When I watch a match it just makes it more interesting to choose a team, and once I’ve done that I find myself becoming more extreme in my support as the game wears on – from neutral to diehard fan in less than 80 minutes!
So why did I support La Rochelle rather than the Irish province? First, unlike some I don’t make any distinction between two teams from different EU states – I’ve never bought in to the argument that just because the Irish speak English we should support their teams. I know the next bit is barely rational, but as a Scot, when it comes to rugby I fall back on the Auld Alliance between my homeland and the French – when you’re a Celt, 1295 isn’t so long ago!
Then there are rugby reasons too, and the biggest of those revolves around money. The French and English have a salary cap, one’s much bigger than the other, but it exists and is enforced, whereas the Irish provinces’ finances are shrouded in mystery.
This story is from the May 09, 2021 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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This story is from the May 09, 2021 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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