I'm sitting here Pharvey watching Scarlets vs Dragons on Rugby pass TV, and Nigel Owens is the Ref. It doesn't seem an old match as the stands are empty, so in the time of Covid. I thought he was fully retired, but perhaps he's doing local matches?
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PeteC wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 4:48 am
I'm sitting here Pharvey watching Scarlets vs Dragons on Rugby pass TV, and Nigel Owens is the Ref. It doesn't seem an old match as the stands are empty, so in the time of Covid. I thought he was fully retired, but perhaps he's doing local matches?
Nigel Owens was one of the Linesmen for the last clash back in April, but can't honestly remember the last time he actually ref'd those two....
He retired from international rugby, but is still there for club and provincial games - though I think slowing down there also. I think next season will probably be his last in the professional game, though he'll be around for a few more years at "grass roots" level, I'm sure!!
[EDIT] My mistake - after double checking, he has actually said he will not referee another professional game of rugby. He will still work with the WRU coaching young referees and has said will continue to take charge of club games....... Enjoy the one you're watching Pete, it was probably his last!!
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
Big day tomorrow [EDIT: Saturday!], folks, clear your calendar and get the beers in the fridge (and send the LHG out clothes shopping for the afternoon... )
Lions vs Japan at 3 (Channel 4 UK) and Premiership final at 5.30 (BT Sport only, so I'll be relying on Cricfree or Buffstreams, which have both been pretty good so far).
dtaai-maai wrote: ↑Sat Jun 26, 2021 12:31 am
Big day tomorrow [EDIT: Saturday!], folks, clear your calendar and get the beers in the fridge (and send the LHG out clothes shopping for the afternoon... )
Lions vs Japan at 3 (Channel 4 UK) and Premiership final at 5.30 (BT Sport only, so I'll be relying on Cricfree or Buffstreams, which have both been pretty good so far).
Indeed, full on sport tomorrow - Wales vs Denmark also in the Wendyball.....
With regards to Exeter vs 'Quins, interesting to see Hogg is left on the bench in favour of Nowell who had an excellent game against Sale (Hogg touring with the Lions, Nowell not making the squad.......).
Full on rugby today also with Round 2 of the Under 20's 6 Nations being played today - all 3 matches at Cardiff Arms Park. Wales vs Ireland still to play, kicking off at 8pm (Youtube through https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/under-20/)
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
A crying shame for AWJ. The game itself was a bit disappointing, but credit to Japan, especially their winger with the silly hairdo, Toshiba I think his name is, but there seemed to be a lot of Toshibas in the Japanese side...
I won't say too much about Quins-Exeter in case you haven't watched it yet, other than that it was yet another fabulous game of rugby. Really amazing stuff.
dtaai-maai wrote: ↑Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:37 am
A crying shame for AWJ. The game itself was a bit disappointing.......
For more reasons than one - Tips also out with a shoulder injury.......
"Alun Wyn Jones will miss the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa because of a shoulder injury and Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray will captain the side instead.
Jones dislocated his shoulder during Saturday's warm-up game against Japan, where Justin Tipuric also sustained a tour-ending shoulder injury.
Wales' Adam Beard and Josh Navidi have been called up as replacements"
Certainly surprised at Murray being named as Tour Captain......
dtaai-maai wrote: ↑Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:37 am
I won't say too much about Quins-Exeter in case you haven't watched it yet, other than that it was yet another fabulous game of rugby. Really amazing stuff.
Have only seen the opening 30 mins but will catch up in the morning - certainly a great game so far.....
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
WOW, just WOW! What a game - Bath need to poach the Quins coaching team.... I do not jest!
PeteC wrote: ↑Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:19 am
It was a shame any side had to lose that.
Oh, I don't know - I wouldn't have been upset to see Quins lose.....
In all seriousness, incredible spectacle only made possible by both teams' incredible play...
I think Exeter played into Quins' hands/style of play at times - not commiting enough players to several rucks and giving away turnovers. Trying to offload when they shouldn't and giving the ball away - unusually Sam Simmonds guilty of this on a few occasions....... But Christ, what a game and Quins deserved Champions (through gritted teeth...)
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
A big downside from the Exeter vs Quins final of course was the concussion suffered by Cowan-Dickie. I'm assuming he'll still be flying out with the squad today (Sun 27th), as nothing has been reported otherwise - but obviously will not be able to return to full training or play until all protocols have been completed.
For reference: -
World Rugby’s six-stage Graduated Return to Play protocol must be followed before a player is cleared to participate in full contact training or playing.
Key features of the protocol include:
After a player has been diagnosed with a concussion, they are monitored and may only commence the return to play protocol when symptom free.
Progressing to each new stage also requires that the player remain free of symptoms. Should any of the activities defined in each stage trigger recurrence of symptoms or signs of a concussion, the activities should be discontinued and the player must return to the prior phase in the protocol.
Every player is treated as an individual and objective decisions about treatment are made based on the current injury, past medical history, risk profile of the player and the player’s response to each stage of the return to play protocol.
This return to play protocol features a medically supervised six-stage process, starting with complete rest followed by light exercise with gradually increasing intensity culminating with contact training. Each stage is a minimum of 24 hours but often longer.
The player must remain at the pre-concussion baseline level clear of signs and symptoms during activities outlined in each phase and remain so after before being cleared to move to the next stage.
Having completed the six stages, a player may only return to play when they have completed a comprehensive neurocognitive test.
A worrying stat for the B&I Lions and Cowan-Dickie will be: -
"The average time to complete this process for a player in the English Premiership in 2018-19 was 22 days."
This period would put him out of all Provincial/non-Test matches - should he really be there? IMHO, no - he needs to be replaced. Personally I don't think it will be a quick recovery - he was out cold on the pitch and in lah-lah-land when being helped off.
Feel for the guy as I do for others not able to make the trip, but let's be fair......
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
With Lions players missing out and now this. Not the greatest of starts to (one of) the greatest of tours...
"South Africa’s preparations for the British and Irish Lions tour have been hit by three players testing positive for coronavirus.
The entire Springboks squad has been put into isolation and Sunday’s planned training session in Johannesburg was cancelled. SA Rugby said that “a decision on further team activities will be made shortly”.
The Lions fly to Johannesburg from Edinburgh on Sunday night, with their opening tour match taking place in the city next Saturday.
In a statement, SA Rugby said: “The Springboks cancelled Sunday’s planned training session in Johannesburg as a precautionary measure when scheduled testing protocols returned three positive Covid-19 test results when the team assembled on Saturday.
“Three players tested positive for the virus following stringent real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing procedures on arrival at the team base. Team management immediately put the squad into self-isolation as a precaution until specialist medical advice is sought from the Castle Lager Lions Series Medical Advisory Group (MAG). A decision on further team activities will be made shortly."
It doesn't seem an old match as the stands are empty, so in the time of Covid. I thought he was fully retired, but perhaps he's doing local matches? 
)
In my mind they could have beaten any New Zealand team with that performance. 
