follow.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 06:08:05 PM
Quote from: dps on December 20, 2009, 06:05:28 PM
Uhm, volleyball and basketball aren't offshoots of soccer.
I think he's saying that everyone watches football and that volleyball and basketball are offshoots of fandom not like a sporting tree of life :)
Precisely. Was my post that hard to understand?
Quote from: The Larch on December 20, 2009, 09:18:28 PM
Quote from: Martinus on December 20, 2009, 09:45:58 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 09:42:12 AM
Do you have rugby in Poland?
Not really. I mean, probably some people play it as a hobby but there is no championship or league that I am aware of. Poland is squarely in the football world (soccer for the Yanks), with some offshoots into volleyball and basketball.
http://www.pzrugby.pl/ (http://www.pzrugby.pl/)
http://www.azs-awf.waw.pl/www/index.php?menu=4614969fs9e3281_&sid=5 (http://www.azs-awf.waw.pl/www/index.php?menu=4614969fs9e3281_&sid=5)
Mart, sports is simply not your thing. Just stick to gay and law stuff, kthks. :P
True. But it is my thread so I will post stuff in it even if I have no idea what I am talking about. :P
The way it is with other Euro sports is, like American sports, they tend to be very localised and not spread much beyond one nation (or a handfull of them).
e.g. the Dutch are about the only people in the universe who love hockey, the Swedes and their neighbours to a lesser extent have bandy, the Austrians handball (IIRC).
Football though is the world unifier.
Rugby is a bit of a inbetweener.
Quote from: Martinus on December 20, 2009, 09:34:38 AM
I'm trolling for Brazen's reaction. :ph34r:
Welshie said yesterday it was well known among Welsh rugby fans, who've all seen him regularly visiting Cardiff's gay clubs!
Rugby is very tolerant of homosexuals - after all, it's played in all the public schools and top Universities.
Also, who's going to gay-bash a
Quote6ft 3in, 16-stone rugby star
and his pals?
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 06:22:08 AM
Quote from: Martinus on December 20, 2009, 09:34:38 AM
I'm trolling for Brazen's reaction. :ph34r:
Welshie said yesterday it was well known among Welsh rugby fans, who've all seen him regularly visiting Cardiff's gay clubs!
Rugby is very tolerant of homosexuals - after all, it's played in all the public schools and top Universities.
And it involves a lot of handling other men's equipment anyway.
Quote from: Tyr on December 21, 2009, 06:28:37 AM
And it involves a lot of handling other men's equipment anyway.
Yeah and dancing involves rubbing up against women yet supposedly gay men like doing that and straight men like grabbing each others junk playing sports. It simply makes no sense.
Quote from: Viking on December 20, 2009, 10:42:29 PM
I've done the cockdipping thing, but it was strictly dip own privates in own beer which is then poured in own mouth.
As if this is somehow better? :unsure:
Quote from: Valmy on December 21, 2009, 09:27:18 AM
Yeah and dancing involves rubbing up against women yet supposedly gay men like doing that and straight men like grabbing each others junk playing sports. It simply makes no sense.
In the case of rugby, not just while playing sports.
I agree with B though. Rugby's a relatively homo-friendly sport.
Quote from: merithyn on December 21, 2009, 09:30:01 AM
Quote from: Viking on December 20, 2009, 10:42:29 PM
I've done the cockdipping thing, but it was strictly dip own privates in own beer which is then poured in own mouth.
As if this is somehow better? :unsure:
Yes, given the choice of your own balls or somebody else's? It's not really a hard choice for the average straight man.
Quote from: Valmy on December 21, 2009, 09:27:18 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 21, 2009, 06:28:37 AM
And it involves a lot of handling other men's equipment anyway.
Yeah and dancing involves rubbing up against women yet supposedly gay men like doing that and straight men like grabbing each others junk playing sports. It simply makes no sense.
This is not the same thing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt9MuKZGOiA
look at where they put their hands and head, not to mention how inviting their rear ends might look to martinus and his ilk.
and technique wise, look at how level their bodies are when you get the side on view, this gives the greatest possible power.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 21, 2009, 09:32:09 AM
In the case of rugby, not just while playing sports.
I agree with B though. Rugby's a relatively homo-friendly sport.
I was just saying that you cannot judge what people are going to be interested in simply based on the opportunity to have contact with their preferred sex. 'Oh well of course straight guys want to be fashion designers they get to hang out with female models all the time.' It just doesn't work out that way.
