Recent content by Wilson

Broadcast is a issue there, as much as I get that they are sharing our frustration in some of the calls, the focus needs to be on explanation and education there. I'd love to see them invest in better solutions for communicating decisions and explaining how they were arrived at, in the same way...

I suspect they will too, though that mandatory 5 week off season break is going to become very difficult for them to work around - they'd only have a bout 8 weeks between season end and start and that needs to include pre-season. Not sure the current (artful) blocking of test selection applied...

That regulation (or really just guideline at this point) favours R360 and is something they'd be happy to see - a 16ish game season aligns perfectly with the 14 or so test matches most tier 1 teams are topping out at. Much easier for a player to get that balance then in top 14 with their 26 game...

It is so very clearly marketed to the English fan, particularly avoiding the depths of winter with match blocks - if I was still living in London, I'd be booking a rugby trip to Madrid or Lisbon for a game weekend in a heartbeat. Not sure that's particularly sustainable after the novelty wears...

Lots of pressure mounting for top 14 to reduce the number of games in their season now, but I imagine they'll just try and increase squad sizes instead.

Pretty good gear from O'Connor on his Instagram stories:

RA won't pick R360 players, according to Doran: https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/10/01/rugby-australia-wont-pick-r360-players-for-wallabies-after-rebel-league-gets-ready-for-lift-off/

The first part is right (if this thing lasts, I'm still very skeptical it will), but I don't see how it protects Australian eligible players, not on balance.

The biggest difference is that this would be as well as a guys taking deals in Europe, not instead of. There's plenty of expectation that this is going to draw players out of the Prem, URC and Top 14 where season lengths are significantly longer. Those teams are going to be looking for plenty of...

They withdrew their application for World Rugby sanctioning, delaying it until at June next year. It seems like the strategy is to force the issue by signing up a bunch of important players, but contracts may also have out clauses for those players (particularly the test capped one) if the...

It's thankfully the one position we could best cover a long term injury to a starter in, but Tate will still be missed. Hopefully the others stay fit and firing to allow Tate to ease back in too, I imagine it'll take a bit of time for him to hit his stride.

Very delayed report from the game after recovering from my Waiheke Island recovery day. It was a cracking match to be at, things were pretty dire when we down in the first half but the fight back into the game and throughout was excellent, and Eden Park at sunset is a special spot to watch...

Wallabies looking slick and confident. All blacks unprepared for what's to come

No but we had the same plans. Ended up doing it in style last night when we sat down to dinner at the table next Phil Waugh and Dan Herbert. They were very good sports getting a photo with us but Phil Waugh refused to say Queensland instead of cheese and just laughed when I asked him how much...

Clear skies so far in Auckland. Weird vibe in the city though, possibly because their all terrified about what will come tomorrow. Could just be the locals though.