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It certainly would be a difficult task, but with thought, community commitment and a few resources something along these lines is a step in the right direction. Quite frankly, if rugby wants to avoid becoming a kind of glorified Quidditch in Australia, hard decisions have to be made. The elite...

Agree mate, but I'd suggest we were there ten years ago if not earlier. The game was not holding its ground and it was obvious action was needed. The pathways of Oz rugby are a telling indicator -- the schoolboys have always been a shining light, but have struggled in recent years and the u-19...

The stats might be shaky but there is no point denying the game faces extraordinary challenges. Super Rugby's structure is a nonsense and the erosion of grassroots senior club rugby has been devastating, but the ARU and the wider rugby community's over-reliance on junior development through...

Forgive my ignorance about the details (I'm a long way away) but from what I've picked up in these forum posts, it seems the great developmental move made by the schoolboy rugby powers is for the GPS schools, rather than play two rounds against their traditional counterparts in competition, will...

I was at Pats. I always thought '78 was the only time Pats and Pius were "invited" -- the fact we both had the best records, apparently with Knox, didn't sit too well. The last game of the year was between Pats and Pius -- we both understood at the time, it was 'the decider' -- ended in a draw...

No Nadolo, no Fiji win. Bummer. They deserve something, .. thought they'd pants Wales but will struggle without the rampaging big fella. He's a commanding presence even when he's not crushing people. Would be great to see Volavola have the breakout game he's due.

England have a very good large backrow but it is not dynamic. I actually think Burgess would have been a matchwinning inclusion as 6 -- or more accurately, at this stage in his development as a 'finisher', coming on as a backrow change for the last 20. He's not a centre, but he's a very good...

Don't agree. He got over the gain line with just about every touch. The issue is he doesn't pass (he does try to 'unload') and he has no kicking game, so he's used as crash ball or a decoy, nothing more. It's predictable and suits England's game when they're getting good breakdown ball and...

For all the talk over many years about the sleeping giant of USA rugby, I do think we've just witnessed a moment with the Yank's recent success in the Sevens, crowned by their London performance. Realize it's not XVs, lots of work to do, etc, but the game's best cross sport appeal in the US is...

Haven't seen anything but I think the test pattern wld grab about a million on NBC which is about a million more than the 45 of us who watch DirecTV's rugby channel. NBC's commitment stems from its ownership of Olympic rights -- the 7s inclusion has motivated the network to provided some rugby...

Not enormous mainsteam coverage, but most major dailies carried the AP story or a brief. In broadcast media, there wasn't a lot because it was an NBC event (national competition for ESPN/ABC & Fox Sports). Having said that, the fact it was on broadcast television at a prime sports time on a...

It was a great event and that means something in the US. Will thousands flock to stick their heads up bums in scrums? No. But it was a showpiece that builds on the admirable grassroots work being done that has transformed rugby into a rapidly growing sport in North America. Playing a Six Nations...

Mate, I, for one, wasn't suggesting Giteau will be playing for Australia again. And admiring his form in recent years isn't the same thing as suggesting he or any other overseas player should be considered for the Wallabies. The throwaway comment was that 'even though it will never happen'...

I could be any of the combinations that have devastated the current Australian 10/12 combinations.

He was consistently terrific last year and he's made a difference every time he's played this season at 10 (they lost a few when he was sidelined). The most impressive thing about his game these days is his ability to select the right option in attack (kick, pass or take it to the line) and he's...

For the sake of speculation ... I'd imagine it would be possible to identify, say, four schools in each of the Sydney metro, Hunter and Illawarra regions that have a rugby pedigree or potential to participate in an organized program but currently swill around in the CCC or CHS with fewer firm...

Brilliant stuff. I was covering my eyes trying to watch the Force stop the Blues when I switched to the running game in Madagascar. Zimbabwe boys are too big, but the flow of the game has been fantastic.

I know various attempts have been made over the decades to get a foothold in some traditional league schools and there is no easy way in but I hope, rather than just being a nursery for traditional union schools, there continues to be attempts to put some sort of competitive structure in place...

Great to see the CCC boys do well. From an outsiders POV there seems to be plenty of value in rugby trying to cement a foothold with these schools.

At the time and now, looking at it again, I think it's a penalty. But it's not a red. The ref said he had "no choice" but to send him off (once he decided he'd illegally sconed him). Seems ludicrous as the Scotsman's head was in a terrible possie. Interested to know from minds greater than mind...