Aviva Premiership 2015/16

[Kermit power]

Some Welsh bloke at work mentioned that there was some other rugby going on at the moment, but I couldn't find out anything about that, so with the first games in the Premiership just a week away with a pretty tough welcome back for Worcester hosting Northampton in the first match, who else is looking forward to it?

Quins have made some pretty decent signings - we'll have to wait a bit longer for Jamie Roberts, but fingers crossed Samoa and Japan can conspire to give us back Tim Visser nice and early - so I'm hoping for a better performance than last season...

The first question that sprang to mind looking at the fixtures is how come Quins, as the only remaining London club in the Premiership, aren't playing in the London Double Header?

[Smollet]

I too am a Quins fan but more to the point two clubs are likely to get penalised for breaking the salary cap.
http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured-post/24062...

Edited by Smollet on Friday 9th October 14:12

[Kermit power]

Smollet said:

I too am a Quins fan but more to the point two clubs are likely to get penalised for breaking the salary cap.
http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured-post/24062...

"A London club and a West Country club".

So, could be Bath, Exeter or Gloucester for the West Country club. Keeps the anonymity...

Given that there is only one London though, let's condemn Quins out of hand, shall we?

[anonymous-user]

Kermit power said:

"A London club and a West Country club".

So, could be Bath, Exeter or Gloucester for the West Country club. Keeps the anonymity...

Given that there is only one London though, let's condemn Quins out of hand, shall we?

Aren't Sarries in London as well now?

[Smollet]

desolate said:

Aren't Sarries in London as well now?

Hendon to be precise.

[anonymous-user]

Smollet said:

Hendon to be precise.

Anyway, I'd be really surprised if the fancy dan posers of Quins were over budget.

[Smollet]

desolate said:

Anyway, I'd be really surprised if the fancy dan posers of Quins were over budget.

It's Saffercens and Barf who are the guilty ones I gather.

[anonymous-user]

Smollet said:

It's Saffercens and Barf who are the guilty ones I gather.

You don't say?


I would imagine they would be quite litigious about it as well. Which is why the paper quoted tried to leave a little bit of doubt.

[Smollet]

desolate said:

You don't say?


I would imagine they would be quite litigious about it as well. Which is why the paper quoted tried to leave a little bit of doubt.

It's been one of the worst kept secrets for a while. I know fans of both sides who've been worried about it for sometime. It's just proof that has been difficult in the past but looks like it'll be out in the open soon.

[Kermit power]

Smollet said:

desolate said:

Aren't Sarries in London as well now?

Hendon to be precise.

Ah yes, thanks chaps! I still had Watford in mind for some reason!

[DJRC]

Must be Exeter surely?

[Smollet]

DJRC said:

Must be Exeter surely?

Nah it's Bristol. They'll do anything to stay out of the AP

[Kermit power]

So, how do bans work when it comes to internationals then?

Hartley is starting for Saints tonight, so he was obviously allowed to count England's world cup matches as his ban, but where does the line get drawn?

I presume someone capped once for their country a couple of years previously couldn't count them, but is it just the 23 in the previous international played?

[anonymous-user]

Kermit power said:

So, how do bans work when it comes to internationals then?

Hartley is starting for Saints tonight, so he was obviously allowed to count England's world cup matches as his ban, but where does the line get drawn?

I presume someone capped once for their country a couple of years previously couldn't count them, but is it just the 23 in the previous international played?

I think Hartley was banned for a period of time, rather than a number of games. The ban meant he missed all the warm up and the first one or two games.

[Smollet]

desolate said:

I think Hartley was banned for a period of time, rather than a number of games. The ban meant he missed all the warm up and the first one or two games.

We could've played in the Wales game had he been selected.

[timlongs]

Heading to watch the Falcons tonight. I think (hope) we might surprise a few people this season.

[Kermit power]

timlongs said:

Heading to watch the Falcons tonight. I think (hope) we might surprise a few people this season.

I guess it didn't go according to plan.

Meanwhile, Wuss against Saints... Where the hell did they pull that one from??? Anything but the win for Wuss would've been criminal tonight! Saints had absolutely nothing outside the scrum!

And just to top it off, a win for Quins too!

World Cup? Who needs a World Cup! Bring on the Premiership!

[Matt172]

Kermit power said:

So, how do bans work when it comes to internationals then?

Hartley is starting for Saints tonight, so he was obviously allowed to count England's world cup matches as his ban, but where does the line get drawn?

I presume someone capped once for their country a couple of years previously couldn't count them, but is it just the 23 in the previous international played?

I've always thought it should be that if you are banned for something you did in a domestic game then they are the games you should be banned for and visa versa, Saints shouldn't be punished for something that he did wearing an England shirt. His ban before the World Cup wasn't whist playing for England.

He got 4 weeks from August 15 to September 18 so the 3 warm up England games and the Fiji game were the games he missed.

We were bloody awful tonight, Wuss deserved the win

[anonymous-user]

Big win for Worcester tonight - then again anybody that beats Tampon is a friend of mine

[Kermit power]

So, out of interest, who are we supporting?

Timlongs and Matt172 have already declared for Falcons and Saints respectively.

I'm first and foremost a Quins fan, with a secondary soft spot for Worcester, as the place of my birth and also recipient of my Underdog vote, until tonight at least!