John Hislop ffrom New Zealand stated his views in August 2009:
John:"I'm a NZ'er. I played rugby as a kid & teenager and got bored and frustrated with the stop start play (knock ons, scrums, lineouts) & the incessant macho ravings of the media & those in nz who support the so called "national game".
That psyche has contributed to the urban myth that kiwis are & will always be the best, we were best when there were only 2-3 other countries to play against but things have changed now. When did NZ win the last world rugby cup?
Footbal'ls popularity is increasing in NZ, despite the embargos some media outlets have from time to time put in place to limit stories about football.
In college youth sport the bias against football throughout the country is very real, however, football continues to thrive and the quality of play just gets better & better as players develop and the support network behind them develops.
To those who claim rugby is a more macho game, they should take part in a quality football match and see how long they last and if they actually make a contribution to the game. As far as skills go, the games are uniquely different , however, all 11 players in a football team know how to kick a ball, in rugby maybe 2-3 players in a team have that skill.
Theres nothing wrong with rugby as a game, its the overselling & hype that puts me off, and its boring to watch. "
Steve from Bridgend is in no doubt that the round-ball game is the more watchable:
Steve:"Every minute of rugby I watch feels like a minute of my life wasted. It is slow, boring and a waste of time. Football takes a lot more skill and is a much faster game making it more enjoyable to watch. Footballers are much better athletes as well and cover way more ground during a game than a rugby player would.
Yes, football is given a bad reputation by a small minority of 'diving' players, but it is still miles better than rugby. Welsh people generally don't like football because they are bad at it and so it seems to me that rugby is the main 'sport' in wales."
Caleb from Llanboidy is in no doubt where he stands on this issue:
Caleb:"Football is the national sport of wales... Wales is the 3rd ever international team .. in 1876. I'm not sure when rugby came along in wales ? and before football hry played a similar game in wales .. "Cnapan" Rugby is just a myth thats been told for too long."
Jason from Anglesey joined the debate in January 2008:
Jason:"Rugby is the national Sport!!! Football is the English National Sport. It's the English influence on the country that makes us the country that we are. We must take control and be our own nation not like England and find our own sport."
Byron Jones from Portsmouth joined the debate on 25 October 2008:
"The stats tell you all...far more people play football than rugby in Wales. Cardiff is predominantly a football city. The South Wales valleys have more football clubs then rugby. Rugby is played by the few, and mostly west of Swansea. when I was a lad at school near Bridgend, any lad with talent and fitness played football first..our rugby team was full of those who couldn't kick a ball, or as forwards, were on the overweight side. Please no more of this 'Wales is a rugby nation'! Unfortunately the rugby Taffia have their mits on most of the press, councils etc."
Andrew from Pontypridd has the following facts to back his argument that football is Wales' national game:
Andrew:"How do you calculate what is wales' national sport?
a) the amount of persons which take part? ans. fact, football wins hands down. i got the figures in front of me. it's quite frightening.
b) the amount of 'real' spectators who actually pay to watch/support their own team? ans. although wales' national rugby always fills the mill stad. unfortunately this is only during the six nations and autumn internationals. gate receipts in football far outweigh rugby.
c) the sport which was set up first in wales? wales were playing football a long time before the wru were set up.
d) most watched on t.v? well due to the coverage on sky etc, the viewing figures speak for themselves football everytime.
e) most success? this is a good one. most people would say rugby because of the grand slams etc but? with only 6 teams involved, i don't know. the rugby world cup? you can pick the winner from a group of 3 or 4. little in comparison to the 1927 fa cup win of cardiff city or the quarter final of the football world cup? to equal this our rugby team would have to win the rugby world cup!"
Aran Davies from Manchester
sent in his view on the matter in July 2008.
"Rugby is a true man's game. It is physically demanding and great fun to play and watch. I think rugby is a lot better than football because rugby players get on with it but dont pussyfoot around, they are determined and not phased by a bit of blood or mud or even a broken bone."
