I need to adopt a Rugby Union team in the UK.

Brian Marwood

Brian Marwood

Well-known member
I've never watched rugby union before this world cup but now I am completely hooked so I need to choose a Premier League team in the UK who I can support and get behind.

Are there any Northern teams deserving of support?
Who are the teams to avoid as a casual supporter, I don't want to follow the Man Utd of rugby union with their legion of far flung supporters that never attend a game.
I also don't want to support the equivalent of Chelsea either who waste money and win nothing.

So really, a likeable club with a chance of winning silverware.

Who would you recommend?
 
RU clubs have a tendency to go bust. Or 'snakes and ladders' relegation for the strongest team in the league. And they can relocate long distances, leaving fans behind. Chose carefully.
 
Jedi boro said:
Top level Newcastle would be closest prob or Leeds so good luck with that
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Newcastle - not worth considering - vanity project, bankrolled for years and which is never going to be successful in a non-rugby area - relegation fodder every year (if the RFU ever get their act together and create a meaningful 2nd level)

Leeds - struggled for years to establish themselves in a Rugby League area - failed and effectively (if not actually ?) semi-pro now

Of the others -

Leicester are Man U - I don't need to elaborate

Saracens are Chelsea - chuck dodgy money around, ignore / abuse FFP, and everyone hates them

Harlequins are Tottenham - try and play pretty rugby but never win anything

Northampton are Villa - always there or there abouts but flatter to deceive

Bath, Bristol, and Gloucester are Everton - were once big, think they still are, but actually aren't

Exeter are Brighton - smaller club come good with sensible local investment and a long term plan

Your best bet though is Sale - northern, stable, and always going to be in the mix
 
I’d opt for West Hartlepool. Local and their games are either close or they get hammered so you’ll see lots of action on the pitch!!

b***ks to the Premiership.
 
Malaguena said:
Newcastle - not worth considering - vanity project, bankrolled for years and which is never going to be successful in a non-rugby area - relegation fodder every year (if the RFU ever get their act together and create a meaningful 2nd level)

Leeds - struggled for years to establish themselves in a Rugby League area - failed and effectively (if not actually ?) semi-pro now

Of the others -

Leicester are Man U - I don't need to elaborate

Saracens are Chelsea - chuck dodgy money around, ignore / abuse FFP, and everyone hates them

Harlequins are Tottenham - try and play pretty rugby but never win anything

Northampton are Villa - always there or there abouts but flatter to deceive

Bath, Bristol, and Gloucester are Everton - were once big, think they still are, but actually aren't

Exeter are Brighton - smaller club come good with sensible local investment and a long term plan

Your best bet though is Sale - northern, stable, and always going to be in the mix
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Quins won the Premiership in 2021
 
Find a decent local club, with a good set up, whatever level they are at. When wasps folded, it coincided with my eldest being old enough to start little ruggers (walking to 4 year olds) so he started doing that at my local club (Burton RFC). Now he has moved up to U6s I'm coach and team Manager, we have become part of the club family and watch first team matches.

It's nice to watch premiership and championships as a neutral now I don't have a "big club" to follow. We absolutely love it as a family and made great friends. Also gives you the chance to get six nations and autumn international tickets.
 
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Anterimus said:
Find a decent local club, with a good set up, whatever level they are at. When wasps folded, it coincided with my eldest being old enough to start little ruggers (walking to 4 year olds) so he started doing that at my local club (Burton RFC). Now he has moved up to U6s I'm coach and team Manager, we have become part of the club family and watch first team matches.

It's nice to watch premiership and championships as a neutral now I don't jace a "big club" to follow. We absolutely love it as a family and made great friends. Also gives you the chance to get six nations and autumn international tickets.
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Absolutely this!
 
Exeter Chiefs They tick all your boxes apart from the northern one, they have just gone through a rebuild and the next few years will feel like the club is starting again but the early signs look promising. Rob Baxter is a straight talking coach who calls it as it is every time.
The fans even have a crap American Indian war cry which could get you all tearful and longing for " Tigers are going to maul you".
If the southern bit puts you off don't let it, they are south west and gets lots of support for nearby towns, like Exmouth, and Teignmouth which are like **** kicking versions of Whitby and other hard fishing towns.
 
