" Why is Rugby our National sport ?? "

Simple answer, the pubs and clubs around Wales tonight would not be the same from a similer football result.

Got back to Taunton after watching the Bluebirds win today and then went to my local pub and watched Wales' 2nd string beat the home Nation 25-28 in a pub full of English twats wearing white shirts with roses on!! - That's why rugby is Wales' national sport. ( Don't slag me off - Have supported and watched Bluebirds for 50 yrs and who will always be my first love - but results like the one tonight living here are absolutely fantastic and the sweet chariot is in need of a service tonight!! lol

I love the both.

Tonight would have done with the lot of you supporting the boys.

It was awesome in cardiff arms park. It would have been a lot better if you lot were there,

I don't think rugby is. Rugby fans come from the south and west almost entirely, but football fans come from all over our country. I grew up playing football in west Wales and now live in a football town in the Valleys. It's definitely a myth.

The Millennium Stadium sells out 60,000+ for Wales rugby where as we can't sell out the CCS for Wales footie.

All this hate because its rugby is just ridiculous. Get behind your country and if you don't like it, don't watch it. Don't try to ruin it for other people.

Football is the majority sport in Cardiff, Swansea, maybe Newport and most (actually some) large towns in Wales. But the National sport is rugby, whether we as football fans like it or not. This is a fact, and nothing other than Wales football qualifying for every major tournament for the next 50 years, whilst the egg finish bottom of the six nations every year will change that. And this coming from someone who has no interest in the sport whatsoever, and will not even watch the game tonight.

It's because of the media portraying it as the national sport. Bbc Wales and the Western mail group are run by the elite. This so called elite are from the old school tie brigade who all played 'rugger' at school.

If people look at the stats for those playing and watching then football is the number 1 sport.

Over last 4 or 5 season our average crowd has been in excess of 20,000. Since Swansea got to premier league they have gone up to 20,000 every week. Wrexham are getting over 5,000 and county 3,000. Why do we never get rugby crowd statistics in the press? 1 reason-they are embarrassingly low.

The amount who play football is also significantly higher. Not seen recent stats but a few years ago there was a survey done amongst adult males aged 18-35 and 1 in ten played football with 1 in 15 chasing an egg.

Football is king.

Football is the majority sport in Cardiff, Swansea, maybe Newport and most (actually some) large towns in Wales. But the National sport is rugby, whether we as football fans like it or not. This is a fact, and nothing other than Wales football qualifying for every major tournament for the next 50 years, whilst the egg finish bottom of the six nations every year will change that. And this coming from someone who has no interest in the sport whatsoever, and will not even watch the game tonight.

It's because of the media portraying it as the national sport. Bbc Wales and the Western mail group are run by the elite. This so called elite are from the old school tie brigade who all played 'rugger' at school.

If people look at the stats for those playing and watching then football is the number 1 sport.

Over last 4 or 5 season our average crowd has been in excess of 20,000. Since Swansea got to premier league they have gone up to 20,000 every week. Wrexham are getting over 5,000 and county 3,000. Why do we never get rugby crowd statistics in the press? 1 reason-they are embarrassingly low.

The amount who play football is also significantly higher. Not seen recent stats but a few years ago there was a survey done amongst adult males aged 18-35 and 1 in ten played football with 1 in 15 chasing an egg.

Football is king.

That's a lot to do with what you need to run a rugby match as opposed to a football match. Football easy 11 players, referee and a ball. Rugby a lot more technical due to possibility of injuries.

Football is the majority sport in Cardiff, Swansea, maybe Newport and most (actually some) large towns in Wales. But the National sport is rugby, whether we as football fans like it or not. This is a fact, and nothing other than Wales football qualifying for every major tournament for the next 50 years, whilst the egg finish bottom of the six nations every year will change that. And this coming from someone who has no interest in the sport whatsoever, and will not even watch the game tonight.

It's because of the media portraying it as the national sport. Bbc Wales and the Western mail group are run by the elite. This so called elite are from the old school tie brigade who all played 'rugger' at school.

If people look at the stats for those playing and watching then football is the number 1 sport.

Over last 4 or 5 season our average crowd has been in excess of 20,000. Since Swansea got to premier league they have gone up to 20,000 every week. Wrexham are getting over 5,000 and county 3,000. Why do we never get rugby crowd statistics in the press? 1 reason-they are embarrassingly low.