C Roberts of Yellowknife Canada, sent us this comment in May 2008:
C Roberts:"All this talk of which is the best game reminds me of my school days. I played rugby for my school and football on Saturdays for my town.I enjoyed both equally and was often ridiculed by my sports teacher for wanting to play 'the beautiful game" as he thought it was not manly enough.Debates like this are totally meaningless as it encourages tunnel visioned half wits like our teacher to have a cause to ridicule people on their love of a certain sport, rather than encouraging them in either game.Damn shame I say!!!"
Terry White from Talgarth makes a point:
Terry: "The debate is about rugby and soccer in Wales, not 234 countries."
"Juninho" keeps it short and to the point:
Juninho:"Well soccer is more popular than rugby union in like 234 countries."
Fred from Londod makes a linguistic point:
Fred:"The word is ''football'' not ''soccer''.Just because Americans play American Football it was changed by some to soccer. It's ridiculous how people who know nothing about football changed the name."
Jon from Shifnal prefers the oval ball game.
Jon:"I love rugby, it is a brilliant game to play and watch. I did play football for a time but when I switched to rugby I adored it it was a fantastic game."
Lydia from Leeds believes rugby league is the sport to follow:
Lydia:"I've read a lot of the comments on this page and it's quite obvious there are varied opinions.
Anyone who thinks that rugby is a game for the unskilled obviously has never played it. It may not seem like there is much to it, but as a player I know different. Rugby is not just getting the ball, running and getting tackled. It's all about planning, drawing the opposition in, off loading, skillful passing/kicking....and yes, tackling is a skill too!
I went to the Millenium Magic RL weekend at the beginning of May in Cardiff. Throughout the two days there were fans from all teams (including those who have a bitter rivalry - FC/KR, Bulls/Rhinos, Saints/Warriors) and it was a great atmosphere. We became really good friends with some Saints fans sat behind us and with us wearing a Wigan shirt and a Rhinos shirt! You don't get the violent disgusting behaviour at rugby as you do with football. Football has a lot to learn from us!
There are also questions about stamina. Football is simply running around after the ball whereas rugby is running, going to the ground, tackling, being tackled and yes that all takes it out of you - and we get a rather small half time too!
Some people here are saying that football is a better sport simply because more people go to watch it. Those two comments don't correlate whatsoever. Football gets more media coverage and it gets sponsored more - you think those big companies don't have something to do with it?
Rugby (league in particular) is considered to be a northern sport and since it is assumed to be localised then it of course won't get the coverage that it should.
Overall there are advantages to both sports but I prefer a bit more excitement in my life so its rugby league all the way for me."
Hugh Jass from London believes football is more aesthetically pleasing than rugby:
Hugh:"People who think football is boring to watch know nothing because rugby is such a start stop game no flow at all to the play whereas football is enjoyable to watch as there is positional genius and clever passing instead of being tackled every 2 seconds which is so frustrating to watch."
Terry White from Talgarth has an interesting point to make about the shortened form of both games.
Terry:"Soccer players play 5 a side on a scaled down pitch.
Rugby football players play 7 a side on a full size pitch. Who has the most stamina?"
Anthony Khoury from Sydney, Australia, perhaps unsurprisingly praises the oval ball game.
Anthony:"I've been playing rugby for the past 10 years of my life and I do not think there is any other sport better than it on this earth. Ultimately Rugby is a sport for the big hearted and who know what it means to "work as a team" (helping for future jobs etc). Soccer is a good sport but it's just not what it used to be.......Rugby will always stay the same as the Greatest sport on earth..."
Amanda from Wisconsin, USA, plays rugby:
Amanda:"I am also girl, and I love Rugby. I've played all through highschool on our club team (which is mostly boys) and I've loved it ever since I started. Soccer is a fun game and I enjoy playing, but soccer players need to think- Imagine playing a game where you run long distances and have to deal with having the guts to wrap up on someone, bring them down, rucks. mauls, scrums, so on..... It's a great sport, and the teamwork is the key. In rugby, you are a family."
