The Rugby Thread

[dtaai-maai]

Yes, although I'm watching the Bristol game, good old BT Sport is showing me all the tries - and there have been some crackers!

[dtaai-maai]

Well, Bath owe Saracens a biiiiiig thank you!

[pharvey]

Yes, although I'm watching the Bristol game, good old BT Sport is showing me all the tries - and there have been some crackers!

Well, quite incredible end to the season and fight for 8th place in the table and Championship Rugby next season!! Bath edge it over Bristol on points difference only.... And just 2pts in it!! Truly down to the wire and something nobody expected mid-way through the season, that's for sure!!

And yes, BT Sports are beyond ridiculous when it comes to updating scores - I had the Bristol game on record FFS...

[pharvey]

Well, Bath owe Saracens a biiiiiig thank you!

Oh indeed - Bristol supporters will not be happy chaps with Sarries....

[pharvey]

The proper art of refereeing!
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[pharvey]

An interesting point regarding the above which deserves a separate post is the fact that: -

"The incident occurred in a match between Poneke FC and New Plymouth Old Boys Rugby Club (NPOB) in the New Zealand Barbarians under 85KG National Club Cup. NPOB were victorious on the day, but it's the referee who's getting all the limelight.

The competition itself is a unique one, in men's weight-restricted knockout rugby. The initiative was orchestrated by New Zealand Rugby themselves as an incentive to encourage participation at adult level and provide a pathway for secondary school players."

Certainly a concept that should be brought into UK/European rugby IMHO. Reducing the risk of injury to younger players whilst giving the opportunity of developing experience and a wider skill-set...

[pharvey]

Another decent weekend of European Rugby coming up, with the Semi's of the English Premiership and URC

All times UK - available on the usual streaming sites (see previous page for links): -
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Happy viewing!!

[pharvey]

Well, the "physical abuse of referees" has been a subject of late in the EPL thread, but it's certainly dealt with severely in the rugby world and this is no exception that's for sure! There's a (very) short video at the link and it takes a number of views to get the picture (so to speak). No doubt it's deliberate and there's no place for it in any sport, but a 5 year ban? Ouch!

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-unio ... 5d91f.html

"A Perth club rugby player has been suspended for 96 games, lasting almost five years, after being found guilty of assaulting a referee during a game in Western Australia’s top premiership competition.

RugbyWA confirmed it issued the suspension to a Perth Bayswater player, whose name was withheld, after an incident on April 22 in a WA Rugby Premier Grade clash between Associates and Perth Bayswater.

Video taken by a spectator shows the player dropping a shoulder into the back of referee Ian Sunderland, which knocked him to the ground, after a drop-out by Bayswater.

According to sources with knowledge of the incident, the official believed it had been accidental. After being helped to his feet, Sunderland did not take action during the game.

Via witness statements and video of the collision, however, the incident was subsequently determined to be deliberate and on April 26, the player was cited by RugbyWA for physical abuse of a match official, under World Rugby’s law 9.28."

[dtaai-maai]

Wow. I've just watched that vid several times, and I agree it was certainly deliberate. He just walked away immediately and had a quick look back; had it been accidental he would surely have shown some concern for the ref. A 5 year ban? Shit, unless it can be established that the ref was sleeping with the player's wife, why not? More power to rugby's elbow IMO. Or shoulder...

[pharvey]

Some rugby to look forward to beginning tonight with the European Rugby Challenge Cup Final and tomorrow afternoon's Heineken Champions Cup Final Should also be available on the usual streaming sites! Times shown are BST.
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[pharvey]

Well, it had to come. The RWC and next season was always a season too far for AWJ IMO, but I honestly thought there was a last hoorah for Tips.

Both (AWJ in particular) certainly still have a huge amount to offer Welsh rugby and I hope this is taken advantage of whether it be at national, regional or club level.

Whatever the future brings, they have been great servants to the game - all the very best!

Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric Announce Shock Retirements From Test Rugby

"Wales pair Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric have retired from international rugby just four months before the World Cup.

Jones, 37, is world rugby's record cap holder - having played 170 Tests for Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

His announcement came just an hour after 33-year-old Tipuric revealed he was also quitting international rugby.

Both Ospreys forwards had been named in Warren Gatland's 54-man training squad for September's World Cup in France.

The pair were Six Nations champions in 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2021 while Jones won the first of his five titles in 2008."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65650298

[pharvey]

Glasgow vs Toulon - Christ, less than 5 minutes gone, Biggar off with HIA and a very dubious grounding given..... Well hey, it is Wayne Barnes ref'ing....

[pharvey]

Glasgow vs Toulon - Christ, less than 5 minutes gone, Biggar off with HIA and a very dubious grounding given..... Well hey, it is Wayne Barnes ref'ing....

I'm guessing with your Internet going AWOL you didn't get to see the match last night DM...... You didn't miss much, despite some good tries it really was painfully one-sided for a Final.

Hopefully Leinster and La Rochelle will serve up a rather better spectacle this afternoon!

[dtaai-maai]

^^I wasn't planning to watch it anyway, TBH, didn't really want to see Glasgow get ground underfoot. Mind you, if I'd known Wayne Barnes was refereeing...

As far as AWJ is concerned, it obviously wasn't far off. Maybe slightly surprising that he didn't hang on for the WC? But I'm sure he must have given it a lot of thought, and probably talked to Gatland as well. Justin Turmeric perhaps more of a surprise.

But I haven't had a drink with the Welsh lads for quite some time, so I'm a bit out of it...

This afternoon's game should be a close one.

[pharvey]

Well, Wasps' fall from grace is well and truly complete - sad times.

"The Rugby Football Union lost patience with Wasps by saying on Thursday that they had withdrawn a conditional offer of a Championship place for 2023-24.

The six-times Premiership and twice European champions have been told that they will have to play in tier 10."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65642901