The amount who play football is also significantly higher. Not seen recent stats but a few years ago there was a survey done amongst adult males aged 18-35 and 1 in ten played football with 1 in 15 chasing an egg.

Football is king.

That's a lot to do with what you need to run a rugby match as opposed to a football match. Football easy 11 players, referee and a ball. Rugby a lot more technical due to possibility of injuries.

Fair point but look at North and mid Wales where hardly any rugby is played. I think I also read somewhere that Swansea has the biggest football Saturday league outside of London (64jack help me on this one please). For a sport to be a truly national game then it needs to be watched by the most, played by the most and cover the widest geographical area.

Jesus.


Is this what qualifies as a news worthy article these days

The Millennium Stadium sells out 60,000+ for Wales rugby where as we can't sell out the CCS for Wales footie.

All this hate because its rugby is just ridiculous. Get behind your country and if you don't like it, don't watch it. Don't try to ruin it for other people.

I take it you didn't attend the Wales v Bosnia, Belgium and Israel games then.

Has anyone actually been able to answer the question in the article? WHY is rugby deemed our national sport?

Is it purely a media invention or is it based on any facts. I assume it can only be because we were early adopters and therefore quite good at it at national level. It can't be down to the numbers playing or watching the sport.

It's because we're good at it for a small country and allows us to feel good when we beat bigger countries like England and France.

If we regularly beat England at football and reached footy world cup semis it would soon take over.

I love football, always have, it's by far no 1 sport for me, but I like watching Wales at rugby too. That probably puts me in the majority in Wales.

Why is rugby our national sport?

Because Rugby Union was a purely non-professional sport (apart from boot money and other 'perks'), whereas Soccer has been professional for ages. Within that context, our heavy industry and general work ethic suited men who were fit, willing and no doubt, able to take on the best.

And we did!!!!!

The amazing thing to me is that Wales are so successful at the moment in soccer that somehow it make people forget the rich heritage and traditions of Welsh Rugby.

It's the same thing whether it's football, rugby, cricket or tiddlywinks. If Wales are playing, SHOUT LIKE HELL!!!

Cymru am byth!!!!!

Why is rugby our national sport?

Because Rugby Union was a purely non-professional sport (apart from boot money and other 'perks'), whereas Soccer has been professional for ages. Within that context, our heavy industry and general work ethic suited men who were fit, willing and no doubt, able to take on the best.

And we did!!!!!

The amazing thing to me is that Wales are so successful at the moment in soccer that somehow it make people forget the rich heritage and traditions of Welsh Rugby.

It's the same thing whether it's football, rugby, cricket or tiddlywinks. If Wales are playing, SHOUT LIKE HELL!!!

Cymru am byth!!!!!

Football is the majority sport in Cardiff, Swansea, maybe Newport and most (actually some) large towns in Wales. But the National sport is rugby, whether we as football fans like it or not. This is a fact, and nothing other than Wales football qualifying for every major tournament for the next 50 years, whilst the egg finish bottom of the six nations every year will change that. And this coming from someone who has no interest in the sport whatsoever, and will not even watch the game tonight.

It's because of the media portraying it as the national sport. Bbc Wales and the Western mail group are run by the elite. This so called elite are from the old school tie brigade who all played 'rugger' at school.

If people look at the stats for those playing and watching then football is the number 1 sport.

Over last 4 or 5 season our average crowd has been in excess of 20,000. Since Swansea got to premier league they have gone up to 20,000 every week. Wrexham are getting over 5,000 and county 3,000. Why do we never get rugby crowd statistics in the press? 1 reason-they are embarrassingly low.

The amount who play football is also significantly higher. Not seen recent stats but a few years ago there was a survey done amongst adult males aged 18-35 and 1 in ten played football with 1 in 15 chasing an egg.

Football is king.

That's a lot to do with what you need to run a rugby match as opposed to a football match. Football easy 11 players, referee and a ball. Rugby a lot more technical due to possibility of injuries.

Fair point but look at North and mid Wales where hardly any rugby is played. I think I also read somewhere that Swansea has the biggest football Saturday league outside of London (64jack help me on this one please). For a sport to be a truly national game then it needs to be watched by the most, played by the most and cover the widest geographical area.

Football is a tribal game the crowds Come from the club game. The national game is king for Wales.

Also your points are valid but rugby is played around the country but it's harder to start it up due to points I made.

Simple answer, the pubs and clubs around Wales tonight would not be the same from a similer football result.

Really? The pub I went in just after the rugby finished was f*cking dead!