Louie from New Zealand simply prefers football:
Louie:"Rugby is way better than soccer - more skill, better people..."
Al from Hull argues that Rugby players are athletic:
Al:"Rugby is not played by a load of over wieght fat blokes at all. Only some of the forwards are. If you look at the backs they are muscular and athletic. Rugby in not a sport just played on the floor and it takes skill to play. I bet none of you footballers could tackle someone sprinting at you.They give respect to the ref and dont dive all the time.
All you footy players who have never played rugby wont have a clue at all. It just makes you look stupid."
Oliie from Thame points out the blight of football holliganism:
Ollie: "Rugby is far better than football because the atmostphere at the games is based on the game and not beating up each other off the pitch."
Chris from Reading is in no doubt which is the superior sport:
Chris:"Rugby fans have more fun at matches. We have more to cheer about. in football all you have to cheer is when they get near the goal and rarely score. I have always said that football's played by school dropouts and suported by drunken thugs while rugby is played by average people and suported by gentlemen. You never get any swearing at rugby matches either and if someone does they get told to shut up by everyone near them,
Rugby players run around with blood dripping from thier noses where if you flick a rubber band at a football player they are all over the floor."
Hugh Jass from Essex thinks players' histrionics are ruining football:
Hugh:"It's relly annoying when people who play rugby say football is a wimps sport. Foreigners ruin football as they are the only people who dive they have great ability but it spoils the match when you see someone rolling around. It was a discrace how Dani Alves was feigning injury against Spurs."
Allan Cameron from Manawatu in New Zealand plumps for the oval ball game.
Allan:"Football is rugby and soccer is soccer.I am from New Zealand but it appears to me attendances for Rugby Internationals far outweigh those for the Welsh Soccer team.That says an awful lot about what is the National game. I think soccer is a game of skill but less is required as you only need to get past 11 players rather than 15 and controlling a round ball if far easier than controlling an oval one. Soccer is undoubtedly the world's biggest game but who said biggest is best."
John from Wrexham has played both sports and is a fan of the oval ball game.
John:"Rugby is by far the better sport. I used to play football for 9 years before giving up and I can say that rugby is a better sport and is more complex. Anyone can kick a football but you try tackling a 16 stone guy running full pelt at you and not getting injured. That is a skill."
Chudd from Trinant in South Wales compares the machismon levels of the two sports.
Chudd:"Rugby is obviously for the stronger men of Wales. Football is for those thats cannot handle a few big hits. One tap on their ankle, like having a penut thrown at them will have them rolling around holding their leg. Now what is that all about?"
James Hopper from Dublin has some harsh criticisms of rugby players:
James:"Football is a better sport than rugby as it played and loved by people all over the world compared to rugby which is played by far less. Football takes skill,strength and brains unlike rugby where overweight men just smash into each other, no skill involved."
Olivia from Manchester decries the lack of respect for women's opinions.
"Being a teenage girl in Britain being a fan of both playing and watching sport is commonly seen as insane. I do 4 different sports Swimming, Rowing and football and rugby. My personal opinion will be looked down upon as I am a girl. but I prefer football and you don't have to pass backwards to move the ball forwards. Both sports are seen as 'Male Only' it's not said anywhere, it's just the female 'role' is not in sport."
Terry White from Talgarth makes a compelling point:
"My local rugby football team (Gwernyfed RFC)who play in Div5 east have between 50 and 100 supporters every home game,whilst the local soccer team (Gwernyfed)are lucky if they get 10.
Goes to show which sport is the most popular in Mid Wales."
Sue from Newcastle Emlyn believes fans of the Welsh Rugby team are fair weather fans.
"Football is the beautiful game. It's easy for Welsh rugby fans to get behind their team a few times a year. How many of those who fill the Millennium Stadium for internationals support their local rugby team week in week out - not many! The football fans who support their team every week are real sports fans not glory hunters."
