Visitors from other lands will have heard of the sport of rugby but may not have appreciated that there are two distinct forms of the game - rugby union and rugby league. In England, rugby league's heartland is the north of the country where historically it has been dominated by working class players.
Today was the occasion of The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final. It was held at Wembley Stadium in London. This cup competition is the oldest rugby competition in the world - dating back to 1896.
Today's final was between Hull Kingston Rovers and Warrington Wolves. In a pulsating, hard fought and evenly balanced game I am glad to say the Hull K.R. came out on top by eight points to six. It was only the second time that they have won the trophy.
Hull K.R captain Elliot Minchella was interviewed straight after the mtch
I was at the old Wembley Stadium the last time they won the competition - back in 1980 when they played local rivals Hull F.C.. To tell you the truth, I do not remember much about that day - it was so long ago but it was certainly a glorious day for the city of Hull with 95,000 fervent rugby fans descending upon London ahead of the game.
The only other time I have been to a Rugby League Challenge Cup Final was back in 1998 with Shirley, Ian and Frances when underdogs Sheffield Eagles defeated the mighty Wigan. What a happy day out that was! The next day I even got to hold the trophy when our team came home.
From the age of eleven to sixteen, in order to attend school, I used to travel into the city of Hull from my village. The service bus travelled along Holderness Road passing the old Hull Kingston Rovers Stadium - Craven Park opposite East Park so naturally I have always felt connected to the club.
Last week on Radio 4, I heard an interesting piece of information about rugby league which really sticks in the gullet and says something damning about the British honours system. In the entire history of the game, no player, administrator or manager has ever received a knighthood for his or her services to rugby league. In contrast, seven former rugby union players have been give knighthoods. and thirty nine cricketers. The contrast is wrong but hardly surprising. Anyway, I was glad to watch Hull K.R. come out on top this afternoon. The team had been well-drilled by Australian coach Willie Peters. I know the victory will give the people of East Hull a big lift - something to be proud about.
Dejected Warrington players after the final whistle
Sounds like a good championship game -- glad your team won!
ReplyDeleteA very tight game with Rovers scoring the winning try and kick in the last three minutes of the game.
DeleteI worked with a guy who played rugby for fun on weekends. Our employer barred him from the "sport" after he broke an arm in one weekend game. Rugby: not for sissies!
ReplyDeleteWas your employer a nancy boy who preferred synchronized swimming?
DeleteDo rugby spectators brawl before, during and after the match like I've seen Soocer spectators do on TV?
ReplyDeleteNot at all. Rugby supporters tend to be friendly and very rarely show any animosity towards opposition fans. Why not go along and watch The South Adelaide Bulldogs at Mitchell Park?
DeleteSo many reasons why not, with the biggest one being cost of entry tickets.
DeleteBig rough boys chucking a squashed ball around and knocking each other senseless...
ReplyDeleteSeems like fun 😁
Sadly, The Isle of Man does not have even one women's rugby league team but I understand that there is a women's rugby union team based at Ballafletcher called Vagabonds RUFC. Please consider joining them as you will get better physical "work outs" than you are getting through bowling. I suspect that you would make an excellent hooker JayCee.
DeleteHaving played pukka Rugby, and still have the wounds to prove it, I have always found 'League' rather baffling. Didn't they used to wear padding to avoid getting hurt? I shall stick to the original 1845 version.
ReplyDeleteThe wearing of "padding" is far more prevalent in rugby union than it is in rugby league. I think that rugby league is a simpler, faster version of rugby - less hold-ups and less intricate rules too. I am afraid that nancy boys from private schools are banned from the game as they are not tough enough.
DeleteLalalalala, until I read the final part. What a disgrace. While I don't believe in people receiving awards for performing their paid jobs, if it is good for one, it must be good for all.
ReplyDeleteDid you play rugby league when you were at school Andrew? I can imagine the other lads piling on top of you.
DeleteI don't like rugby because of having been forced to play it at school (union of course), but I'm pleased Hull KR won at last.
ReplyDeletePart of the reason I love rugby is because at school I was good at it. I remember when we whupped Goole Grammar School and I scored a try in a 45-5 thrashing.
DeleteThat Salford lad William Webb Ellis invented the game. I much prefer rugby league than rugby union which is a middle class sport. The rugby league final should be played at Old Trafford or Elland Road.
ReplyDeleteWell you have taught me something today David. I never knew that Webb-Ellis came from Salford. It does seem ridiculous to have northern rugby league fans travelling to Wembley. For most of them, it is the only reason they would ever have for visiting our nation's capital.
DeleteWe occasionally see Rugby on television.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about rugby but congrats to your team anyway, Neil!
ReplyDeleteI gotta admit, the words "rugby union and rugby league" make my eyes glaze over. But I'm glad your team won, at least.
ReplyDeleteSteve, a friend of mine, most charming, well educated, a total loss to woman kind since he is gay - going shopping will have to do, once explained to me why being gay and balls don't mix.
DeleteU
What I associate with rugby are knee injuries. Why oh why oh why put yourself at risk? It's a man thing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first came to England I couldn't believe it. The scrum. Someone called it male bonding via bottom sniffing. Only the English.
It got better. A colleague of mine, from Cumbria, great guy, a looker (his brother was actually modelling for a living), once told me he was a "hooker". Ok. Who doesn't like a side hustle?
I don't need to tell you that, eventually, I found out what he really meant! Yes, in his free time he played rugby. The hooker.
U
eeeh, it's a game innit?
ReplyDeleteWhat is?
Chess!