fighting irish

My father played with Vic Hey. I saw his picture on the wall of Wollongong Leagues club in 1980.

Can you send some information to Newcastle, so they can write a book on how to develop the game so that the rest of the country can learn from them and replicate what they are doing?

I think there is real merit in this plan. You should send it off to the governing body and the maverick group. For once, a short, medium and long term plan, that ticks all the boxes. A compass at least, if not a detailed roadmap for where we want to get to.

At a minimum they tie up resources, dealing with confused newcomers questions. Just like its consuming our time talking about them today. It depends on the finances they can muster in order to become a thorn in the games flesh. They could eventually tie us up in legal battles. They can also undermine the IRL's claim to be the world governing body and that could impact on our claim as a bona fide sport in any application for government funding around the world and of course, in our attempts to become an Olympic sport. This translates to the ability to slow down (to a grinding halt in some countries) the growth of the game. This is not a good news story. As far as I know, none of their members have any significant participation in the game, but that doesn't effect their ability to cause confusion, by lieing to our fledgling members, or to befuddle indifferent politicians about our legitimacy. We are making progress around the world, and this is one of RaRa's responses The intend to frustrate, slow down, stifle and suffocate our growth. For me, this is confirmation that we are finally doing something right, at last but its never going to be easy. Its difficult enough as it is, without their vile meddling. Make no mistake, they envy us and so, fear us. Our product is superior and its appeal to the general population around the world is becoming evident. Any authentic body, eager to develop the sport around the world, would seek to join the existing governing body and pull together, to fight the good fight. The actions of this group prove the opposite. The are not rugby league people, they are not out to build the game but to destroy it.

They are a Ra Ra sponsored group charged with f......g the whole thing up. When all these fools join up, they'll start changing the rules till it looks like Ra Ra, or there'll be a humungous legal battle, bankrolled by the dark side to bankrupt our IRL. Be vigilant, don't underestimate our enemies. Many and varied are the ways of the dark side.

We had some great afternoons after the matches. I'm so glad, you enjoyed your visit. It was the best time of my life, I just wish I could still play.

Yes it was before the Fighting Irish. (See the previous post). I absolutely loved being in the London League. When we formed the club, our nearest opposition was 200 miles away. So we played a first season of friendly fixtures against Northern clubs who we enticed to visit Aberavon. Clive Hopkins helped us to ensure that our visitors were housed, well fed and catered for and we did our best to ensure they had a torrid time on the field. Lol. I think we joined the London League in our second year because we needed a full fixture list. We had to guarantee to fulfill our away games for the benefit of having each London club visit us once a season. It worked, we found the players, we made the money, we bought the kit, arranged the games, transport, blah blah blah. It was great. Peckham were a great side, Puma's were a great side, Ealing were great, Colonials (broke my nose) were terrific. I wish they were all still playing but the London scene is a huge success story for our game. Long may it continue. I'm pleased to meet you, keep in touch.

My brother and I formed Aberavon in the early 80's and we ran the club for 18 years. (My brother Danny did most of the heavy lifting). A chap called Chris O'Callaghan (a school mate) played for us on and off, along with 3 of his four brothers. He was an ex-Cambridge Blue at RaRa and became, after a very successful playing career (at Union) the Aberavon RFU coach. It was while he was coaching the Wizards that he, along with his brother John, formed the Fighting Irish, Chris coached and John Dennis did most of the heavy lifting! Lol. I was a founder member of the F.I. club and coached the U-17's. So, if you played the Fighting Irish I wasn't playing but its great to meet you and chat with you.

Help me to answer the question? What year was it? Did you play Aberavon Rugby League Club or Aberavon Fighting Irish RL Club?

I'll have a look thanks!

I don't mean to be a nuisance but where did you get that information from?

Clive is still a hotelier and is much larger than he used to be. If you played for Peckham, we must have played against each other.

Do you have a link?

Have either of you heard anything about Aberavon Fighting Irish starting again next season?

I like the sound of it too. I'm glad to hear about the draft idea too. I wonder how it'll pan out.

Lies? you seem so surprised. Their propensity, to re-write history and in particular, to gloss over their most shameful acts and in this case, a most humiliating debacle knows no bounds. What surprises me is how we so often forget, the true nature of the beast, here in Blighty. I said to Maurice Oldroyd, listen Maurice, you can cosy up to these people all you want, but the simple truth is they're out to get us. By any and all means. Be vigilant.

yes you are right. My comment though was not about the match(es) it was about Sean Edwards comments about rugby union, after the union match. A lot has changed since then no doubt, including it seems, Edwards' opinion of the game he now works in.

Thats not what he said, when Wigan played Bath.

Ah! so you mean the ''top-down'' method?

Did you play in it JC38? I loved it. Get them some more international competition, keep them in it.

That was bloody great. How on earth can we stand by and let them go to the dark side?

They were really good times. I wish I could do it all again.

I think we played up in Irlam later in the season too. Or the following year.

It was in Aberavon in South Wales (for Aberavon) somewhere around 1980 ish. maybe 81. Can't check the result because my brother kept all the records and he's in lockdown in India. Can you check it your end? We knew a chap, an ex-player called Jeff Woods.

Can't remember, let me check.