If it is Homo friendly that probably has more to do with the culture of the sport than the opportunity to get off while playing.
Quote from: Valmy on December 21, 2009, 09:41:37 AM
If it is Homo friendly that probably has more to do with the culture of the sport than the opportunity to get off while playing.
I wouldn't necessarily separate the two. It did start in English public schools after all :P
Quote from: Viking on December 21, 2009, 09:40:24 AM
look at where they put their hands and head, not to mention how inviting their rear ends might look to martinus and his ilk.
Meh TES told me he loves football but gets mocked for it by other gay men as gay men are supposed to hate american football...despite the fact the Quarterback puts his hands right on the center's ass and everybody wears tight pants.
This logic is simply fail. It strikes me as more about hetero fears of gay dudes feeling them up playing sports than anything to do with reality.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 21, 2009, 09:45:37 AM
I wouldn't necessarily separate the two. It did start in English public schools after all :P
Dang well maybe English gays are simply cooler. Getting my gay friends to play. or go to games, or even discuss sports seems to genuinely annoy them. Even the women love sports more than they do.
I mean there is a reason Marty calls the Oscars the 'Gay Super Bowl' because, you know, gays are not supposed to like the Super Bowl.
Having trained and sparred with the women's team of our rugby club back when I was an U-18, I must say that, in the heat of the moment, sexuality simply isn't much of an issue, even if you're tackling and being tackled by people with which you could be potentially sexually attracted.
I've played some pickup hoops with girls but I can't recall any that liked to mix it up in the paint, where you get your serious dry humping opportunities.
Quote from: Valmy on December 20, 2009, 11:59:31 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 20, 2009, 04:31:45 PM
Loads of Euros play other games, they just don't watch them.
Ok I guess I am in awe about how they only follow one sport. I mean as a sports fan I would want more than just one sport to follow.
Even if footie is the undisputed #1, there are loads of other sports that are followed everywhere, even if at a reduced level. For instance here in Spain fútbol is king, of course, but basketball, handball and indoor football leagues also have decent followings, and other individual sports such as tennis or motor sports also have good ratings. Then there are also more regional followings. For instance in Catalonia they follow loads of sports that are almost nowhere to be found in the rest of Spain, such as hockey (roller skates and field varieties), waterpolo, etc.
Other countries also have other sports with healthy followings, in France you get basketball and rugby, in the UK you have rugby union and rugby league, in Germany handball, in Italy volleyball, in the Czech Republic and Scandinavia you get ice hockey, etc.
Quote from: The Larch on December 21, 2009, 11:38:28 AM
Other countries also have other sports with healthy followings, in France you get basketball and rugby, in the UK you have rugby union and rugby league, in Germany handball, in Italy volleyball, in the Czech Republic and Scandinavia you get ice hockey, etc.
It's even divided within the UK. In Wales, rugby is king. In Scotland and Ireland, they're probably on equal footing. In England, rugby is a distinct underdog.
Same with France, really. The north is all football, the south is rugby all the way.
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 12:04:49 PM
Quote from: The Larch on December 21, 2009, 11:38:28 AM
Other countries also have other sports with healthy followings, in France you get basketball and rugby, in the UK you have rugby union and rugby league, in Germany handball, in Italy volleyball, in the Czech Republic and Scandinavia you get ice hockey, etc.
It's even divided within the UK. In Wales, rugby is king. In Scotland and Ireland, they're probably on equal footing. In England, rugby is a distinct underdog.
Same with France, really. The north is all football, the south is rugby all the way.
For Ireland you also have to count Gaelic sports. They really love their hurling and Irish football over there.
Quote from: The Larch on December 21, 2009, 12:08:30 PM
For Ireland you also have to count Gaelic sports. They really love their hurling and Irish football over there.
Gaelic football, no there's a game for real men.
As a side observation, field hockey is probably the only sport where men's and women's is on equal footing.
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 12:18:54 PM
Quote from: The Larch on December 21, 2009, 12:08:30 PM
For Ireland you also have to count Gaelic sports. They really love their hurling and Irish football over there.
Gaelic sports, now there's a game for real, toothless and heavily concussed men.
FYP.
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 12:18:54 PM
Gaelic football, no there's a game for real men.
Some of the real Irish Pubs over here (not the ones run by Chinese or Austrians or Slavs) show games on tv. Worth checking out?
WTF?
Vienna Gaels - Gaelic Football in Vienna (http://www.gaavienna.at/)
:huh:
Quote from: Syt on December 21, 2009, 12:24:35 PM
WTF?
