EVERYBODY knows the Celtic League is not exactly the best-supported competition in world sport but where precisely does it rank in terms of global leagues, be they football, American football, Aussie rules or rugby league? Well, thanks to www.worldfootballrankings.com we can tell you.
First, it isn’t good news but we’ll come to that in a minute. The top five in world sport are the NFL with an average attendance of 66,724 followed, rather surprisingly, by the Bundesliga with 36,420, the English Premiership with 34,733, the Australian Football League with 33,214 and Spain’s Primera Liga with 28,651.
You have to go down to 16th for a rugby entry, the National Rugby League in Australia with an average of 14,886. South Africa’s Currie Cup is next best in rugby terms in 22nd place with the Zurich Premiership down in 33rd below the Azadegan Football League in Iran, the Jupiter League in Belgium and the Bundesliga B, with an average of 8,108, just ahead of the English Super League.
For the Celtic League, though, it is all pretty grim. The Northern Ireland section comes first in 50th place with an average of 5,869 so hats off to Ulster. Next come the Welsh in 67th, with the Scots a pitiful 98th with 2,300. Sandwiched in between, the other Irish element in 94th place with an average of 2,378. The Celtic League average is 3,653, which puts it in 73rd in the top 150, five places behind the Papua New Guinea Rugby League Championship.
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Not a lot to say after that, is there?
Hair apparent in O’Driscoll’s movie moment
HERE’S a question from left-field: what connects Mel B from the Spice Girls with Brian O’Driscoll? In fact what connects Bono, Larry Mullen, Liam Neeson, Charlie Sheen and American television diva Joan Rivers with the Irish captain? Answer: Oscar Wilde. All of them, and loads of others besides, will appear in a move to celebrate Oscar’s 150th birthday to be screened on television at Christmas.
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Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde is a Bill Hughes creation and he describes the project as ‘like an extended spoken pop video’. A line has been selected for each of 150 celebrities and it is all in aid of Amnesty International. We’re not sure how well-suited Drico is to the job but at least the hair isn’t a million miles off.
Plaudits aplenty for Leinster’s new boy
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DECLAN KIDNEY would have been heartened by the news from New Zealand last Saturday. David Holwell, the Wellington fly-half playing out time before joining Leinster at the end of the month, had a big impact in Wellington’s NPC match against Auckland, helping them to a 27-21 victory.
Called off the bench after 22 minutes, Holwell gave the home support something else to remember him by when he leaves. The Dominion Post described events thus: ‘Veteran David Holwell came on at first five-eighth and showed all his class. Holwell delivered a killer blow shortly before half-time when Auckland turned over possession near the Wellington tryline. Noticing wing Joe Rokocoko had dropped back for the clearing kick, Holwell instead swung the ball to Lome Fa ’atau. The wing raced 40m and passed to Smith before Holwell chimed in with the final pass back to Fa’atau for a stunning length of field try that put Wellington ahead 17-6. Holwell’s prodigious and accurate line kicking was also a factor and will be difficult for Wellington to replace when he leaves for Ireland.’ Sounds as if Leinster have finally solved their problems at No 10.
Glitz and garrulity at Davidson’s testimonial
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THIS column is not one for gratuitous plugs but in the case of Jeremy Davidson’s testimonial dinner we’ll make an exception.
Big Jez’s memorable career will be celebrated at a glitzy black tie event at the Europa hotel in Belfast on Wednesday, September 29.
Keith Wood, his fellow Lion in 1997 and 2001, has been lined up as the main speaker — no shortage of anecdotes there you suspect — with the guestlist headed by Martin Johnson, Brian O’Driscoll and David Humphreys. International rally driver Andrew Nesbitt will conduct at auction. Tickets are £75 and charities to gain from the evening are Macmillan Cancer Relief and Friends of Mitchell House.