Sean from Rhyl made a contentious point in March 2007.
"Football is just as good as rugby but Wales' national sport is still rugby and that is the sport we are best at."
Dewi Morris from Llanfyllin has no doubts:
"Football has always been the heart and soul of wales. Rugby is to physical for my liking. A round ball is the future."
Terry White from Talgarth has an interesting point to make about media bias:
"To see which of the two sports are most popular in Mid Wales, one only has to read the local media sports pages.It is always rugby that has the most and largest reports."
James H from London has some strong views about the two games:
"People who say football is a sport played by people who are too scared to play rugby are idiots. Sre foreigners dive and make it look like a soft sport.In english football anyway the roy keanes patrick vieira's they are definitely not wimps.In football you tackle differently. just because you play football."
Emily from Tavistock believes the Gunners are showing the way for British football:
"Football totally wins in my eyes, as it is the beautiful game that brings the world together. Its true, in our English premiership there are players from all across the globe. This just shows us how we can all work together to something beautiful just like how the game is played at Arsenal. Everyone knows they play the most attractive football in the world!"
Ifor from Broadhaven compares attendances at International matches to prove his point:
"It might be useful to point out at this point that the Welsh football team failed to fill the liberty stadium, only 8,500 attended to watch Wales draw with Bulgaria. More people watched the Ospreys beat Sale. Wales play a friendly against Fiji, and the millenium stadium is nearly filled. Which do you think is the national sport?"
Richard Meacham is highly criticial of footballer's on-field antics:
"All football players do is dive, feign injury, abuse the men in black and try to get opponents sent off. Rugby players aren't recidivist cheats and don't swear at the referee.
Terry White from Talgarth is also critical of footballers' behaviour:
"Both rugby and soccer are games of skill and stamina, but the way the game of soccer is going the players will soon be required to become members of equity."
Ricky Horrex compares how often the two games are played:
"Football is better than rugby because if you are a player or spectator for football then you can watch it when ever you want, but if you are a rugby player or spectator then you have to wait a long time before you get to watch a rugby match.
All Rugby players do in a game of Rugby is get the ball, run, go to the floor, lose the ball, then whoever the other rugby player is that has the ball also goes to the floor! so basically Rugby is a game on the floor but it isn't suppose to be.
Danny Roberts from Rugby favours football:
"Football is alot better, because footballers could play better rugby than what rugby players could play football.I believe that football is a game of skill and stamina. It is alot better than Rugby as Rugby is a load of overweight people trying to run but failing. Therefore football is better than Rugby."
Dan from New Zealand also favours football:
"I reckon soccer aka football is a much better sport than rugby. Rugby may have a reputation for being a blood sport, rife with broken collar bones, crooked noses and missing teeth, but for those who play, it's more than a game - it's a death game."
Terry White from Talgarth made this contribution to the debate in July 2006:
"Football is rugby. The other game is soccer, another ball game that allows players to pass the ball forward. In the game of rugby football you move forward by passing the ball backwards. It's as simple as that."
Sion ap Alun from Monmouthshire raises a kit question:
"Rugby Union is Wales' national sport, simply because our national team has enjoyed so much success over the years (2005 Grand Slam winners). Although soccer is perhaps played by more people in Wales, Rugby Union is far more supported. A WRU shirt is recognised the world over in South Africa, New Zealand etc, how many people in Wales know what our national soccer strip looks like?"
The great Football v Rugby debate was kicked off on the site in 2003 when Ali Nicoll from Machynlleth sent in these comments:
"Football is Wales' number one sport if you look at the amount of people who take part in it. Rugby is the media's number one sport because they think that it is what the reading public want. Only once again, they are out of touch with it's customers."
