Northern Hemisphere Rugby Season 14/15

[Shelts89]

Youngs is flaky as fuck just like his brother. Alun Wyn Jones will be licking his lips at the prospect of Tom Youngs throwing in for England in the RWC.

He's been looking bettwr with his throwing at premiership level, but you're right he does sometimes go astray with his throwing in the past. However as for Alun Wyn Jones... needs to get the Welsh line out sorted first. They have been flaky for a long time at line out!

 

[Quick Hands]

Top 14 semi-finals next weekend.

Toulouse v Clermont

Toulon v Stade Francais

Both matches to be played at the brand new Bordeaux Stadium which looks very impressive and will use a hybrid grass/synthietic surface.

http://www.naturalgrass.com/en/realisations/new-bordeaux-stadium/

As an aside the French have finally decided to appoint a national coach who has some idea about coaching. Guy Noves who has coached Toulouse for 23 years, won 10 French Championships, 3 Heineken Cups and two French cups, will take over from the barking mad PSA after the RWC.

 

[Shelts89]

Saracens and their brand of anti rugby beat Bath in the English Premiership final. Comfortably too, Bath just looked lost in the first half. Farrell is lucky to get away with his high tackle on Watson, but that could be my Bath bias showing.

 

[Slim 293]

So Paul O'Connell, Duane Vermeulen and Matt Stevens have all signed with Toulon.........

 

[Highlander35]

Along with Salesi Ma'afu, Samu Manoa and QC (Quade Cooper), with JOC (James O'Connor) potentially heading back there as well, depending on who's right about the contract situations.

 

[Lindommer]

Could one of the NH posters put me right here: does Paul O'Connell jeopardise his past earnings from playing rugby in Ireland by signing with Toulon? Please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought sportsmen/women attracted a considerable tax advantage if they played their entire career in Ireland. Comments please.

 

[Highlander35]

I believe your Irish Career is considered over when you retire from international duty, so as long as he doesn't turn out for Toulon before the end of Ireland's World Cup campaign, his tax monies should remain intact.

 

[mxyzptlk]

Could one of the NH posters put me right here: does Paul O'Connell jeopardise his past earnings from playing rugby in Ireland by signing with Toulon? Please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought sportsmen/women attracted a considerable tax advantage if they played their entire career in Ireland. Comments please.

If you're talking about the tax break Irish players get, that was adjusted I think a year or two ago, so the money they earned in Ireland remains untaxed even if they go overseas. Or something like that. Someone else will probably know better.

 

[the plastic paddy]

The European Union forced a rule change on the tax break. It will be very strange to see Paulie playing for Toulon but I am of the belief that it is for the best for Munster and Ireland that both teams move on straight after Paulie has lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy on the 31st October (and sparked the biggest party the world has ever seen)!?!?

There will be no option for Axel or St Joe to pick Paulie, they will have to press on with the players available to them, probably Dave Foley who I think will be a very fine player for Munster and Ireland.

There is a young fella coming through at Munster called Madigan who is meant to be a beastly prospect as well. Call me naive but I don't think Paulie would be going if he didn't think it was the best thing for Munster and Ireland. I would add that the rumour is that he won't play against Munster even in a Nigels cup final.