Northern Ireland rugby

[psychic duck]

how do you think a Northern Ireland team would do in international rugby?

a proposed side below, very weak at props where there is little Northern Irish quality, but elsewhere all the starters would probably not be a disgrace at international rugby, and whilst some will cringe at Ian Humphreys, he's equal to Scotland's 10, and would certainly start for Italy

whilst their front row would struggle against Italy, their backs are much more skillful, and with Ferris as their talisman I reckon they would beat Italy at home at least as Ulster have a great home crowd, and would be reasonably competitive against all the sides, with the exception of New Zealand

it will never happen but it would be interesting to see how they'd do at international rugby

15. Craig Gilroy
[BLINK]14. Tommy Bowe[/BLINK]
13. Darren Cave
12. Paddy Wallace
11. Andrew Trimble
10. Ian Humphreys
9. Isaac Boss
1. Paddy McAllister
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. John Andress
4. Dan Tuohy
5. Ryan Caldwell
[BLINK]6. Stephen Ferris[/BLINK]
7. Chris Henry
8. Roger Wilson

16. Nigel Brady
17. Declan Fitzpatrick
18. Lewis Stevenson
19. Neil Best
20. Paul Marshall
21. Paddy Jackson
22. Nevin Spence

 

[lucky number 7]

Political can of worms opened here.

But It would indeed be interesting .. The side you put forward does seem like it would definitly be reasonably competitive.


You could factor in Tom Court

 

[Feicarsinn]

Tommy Bowe was born in Monaghan in the south.

 

[Conal]

can we please avoid this political suicide zone

id imagne we would be tonga level at are peak if we were a team
but regardkess even when smashed i think its a good idea ti just keave this ;P
as even the use of the ulster banneer is controversial x

 

[LittleGuy]

can we please avoid this political suicide zone

id imagne we would be tonga level at are peak if we were a team
but regardkess even when smashed i think its a good idea ti just keave this ;P
as even the use of the ulster banneer is controversial x

Drunk posting? I've been guilty myself of this offense....

 

[Feicarsinn]

can we please avoid this political suicide zone

id imagne we would be tonga level at are peak if we were a team
but regardkess even when smashed i think its a good idea ti just keave this ;P
as even the use of the ulster banneer is controversial x

Ah, I reckon we're all mature enough to discuss a hypothetical thing like this.

I'd say a NI team would be slightly better than Tonga, chiefly down to the fact that they'd be far better organised. Also, they'd have the benefit of essentially playing together all year round in the Rabo. I reckon they could take Scotland and Italy, their backs would be a step up. They would have to find a full back from somewhere though.

I'd imagine that Gareth Steenson and Neil Best would be considered some where.

 

[Melhor Time]

One the one hand it should happen. Its just not logical that there are teams of England, Wales and Scotland not not one from Northern Ireland. I don´t think the Republic of Ireland needs the north but, on the other hand, I appreciate why the team is a combination of both Irelands.


The team could be pretty good. Certainly games vs many World Cup teams like Tonga, Georgia, Canada, Japan and Scotland would be interesting. A much better tam than Namibia so why not make it happen.....

1 Court
2 Best
3 Black
4 Tuohy
5 Stevenson
6 Ferris
7 Faloon
8 Henry
9 Boss
10 Humphries
11 Gilroy
12 Wallace
13 Cave
14 Trimble
15 (maybe Can Spence play fullback....)

Tommy Bowe was born in Monaghan in the south.

Monaghan is part of Ulster right

? (not NI but the province itself)​

 

[Feicarsinn]

One the one hand it should happen. Its just not logical that there are teams of England, Wales and Scotland not not one from Northern Ireland. I don´t think the Republic of Ireland needs the north but, on the other hand, I appreciate why the team is a combination of both Irelands.


The team could be pretty good. Certainly games vs many World Cup teams like Tonga, Georgia, Canada, Japan and Scotland would be interesting. A much better tam than Namibia so why not make it happen.....

1 Court
2 Best
3 Black
4 Tuohy
5 Stevenson
6 Ferris
7 Faloon
8 Henry
9 Boss
10 Humphries
11 Gilroy
12 Wallace
13 Cave
14 Trimble
15 (maybe Can Spence play fullback....)