Wesley from Albertson in New Zealand says rugby is more than a game:
"Here to in NZ , Soccer is the number one participation sport (more than rugby). As I am a soccer player, we and other fellow soccer players like only to play not follow soccer. Rugby by far is the most focused sport. It's not only a game but a part of life."
Ken Tilley from Cardiff contacted us a few days after Swansea won the Football League Trophy in April 2006:
"Once again football has let themselves down. The players are inciting problems on the terraces, with a feeling that they are above the law, and they can get away with it. The display of certain Swansea players leaves a lot to be desired for the professional league ?
Can you say that people want to watch this? Rugby is a far better game and a better display by the players involved, thats for sure."
See BBC News: April 2006...
Rugby gets Mathew from Cwmbran's vote:
"Rugby is far better than football. I may be only 13 but I play rugby for Cwmbran and I know the rules. Rugby is a far better team game because everyone needs to commit or you will loose and it is a lot more disciplined unlike football where the officials get hell. Overall it is a much better and more fun sport."
Sian from Cwmbran says money's more important in the game of football:
"I think that rugby is a Welsh sport all round wales. Football as far as I'm concerned is just for the money and publicity. I'm not saying all footie player are like this but most of them are. With rugby, u don't see players changing team every now and then, you don't see them offering ridiculous amounts of money for them to play for the team! I think I've proved my point."
Dylan from Aberaeron says it's about respect:
"Rugby is easily the winner over football on and off the field. As rugby is such a hard game, all the players have the utmost respect for each other and officials. Whereas in football, the players have no respect for anyone. The amount of verbal abuse the officials tolorate is unbelievable. What sort of example is this to kids learning the game?"
Cerith Jones from Aberaeron lists a number of reasons in favour of rugby...
"There is no doubt that rugby is the national sport of Wales. Wales is full of established rugby clubs with their own club houses and facilities,even in the very bottom leagues whereas the majority of football teams meet in a pub, play on a council owned field and charge their players to clean the kit. You regularly see on television highlights of the top Welsh league football - at best, there's 50 supporters watching whereas you get at least that in Division 5 rugby!"
Hugh from Welshpool - but now living in California - says the answer is clear:
"Without doubt, football wins ever time in Mid Wales. I originally went to school in Welshpool Young sportsmen played football. Those who could not, played rugby - simple as that!!! How many top level rugby teams come from Mid Wales? Not too many is the answer. Compare that to the excellent number of teams and results in the League of Wales. Enough said."
Ken Tilley from Cardiff asks what more must rugby do?:
"Firstly what media are people knocking for lacking football coverage on the TV. It's on every week. Secondly there is a new stadium opened in Swansea, the so called "Wonderful Game" was only supported by 10,000 people. What more has rugby got to do to prove it's number one."
Evan Ifor Powell from Hirwaun says rugby is Wales' national game:
"Rugby is our national game for a good reason, it is loved by the majority of the nation male or female. Football although with many participants due to lack of stress involved to play is purely a recreational sport that has no national attachment to the people of wales. Whereas rugby is ingrained into the fabric of wales and is a major part of our national identity - unlike football. Therefore it is no contest. There are more members of rugby clubs than there are football clubs. Rugby members don't necessarily play the game, they just LOVE IT!"
Ken Tilley from Cardiff highlights the differences he sees on and off the pitch:
"When will people see the difference between Rugby and Football. Rugby, you get a moderate fee and you enjoy the cameraderie. A slight difference of opinion is sorted out on the field, and a wipe over with the magic sponge and everything is ok. Football, you get astronomical fees, generate hatred on the terraces between rival supporters, if a player is supposedly injured, they don't send a first aider out to them - they send a hairdresser. Come on, support a game that you can enjoy at the game and after."
Chris from Treffynnon says the answer is clear:
"This is a silly question. There is no issue. A national game is one that is placed and watched by ordinary people throughout the whole of a country. In terms of number of regular participants, number of clubs and spread throughout the country, then football must be our national game. We played rugby twice a year in my school and the nearest rugby club is miles away whereas every school has several football teams as do most pubs."
