Ryan reveals love of rugby Apr 28 2003
The Western Mail - The National Newspaper Of Wales
WALES soccer star Ryan Giggs has revealed his love of rugby - league to be exact.
His first appearance at Old Trafford was as a ball-boy for a 13-a-side Test between Great Britain and Australia and the Manchester United star, whose father Danny
Wilson shone for Wales and Swinton Lions as a league stand-off, admitted he thought of turning down a career in soccer because of his liking of the oval ball game after playing for Lancashire and North West Counties at schoolboy level.
"I enjoyed playing league and seriously thought about taking it up," said Cardiff-born Giggs. "But I was also into football and, after a couple of years at Manchester City, I went to United and finished up signing schoolboy forms for them.
"I wasn't allowed to play league after that but it did not stop me from watching."
Giggs revealed his favourite league player was fellow Welshman Iestyn Harris, now a union star with Wales and Cardiff.
"As I got older I started following Wigan and they are my team now. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a great history, so in a way they are similar to Manchester United. It is a pity they did not make it to the first final in Cardiff." The world-renowned soccer ace gave details of his sporting workload in an article in the programme for the Power-gen Challenge Cup final.
He said, "Often I played four games during a weekend; football for Salford on Saturday mornings and rugby league in the afternoon, rugby league for Langworthy on Sunday mornings and soccer after that."
Giggs description of the Millennium Stadium and the impact it would have on Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos was borne out by events on the field, the reaction of play-ers like Robbie Paul and James Lowes afterwards and the effect it had on spectators, who contributed greatly to a wonderful atmosphere.
"There is definitely something special about playing there. Any ground that can hold 74,000 people is going to generate a lot of noise but nothing like the Millennium Stadium," proud Welshman Giggs emphasised. "The acoustics are fantastic, whether the roof is open or closed."
ps, I am the poster formerly known as ali. I decided to change my account as I have a different email these days and it was getting annoying logging in and out between here and my hotmail.
The Western Mail - The National Newspaper Of Wales
WALES soccer star Ryan Giggs has revealed his love of rugby - league to be exact.
His first appearance at Old Trafford was as a ball-boy for a 13-a-side Test between Great Britain and Australia and the Manchester United star, whose father Danny
Wilson shone for Wales and Swinton Lions as a league stand-off, admitted he thought of turning down a career in soccer because of his liking of the oval ball game after playing for Lancashire and North West Counties at schoolboy level.
"I enjoyed playing league and seriously thought about taking it up," said Cardiff-born Giggs. "But I was also into football and, after a couple of years at Manchester City, I went to United and finished up signing schoolboy forms for them.
"I wasn't allowed to play league after that but it did not stop me from watching."
Giggs revealed his favourite league player was fellow Welshman Iestyn Harris, now a union star with Wales and Cardiff.
"As I got older I started following Wigan and they are my team now. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a great history, so in a way they are similar to Manchester United. It is a pity they did not make it to the first final in Cardiff." The world-renowned soccer ace gave details of his sporting workload in an article in the programme for the Power-gen Challenge Cup final.
He said, "Often I played four games during a weekend; football for Salford on Saturday mornings and rugby league in the afternoon, rugby league for Langworthy on Sunday mornings and soccer after that."
Giggs description of the Millennium Stadium and the impact it would have on Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos was borne out by events on the field, the reaction of play-ers like Robbie Paul and James Lowes afterwards and the effect it had on spectators, who contributed greatly to a wonderful atmosphere.
"There is definitely something special about playing there. Any ground that can hold 74,000 people is going to generate a lot of noise but nothing like the Millennium Stadium," proud Welshman Giggs emphasised. "The acoustics are fantastic, whether the roof is open or closed."
ps, I am the poster formerly known as ali. I decided to change my account as I have a different email these days and it was getting annoying logging in and out between here and my hotmail.
