Bedfordshire Bronco

It was busier than last year and the atmosphere was louder and better because of the bigger fanbase (who probably have a bigger song repertoire too) The thing that stood out for me was the continued and relentless rise of of prices at Wembley .... It's always been expensive but it is getting extraordinary ...£4.50 for a Luke warm bottle of coke....£7.50 a pint......hilarious that people pay it

Experience of finals may come into this for Wigan.....

I have a suspicion most neutrals will go for Wire....if nothing else most neutrals like to see sides share around the trophies and Wigan look like winning most of them for the near future

Agreed...his in play kicking is up there with the best in SL ..less time to think I'd hate to have kicked....it was bad enough being a pace bowler in cricket too much time to think

He's very hit and miss (and I don't mean that as a joke!) Goes through patches where he looks like amazing be then his head goes and he misses a stream of easier ones

Really looking forward to going....Wigan must be regretting their selection choice from last weekend now with the two bans of key ever present players I think and hope Wire do it

Is that in places like Hounslow though?

Yes agreed...it's just annoying It's why being able to drive in / near and drive out makes me feel so smug

Newcastle did/does exactly the same thing

I'm a neutral and on top of my ticket I'll spend about £7 in petrol and £5 in parking (a mile away) - shared with others in the car!! I will bring food with me (genuinely) ....and I don't drink any more! This Saturday is a bargain for me!

60k is par considering the teams .....hope it's more as I'd quite like to be there for a great atmosphere!

Good for them

Looked good on tv ...seemed more ...was thinking at least 15k

Well you didn't know they are called laws not rules so......

Looks very good...Guinness stout 0% is superb....I'd assume this is great too Buying some later

At no point have I suggested elitism does not exist in union....not once I agree it exists and always has However - I will continue to point out that not everyone in union is privileged or a snob ....and in my own experience at community level there is a significant amount of people who are quite the opposite of privileged or snobbish (they probably wish they were privileged!) Going back to my other point ....I would be interested to see if there is a difference in the level of snobbishness/elitism between the average northern union club and the average southern union one Because league was never a threat here maybe that creates a point of difference between northern and Southern clubs....particularly community clubs

SBF wrote "Had Wales adopted rugby league in the early days do you think the remaining Home Nations would have done so too? " You replied "No because Rugby Union was, and to some extent still is, very elitist in those nations." So you were A. Referring to home nations that weren't Wales (not 2 nations but 3) ..this includes England B. '"to some extent" - carries the inference that elitism still exists in the nations above .....which matches my comments that suggest there is plenty of non elitist behaviour in English union too I live in the south of England hence i referenced that part of England (the country you stated still had union based elitism to some extent) Now the next part is amazing... I added to a conversation a new reference point but still linked to both the general point being talked about (England union and elitism) This is a forum where it makes sense to - Add your thoughts -Posit related ideas -Generate discussion Other wise it becomes an echo chamber

Good

And that may or may not suggest you are cognisant to the subtleties of how elitist union is or isn't in the South of England.... I'm no apologist for union shithousery but it's worth reminding people that subtleties exist at community level at least

Not sure if it was or wasn't 130 years ago but there is a lot of assumption on here it currently is elitist in places like Beds, Bucks and Herts.....I can tell you some is but plenty is not ....that may well have been the case 130 years ago (You did reply to the OP to say union was and "still is" elitist in the other home nations)

The traditional view has been that it is parental influence ....maybe protective etc Would be good to tap into it....both in places like Batley but also Luton/ Aylesbury!

As per last post Dave they had block 118 open yesterday morning and not yesterday Pm...they did the same today (now not showing again after being open AM)

My tickets were instantly available when I bought yesterday

Yes they had lower tier East side block open yesterday morning...closed PM when I wanted to book the Wire end and now it's back open today Why do they do this?

It's worth pointing out that not all community rugby union clubs are elitist ....in fact I'd say few are! Some community clubs down here have plenty of people I would describe as rough as ****.... Also I'd say parts of certain pro clubs like Gloucester Northampton have a good section of thier support asvery working class, boozy, messy and definitely not elitist Thinking about it actually..... Maybe Northern league fans get more exposure to union elitism at all levels than we do down here .......maybe up north the union clubs are the snobs who wouldn't play league ?? Whereas down here it stayed mixed? How would a club like say Cleckheaton RFC come across in the clubhouse/sidelines compared to say Siddal RLFC ....or Acorn Vs York RUFC?