Some Advice For New Wasps Supporters
Our New Home
By Vespula Vulgaris
September 6 2015
I for one have been amazed at the attendance figures since the move to Coventry. I know it is a much more densely populated area than High Wycombe, but for pre-season friendlies to have more in attendance than the biggest and best games at Adams Park still takes a bit of getting your head round. It an amazing thing to see so many people wearing Wasps tops, hats and scarves, waving Wasps flags, and to know the club is now financially secure is a huge relief.
A lot of the new supporters are new to supporting rugby, and it's a real joy to bring a love of the best game out there to so many more people, but if you're new to watching Rugby live there are a few things you should know.
1) It's a family event. Going to a match isn't a thing just adults do. You'll see whole families there with children from teenagers down to babes in arms. Because of that the language people use is important. Please try not to swear. We all do it sometimes, but it's only going to cause bad feeling if people are repeatedly using bad language in front of children. It's f***ing rude.
2) Rugby comes before the team. We're all passionate about our team, but first and foremost we're fans of the game. That tends to mean that there is little antagonism between supporters of different teams. There is no segregation, and fans of opposing teams mingle and sit together throughout the ground. You'll even see people applauding when the other team does something well. Try to respect the other team, even if it is Tigers.
3) Trying to put the kicker off is very much frowned upon. Lets be honest, it isn't going to make a blind bit of difference to them, they are a professional and are fully used to blanking out the noise from the crowd when they are concentrating, but if you're busy shouting and screaming you might not see when he slices it wildly into the stands, and you don't want that.
4) We all know the referee is half blind and completely biased towards the other team, but even so, in rugby there is a tradition of utmost respect towards him. Players refer to him as “Sir” and only the Captain is supposed to talk directly to him without being spoken to first. If you want to shout ans scream about how ridiculous the ref is, then that is what this forum is for.
5) We all drink. Well not all of us, but having a few pints is part of the experience. Just remember that you have to drink real ale and not lager, and it will either be too warm, or too cold. You get to pick.
6) Rugby is famous for it's lewd songs, but as a rule they're supposed to be sung by the players on the team bus. Try not to sing them in front of children or nuns.
7) Racism is completely unacceptable. It doesn't matter what colour someone's skin is or where they are from. Racist behaviour is never acceptable. Unless you're from one of the other Home Nations and insulting the English. Then it's just fine.
The most important thing to remember is to have fun. Thanks for choosing to come along and support Wasps, the team has a long and proud heritage, and with any luck that will continue in our new home.
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“This machine kills fascists”
Woody Guthrie's guitar.
engage coventry
Also feel this article should be headed new rugby supporters as you are intimating that people of Coventry, such as myself, have never seen rugby before and all don't know how to behave! I of course agree with sentiment of the article for any rugby ground anywhere in the world.
Quote:chunky24
Also feel this article should be headed new rugby supporters as you are intimating that people of Coventry, such as myself, have never seen rugby before and all don't know how to behave! I of course agree with sentiment of the article for any rugby ground anywhere in the world.
I did try and make that clear with the line - "if you're new to watching Rugby live there are a few things you should know."
Keith Johnson
Camra Member 224855.
PS BRING BACK BARNEY WE NEED MORE ARGUMENTS!!!!
Quote:MojoSaliva
Also, it's Allez, not Oggy. Personal gripe there.
This!
I also agree re the Mexican Wave.
This marvellous game we love is all about respect & discipline, and that goes for the supporters as well as the players.
H@Wasps
A very cruel woman indeed!
And a pompous snob, apparently.
And insulting the Welsh, Irish and Scottish is not only acceptable, it is obligatory.
Quote:doog
Excellent work VV, can't argue with any of that, which is frankly quite disappointing....
You could always point out the typos?
Cheers
Rick
@W2APS on twitter, the chap with the banners and flags.
8) Don't forget Coventry has it's own rugby club, they're called Coventry. Perhaps go and see them occasionally too!
Regarding Mexican waves, I think we all get that it's a bit of fun and pre-match or during half time I don't have a problem, just don't do it during a match when your fellow supporters want to watch the action not the back of some muppet in front of them with their arms in the air.
Also love point 7, I should however point out that the French, Scottish, Welsh and Irish are nationalities they are not a "race" so friendly banter regarding their attire, diet or national obsession with the sexual abuse of livestock is not racist and should be encouraged, after all, we are certainly going to get it back from them in spades...
I had started to take an interest in CCFC, until reading their forum!
Much of what has been highlighted is why I started down the rugby line anyway rather than simply the game on the pitch.
Quote:Raggs
It's being taken well enough on the other rugby forums here, and shedweb, a few suggesting that it get included in programs etc.
Got any links? It's always interesting to see what people say about things I've written.
It's also worth reminding Australians that Matilda has been around a bit, after a rendition of God Save Your Queen.
Just remember to follow rule one before embarking on the above.