The Rugby Thread

[PeteC]

On a personal note, I had him picked to take over the All Blacks now, but it seems that is not in the cards for whatever reason........


Warren Gatland - The Future

Warren Gatland is to split his role as British and Irish Lions coach with a new job in Super Rugby in charge of the Chiefs. Gatland has agreed a four-year deal to return to his home province after the World Cup but will take 12 months out from August 2020 to fulfil his Lions commitments.

Gatland is due to end his 11-year tenure with Wales at the end of this year and his return to New Zealand opens up the prospect that he could become All Blacks coach one day.

For now, the 55-year-old will replace Colin Cooper at the Chiefs for the 2020, 2022 and 2023 seasons, having played for and coached his native Waikato in the past.

From a Lions perspective, Gatland’s relocation to the southern hemisphere means he will be well placed to monitor South Africa’s leading players before the 2021 series against the Springboks. The counter-argument is that he will not be around to watch any live rugby in the northern hemisphere from the end of the World Cup to the start of the domestic season in September 2020, relying instead on television or second-hand scouting reports.

It is understood that Gatland’s decision to take the Chiefs job has the full support of the Lions hierarchy. His family home is in Hamilton and his son, Bryn, is playing professional rugby in New Zealand. Gatland has enjoyed success throughout his lengthy career and has already made it clear he has no interest in coaching England’s national team.

His last coaching stint in New Zealand saw him guide the Lions to a 1-1 series draw against the All Blacks in 2017, having presided over a 2-1 series win against Australia four years earlier.

No previous Lions coach has prepared for the assignment by coaching in Super Rugby the previous season but Graham Henry, after coaching the Lions in 2001, made a hugely successful return to the Kiwi fold, culminating in the All Blacks’ 2011 World Cup final victory against France in Auckland.

England’s Eddie Jones will coach the Barbarians against Fiji at Twickenham in November. The Australian will lead the side in the first international match in the UK following the autumn’s World Cup in Japan.

“It’s a huge honour to be invited to coach the Barbarians,” said Jones. “The club perfectly embodies the values and traditions of the sport and fans can expect to see an exciting match between two sides who like to play end-to-end running rugby.”

[pharvey]

For me Pete, it's the Six Nations, always has been THE tournament for me - Christmas Day as a kid when it begins!!

Fully understand the time difference(s) and those (including yourself) supporting Southern hemisphere Rugby, but.....

And in other news....

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/japan-re ... dithering/

[PeteC]

I'm sitting here watching the NFL, Green Bay vs Carolina in Wisconsin, and it's snowing. It reminded me I've never seen a rugby match played in the snow. I see it's snowing in Wales so I imagine there were some matches there this weekend in the snow. Maybe I'll get lucky later on and find one televised.

[PeteC]

'It's replayed every day': Eddie Jones reveals his World Cup final mistake

Devastated England coach Eddie Jones says he made selection mistakes for the rugby World Cup final.

The high profile Jones said he should have reinvigorated his team for the clash against South Africa in Tokyo, after the stunning semifinal win over the All Blacks.

“I haven’t watched it and I probably won’t watch it,” the Australian told the Telegraph.....


https://www.rugbypass.com/news/its-repl ... al-mistake

[pharvey]

Interesting........

Major League Rugby Welcomes Nonu and Ranger – But Could Say Goodbye to Colorado

"The US pro league has big signings in the bag, a trip to Vegas on the horizon – and political and financial challenges galore.

The third season of Major League Rugby will kick off in February with five games on three days over two weekends in America’s No1 party city: Las Vegas.
As a PR move it’s as bold as San Diego signing the World Cup-winning All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu, like Sonny Bill Williams a major star at the end of his career but choosing to play union in North America rather than switch to league.
Conversations with key MLR stakeholders, however, reveal a sense that bigger gambles are about to be made.
Glendale, the Denver-area team who played a formative role in launching MLR, reached the first championship game and recently rebranded as the Colorado Raptors, have signed their own ex-All Black, the wing Rene Ranger, as well as the former Australia centre Digby Ioane.
But multiple sources in the league and the wider US game, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Raptors were set to withdraw from MLR by the end of the year. Sources described complicated relationships between team owners and a sizeable potential problem should the Raptors depart."

