The Rugby Thread

[Big Boy]

I've only got the package to watch the Bears. They came out like rockets, and went 3 tries up in 15 minutes. After that, I'm not sure if they ran out of puff, or did just enough to maintain their lead. Next game against the Chiefs should be good. Coming from Plymouth, I naturally hate anything from Exeter

[PeteC]

I've seen nothing! Wife away and too busy. Will have to catch some re-runs this coming week.

[PeteC]

I've only got the package to watch the Bears. They came out like rockets, and went 3 tries up in 15 minutes. After that, I'm not sure if they ran out of puff, or did just enough to maintain their lead. Next game against the Chiefs should be good. Coming from Plymouth, I naturally hate anything from Exeter

You may want to add to that if they cover Six Nations and other tournaments. I wasn't aware you could subscribe to just one team.

[Big Boy]

No, I'm not subscribed to one team, but I'm not one for watching any sport after the event. My (or should I say my son's) live choice is the Bears. So I will watch the Bears too. I'm getting old, so too many silly o'clock matches are not good for me

[pharvey]

Some BIG matches coming up with a tight schedule - surely going to take it's toll on players/teams. We'll certainly get to see the strength in depth teams have with likely squad rotation. Pick of the bunch has to be the top of the table clash with Bristol hosting Exeter tomorrow night UK time (silly o'clock Thai time).

[EDIT] Northampton vs Bath should also be a cracker - both fighting for a top four finish and European Championship Rugby.

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[pharvey]

An interesting & longer article, so best viewed at link: -

"Twenty-five years of professionalism: skill levels rise but at what cost?" - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... ugby-union

[pharvey]

Pick of the bunch has to be the top of the table clash with Bristol hosting Exeter tomorrow night UK time (silly o'clock Thai time).

The weather at the moment here in Chepstow (the CORRECT side of the bridge) with a few hours to go is absolutely cr@p - "Storm Francis" is going to bugger up things for this match I fear. Being only 30 odd miles away, can't see the weather being much different at the Bristol City Stadium.

[EDIT] Conditions will favour Exeter unfortunately IMHO.... [EDIT-2] To be absolutely clear, I don't support Bristol - simply would like to see decent competition with Exeter.

[arcadianagain]

I've only got the package to watch the Bears. They came out like rockets, and went 3 tries up in 15 minutes. After that, I'm not sure if they ran out of puff, or did just enough to maintain their lead. Next game against the Chiefs should be good. Coming from Plymouth, I naturally hate anything from Exeter

Great game, good come back in the second half by Bristol, but coming from Devon I naturally wanted Exeter to win. They always seem to find a way to come through.

[pharvey]

I've only got the package to watch the Bears. They came out like rockets, and went 3 tries up in 15 minutes. After that, I'm not sure if they ran out of puff, or did just enough to maintain their lead. Next game against the Chiefs should be good. Coming from Plymouth, I naturally hate anything from Exeter

Great game, good come back in the second half by Bristol, but coming from Devon I naturally wanted Exeter to win. They always seem to find a way to come through.

Frightening fact that they had 14 changes to the team - they truly have a big squad and strength in depth. Can't take it away from Bristol though, superb in the tight.

[Big Boy]

Yes that Chiefs' squad must be amazing. For their 2nd stream team to take the Bears apart as they did in the first half.

[Big Boy]

Yes that Chiefs' squad must be amazing. For their 2nd stream team to take the Bears apart as they did in the first half.

[pharvey]

Yes that Chiefs' squad must be amazing. For their 2nd stream team to take the Bears apart as they did in the first half.

Well, Bristol did themselves no favours in the first half - which Exeter took full advantage of that's for sure!

[pharvey]

This is going to be some game - I'd check for it on Rugby Pass BB!! Not a ridiculous KO Time for either the UK or HH

Confirmed: New Zealand Rugby Announce Details for North v South Match

"The North v South match has been confirmed for Wellington's Sky Stadium on Saturday 5 September, and it will be played without a live crowd.

The news follows the Government's announcement this week on Covid-19 Alert Levels, with Auckland remaining at Level 3 until this Sunday night and Wellington and the rest of the country will remain at Level 2 until Sunday 6 September.

Under Level 2 guidelines, the North v South match will have to be played with no crowd in attendance.

NZR head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said: "We're delighted that the match can go ahead in Wellington, but obviously it's a shame that it'll have to be played without fans in the stands. That said, we're fully supportive and understanding of the Government's health and safety recommendations regarding Covid-19.""

Full Article & Squads @: - https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12359746

[EDIT] Link added - NZ's "Breakdown" (with video): - https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/a ... d=12359405

[pharvey]

Additional to above: -

"Plans for the North v South match in New Zealand have been revealed, with the latest edition of the fixture set to take place in Wellington next month.

And ahead of the historic game, a prized treasure has been located at Auckland's Eden Park.

The location of the Loving Cup - the trophy presented to the winners of the North v South fixture on seven occasions in the 1920s and 1930s - was previously unknown.

However, it has now been found in the vault of Eden Park, the venue which hosted the 1987 and 2011 Rugby World Cup finals.

New Zealand rugby wrote on Twitter: "Thank you @edenparknz! After 88 years the ‘Loving Cup’ has been found deep in the bowels Eden Park.

"The trophy was contested between North and South from 1925-1932 before being lost in the vault.

"So good to see this piece of history back in the spotlight!""

[pharvey]

"Plans for this autumn's one-off eight-team tournament have been thrown into jeopardy following reports that Japan will now not travel to take part due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Japan – along with Fiji – were set to join up with teams from the Six Nations for a tournament which would replace the traditional November Tests.

The tournament would have two groups of four, giving each country three group matches in November before a single round of finals would take place on the first weekend of December.

The first group was to consist of England, Ireland, Fiji and Wales, while Japan were set to join Scotland, Italy and France in the other group.

However, reports in Japan suggest that will no longer be the case, according to Japanese website english.kyodonews.net.

In a report published on Thursday, it reported: "Complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic prompted the JRFU to opt out of the European competition, which is planned to run from November to December, according to the source.

"With Japan heavily restricting the entry of foreign passport holders amid the pandemic, members of the Brave Blossoms coaching staff have been kept out of the country, making it difficult to hold a domestic camp in preparation for the tournament."

With the Six Nations organising the competition, they would be in charge of finding a replacement for Japan.

With the tournament running alongside the Rugby Championship, that would likely rule out Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - leaving the likely options as Georgia, Samoa and Tonga."