Martyn feels ridiculed for his love of rugby:
"I have grown up with rugby, it runs through me. But everyone I know ridicules me because of my love for the sport. I just tell them I would rather play in a rugby team that's going to the dumps than join the yobs in football."
Thomas Warnes from Aberystwyth has reservations about aspects of the beautiful game:
"For me, football is a good game but there is too much violence and not enough heart. Rugby is just a more competitive sport, judging just by the tackles, and there is so much skill involved, you have to study the game hard. But no matter what happens on the pitch - the odd punch up and scuffle - it stays on the pitch between the players and there is allways a good celebration after the game, no matter who wins. Most of the real good players, like most of the Aberystwyth team, play for free as other teams do, so c'mon, everyone support as much as you can. And c'mon the Lions - Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland united. Support the Welsh sporting industry."
Gareth from Cardigan says there's no comparison:
"Could football in Wales ever generate the excitement / passion / atmosphere / scale of grand slam day? I think not somehow. There wasn't the demand for Wales v Russia tickets to be sold on ebay for £500 each. The Ireland game could have sold at least three times as many tickets as were sold!"
Owain Rhys Price from Llandrindod Wells foresees world domination for rugby:
"I like both sports as I am from Mid Wales and we got taught both football and rugby throughout schoool. I have to say though that rugby is easily the bigger game in Wales.
They say that football is bigger in north and rugby in south but I went to watch Wales v England down in a pub in Cardiff and the amount of North Walians watching was amazing.
The amount of countries that are now picking up the game of rugby is good for the sport too. In about ten years, I think there will be the same number of countries playing rugby as there is football and it will be the new World sport and not just the Welsh sport."
Carys from Aberystwyth says rugby's more than a game...
"You go to a football match you get excitment, singing, shouting and it's a good laugh. But you go to a rugby match you get sweat, blood, excitment, people singing like their lungs will burst, shouting, tears. It's not a game, it's life"
Eleanor Sherwood says too much rugby is show on television:
"What is it that makes you think that everyone in Wales is obsessed with rugby. Yet again today i'm denied being able to watch what i want because BBC Wales has to show Rugby instead of the nationally advertised programme. We cann't all afford the luxury of digital or satallite to get alternative channels so end up switching off"
Ellis Rees from Penbryn, Cardigan:
"Football is an English game for yobs. Rugby is an English game for gentleman. We in Wales are all gentlemen, especially those of us that support RUGBY. The only game of any moment in the world is rugby, especially the Union Code. Well done! William Webb Ellis."
Paul from Manchester:
"All this talk of Football vs Rugby sickens me! Wales needs a serious dose of Rugby LEAGUE - the greatest game on earth is the way forward, boyo!"
Owen Pearce from Cardiff says:
"It is true more people play football than rugby in Wales - but that is largely because it is a safer and easier sport to play."
Kevin Price from Llandrindod Wells sent us this message at the start of the Euro 2004 championship:"Definately football.There are more teams in Mid Wales-if you count the teams in the local leagues there are far far more than rugby. Rugby in Wales is still living in the seventys.There are only 8 or 9 full professional rugby nations compared to 200 or so in football, so to be in the top 5 nations in rugby is the equivalent of being on the top 100 in football. The media are continually promoting rugby- perhaps the blinkers should come off! Lets be honest, rugby is the second sport in Wales and is likely to be for the forseeable future. Can the BBC Wales now spend the same on football as it does on rugby or is that asking too much?"
Tom from Maesteg says there's only one beautiful game in Wales:
"I personally feel that there is a dominant national game which is RUGBY. It has been for many years and will continue to be when it re-develops into regions such as the great Celtic Warriors. Welsh football has never featured the success of Welsh Rugby and with hopefully the Welsh rugby game re-developing it shall continue to be our nation's beautiful game for many years to come, with football being the second sport!!!".
