Northern Hemisphere Rugby Season 14/15

[the plastic paddy]

Good trip to Llanelli yesterday. Not the most edifying of spectacles and the booing of the officials was extremely tiresome but a draw in Parc y Scarlets is not to be sniffed at. Massive game in Cork against leaders Glasgow next weekend, but one of many great games in our much maligned league over the next seven rounds. Apart from Cardiff and the Dragons, everyone has got something to play for, should be very exciting.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Hammett walks, citing family reasons:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...mett-resigns-at-cardiff-due-to-family-reasons

Kirwan (Blues) & Blackadder (Crusaders) both off-contract after this season........

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Wow, didn't see this coming:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...vin-lockes-scottish-rugby-move-looks-imminent

Really good RL fullback, OK wing, not sure where the "can cover the halves" bit comes from but whatever.......... would have to be at least a medium-term project, no way he could possibly be RWC-ready in 6 months. Very interested to see what our Scots contributors think about this one........

 

[the plastic paddy]

And so it comes to pass that the English premier league is going to stop promotion/ relegation. Some of the most pitiful comments are from those naive, trusting souls who think the RFU can ride to the rescue and stop PRL, the umbrella organisation of the English Premier League, doing exactly as they please.

The irony for those of us who fought, sadly in vain, to prevent these mercenary scum bags being left in charge of European Club rugby, is that there is the square route of fuck all the RFU can do about it.

Particularly amusing is that the deal to serve up the Unions on a platter, supported at the eleventh hour by the Scabs at the SRU and facilitated by Ian Richie at the RFU, led to a massive bonus for PRL from BT which means the RFU have knackered most of the financial leverage they had over PRL over English player release.

Whoosh.

What the fuck was that?

International rugby.

Do we get another chance?

No sorry that's your lot mate, you had it and fucked it up....

 

[boyo]

Woger leaving is probably good for Welsh rugby.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Woger leaving is probably good for Welsh rugby.

If the head of Welsh rugby is popular, the chances are he is not doing his job properly.

 

[Quick Hands]

And so it comes to pass that the English premier league is going to stop promotion/ relegation. Some of the most pitiful comments are from those naive, trusting souls who think the RFU can ride to the rescue and stop PRL, the umbrella organisation of the English Premier League, doing exactly as they please.

The irony for those of us who fought, sadly in vain, to prevent these mercenary scum bags being left in charge of European Club rugby, is that there is the square route of fuck all the RFU can do about it.

Particularly amusing is that the deal to serve up the Unions on a platter, supported at the eleventh hour by the Scabs at the SRU and facilitated by Ian Richie at the RFU, led to a massive bonus for PRL from BT which means the RFU have knackered most of the financial leverage they had over PRL over English player release.

Whoosh.

What the fuck was that?

International rugby.

Do we get another chance?

No sorry that's your lot mate, you had it and fucked it up..

Sad that people actually believed that those running PRL were altruistic souls with the interests of the game and the greater good at heart.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Wow, didn't see this coming:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...vin-lockes-scottish-rugby-move-looks-imminent

Really good RL fullback, OK wing, not sure where the "can cover the halves" bit comes from but whatever.... would have to be at least a medium-term project, no way he could possibly be RWC-ready in 6 months. Very interested to see what our Scots contributors think about this one....

OK, looks like things have hit a snag:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...vin-lockes-planned-move-to-scotland-rugby-off

 

[GunnerDownUnder]

Not sure if mentioned anywhere before but bein sports now showing 3 aviva and 3 pro12 games in Australia

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Wales now have 12 players with dual Regional/ National contracts incl the (as yet) uncapped Gareth Anscombe:

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_37805,00.html

 

[the plastic paddy]

The mouth foamers will never acknowledge it, of course, but Roger Lewis was brilliant for Welsh rugby. He fought a brave battle against bitter, self interested parties and won. The maniacs think they won because he resigned but he should be very proud of his record. Welsh rugby is in a much stronger position than it has been since the dawn of professionalism, well done Roger!!!!

 

[boyo]

The mouth foamers will never acknowledge it, of course, but Roger Lewis was brilliant for Welsh rugby. He fought a brave battle against bitter, self interested parties and won. The maniacs think they won because he resigned but he should be very proud of his record. Welsh rugby is in a much stronger position than it has been since the dawn of professionalism, well done Roger!!!!

Incoming

 

[the plastic paddy]

It isn't a wind up. Welsh rugby will be much stronger for central contracts. People can call them dual contracts if it makes them feel better about them, but they are central contracts and are going to help keep the best Welsh players plying their trade in Wales. PRL only ever courted the regions to divide and rule and their plans for a ring fenced 14 team English league do not feature the Welsh Regions so it is time to bury the hatchet and all work together to make the pro 12 the best it can be.

 

[Lee Grant]

We did a 6N team of the tournament here:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/six-nations-team-of-the-tournament-2015/
.

 

[GunnerDownUnder]

Great game this morning between Leinster and Glasgow

 

[the plastic paddy]

Great game this morning between Leinster and Glasgow

It was, fair play to Glasgow, it looks like you have booked one home semi final. As for Leinster, the sooner Matt O'Connor is sent packing the better. He was having a whinge before the game about the Ireland players being released so hopefully he is getting his excuses in early for the IRFU telling him to fuck off.

 

[Highlander35]

Unfortunate that we lost so many to injury, hurt the cohesion of the team.

Week off should help. Weir, Murray, Maitland, and a couple of others should be back soon.

Thought Leinster played well once the internationals got on. Healy is a really good player, why does he have to be so scummy.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Unfortunate that we lost so many to injury, hurt the cohesion of the team.

Week off should help. Weir, Murray, Maitland, and a couple of others should be back soon.

Thought Leinster played well once the internationals got on. Healy is a really good player, why does he have to be so scummy.

Apart from the stamp on Cole three years ago, I really can't remember much that Healy has done that is that cheap or dirty. Think it is a bit of a myth, myself

 

[BabyBlueElephant]

This was sweet.

 

[Quick Hands]

Watched Toulon and Toulouse replay yesterday. Very impressed with that stadium in Marseille. Toulon looked to have the match won, but somehow Toulouse came back and won it quite well in the end. That little Fijian winger that Toulon have is dynamite.

Interesting that when the cameras panned to PSA in the stand the crowd responded with whistling and jeering.