International Rules or best players playing Railway Cup?

International Rules or best players playing Railway Cup?

Would you rather see International Rules in October or a properly run Railway Cup series with the best players taking part?

I know there are other issues such as: How would you fit it in around club games to ensure availability of all players?
International Rules is financially more lucrative.

But what games would you rather watch?

International Rules, its a novelty event that's very popular so why change it?

I like the international rules but I fear the reduction in physicality has neutered it.... I'd prefer the Railway Cup if it's the best players playing and it's not played at 9pm Christmas Eve in Ballyteague.

Ogie wrote:

I like the international rules but I fear the reduction in physicality has neutered it.... I'd prefer the Railway Cup if it's the best players playing and it's not played at 9pm Christmas Eve in Ballyteague.

Ah come on Ogie.... We'll accommodate anyone down Lark country.... Maybe Christmas Eve might not be the best day!!!!!!!

I disagree with you there Ogie. I think that the reduction of violence (rather than 'physicality') has added to the game. It got to the stage where the ball wasn't even thrown in and there was boxing. Now I love a good melee in a game as much as the next lad but dislike it when the melee is the main event. Aussie Rules is a skilful game, Gaelic Football is a skilful game. I think the hybrid compromise rules allows both codes showcase these skills on a bigger stage. Neither need the boxing that came with it to sell tickets.

no insult intended BFB! I just keep getting lost heading there....


LHI - reduction in violence = good, reduction in physicality = bad and there wasn't an ounce of intensity last year because the Aussies were afraid to do anything out of line even though they could legally smash us with the tackle.

Interesting that Geezer is working on the intensity in the tackle with the Irish. Half of the problems with what happened in 2006 was that after what had happened the year before in Oz, the Aussies were on their best behaviour after listening to our complaints about thuggery (and to be fair, Chris Johnson started then end of Mattie Forde's career down there with a savage attack). So we battered them, including one brilliant - and fair - hit by Geezer himself. There were a couple of others that weren't so legal. The kicking in the ankles drove the Aussies apeshit altogether! So then they turned the tables on us. And that conveniently caused everyone to overlook the fact that when the football started, they were better than us at that too.

I think any contact sport needs physicality. Punish the thuggery properly, but don't threaten to pull the thing if there's a scrap. Just punish the guys involved. I hope there's a lot more physicality this time. Physicality and speed are the making of this game but if it's as brutal as last year, I'll definitely go for Railway Cup.