Although I was very sceptical at the Ultras, and thought it would attract a hooligan element and be imtimidating to other fans, it has done the opposite. They are providing what it says on the bottle "entertainment and support". I am convinced that it gives the Wigan players a 6 point advantage having such support away from home. Wembley this year will be fantastic, hopefully you will be able to compete in the Grand Final in October.

Most Wigan supporters I know find this group embarrassing and feel they are ruining the name of Wigan RL. Why do people feel they have to part of a different group from everybody else, do they think they are better supporters than the rest.

It's nothing to do with thinking we're better supporters; we're not. It's about expressing our support in a different way. Not everyone will want to wave flags, sing and jump up and down, that's fine and we aren't trying to make them! I'd urge you, or your Wigan supporting friends to get down to one of the meetings and see for yourself the mentality of the group who has organised this, as im sure ski would agree, we want nothing more to than improve the atmosphere and bring more colour to the crowds. As for embarrassing Wigan RL? Would you like to explain how? Because literally no-one else has suggested a similar thing, I'd love to hear the details behind that?

I think a group at saints, coupled with the new stadium and terraced area could be a big success if you can get enough folk behind it, so good luck!

All you've done is formed a group that every trouble maker is going to latch onto and sooner or later it will kick off. As for a group at Saints no thanks, I've supported St Helens RLFC for decades and that's good enough for me.

Exactly. I don't care what anyone claims, ultras in football are about intimidation and organised violence.

We don't need that in RL, it's a family sport. You want to bring flags (I noticed that all the Wigan ones are the same colour and SOOOOOOOO bland) and sing, fine, you don't need a borderline terrorist/gang identity to do it under.

Whilst I understand that, and it is something we are wary of, it's up to us to police ourselves and ensure that it doesn't. There is no reason why it would "kick off", we aren't agressive, intimidating or violent and nothing we do would suggest otherwise. We've all supported Wigan RL for years, that hasn't and will never change!



That's your opinion, although I think you're getting ultras groups and firms/hooligan groups mixed up.

You're correct, we don't need that in RL, and guess what, we don't have it in RL! This is not football, nothing we do concerns intimidation and organised violence. It all started as a way to make the DW stadium more like home, with thousands being spent on flags to hang from the gantry. Does that sound like it is related to violence? You are making links between two things that are completely unrelated, a group of wigan fans enthusiastic about supporting their club in a loud and vibrant manner, and mindless idiots that use following FOOTBALL teams as an excuse for violence.

I appreciate your comments about the atmosphere at the stobart. That is the reason it was started, to improve the colour at atmosphere.

Without doubt the same support would go on if we were less succesful. In 2006 our crowds were on the up because our supporters are so loyal. We were at the bottom of the table and yet we started taking more fans to away games.
ALL of the fans at the meetings I have attended were there in 2006 and most are lifelong Wigan fans. We ARE NOT a group of chavs hopping on a bandwagon, We ARE a group of lifelong die hard Wigan fans just wanting to improve the atmopshere.

My first involvement with the Brigantes was collectiong money at a Leeds play-off game, I saw a kid who must have only been 10 or 11 getting stuck in and helping. Myself and Dave26 are both at Uni and we help out. I have mates who are in their mid to late 20's who are involves. Many of the people involved watched our Golden era in the 80's and 90's and then there is Rogues who watched Boston and Ashton play.

This scene is for people of all ages and genders and anyone can help in anyway they can. We have a huge range of ages involved.

Going slightly onto what Saddened said.... abroad Ultras movements often spil over into violence, but that is football and all of the people involved are 20-35 and ALL males. It is totally different to our scene at Wigan. It is the same at Green Brigade in Glasgow, look on their videos and you will see most are 17-35 year olds. If we had a group like that then I am not sure I would be so forward in getting involved, that kind of group would intimidate people and make people feel alienated, and on the booze at a big game it would boil over, that is not what we want.

We have 20ish flags up on the south stand, we have 11 big wavers which get taken to the games, we have merchandise such as scarfs and pin badges which get sold ro raise money for the flags, there was a fund raising night for the flags just after last season.... is any of this intimidation?

If we can intimidate the opposition players with our chants then so be it but they are not abusive. Most grounds can be intimidating places to go, just ask the players what it is like being stood behind the sticks at Wheldon Road infront of the Cas fans when you are behind, or being on the old popular side at your old ground while they were in full voice.

The Brigantes aim is to certainly improve the atmopshere and colour at the Wigan games, we want to add that fanatical support that it sometimes lacks, but every single part of it still has the RL family atmosphere.

The club love what we do, the RFL love what we do, the BBC and Sky have commented on our great support. Fans of other rugby clubs and even in other sports have said fantastic things about us.

St Helens is a great club and I am sure something similar could go down very well, support it, give it a chance, it does work. Anyone refusing to accept that probably needs to forget their hatred of Wigan and look how good this could be for YOUR fans.

Good look 'Ski' I hope you get it moving and get people involved!

Corrected for accuracy

Wigan play in cherry and white, so I know lets have a yellow and green flag.

Course they're all the same colour

Only to a point Brian

Spoke in depth to Ski in Cardiff after the game and his ideas are similar to how we started. Support him and see where it leads. The more atmosphere at games, the better.

I don't know which saints fans you were talking to. The thought of saints fans being jealous of wigan flags is truly unbelievable. It sounds like "Either you are talking out your a*se, or the people you spoke to are the exception to the norm".

Your support at the stobart was truly excellent and on par with wire who also stuffed us.

I can't understand why you believe that this mindless chanting makes a "quality atmosphere". Singing is one thing making wordless noises is another. Perhaps it is great for you actually doing it but it isn't for me and others listening to it; in fact its just the opposite.
Its hard to explain how annoying I (and other fans around where I sit) find it and if I'm perfectly honest I'd rather have the dire fans singing sh*t helens.
Look, if everyone at wigan (apparently) is happy with it, then I'm really pleased for eveyone and its a free world etc etc but I just don't want anything like it at our ground from our fans.
Unfortunately, it looks like there are some leading members of this forum who would like something similar to what you have.
I respect your opinion but just can't agree with it.

Me thinks your signature may have a lot to do with your feelings on it all.