Brian Marwood said:
I've never watched rugby union before this world cup but now I am completely hooked so I need to choose a Premier League team in the UK who I can support and get behind.

Are there any Northern teams deserving of support?
Who are the teams to avoid as a casual supporter, I don't want to follow the Man Utd of rugby union with their legion of far flung supporters that never attend a game.
I also don't want to support the equivalent of Chelsea either who waste money and win nothing.

So really, a likeable club with a chance of winning silverware.

Who would you recommend?
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If your from the Hull area, why not adopt a local team, Hull Ionians for example
 
I go up to watch the Falcons 3-4 times a season, normally on a Friday night under the lights. It is a good little atmosphere but my god it is cold where I stand. Price of the ticket is £10 in the open stand but to be honest, I often pay for that stand and then walk round to the undercover stand, it is not exactly locktight security.

I don't associate the Falcons with Newcastle Utd, I have good craic with those around me and where the Falcons are involved there is often a very entertaining game - got the likes of Mateo Carreras and Adam Radwan running crazy lines which gets the crowd going.
 
Malaguena said:
Newcastle - not worth considering - vanity project, bankrolled for years and which is never going to be successful in a non-rugby area - relegation fodder every year (if the RFU ever get their act together and create a meaningful 2nd level)

Leeds - struggled for years to establish themselves in a Rugby League area - failed and effectively (if not actually ?) semi-pro now

Of the others -

Leicester are Man U - I don't need to elaborate

Saracens are Chelsea - chuck dodgy money around, ignore / abuse FFP, and everyone hates them

Harlequins are Tottenham - try and play pretty rugby but never win anything

Northampton are Villa - always there or there abouts but flatter to deceive

Bath, Bristol, and Gloucester are Everton - were once big, think they still are, but actually aren't

Exeter are Brighton - smaller club come good with sensible local investment and a long term plan

Your best bet though is Sale - northern, stable, and always going to be in the mix
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So Leicester’s fans are from London and Essex?
 
FatFrank said:
I go up to watch the Falcons 3-4 times a season, normally on a Friday night under the lights. It is a good little atmosphere but my god it is cold where I stand. Price of the ticket is £10 in the open stand but to be honest, I often pay for that stand and then walk round to the undercover stand, it is not exactly locktight security.

I don't associate the Falcons with Newcastle Utd, I have good craic with those around me and where the Falcons are involved there is often a very entertaining game - got the likes of Mateo Carreras and Adam Radwan running crazy lines which gets the crowd going.
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I still think of them as Gosforth RFC
 
Sale are pretty much the team of the North!

But I wouldn’t call them likeable. They are the Northern saracens: pragmatic and dull rugby but extremely effective.

Falcons are fun to watch. The have two wingers who are lightening quick. Pretty exciting but no they won’t win anything. Maybe the “premiership” cup.
At least they won’t get relegated, the league won’t let anyone up because it’s worried about them struggling financially. Although it stopped Jersey coming up last year and they went bust anyway so it ain’t working.

I’d go with falcons. They need the fans tbf
 
FatFrank said:
I don't associate the Falcons with Newcastle Utd, I have good craic with those around me and where the Falcons are involved there is often a very entertaining game - got the likes of Mateo Carreras and Adam Radwan running crazy lines which gets the crowd going.
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I remember the first time I saw Carreras at full speed. Wow.

in my mind Radwan went from “fastest player in the league” to “slowest Newcastle winger” exciting to watch
 
Malaguena said:
Newcastle - not worth considering - vanity project, bankrolled for years and which is never going to be successful in a non-rugby area - relegation fodder every year (if the RFU ever get their act together and create a meaningful 2nd level)

Leeds - struggled for years to establish themselves in a Rugby League area - failed and effectively (if not actually ?) semi-pro now

Of the others -

Leicester are Man U - I don't need to elaborate

Saracens are Chelsea - chuck dodgy money around, ignore / abuse FFP, and everyone hates them

Harlequins are Tottenham - try and play pretty rugby but never win anything

Northampton are Villa - always there or there abouts but flatter to deceive

Bath, Bristol, and Gloucester are Everton - were once big, think they still are, but actually aren't

Exeter are Brighton - smaller club come good with sensible local investment and a long term plan

Your best bet though is Sale - northern, stable, and always going to be in the mix
Click to expand...
Not everybody hates Saracens
 
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