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Rugby News from unexpected places

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John Thornett (49)
Is there a dispute between US Rugby and MLR?

Seems counterintuitive for growth if the major governing body doesn't want to fund their only professional competition during the lead up to the flagship event.

No dispute but its a private league, like the premiership in England & Top14 in France. I doubt the top14 clubs would have seen a cent in the lead up to rwc2023 unless there was possible upgrades to the stadiums & things like that.

I'm sure USrugby want to see the MLR grow by creating bigger interest & more depth to their squad but its not like here, players would have separate club contacts & each club is privately owned not us rugby owned
 

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
Is there a dispute between US Rugby and MLR?

Seems counterintuitive for growth if the major governing body doesn't want to fund their only professional competition during the lead up to the flagship event.

No, there's no conflict. MLR is sanctioned b y USARugby. But there's no crossover in terms of its operation or direction. Which is a positive as USARugby has been a bit of basket case for a while.
 
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John Thornett (49)
^ on this

The tournament has been pushed back to late july so it doesn't clash with PNG's national elections for safety of players & officials.

Also the Solomon Islands do not have a team in the tournament anymore
 

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
Spain are appealing their disqualification citing both Ireland and Scotland in their argument. Will be interesting to see what comes from it as their appears to be some inconsistencies from WR (World Rugby).
 

swingpass

Peter Sullivan (51)
I didnt know where to put this but Phil Bennet arguably the best 10 of his era and probably the best side step of all time died a couple of days ago aged 73. “ he could beat you in a phone box” started the try of the century vs the All blacks in 1973. RIP
 

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
Rugby Europe have announced that RC Batumi will be entering the RE Super Cup this season as the 2nd Georgian team in the league. They'll join the Romanian Wolves as replacements for the two Russian clubs. RE originally planned to move to 12 teams by season 3 but the war in Ukraine has seen them move the time table on two of them forward. Apparently there were also a few other bids in consideration but appear to be in line for entry next year. This years edition will be played in a three month window from September to December. Two three games block and then finals leaving room to add to the schedule as the number of teams increases.
 

zer0

Jim Lenehan (48)
Chile have defeated Murica on aggregate to make their first ever RWC.

Chile have completed an enormous upset after they qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup by beating the USA Eagles in their second leg fixture in Denver.

The Eagles took a scant 1-point advantage into the second leg but were ultimately beaten 31-29 by the South Americans who edged them out by a single aggregate point at Infinity Park in Glendale.

After conceding three tries, Los Condores battled back from 19-0 down. Tries from Marcelo Torrealba, Matías Garafulic, Matías Dittus and Santiago Videla and late try from Videla saw men in red clinch the narrowest of victories and a historic day for the union.

...

They will now take their place in Pool D alongside England, Japan, Argentina and Samoa.


An all Latin pool match in France could be a good watch.
 

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
It's going to an interesting repecharge toyrnament in November. The USA failed to qualify by literally 1 point and will be hurting. They should handle both Kenya and Hong Kong. The big game will be against Portugal who were very competitive against Georgia overnight who beat Italy. The same Italy that Portugal ran close.

This could be the first RWC without a Nth American side ever.
 

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
Apparently Taiwan will be launching a 6-7 team semi-pro league with contracted foreigners this September. Read about this earlier in the year but paid little attention but it seems like it might happen.

There's also suggestion of something similar in both Pakistan and Thailand
 

Members Section

John Thornett (49)
Rugby Europe have announced that RC Batumi will be entering the RE Super Cup this season as the 2nd Georgian team in the league. They'll join the Romanian Wolves as replacements for the two Russian clubs. RE originally planned to move to 12 teams by season 3 but the war in Ukraine has seen them move the time table on two of them forward. Apparently there were also a few other bids in consideration but appear to be in line for entry next year. This years edition will be played in a three month window from September to December. Two three games block and then finals leaving room to add to the schedule as the number of teams increases.

Is there word at all about a Heidelberg/German side?
 
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