Forum Topic

Rugby World Cup

I don’t usually post on this forum, or indeed on any forums, with negative comments, but I was really disappointed this evening when I went to Chiswick High Road to watch the opener of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. I’d booked a pub for dinner and to watch the game as they were advertising it, but I had to ask them to put it on and missed the sound for the first 5 minutes of the match. There was no one else in the pub watching it so we decided to move somewhere else for a bit more atmosphere. The second pub refused to show the match because Chelsea v West Ham men’s were on. The third pub had several screen showing both games, but would only turn the sound on on the big screen showing Premier League. By no means am I expecting there to be crowds to watch the matches as women’s rugby is still relatively in its infancy, but it was the opening game of a home World Cup where we’re favourites to win. I’ve been in these pubs when they’re full to the brim for Men’s 6 Nations - after all West London is a pretty rugby heavy area!This tournament is going to bring women’s rugby to life here and it’s a shame that Chiswick doesn’t seem to want to get on board.

Izzy Duddy ● 22d15 Comments

Kildunne? Suspiciously non-English name and likely at some point her family were part of the never ending surge of foreign nationals coming to our country. Send her back to Ireland and she can play for them! For those more interested in rugby rather than mass deportation, it is worth noting that not one game so far has has a points difference of less than 24 points. As in most sports, one sided rugby games are dull so this competition may be a slow burn. We may have to wait until 6 September when England play Australia to see two relatively evenly matched teams play each other and the tournament isn't really going to come to the boil until the knockout stages. Then you might see more pubs showing the matches.

Andrew OSullivan ● 17d

'I thought it was a smart ploy to fit in a rugby anecdote with an important issue affecting our country at the present time'      I rest my case.

Keith Iddon ● 18d

Keith:I thought it was a smart ploy to fit in a rugby anecdote with an important issue affecting our country at the present time.To answer your question; "What is going on in my tiny mind?.Two things: firstly I marvel at the beauty and talent of Red Roses full back- Ellie Kildunne.Secondly, I worry about our immigration crises, constantly. The topic brought down the Conservatives, it will bring down the Labour party, and it will bring in the Reform party. I wish them luck, they will need it.

Denis I. Fox ● 18d

You think that trying to ruin a perfectly good thread about Rugby helps the situation do you Denis? What is going on in your tiny mind?

Keith Iddon ● 18d

Went to see Red Roses play France a few years ago at Twickenham and there were about 38,000 spectators. Women’s rugby has taken off so quickly that this  year Twickenham has sold out!  82,000. Any pubs not showing these matches are really losing out and are not keeping up with the times.

Steve Taylor ● 18d

Is that your answer to our problems Keith?

Denis I. Fox ● 18d

You can't resist it can you Denis?

Keith Iddon ● 18d

The year was 2015 and there was I, seated in a bar in Gran Canaria, alongside a group of young Australasians who had vacated their yacht, cruising round the island, to watch the Rugby World Cup Final contested between Australia and the All Blacks at Twickenham.The Bar manager wouldn't allow the local football match to be turned off in favour of the rugby, not until the football was over, and only then my new found friends and I were able to see the 2nd half of the rugby.What struck me was the respect the Australasians gave to the Bar owner's wishes, no disappointment or annoyance portrayed by them.Is there a moral tale here to be conflated between the never ending surge of foreign nationals coming into our country, and not all abiding by our laws, rules, culture and respect of our values?Enough is enough.

Denis I. Fox ● 18d

Roebuck shows all the Games

John Kennedy ● 18d

It's a question of market availability and general interest..ie:supply and demand.While matches are broadcast free to air and with the price of drinks and food in a pub,you will be up against it.There are good reasons why it is free to air.

Keith Iddon ● 18d

Pubs will show the games that the largest proportion of their customers want to watch so if you are with a group that is going to spend a lot of money at the bar, they will put the game on for you. If not you can't expect them to turn off a Premier League game for which they are paying a huge amount of money to be able to show.If you haven't got a gang to go with and want guaranteed atmosphere, go to a local rugby club which is showing it. Even better, while you are there, ask about volunteering - the best possible support for the Red Roses. There is an article on the front page about the work Chiswick Rugby is doing and this is the kind of effort that the women's game will need to thrive.

Francis Rowe ● 18d

Some great matches so far. Hopefully as the tournament goes on, more Chiswick pubs will support it and show the matches.

Dave Mannisa ● 20d

As the match was on free to air TV and was always going to be one-sided (the last two results against the US were 89-0 and 61-21) it was never going to attract much of a crowd at any pub. You won't see many people turning up to watch the forthcoming men's football club between England and Andorra.I know excitement will build for the tournament in the later stages when the games get more competitive but as an old hand at seeing my team/sport gazumped when I arrived at a pub to watch a game my advice would be turn up early and mobhanded.

Francis Rowe ● 21d

Despite being a World cup opener involving England's women, a Premiership football match was always going to take precedence  in a male dominated sports bar.I have followed the Red Roses fortunes since 2014 when they last won the World Cup, and have been smitten ever since.I watched the game this evening at home and loved it, despite burning the pizza at half time.

Denis I. Fox ● 22d

It was a good game.

Philippa Bond ● 22d