The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

"World Rugby has confirmed that England, Australia (two) and USA (two) will host the next five Rugby World Cups in the women’s and men’s games.

The news was announced in Dublin on Thursday, with the World Rugby Council unanimously approving the staging of the tournaments in those countries.

England stage the 2025 women’s showpiece before Australia host in 2027 (men’s) and 2029 (women’s), with USA getting 2031 (men’s) and 2033 (women’s)."

Glad to see the US getting the chance in 2031 (although not popular for many), rugby needs to be promoted worldwide - just hope they don't turn it into a circus.....

https://www.planetrugby.com/rugby-world ... ntil-2033/

[pharvey]

Well, I shan't give the scores away in case others are going to catch-up on the matches later.

After watching The Dragons vs Cardiff on Friday night followed by Lyon vs Wasps and Leinster vs Toulouse today, it's clearly evident that there's not a gap between the quality of Welsh Rugby and other European sides, it's an absolute chasm

I truly love my rugby and am both a very proud Welshman and biased Welsh supporter - unfortunately the latter is becoming harder and harder these days

Yes we have lost players to other leagues/teams (English Premiership, French TOP 14, plus Irish Provincial teams), but our (the WRU) rules (60 Cap ), regulations and setup are are a joke. The entire system is wrong throughout - money grabbing Muppets at the top who truly do nothing down to a complete lack of support for "grassroots" or schoolboy rugby.

The WRU needs a major kick up the arse, a clearout of the "Dead Wood " (money grabbers) and an injection of talent/pure rugby knowledge (not suits) and sensible/professional management. This in turn will lead to future investment/sponsorship (who would sponsor a losing team or teams?), an improvement in the governing of the game and most importantly a huge improvement in "grassroots" rugby.

More schoolboy competitions and leagues - get the interest and passion back!!

Unfortunately, the Welsh national side under Gatland simply papered over the cracks - we're years behind. We just need to do something about it!!

Apologies for the rant - you started it DM!!

[PeteC]

All I see for the All Blacks this year is Australia, Argentina and Ireland? They are all home matches and it doesn't appear they have any away matches at all? A thin schedule IMO.

Say goodbye to Ian Foster after the World Cup, or even before. You're going to see a struggling All Blacks team under his management I'm afraid for the remainder of the time he's there.

Look for the Blues or the Crusaders current coach to replace him, not Warren Gatland.

[pharvey]

All I see for the All Blacks this year is Australia, Argentina and Ireland? They are all home matches and it doesn't appear they have any away matches at all? A thin schedule IMO.

The AB's are also in the UK in November for the Autumn International Series, with matches against both England and Wales (hardly a match though..... ). Rumours that they may also play France - which could be quite some match.

[PeteC]

I'm not optimistic. I watch the bits and pieces of the All Blacks every week during the Super Rugby season. What I see are their high capped players getting older and slower, and not a ton of talent coming up behind them as their eventual replacements. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised once the 2022 squad is on display and in action, I hope so.

I think their glory days of being just about untouchable are over, and will be for quite some time until they rebuild in some way which isn't going to happen under Foster.

[pharvey]

As rugby powers go, The "Blackness" have been there for a long long time, and aren't going anywhere soon. Their problem is quite frankly of their own making in that they have been so successful, a few losses (both in games and players) is seen as being catastrophic..... France have made huge improvements as have the Boks over recent years.
The AB's will certainly be back..... And don't worry PeteC - looks like Gatland (who I have a great deal of respect for) is soon going to be coaching the US Eagles - you heard it here first!!

Changing the subject to "Super Rugby Pacific", the Round 14 Programme - an interesting read! : -

https://www.flipsnack.com/tahs2015/srp- ... -view.html

[pharvey]

Well, quite a while off yet, BUT......

https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugb ... le_ENG.pdf

[pharvey]

Dear God, a new meaning to "Hard but Fair".......
.

[PeteC]

Well, quite a while off yet, BUT......

https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugb ... le_ENG.pdf

Are these things done by picking balls out of a basket, seriously? I would have though that NZ/France wouldn't get together so soon, or even be in the same pool.

[Dannie Boy]

Dear God, a new meaning to "Hard but Fair".......
.

That was certainly a hefty tackle - I don’t watch a lot of rugby but it seems that the referee thought it was ok? Can you imagine the reaction to a challenge like that in “wendyball” - the player committing the challenge would probably be banned for a season or more and the player would have been stretchered off - (mind you this guy looked like he was struggling to recover)?


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[pharvey]

Are these things done by picking balls out of a basket, seriously? I would have though that NZ/France wouldn't get together so soon, or even be in the same pool.

There's been a huge stink about it - and quite rightly so IMO. The RWC Draw is all to do with the IRB Rankings at the time. For various reasons (including Covid), the draw was made in 2020 based on the IRB Rankings at the time - compared to this years rankings.... a bit of a joke! Wales being current 6 Nations and Grand Slam Champions at the time were 4th in the rankings and as such one of the four top seeded teams (each in one of the four groups)..... We are currently ranked 9th! Ireland and France who are at the top of the game at the moment, were ranked lower (i.e. 5 to 8 ) and so take places against the likes of NZ, SA & Lillywhites. As it stands, 2 of the best 4 teams in the world will go out before the Semi-Finals...... The Lillywhites as is the norm get the easiest of draws... Hmmmm

Current Top Four BTW: - SA, France, NZ, Ireland.

Could make things interesting though!

[pharvey]

That was certainly a hefty tackle - I don’t watch a lot of rugby but it seems that the referee thought it was ok? Can you imagine the reaction to a challenge like that in “wendyball” - the player committing the challenge would probably be banned for a season or more and the player would have been stretchered off - (mind you this guy looked like he was struggling to recover)?

Oh, tackle and a half but perfectly fair and within the rules - can't see it happening in Wendyball without a prison sentence!!

[EDIT] To be fair, the ref called a halt to play very quickly and signalled for the Medical Staff to come on.

[PeteC]

FYI.... if you type 8 ) with the parenthesis directly right of the 8 you get: A forum code thing. Just leave a space between an 8 and a parenthesis like I've done above.

[pharvey]

FYI.... if you type 8 ) with the parenthesis directly right of the 8 you get: A forum code thing. Just leave a space between an 8 and a parenthesis like I've done above.

Thanks Pete - must admit that did baffle me a tad (and it wasn't the cider!).

[dtaai-maai]

The Lillywhites as is the norm get the easiest of draws... Hmmmm

Looks odds on for an England-Wales quarter final!