Women playing so-called "Mens" sport has come on leaps and bounds - they dont bring the boundaries in any more for Women's cricket, the football is exciting and open, and have you seen the UFC fighters?!! Cripes.
I'm a Bath Rugby season ticket holder and I do think we are starting to see more "footie style antics" in the game - it's a watchout, and while the average pay of a premiership rugby player isnt a patch on premiership footie - thy do get paid a lot of money for doing something they enjoy for a living.
I still remain concerned about the disproportionate number of players in both senior rugby and cricket (and athletics) who were privately educated - it's a clear and obvious indicator of how high the class divide remains in the UK - and the disadvantage/advantage of how you are born really can shape your life (we live in a society that inherently despises poor people in so many ways). Millfield school at £10k a term is a "feeder" school for Bath Rugby - not Wells Blue Comprehensive.
Just been reading an article about the prospect of top teams from U.K. ,Germany, Italy, France etc would form a European Super League of around 18 teams. All alledgedly backed by FIFA!
They forecast it will generate hundred of millions for the clubs involved.
It's no longer a sport, it's just BIG BUSINESS getting more and more greedy!
It's a pity that Shinty isn't more widely broadcast on TV, but there's plenty on YouTube if you've never seen it played. Related to Irish hurling, hockey and lacrosse but players use both sides of the stick (the caman) and can play the ball up in the air. It's a full contact sport, a very fast game, ferocious and hugely exciting to watch, if you get the chance next year after the coronavirus restrictions have lifted. It's largely played up in the Highlands (especially around Kingussie and Newtonmore). And it's played for fun, the players are all amateurs.