Vienna Gaels - Gaelic Football in Vienna (http://www.gaavienna.at/)
:huh:
Bored Irish expats?
Quote from: The Larch on December 21, 2009, 12:25:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 21, 2009, 12:24:35 PM
WTF?
Vienna Gaels - Gaelic Football in Vienna (http://www.gaavienna.at/)
:huh:
Bored Irish expats?
Looking at their roster it seems 50/50. They're sponsored by two well known pubs and Anglo Irish Bank.
Speaking of their sponsors: Flannagan's is really nice. Won "Best Irish Pub in Europe" a couple years ago.
Quote from: Syt on December 21, 2009, 12:23:18 PM
Some of the real Irish Pubs over here (not the ones run by Chinese or Austrians or Slavs) show games on tv. Worth checking out?
Just long enough to say, "Holy shit, there's rules?"
Quote from: Valmy on December 20, 2009, 11:59:31 PM
Ok I guess I am in awe about how they only follow one sport. I mean as a sports fan I would want more than just one sport to follow.
Well it's a bit different depending on area. As well as the examples Larch mentions there's also cricket in the UK. Those are just the team sports. I mean in the UK lots of people watch F1 and I watch the tennis and the snooker and one of my flatmates is an avid darts fan.
And within football there are different leagues. In the UK there are 4 professional leagues. Many people will support a premiership team but 'their' team is actually in League Two. A friend of mine's a fan of Southampton who are in League One but also follows Spurs in the Premiership. There are also people who love to watch foreign football because it's played in a different way. When I was a kid and my older brother came to visit we'd watch Football Italia and now, despite being an Everton fan and watching the Premiership (and the cricket, rugby and tennis) he also watches a lot of Serie A games. I believe Norge's not too uncommon in supporting a Norwegian team and an English one.
Though I'd say that while a lot of my friends will watch football if it's on they don't really follow the sport (they watch highlights rather than full matches) they follow their team.
QuoteLooking at their roster it seems 50/50. They're sponsored by two well known pubs and Anglo Irish Bank.
I still mean to read Netherland which is at least partly about a cricket team in New York.
Quote from: The Larch on December 21, 2009, 12:25:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 21, 2009, 12:24:35 PM
WTF?
Vienna Gaels - Gaelic Football in Vienna (http://www.gaavienna.at/)
:huh:
Bored Irish expats?
Yeah we get around. :D
There's even two foreign GAA teams (London and New York) included in the major tournaments in Gaelic Football and Hurling.
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 12:04:49 PM
Quote from: The Larch on December 21, 2009, 11:38:28 AM
Other countries also have other sports with healthy followings, in France you get basketball and rugby, in the UK you have rugby union and rugby league, in Germany handball, in Italy volleyball, in the Czech Republic and Scandinavia you get ice hockey, etc.
It's even divided within the UK. In Wales, rugby is king. In Scotland and Ireland, they're probably on equal footing. In England, rugby is a distinct underdog.
Same with France, really. The north is all football, the south is rugby all the way.
Does curling have any kind of following in Scotland? :scots:
Quote from: Barrister on December 21, 2009, 02:43:13 PM
Does curling have any kind of following in Scotland? :scots:
Yes. Though it's a game you're more likely to play than watch (except internationally). I think I'm the only curling fan in England :(
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 21, 2009, 02:45:37 PM
Quote from: Barrister on December 21, 2009, 02:43:13 PM
Does curling have any kind of following in Scotland? :scots:
Yes. Though it's a game you're more likely to play than watch (except internationally). I think I'm the only curling fan in England :(
:console:
I just read yesterday that there's probably 200,000 active curlers in this country, but high level curling on TV can attract over a million viewers. :)
We just finished our olympic trials over here. Got a lot of television exposure. But you have to love curling - the Canadian men's team is headed by Kevin Martin from Alberta. Martin's team came up to Whitehorse in November to play in a cash bonspiel. I went out to watch him play, and one of the guys I curl with was picked up as a spare on another team for the same bonspiel, and got to play against Martin. So a multi-time Canadian champ was rubbing shoulders with some schlubs from Whitehorse, and they took him right to the last few rocks before he queaked out a victory. Name me any other olympic sport where you can so easily play against the greats.
Eskimo bowling is practiced in Sweden.
Quote from: The Brain on December 21, 2009, 03:07:58 PM
Eskimo bowling is practiced in Sweden.
Regardless of what you call it, it is still just drinking.