Monaghan is part of Ulster right

? (not NI but the province itself)​

Yep, Monaghan is part of Ulster, but not part of Northern Ireland. Same goes for Cavan and Donegal, none of which are particularly strong rugby regions.

I'd disagree with you that there should be a NI team though. After all the two countries have been through, it's a source of great pride (at least to me) that we've always been able to put out a team made up of players from either side of the border. I won't go into the politics here, but I would draw your attention to the mess that exists with the two Irish football teams. Practically no Catholic players born in the North will play for Northern Ireland and, from my perspective at least, it's a constant reminder of the divide that still exists between the two communities up there. Rugby avoids that and long may it continue.

EDIT: I'd also really prefer not to lose Stephen Ferris!

 

[Draggs]

Not trying to start anything, but why isn't there any orange on the Irish jersey? It's on the RoI flag and representative of a decent portion of the population.
Might make an interesting change kit.

 

[welshglory]

Well there would be a one more team for a Uefa style Euro comp at least!

 

[Peat]

First off, each and every Northern Irish Ulster fan I know is quite firm that they're an Irish rugby fan, no matter how much of their political allegiances or other potential sporting ambitions may lie with Great Britain. And would probably say much the same thing as Feic does just above me. A Northern Ireland rugby team might seem logical to some on the outside, but not as logical as the Ireland rugby team seems to those there.

Second, while you can count the likes of Dan Tuohy and Tom Court on residency, they are not qualified by ancestry to play for Northern Ireland. And would have probably never gone to the province if there was a Northern Irish rugby team. So I don't think in all good conscience they can be picked. Although Tom Court's silent when they play Amhran Na Fiann, maybe he should count

Finally, the Tommy Bowe one is weird, as I've heard it say he was actually born in an Armagh hospital - which is backed up in some places on t' net (including his official profile on the RWC site) and some places place him in Monaghan (including his official Irish rugby profile which incidentally lists him as a universal back, that being like a universal soldier)... either way, pretty certain he'd turn out for Eire ahead of Norn Iron, but is equally an Ulsterman. As would, at a guess, the young lad James McMahon at Dungannon - originally from Monaghan, has represented Ulster at every age grade level, apparently a good prospect. Any seperation of the two states at international level would put Ulster in a very weird position.

Therefore, a NI team would in all honesty probably look like this:

1. PaddyMac
2. Best
3. Andress
4. Stevenson
5. Caldwell
6. Ferris
7. Henry
8. Wilson

9. Small Paul
10. Jackson
11. Spence
12. Wallace
13. Cave
14. Trimble
15. Gilroy

Subs; Brady, Black, Barker, Faloon, Boss, Humphreys, Whitten

Greater squad; Annett, Macklin, Henderson, McComish, Dougall, Porter, Luke Marshall, Peter Nelson

It would have the squad depth of blancmange. There's players on the bench who have no place in international rugby and guys in the greater squad who have only played one senior match. Sure the first XV doesn't look too bad, but its not really a viable international concern. Not once when the injuries start coming in.

 

[Conal]

lack of depth would **** us up
also if this did happen would the club structure change?

 

[lucky number 7]

Ah, I reckon we're all mature enough to discuss a hypothetical thing like this.

No we're not boooo

 

[big ginger 8]

Yep, Monaghan is part of Ulster, but not part of Northern Ireland. Same goes for Cavan and Donegal, none of which are particularly strong rugby regions.

I'd disagree with you that there should be a NI team though. After all the two countries have been through, it's a source of great pride (at least to me) that we've always been able to put out a team made up of players from either side of the border. I won't go into the politics here, but I would draw your attention to the mess that exists with the two Irish football teams. Practically no Catholic players born in the North will play for Northern Ireland and, from my perspective at least, it's a constant reminder of the divide that still exists between the two communities up there. Rugby avoids that and long may it continue.

EDIT: I'd also really prefer not to lose Stephen Ferris!

This.

 

[Melhor Time]

My mother in law just showed me the local paper saying that Brazil is going to play Great Britian in a pre-Olympics soccer match. Yes, GB... England + Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland together. She asked me about rugby so I explained about the Lions and she said they just pretend to get along then. Not a bad analysis!

First time in 41 years that Great Britian will be playing a friendly soccer match according to the paper.....

This could be relevent for rugby with Sevens returning in 4 years..... Ferris, for instance, would play for Great Britain not Ireland! Bowe... you tell me...