Villa park chosen to host Rugby World Cup matches

[lovejoy]

As confirmed http://www.espnscrum.com/2015-rugby-world-cup/rugby/story/181883.html.

Villa Park, Kingsholm and the Amex. Lovely stuff.

[PaulWinch again]

I know some won't like this but I'm a fan of rugby so good stuff. One thing is though, what happens to our home games at this stage?

[Chico Hamilton III]

So we've agreed to let these cauliflower-eared, fart-lighting posh kids dig our pitch up in September 2015?

[richard moore]

Very good news but then I'm a big rugby fan

Surprised though they didn't choose the Britannia where the fans are much more conversant with rugby

[curiousorange]

Good stuff. If the ground staff have the pitch looking the same in May 2016 as they do in August 2015, they deserve knighthoods.

[junxs]

I don't follow rugby at all, but I'm sure Birmingham doesnt have a Rugby team so they'll naturally be less fans in this area. Like Richard says above would have made more sense to have it elsewhere. The pitch is going to get cut up so could have an effect on the way we play afterwards.

[saunders_heroes]

A bunch of thuggish Hooray Henrys cutting up our lovely perfect pitch! Dear oh dear!

[curiousorange]

I don't follow rugby at all, but I'm sure Birmingham doesnt have a Rugby team so they'll naturally be less fans in this area. Like Richard says above would have made more sense to have it elsewhere. The pitch is going to get cut up so could have an effect on the way we play afterwards.

I think Richard's comment was tongue in cheek regarding Stoke's 'robust' style.

Villa Park will be full for the matches, just like the other grounds. Never underestimate how seriously rugby fans take their sport. It also costs more to watch England rugby than England football at their respective national grounds. You think Villa shirts are expensive? I wanted to buy my girlfriend a Worcester Warriors top (bear in mind they're the equivalent of say, Fulham league wise) and they're around the fifty quid mark.

[richard moore]

Yes, it was definitely tongue in cheek regarding Stoke's style!!!

[paul_e]

I don't follow rugby at all, but I'm sure Birmingham doesnt have a Rugby team so they'll naturally be less fans in this area. Like Richard says above would have made more sense to have it elsewhere. The pitch is going to get cut up so could have an effect on the way we play afterwards.

I think Richard's comment was tongue in cheek regarding Stoke's 'robust' style.

Villa Park will be full for the matches, just like the other grounds. Never underestimate how seriously rugby fans take their sport. It also costs more to watch England rugby than England football at their respective national grounds. You think Villa shirts are expensive? I wanted to buy my girlfriend a Worcester Warriors top (bear in mind they're the equivalent of say, Fulham league wise) and they're around the fifty quid mark.

Compare the build quality though, I have no idea for replica shirts, they may cut some corners but the actual match shirts are far better than football equivalents.

Birmingham does have a rugby team, Moseley are in the championship (much like football that's the 2nd division) and have done a decent job staying in that league despite having nothing like the finances of the other sides in there.

[usav]

I don't think the pitch will fare any worse than it would for a couple of extra cup games - unless it happens to piss it down for each game we host.

[curiousorange]

I don't follow rugby at all, but I'm sure Birmingham doesnt have a Rugby team so they'll naturally be less fans in this area. Like Richard says above would have made more sense to have it elsewhere. The pitch is going to get cut up so could have an effect on the way we play afterwards.

I think Richard's comment was tongue in cheek regarding Stoke's 'robust' style.

Villa Park will be full for the matches, just like the other grounds. Never underestimate how seriously rugby fans take their sport. It also costs more to watch England rugby than England football at their respective national grounds. You think Villa shirts are expensive? I wanted to buy my girlfriend a Worcester Warriors top (bear in mind they're the equivalent of say, Fulham league wise) and they're around the fifty quid mark.

Compare the build quality though, I have no idea for replica shirts, they may cut some corners but the actual match shirts are far better than football equivalents.

Birmingham does have a rugby team, Moseley are in the championship (much like football that's the 2nd division) and have done a decent job staying in that league despite having nothing like the finances of the other sides in there.

I think all the replica stuff for rubgy union is expensive. One word of warning about attending though - unless they ban alcohol from the stands like they do at the football, everybody around you will be up and down throughout the game going to buy ale. Highly irritating.

[The Man With A Stick]

Make them all wear slippers, the hairy-arsed oafs.

[UK Redsox]

Birmingham does have a rugby team, Moseley are in the championship (much like football that's the 2nd division) and have done a decent job staying in that league despite having nothing like the finances of the other sides in there.

Don't forget that Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C. are in National 2 (North)

[placeforparks]

I know some won't like this but I'm a fan of rugby so good stuff. One thing is though, what happens to our home games at this stage?

it's 2 matches on one weekend, so we'll be away i expect.

i don't like rugby, but it's good for the city, it will bring visitors in.