Page 1 of 1
Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 11:22 am
by Biffer
is one of those days when I wish I could just run a rugby pub. An oval ball only pub where we don't show football (maybe one or two very limited exceptions) and there's an order of precedence along the lines of Rugby Union, NFL, NCAA football, Aussie rules and then a long gap before Rugby league (if we must).
Open for breakfast for 10, get the Brumbies v Chiefs game on, and a recording of the Blues Hurricanes game. Premiership Final at 3, URC final at 5, Pro D2 final at 8. Women's rugby and Scottish Super 6 playoffs to fill in the gaps. Some league knocking about if we're desperate.
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 11:45 am
by Paddington Bear
Incidentally I’m convinced there is a market for a rugby only pub or two, trying to find somewhere that will show anything bar internationals is tear inducing
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 11:56 am
by Tichtheid
You'd have to serve good steaks and kick out anyone who orders theirs well done, no questions, just show them the door.
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 12:31 pm
by Sards
Tichtheid wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 11:56 am
You'd have to serve good steaks and kick out anyone who orders theirs well done, no questions, just show them the door.
I don't know the market your side but our side it's pretty grim. No money to be made
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
by LoveOfTheGame
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 11:45 am
Incidentally I’m convinced there is a market for a rugby only pub or two, trying to find somewhere that will show anything bar internationals is tear inducing
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...

Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 12:52 pm
by Paddington Bear
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 11:45 am
Incidentally I’m convinced there is a market for a rugby only pub or two, trying to find somewhere that will show anything bar internationals is tear inducing
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...
It's something that takes rugby loving visitors to England (same is almost certainly true in Scotland as well) by surprise - just how much of a minority sport rugby is here. Genuinely couldn't find a place in central London to watch the Champions Cup semi a few weeks ago.
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 12:57 pm
by LoveOfTheGame
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:52 pm
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 11:45 am
Incidentally I’m convinced there is a market for a rugby only pub or two, trying to find somewhere that will show anything bar internationals is tear inducing
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...
It's something that takes rugby loving visitors to England (same is almost certainly true in Scotland as well) by surprise - just how much of a minority sport rugby is here. Genuinely couldn't find a place in central London to watch the Champions Cup semi a few weeks ago.
Bonkers that, what do they have on the telly then? Football? I guess having rugby available comes at an additional cost to the bar/pub owner and some might not see it as justified?
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 1:27 pm
by Paddington Bear
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:57 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:52 pm
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...
It's something that takes rugby loving visitors to England (same is almost certainly true in Scotland as well) by surprise - just how much of a minority sport rugby is here. Genuinely couldn't find a place in central London to watch the Champions Cup semi a few weeks ago.
Bonkers that, what do they have on the telly then? Football? I guess having rugby available comes at an additional cost to the bar/pub owner and some might not see it as justified?
They'll have the right channels generally, it is just wall to wall football.
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 1:33 pm
by Uncle fester
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:52 pm
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 11:45 am
Incidentally I’m convinced there is a market for a rugby only pub or two, trying to find somewhere that will show anything bar internationals is tear inducing
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...
It's something that takes rugby loving visitors to England (same is almost certainly true in Scotland as well) by surprise - just how much of a minority sport rugby is here. Genuinely couldn't find a place in central London to watch the Champions Cup semi a few weeks ago.
By default, a lot of Irish pubs will have soccer or GAA on and you have to specifically ask for rugby to be put on. Was in a place a few weeks ago where they put it on the smallest telly, which actually worked out fine because it was the quieter part of the bar.
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 2:50 pm
by GogLais
For the first time I saw more than a few seconds of hurling in a the bars in Galway. Looks a hell of a game.
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 4:27 pm
by fishfoodie
GogLais wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 2:50 pm
For the first time I saw more than a few seconds of hurling in a the bars in Galway. Looks a hell of a game.
It's even better to play than to watch.
I still miss it

Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 5:35 pm
by Niegs
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:52 pm
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 11:45 am
Incidentally I’m convinced there is a market for a rugby only pub or two, trying to find somewhere that will show anything bar internationals is tear inducing
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...
It's something that takes rugby loving visitors to England (same is almost certainly true in Scotland as well) by surprise - just how much of a minority sport rugby is here. Genuinely couldn't find a place in central London to watch the Champions Cup semi a few weeks ago.
I also found that interesting in other sports content. 5 Live's "Fighting Talk" is an enjoyable light-hearted panel show, and rugby barely ever gets a mention from any unless there's a massive match on and one of the panel is Irish or that one (each) Welsh/Scot journo gives a shout out. Panelists will discuss news/personalities in athletics, tennis, auto racing, and boxing will get more mentions, and maybe even cricket, horses, and bloody darts more than rugby!
Football's massive there, of course, but even here where hockey can dominate most of the highlights, news, they'll still run through key matches in football, basketball, touch upon baseball pre-season news, and even drip in more soccer than they used to. You'd expect a big sport like rugby to get something like 1/5 of the attention, at least.
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 5:42 pm
by Biffer
Niegs wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 5:35 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:52 pm
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...
It's something that takes rugby loving visitors to England (same is almost certainly true in Scotland as well) by surprise - just how much of a minority sport rugby is here. Genuinely couldn't find a place in central London to watch the Champions Cup semi a few weeks ago.
I also found that interesting in other sports content. 5 Live's "Fighting Talk" is an enjoyable light-hearted panel show, and rugby barely ever gets a mention from any unless there's a massive match on and one of the panel is Irish or that one (each) Welsh/Scot journo gives a shout out. Panelists will discuss news/personalities in athletics, tennis, auto racing, and boxing will get more mentions, and maybe even cricket, horses, and bloody darts more than rugby!
Football's massive there, of course, but even here where hockey can dominate most of the highlights, news, they'll still run through key matches in football, basketball, touch upon baseball pre-season news, and even drip in more soccer than they used to. You'd expect a big sport like rugby to get something like 1/5 of the attention, at least.
I think part of the issue with Fighting Talk is that the journos and former players in rugby would absolutely walk it every time they're on, so they don't get asked anymore. They have very few cricket journos on for the same reason.
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 5:44 pm
by Biffer
Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 1:33 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:52 pm
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...
It's something that takes rugby loving visitors to England (same is almost certainly true in Scotland as well) by surprise - just how much of a minority sport rugby is here. Genuinely couldn't find a place in central London to watch the Champions Cup semi a few weeks ago.
By default, a lot of Irish pubs will have soccer or GAA on and you have to specifically ask for rugby to be put on. Was in a place a few weeks ago where they put it on the smallest telly, which actually worked out fine because it was the quieter part of the bar.
I'm sure some of the Irish boys will correct me but I have a feeling this is more common when the manager / owner has been away from Ireland for a long time (or if he has a local Irish crowd who've been away for a long time). People who've missed the growth of Rugby in the near Atlantic.
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Sat May 27, 2023 8:09 am
by Line6 HXFX
When I used to, I hated watching Rugby in a pub. I would prefer to go to a Rugby church, where everyone sits silently and watches the Rugby without talking. Rugby shouldn't be In the background FFS, where half the pub is there for the free chips.
They really need to take rugby to the next level and stick VR headsets on people so they can watch it (the actual match will be streamed and animated in a warehouse with rugby players wearing those tennis ball suits, playing gentle touch rugby) in massive virtual stadiums.
You could select your gore level and the impacts could be massive, bloody limb snapping animations, where no one actually gets hurt or gets early onset senile dementia etc.

Re: Saturday...
Posted: Sat May 27, 2023 8:20 am
by Paddington Bear
Niegs wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 5:35 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:52 pm
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...
It's something that takes rugby loving visitors to England (same is almost certainly true in Scotland as well) by surprise - just how much of a minority sport rugby is here. Genuinely couldn't find a place in central London to watch the Champions Cup semi a few weeks ago.
I also found that interesting in other sports content. 5 Live's "Fighting Talk" is an enjoyable light-hearted panel show, and rugby barely ever gets a mention from any unless there's a massive match on and one of the panel is Irish or that one (each) Welsh/Scot journo gives a shout out. Panelists will discuss news/personalities in athletics, tennis, auto racing, and boxing will get more mentions, and maybe even cricket, horses, and bloody darts more than rugby!
Football's massive there, of course, but even here where hockey can dominate most of the highlights, news, they'll still run through key matches in football, basketball, touch upon baseball pre-season news, and even drip in more soccer than they used to. You'd expect a big sport like rugby to get something like 1/5 of the attention, at least.
Cricket and horse racing are both more popular than rugby in England, darts is a bit of fun that a pretty wide group enter into. Outside the 6N no one really gives a shit about rugby, hell we had English posters on the old bored who didn’t even support a club team!
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Sat May 27, 2023 8:49 am
by Slick
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:52 pm
LoveOfTheGame wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 12:48 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 11:45 am
Incidentally I’m convinced there is a market for a rugby only pub or two, trying to find somewhere that will show anything bar internationals is tear inducing
I was going to brag and say thankfully you would never have that problem here in SA, rugby is everywhere.. But then the somber thought of no electricity to actually power the TV in the bar or restaurant popped in my head and I'm like...
It's something that takes rugby loving visitors to England (same is almost certainly true in Scotland as well) by surprise - just how much of a minority sport rugby is here. Genuinely couldn't find a place in central London to watch the Champions Cup semi a few weeks ago.
I remember well chasing round London on a Saturday morning trying to find somewhere that would show a big game. Ended up writing to the company that owned our local (Geronimo Pubs) who thankfully was a rugby man and asked me to text him when there was a game on I wanted to watch and he’d make sure the manager put it on at least one screen!
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Sat May 27, 2023 9:01 am
by Happyhooker
Philomena's is normally the answer @slick and paddington
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Sat May 27, 2023 9:45 am
by Ymx
Happyhooker wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 9:01 am
Philomena's is normally the answer @slick and paddington
No love for the stage door, HH?
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 8:39 am
by Happyhooker
Ymx wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 9:45 am
Happyhooker wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 9:01 am
Philomena's is normally the answer @slick and paddington
No love for the stage door, HH?
Internationals tend to be fine there, but no chance for club games, they get distracted by football. Especially derby city for some reason
Re: Saturday...
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 1:41 pm
by Blackmac
Biffer wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 11:22 am
is one of those days when I wish I could just run a rugby pub. An oval ball only pub where we don't show football (maybe one or two very limited exceptions) and there's an order of precedence along the lines of Rugby Union, NFL, NCAA football, Aussie rules and then a long gap before Rugby league (if we must).
Open for breakfast for 10, get the Brumbies v Chiefs game on, and a recording of the Blues Hurricanes game. Premiership Final at 3, URC final at 5, Pro D2 final at 8. Women's rugby and Scottish Super 6 playoffs to fill in the gaps. Some league knocking about if we're desperate.
There are a couple of spots in Edinburgh that spring to mind. Possibly Teuchters gets the closest.