why is it that we have england, scotland, ireland and wales football, rugby, cricket teams and british tennis players, athletes, rowers and cyclists to name? for me, it is either you support the UK as a whole in sport, and alas england, scotland, wales and northern ireland altogether or just as separate nations. likewise, what is it with the fierce rivalry between scotland and england? i just don't understand why it happens to us and not with other countries. which would you go for and why?
2006-09-11 08:24:14 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Other - Sports
If a sport isn't popular enough to have a team for each country, we combine them to make a british team. It doesn't automatically mean they hate each other if they play in separate teams. A bit of friendly rivalry is a good thing- like different houses for sports at school.
2006-09-11 08:33:51 · answer #1 · answered by Oracle Of Delphi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because we are four nations united that have our own identity when it comes to certain sports and are joined for others. So you can support England,Scotland or Wales and Northern Ireland and also team GB in the olympics. I don't think any other country is in the same situation as us,
As for the English, Scottish thing if Scotland play other nations at football the English as a majority would wish them well, The Scottish however will support the team England play against.
Why i don't know.
Serbia and Croatia are seperate countries now although used to be part of Yugoslavia.
Helen when scotland have got to the world cup finals (no dig) i have always cheered them on.
2006-09-11 08:38:24 · answer #2 · answered by andy m234 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The main reason is funding and popularity although in Rugby we also have the British and Irish Lions, also Ireland play as a united team and not North and South.
For Football reasons, England, Wales, N. Ireland and Scotland are separate entities in both FIFA and UEFA and therefore have one vote each. An ammalgamation into UK or Britain football team would threaten this and each wants to reserve its own autocracy. Especially in football where the seasons are slightly different. There is also no British Football Association
As regards many of the other sports the olympics do have alot to do with it. Our governing body is the British Olympic Committee and therefore anyone competing in the olympics would come under the british banner although they may have competed in their own national colours prior to the olympic games. Athletics is a prime example of this where many athletes compete for their home nation before being selected to represent GB&NI.
Cricket is a misnomer, with England generally representing the home nations even though it is called England. Several Scots and Welsh have played for England in recent times most notably Robert Croft and Simon Jones. The idea is that England initially started out as the MCC and anyone registered as a player for the MCC could appear.
In terms of rivalry there are many Nations which have this. Australia and New Zealand in Rugby and Cricket. USA and Canada in Ice Hockey. Holland and Germany in football. Plus obvious matches in any sport between Pakistan and India.
The rivalry in the home nations changes periodically. In the seventies Wales were at the pinnacle of the rugby world so everyone wanted to beat them as is the same now with England who are the current world champions.
2006-09-11 09:34:48 · answer #3 · answered by thehellmouthpirate 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You mention Ireland it not a member of the UK for a start ok! Few fact we don't pay cricket here and never have ok! Why would expect a Scottish man to support we say England when they got their own team. Is it because England not doing well in we say Tennis. They always support that loser tennis player Tim he never won. Some more fact for you Ireland has never been a member of the so called Commonwealth. It is a republic with it own President and prime minister. It has happened in other countries for example Czech republic and Slovakia.. Serbians and Croatian
2006-09-11 08:35:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is most likely something to do with the olympics. Cricket, and rugby aint olympic sports and even tho football is, the uk does not enter a team. Athletics, rowing and cycling are more traditional olympic sports and since its a UK team for the olympics it seems to make sense.
2006-09-11 09:07:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree it's really sad. I love the fact that we are made up of 4 fantastic countries, with many different cultures but i'm English and it does upset me when the Scottish cheer on our rivials in events such as the world cup. If we do enter as separate countries i support us all equally. We have this problem with football though, i come from the Midlands and love it when any of us are doing well. I got upset when so many clubs went down last season and i look forward to seeing them all go up next season.
2006-09-11 08:36:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have over-lapping geographic terms. In a similar fashion we might see a player from Minnesota on the Univ. o Minnesota team, the All-American team, or the North American team, (at least theoretically). Or one of our Mexican acquaintances might play for North America, or for Central America.
Some sports try to maintain local spirit; others transfer players around, even between continents.
2006-09-11 08:40:48 · answer #7 · answered by fata minerva 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I go for british being welsh/english heritage.
Although I love the way if an english sportsperson wins theyre english.
But if they're irish scottish or welsh they become british.
2006-09-11 08:34:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
here here!!!! i am scottish and am fed up with the whole 'dont support england' gig. although i doubt england would support scotland if by some fluke we managed to get through!!! i think its about time to put this 16th century behaviour behind us!!!!
2006-09-11 08:29:43 · answer #9 · answered by helen 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because england is selfish, it wont share its good players but want to have good players from the other nations to play with them.
2006-09-11 19:57:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