Edward Allford from St Ives says:
"Rugby all the time - it is a much better game than football. we don't have all the prima donners and we all know that rugby rules."
Alun Williams from Aberystwyth says there's no need for divided loyalties here:
"I'm primarily a football fan but one of the things that makes the Welsh sporting scene so interesting is that there's strong support for both games. Mark Hughes and Steve Hansen got it right last year (2003) when they said everyone in Wales should back both national sides. Its not a question of either/or but both."
Gavin Grosvenor from Newtown feels that the strength of both sports depends on money.
"BOTH sports have firm foundations in Mid Wales but - like most other aspects of life - the strength of both depends on money. Football has the greater participation but inferior national media coverage which detracts from the aim of improved sponsorship. Rugby enjoys far greater coverage on a national scale but I feel there is an ever-widening gap between the North Wales game and that of its South Wales counterpart."
SB from Brecon says rugby and football seem to have equal status in this part of the country.
"I don't think either sport dominates in Mid Wales. You get just as much media coverage for both sports. As far as Wales is concerned, I have been to both football and rugby internationals within last 12 months and rugby still has the edge for me. The singing has more hwyl somehow and let's face it, it's all about the craic innit?!"
Graham from Mid Wales agrees :
"It's football all the way for me. It's the South Wales Media who keep going on about Wales being a Rugby Nation. How can it be? The participation levels in both sports proves which is number one. It's about time that Football in Wales is given its credit, and that the media start realising that there is life north of Merthyr! "
Jason from Newport begs to differ.
"It has to be rugby. It's the only sport worth watching but if Wales are playing football I will add my support as I would whatever the sport if it involved a welsh person or team - as every other Welshman should do!!!!!"
S Matthews from Swansea has this point to make:
"The media in Wales go on and on about rugby as if it's the be all and end all of Welsh sport. I grew up in Swansea and there, football was the number one sport. We were made to play rugby when the majority of us preferred football too!! (see Jazzy's comments below).
Football is the main sport of North Wales and by the sounds of this thread, Mid Wales too. I reckon that's the way it is in South Wales too. I know it's big in Cardiff. So I think it should be the National Sport without doubt. I still support the National Rugby team though."
Gareth disagrees that football is Wales' top sport and has emailed us to say why. "I think rugby is engrained in Welshmen much more then football. It (football) is a game for Englishmen not Welsh and rugby will only get stronger once our national team step up and start winning again. It would not matter to me if the Welsh football team won lost or drew because in our town, we loath football."
Mike Davies from Meifod says choosing which sport is dominant is not easy.
"Having lived in South Wales as well as Mid Wales, it is hard to say. Both sports are at the opposite end of the ladder with football being on the top. As a footy man, I would go towards football, however, from the outside looking in, we are still regarded as a rugby nation."
Rolant Ellis from Aberystwyth has strong views on the subject.
"Football is definitely No. 1. I can never understand the media's obsession with rugby, and the pretence that all Welshmen love it. If rugby ceased to exist tomorrow it would make no difference to me."
Jon from Newtown has an interesting point to make about rugby in this part of the world. "I would say that Football is Mid Wales' number 1 sport at the moment. But with Llanelli being a Mid Wales province for Rugby Union next season, I would say support for Rugby and it's popularity might grow a little."
Originally from Ceredigion, Jazzy who now lives in Oxford is also a football fan and he points the finger at school sport lessons.
"I was brought up in Aberaeron and we all played football. At secondary school we were made to play rugby even though at least 80% of us would much preferred to have been playing football. And it shows - we've the best Welsh football team for some years now, and the worst rugby teams."
James Tristan Thomas from Newcastle Emlyn is another football supporter.
"To be honest with you, I think rugby is a mugs' game. There's nothing better than football in my oppinion - I'd rather support Everton FC than rugby".
Toby Child from Herefordshire has rather a different view of the beautiful game.
"Rugby is easily the best sport - football is a girl's sport! Rugby is much more intresting!"
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