[PhilCarrington]

Stobart Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos are set to break new ground after they became the first club in the country to recruit male dancers on a permanent basis to their matchday dance team.
The Rhinos have had a dance team since 1997 but they have now expanded the group who perform on match nights at Headingley Carnegie with the addition of six male dancers. The new development has come about thanks to a new sponsorship deal for the team from Leeds based company Spencer Properties.

Will they turn out to be as popular as Hot Gossip or disliked like Ruby Flipper ?

[Old Frightful]

Wakey have had a male dancer for yonks.

Just the one, mind.

[Viking Warrior]

the new widnes mascot...................the first female mascot in super league

[Wellsy4HullFC]

I remembered when Hull had a male dancer. "Please welcome Airlie's Angels... and Jack!"

I'll be pretty blunt about this. The only time I find dancing entertaining is when I'm drunk or when I want to see a girl "shake that". I have no interest in the art of dancing and am not really entertained at all by it, and therefore seeing male dancers (or children for that matter) does not catch my interest at all!

For me, the skimpier the better. But of course, that's just me! It's also the same opinion as a lot of people that I go with, but we may be a minority!...

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Viking Warrior, on 26 January 2012 - 11:20 PM, said:

Exhibit A!

[steef]

Can't see it catching on. I'd wager the most that most fans get from dancers at half time is some very mild titilation for the male supporters, surely 34 blokes in shorts will provide that for female fans?

[hindle xiii]

Viking Warrior, on 26 January 2012 - 11:20 PM, said:

the new widnes mascot...................the first female mascot in super league

Is this a bird for Kemik? He's so giddy he needs to get laid.

[hindle xiii]

The Bulls had a couple of male cheerleaders a few years ago, it didn't last long.

I know these are differently, but are they really?

This news story was on both Look North and Sky Sports News, now I'm all for getting TGG in the media more and more but this is a complete non-story.

This post has been edited by hindle xiii: 27 January 2012 - 07:47 AM

[gingerjon]

Complete non story as you say.

Very pleased to see it in the media therefore. We're normally rubbish at stuff like that.

[scrape_goose]

steef, on 26 January 2012 - 11:52 PM, said:

Can't see it catching on. I'd wager the most that most fans get from dancers at half time is some very mild titilation for the male supporters, surely 34 blokes in shorts will provide that for female fans?

And of course all the witty fine figures of men on the terraces resting their pints on their bellies, been all witty and that.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

Viking Warrior, on 26 January 2012 - 11:20 PM, said:

the new widnes mascot...................the first female mascot in super league

how do you know?

[hindle xiii]

l, on 27 January 2012 - 08:29 AM, said:

how do you know?

True. Ronnie the Rhino is an androgynous name.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Viking Warrior, on 26 January 2012 - 11:20 PM, said:

the new widnes mascot...................the first female mascot in super league

Anyways, this isn't the first female mascot in SL at all.
I know for a fact that the Rovers mascot at one point was played by a lady.
And if you mean the character itself, didn't Saints used to have a female dog (Bernadette?) alongside St Bernard?

[hindle xiii]

Wellsy4HullFC, on 27 January 2012 - 08:34 AM, said:

Anyways, this isn't the first female mascot in SL at all.
I know for a fact that the Rovers mascot at one point was played by a lady.

Blimey, Mistress Marlowe really does need the money.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

these lads are famous throughout Europe.

The Dazl Diamonds come frtom one of the most deprived areas of Leeds. The adults who sytarted the group up and have taken it forward have done a fantastic job with these lads.

[Amber Avenger]

Wellsy4HullFC, on 27 January 2012 - 08:34 AM, said:

And if you mean the character itself, didn't Saints used to have a female dog (Bernadette?) alongside St Bernard?

Didn't Ronnie the Rhino also have a wife - Rita...? I also think he had a couple of kids - but it might be my imagination getting away from me. It was really early in Super League.

Also - the Bulls started out with 4 male cheerleaders one season (with a similarly false press release) - within 2 matches this went down to two, and before long one. That one guy stuck out the season I think, but didn't return.

[Southstander13]

Wellsy4HullFC, on 27 January 2012 - 08:34 AM, said:

Anyways, this isn't the first female mascot in SL at all.
I know for a fact that the Rovers mascot at one point was played by a lady.
And if you mean the character itself, didn't Saints used to have a female dog (Bernadette?) alongside St Bernard?

Leeds had Ronnie, but there used to be the rest of his family about too. Rita his wife, and the kids Rosie and Ricky!

Not sure if theyve split up or if Rita is taking on the full time mother role but she's not been seen for a while!

[Southstander13]

Amber Avenger, on 27 January 2012 - 08:52 AM, said:

Didn't Ronnie the Rhino also have a wife - Rita...? I also think he had a couple of kids - but it might be my imagination getting away from me. It was really early in Super League.

Just beat me to it!

[bearman]

Funnily enough I go to watch a game to see 26 blokes knocking 7 bells out of each other. I have no interest in watching dancing ( I never watch strictly come dancing). When the dancing troop jump up after a score I don't think it adds anything to the excitement. At half time I either go to to lavatory or read the programme. I would much rather watch juniors playing rugby or even a crossbar challenge.

[Amber Avenger]

Funnily enough they probably aren't aimed at you. Also at most matches they tend to have dancing and the junior matches/crossbar challenge stuff you mentioned as well. It isn't mutually exclusive.

That said, I am a fan of the thought that clubs might be doing this to cash in on Strictly's fanbase

This post has been edited by Amber Avenger: 27 January 2012 - 09:40 AM