EARLIER this month, I sat in the bar of a Cumbrian rugby club with 100-plus English rugby union fans and watched TV as our world champions were being humiliated by the Irish - at "fortress Twickenham" of all places.

Among us was a solitary Ireland fan, a player from one of the visiting teams. There was no doubt about his allegiance: he was draped in an Irish tricolour and was wearing a green wig!

When it was all over, we Englishmen queued up to shake his hand and congratulate him on his team's success. Largish quantities of a certain black-brown liquid were consumed.

But if our green-headed Irishman had dared to go into an English football club while Irishmen were beating English footballers, he would have lucky to have escaped alive.

These two events set me to thinking why the two sports attract such different types of behaviour. And I think, having talked this over with one of the great stalwarts of Craven rugby, that I know the answer:

It is because, surprisingly perhaps for such a violent game, rugby - both union and league - is a family sport, with generation after generation giving their loyalty and sometimes their blood for their local team.

There are few better of examples of this than the Scots family Davidson from Giggleswick, who have been at the very fibre of North Ribblesdale RUFC since it was founded in 1924.

At 72, Malcolm Davidson is the grand old man of North Ribb - but even he is the second generation in the job. His father, born in the rugby-mad Scottish borders, took a job as a road surveyor with the old rural district council in the 1920s and was a founder member of North Ribb.

Malcolm, born in 1932, was to play stand-off and centre and become captain of North Ribb (and of Settle Cricket Club too).

He married Margaret, a farmer's lass from Eldroth, and their son Andrew was later to take on both his dad's posts at rugby and cricket. Their other son, Gavin, also played for North Ribb until a back injury curtailed his career.

Both sons married and begat more sons and now there are two Davidson lads in the Under 14s, one in the Under 11s and a fourth in the Under 9s.

"Dynasty" is not a word, I think, that Malcolm Davidson would like - a bit pompous, really - but there is no doubt that Malcolm is very proud of his sporting offspring.

His love of rugby union is as fiery as ever - and with good reason too. Ribb, who started the season badly by being demoted to Yorkshire Division Two, have recovered to put in one of the most successful runs in club history.

It could turn out to be the best ever, for they are within just one game of an appearance at the aforesaid Twickenham in the final of PowerGen Junior Vase.

To get there, they must beat a Cornish club, Mounts Bay in the semi-final at home tomorrow (Saturday). If they do so, it will spark scenes of rejoicing in Settle and prompt an exodus from the town to the capital on April 17.

I write this with not a little envy because my own club, Skipton, who in past seasons had reached both the semi- and quarter-finals of the same competition, have had a disastrous season and are due for relegation.

With the tantalising prospect of a cup final in mind, I sat with Malcolm in his home in Stackhouse Lane, Giggleswick, and discussed why it was that rugby should hold such a tight grip on country folk.

He shook his head and gave the question careful consideration. As a man who spent his long working career travelling the North of England for various agricultural pharmaceutical companies, and still works 31 acres of wife Margaret's land at Eldroth, he understands country life inside out.

Eventually, he replies: "I think it has got a lot to do with the fact that country people tend to be honest, straight-forward sort of folk. Rugby is a hard game but so is farming.

"There's something very special about knocking lumps off an opponent on the field and then having a pint with him later."

He hesitates then adds: "Of course, there is the family thing to take into account. The children go to the clubhouse as soon as they can walk - often still in their prams - and that creates a strong family bond from a very early age. It is sport, yes, but it is also an integral part of a very special way of life."

As a Reds supporter, I wish the Blues all the best. I hope they get to Twickers and bring home the cup that my team came tantalisingly close to winning. It will also give Malcolm Davidson a chance to shout for the home team for a change.

You see, he has been to Twickers many times over the years to watch England v Scotland games. And - think of my new mate in the green wig - he always shouts for the men in dark blue!