Telegraph columnist brands rugby fans a ‘gullible bunch of daffodil-clad daftees’
A Telegraph columnist has branded rugby fans a “gullible, romantic bunch of daffodil-clad daftees”.
In an article for the right-wing London-based news organisation, sports writer James Corrigan, mocked supporters who bought tickets for Wales’ upcoming fixture with New Zealand.
He said the WRU had “arranged the stupidest fixture ever” and argued it was “offensive” to paying fans.
Corrigan argued that Wales shouldn’t be playing the match, which is being contested outside the international window, because it will be without “some of its most notable players” when it faces the world’s best team.
He also accused the governing body for rugby union in Wales “prioritising the bottom line over the try line”.
Corrigan wrote: “The WRU-ination of the sport in its one of hotbeds has long been a joke, but this time it has truly surpassed itself. It has arranged the stupidest fixture ever.
“Actually, scrap ‘stupidest’, as to the paying fans – who have dished up to £95 – this is offensive. Some accountant genuinely thought it acceptable to play the world’s best team whilst knowing that on Saturday, October 30 Wayne Pivac will be without some of his most notable players. And what is yet more scandalous is that those on top agreed.
“Unlike the three Tests on the weekends thereafter, this, the undoubted glamour tie, is being contested outside of the international window.
‘Fully loaded’
“Wales will be under-strength and the only ones who will be fully loaded that day will be the libated portion of the 74,000-strong crowd.
“Wales have not beaten the All Blacks in 68 years, since Tenzing and Hilary were still scaling their way back down Everest, and despite being reigning Six Nations champions, there would hardly be unfettered optimism of the Pivac party finally conquering this particular mountain this time around.
“That gullible, romantic bunch of daffodil-clad daftees will not moan if the void lasts at least another year. What is another 12-month in a whole lifetime of failure, what is another digit in a curse?”
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Well he does have a point
Corrigan seems to be having a ‘dig’ at the WRU and I felt he has genuine sympathy for the group of fans who are just seen as a cash cow by the WRU. We are now down to 9th in the world (I think) and expected to play the top or second ranked team, who have just had a nice warm up playing the World champion Springboks and, World ranked number 3, Australia! A big demoralising defeat to these All Blacks would not be a big shock but, hey ho, the WRU treasure chest gets a nice filling and that’s… Read more »
WRU has been without one of their main sources of income (Millenium Stadium fixtures) for goodness knows how many months and as such funding to rest of the game in Wales has become more difficult. Danger is when ridiculous pricing for friendlies without the best players becomes the norm but as a one-off it makes sense.
95 quid to watch a 2nd string ‘friendly’ and drink a skinful of overpriced weak beer.
Daftees indeed.
Whether the WRU are treating the fans as a cash-cow by arranging a Wales match agaInst the All Blacks whilst missing key players, either injured or because of English Rugby Union non-release policy due to the match being outside the international window, is on a hiding to nothing. They need our support whatever. And the argument that WRU profit is yet to trickle down to lower tiers vital to providing stars of the future in both men’s & women’s games, is a valid debate for another day. But what I do find odd are ones here agreeing with a columnist… Read more »
For the price of one Wales rugby ticket, I can go to 4 Wales football matches and enjoy a much better atmosphere without the forced militaristic British nationalism.
How is pricing out youngsters from watching their national team going to encourage kids to play rugby? Can’t even watch them on tv either without paying an American company a subscription. Bunch of sellouts. No wonder the fans in the Millennium look older and older with each game.
“What is another 12-month in a whole lifetime of failure, what is another digit in a curse?” Yo Saes, who won the last Six Nations? Hint, its wasn’t you bunch of ruperts.
Why couldn’t he just make his point without being offensive to the Welsh nation and people? Any argument he may have justification for has been lost by being rude and and acting like a superior English colonialist. Stick to sport in England please !
Racist English imperialist tw@t. He may have a point about the WRU but his offensive comments about the Welsh fans mean that I can’t agree with him. He wouldn’t say this about English fans if they were in a similar situation so I think it fair to say that he is nothing but a worthless bigot.
He’s Welsh🤣
James Corrigan is Welsh, not English. Isn’t he the son of the late sports journalist Peter Corrigan? As for ripping off rugby fans, I thought that was the whole point of the blazer brigade at the WRU.