Full Article: - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... rado-vegas

[PeteC]

My feeling is that he wont.....

Nigel Owens may retire at end of season

Nigel Owens is deliberating over whether or not he will retire at the end of the current season.

Owens – who historically refereed Wales for the first time having received a special dispensation from World Rugby – told Channel 4 Sport in a post-match interview that he is still undecided about this refereeing future.

Owens, who is widely regarded as the world’s top referee, says he’s waiting until the Six Nations to make up his mind.

“I’m carrying on for a little bit. Hopefully I’ll be involved in the Six Nations and I’ll sit down and take stock with the people around me and see what’s what.”

Owens appeared to imply that he might stay on for another season.

“Once I’m still enjoying it, but more importantly, once I’m still able to put in the performances, then I’ll continue to enjoy it but I certainly don’t have plans of going on too long.

“I honestly don’t know when that time will be. It won’t be far away. It will be this season or…I honestly don’t know.....

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/nigel-ow ... -of-season

[pharvey]

^ He certainly won't be ref'ing another World Cup match, but I hope he's still involved for a couple more years. I'm certainly biased on the "Welsh side", but he's a class referee and has huge respect from the players - very clearly illustrated after the game in Cardiff on the weekend. He in turn also shows a great deal of respect for the players - again clearly illustrated during and after the weekend's game, especially with regards to the retiring Rory Best.

As for the game itself - the first I've attended in quite some time and a cracking day out! A typical BaaBaas match, played as it should be - the only downside being a little "scuffle" in the first half over a slightly over zealous tackle..... Great ref'ing by the man himself, great send off for Gatland and several retiring players.

Two loud "boo's" - Wales for taking a penalty kick at goal & "God Save Our Queen" being played as the BaaBaas anthem..... A tad quiet in the Principality Stadium for that one!

I won't go into too much detail for the match as it's very much worth a watch..... Shown below - Enjoy!

[pharvey]

Just an add on for our Nige...

[pharvey]

Just as a heads up, the World Rugby 7's kicks of today in Dubai.

Further info here: - https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/?lang=en

[pharvey]

Just as a heads up, the World Rugby 7's kicks of today in Dubai.

Further info here: - https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/?lang=en

I've decided to avoid updates after Wales' display on Day 1 !!

[pharvey]

OK, maybe a tad early and still a couple of months away, but the 6 Nations is coming!!

Will be an interesting tournament this time around IMO, but with Wales away to both The Lillywhites and The Boys in Green, it'll be tough for us....... but of course victorious........ AGAIN!

Will also be interesting to see how Ireland fare after the retirement of Rory Best - incredible player and great captain.

Anywho, for those interested in joining the HHF 6 Nations 2020 League (who haven't already been invited by Email), details for joining are below: -

Join HHF 6 Nations 2020.

https://www.superbru.com/sixnations/pool.php?p=12177976

or by downloading the Superbru app and searching for the pool with code:

nukehoop

[PeteC]

Super Rugby (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Japan) is also starting on Superbru and runs from January 31 to June 20, 2020.

I won't start a pool this year unless interest is expressed on here, and we have at least 6 players. A long commitment is needed. Let me know.....

phphz0ETGPM.jpg (51.39 KiB) Viewed 352 times

[Big Boy]

Im not bothered too much, but if you do start a pool, I'll be in.

[pharvey]

Last time out was a complete disaster, but I'll give it another go Pete..... Might even ask the LHG for some tips!

Dai_L also enjoys this tournament, so I'm sure would join.

[PeteC]

Sonny Bill Williams: Rugby star latest to criticise China over Uighurs

One of the world's best-known rugby players has become the latest sports star to criticise China for its treatment of the Muslim Uighur population.

In a Twitter post, Sonny Bill Williams also criticised others for choosing "economic benefits over humanity".

Arsenal footballer Mesut Ozil recently spoke out on the issue.

China has been accused of a "mass internment" of one million Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

Williams, a Muslim convert from New Zealand, posted an image showing a hand painted with the Chinese flag twisting an arm painted with the flag of East Turkestan - the term used by separatists to refer to Xinjiang.

The East Turkestan arm is dripping with blood.....

Full story at link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50888668