General rugby thread

[Kermit power]

Pieman68 said:

Any referees on here?

I've played both codes and currently referee tag rugby (nearly 400 matches) and Masters RL

Just signed up for an introductory event next week with Yorkshire County RU. Maybe a bit late in the day at 48 years old but I've been refereed by many older guys so hope I can give something back

I might even learn the laws of the game

I do, sort of!

I ref my lad's U15s, primarily because I'm one of only two coaches willing to do so! Given that I'm fat and 50+ and they're almost all very fit, the number of "forward" passes does tend to increase somewhat as the game progresses!

[basherX]

Chozza said:

basherX said:

On a point of order, and speaking as a Plymouth Albion supporter, Ashton Gate is not the Westcountry. It’s THE NORTH.

Here's hoping Cambridge suffer from jet-lag travelling south and you can beat them at the weekend ! Speaking as a Rams supporter :-)

[Kermit power]

Is there any point to the Women's Six Nations?

So far, England and France have scored 315 points between them, and conceded only 30. It's basically preordained that the game between the two of them will be the Grand Slam decider.

The whole thing seems rather pointless?

[Smollet]

Kermit power said:

Is there any point to the Women's Six Nations?

So far, England and France have scored 315 points between them, and conceded only 30. It's basically preordained that the game between the two of them will be the Grand Slam decider.

The whole thing seems rather pointless?

Not unlike the Scottish football premier league which has historically been about just two teams.
One hopes the women’s form of the game will expand in quality if not quantity.

[anonymous-user]

Kermit power said:

Is there any point to the Women's Six Nations?

So far, England and France have scored 315 points between them, and conceded only 30. It's basically preordained that the game between the two of them will be the Grand Slam decider.

The whole thing seems rather pointless?

Yeah there is a point. The teams will develop and encourage more investment. A record 50000 people are in at Twickenham for the final and Womens teams are only just starting to get there. Should we dump Italy out of the Mens games or leave them to progress like they did when they beat Wales? I think it's wrong for teams to penalised just because they are a lot better than other teams.

[Kermit power]

pocketspring said:

Yeah there is a point. The teams will develop and encourage more investment. A record 50000 people are in at Twickenham for the final and Womens teams are only just starting to get there. Should we dump Italy out of the Mens games or leave them to progress like they did when they beat Wales? I think it's wrong for teams to penalised just because they are a lot better than other teams.

Will they develop though? You'd like to think so, but how is that going to happen at present?

I don't imagine it's too easy for Ireland, Wales and Scotland to find significant sponsors willing to sign up to an image of constantly getting trounced by England, France and New Zealand, and there are huge disparities in the amounts by which the varying Unions can afford to subsidise their women's teams too.

I wonder if it might make sense for World rugby to figure out a route to centralised funding so that more teams can develop more rapidly?

[Majorslow]

Pieman68 said:

Any referees on here?

I've played both codes and currently referee tag rugby (nearly 400 matches) and Masters RL

Just signed up for an introductory event next week with Yorkshire County RU. Maybe a bit late in the day at 48 years old but I've been refereed by many older guys so hope I can give something back

I might even learn the laws of the game

Yeah me, 59 later this year. Still manage to keep up with play, easier for the ref as we can't be offside!

I turned to the "dark side" as my wife threatened to divorce me if i continued playing owing to being injured almost the whole season.....
if we can give back to the game we love we should, after all no mater how bad a ref we may be, 30+ blokes (or women) don't get a game.

Always remember that the players know less than we do!

Go for it, very rewarding

[DodgyGeezer]

Josh Navidi has been forced into retirement

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65343458

[Boom78]

Was just reading about his retirement, despite not being the biggest guy on the field he was a very good back rower; very mobile, great breakdown, good hands and fearless. It’s always sad hearing about youngish guys having to hang their boots up through injury or future health concerns from playing. It does seem more common over the last 10-15 years.

[Majorslow]

Unfortunate for Josh, as an Englishman a pain for me to watch. In and out of the National side due to those injuries. Sadly owing to the phyical demands of modern rugby many will have shorter careers. Wish him luck for the future

[DocJock]

That's a shame. I always enjoyed watching him play.

[anonymous-user]

Pauline Bourdon didn't play Sunday. Wondering if shes injured or a tactical rest time for her for Saturday's final.

[Kermit power]

pocketspring said:

Pauline Bourdon didn't play Sunday. Wondering if shes injured or a tactical rest time for her for Saturday's final.

Assuming she's either English or French, it would make perfect sense to rest her. The gulf between the two of them and the other teams is so embarrassingly wide that they would've probably won handsomely with only 13 players on the pitch against anyone other than each other.

[DodgyGeezer]

looks like Luke Cowan Dickie has been a bit of a dickie... got roaring drunk and missed his medical for his new club (and may not be able to join anyway due to a neck condition)

[anonymous-user]

England running riot at Twickers. 20 mins of pure French pressure now 33 - 0 at half time to England. Two French players yellow carded as well.

[anonymous-user]

pocketspring said:

England running riot at Twickers. 20 mins of pure French pressure now 33 - 0 at half time to England. Two French players yellow carded as well.

That first half was clinical. Soak pressure up then unleash. Dow’s foot speed is really something to behold. Nice to see the French hit their stride in the second half and make a game of it though.

Impressive to see the attendance - 59000 odd.

[anonymous-user]

BlackWidow13 said:

pocketspring said:

England running riot at Twickers. 20 mins of pure French pressure now 33 - 0 at half time to England. Two French players yellow carded as well.

That first half was clinical. Soak pressure up then unleash. Dow’s foot speed is really something to behold. Nice to see the French hit their stride in the second half and make a game of it though.

Impressive to see the attendance - 59000 odd.

They said every England game was a case of just being a bit casual then ramp up after 20 mins.

World record breaking attendance and good for them. Great game all round. Be nice to get some more investors on board.

[epom]

Serious performance from Leinster, almost should get a home draw for the final they’ve been so impressive.

[Leins]

epom said:

Serious performance from Leinster, almost should get a home draw for the final they’ve been so impressive.

That’ll get the conversation going again epom!

If we can keep getting to finals we might eventually win another one against the really big spending sides of European rugby

[Mr Magooagain]

Leins said:

That’ll get the conversation going again epom!

If we can keep getting to finals we might eventually win another one against the really big spending sides of European rugby

Good game today with good replacements coming on to keep up the pressure.