The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

The 2024 Summer Rugby Internationals are almost upon us, with Round 1 kicking off on June 22nd

During the summer of 2024 the four home rugby unions – England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – will head south to play a series of Test matches against the giants of southern hemisphere rugby - this plus other major international sides taking part.

With the Lions set to tour Australia in 2025 and the Nations Championship set to begin in 2026, this may be the last of the traditional summer tours undertaken by the home unions.

As such, another HHF Prediction League has now been set up. Members who have taken part in previous tournaments should automatically receive invitations by Email, however for those interested in taking part details of how to join are shown below: -

HHF Rugby Internationals 2024

https://www.superbru.com/july_internati ... p=12798801

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

chowmeet

[pharvey]

Lots on again this weekend in the rugby world - especially in Europe..

For various reasons including the RWC, the URC was delayed this season, so it's just hitting the Quarter Final stage - the English Premiership however reaches it's climax with Bath taking on Northampton Saints at Rugby HQ "Twickers" (Rah-rah...). It should be a cracker "lost", so if you are looking at getting into "Club Rugby" I'd suggest at look at this one especially as it'll be on terrestrial TV...

Premiership Final: -

Bath vs Northampton Saints
Saturday June 8th KO 3:00pm (UK Time)
TNT Sports and ITV (UK)

URC Quarter Finals: -
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[pharvey]

Well, SHITE!!

Munster without doubt deserved the win but up to the last quarter I would have said Ospreys deserved to be far closer on the scoreboard. Can't say I was at all impressed with the refereeing (I rarely am), but in this WOKE day and age, complaining about a non-male, not requiring a "sports bra" referee would likely cause me bother or others offence. That said, she shouldn't be refereeing at this level of "Men's Rugby" - those with the Y Chromosome, natural b*ll*cks between the legs and those speaking the latter mentioned... naturally.

The bonus of course is that Wales can actually pick some of the Ospreys side for their ludicrous out of the "International Window" match versus the world champions South Africa on the 22nd, when we are already short of 11 players not being released by their clubs (7 of which playing in England). A hammering is on the cards, but there's a few players who have put their hands up today and in recent weeks - we will be back!!

Not to long to go now though for Bath vs Northampton!! Bath have never won the Premiership, but were kings of the "Armature Game" - just look back to the "Pilkington Cup" or "John Player Cup". Our time is back.....

[pharvey]

Well, it wasn't to be...

With Bath incurring a harsh (but fair under the rules) Red Card in the 21st minute to Prop Obano, which undoubtedly changed the game - Bath had to sacrifice another player in order to replace Obano (a specialist Front-row Player). Bath sacrificed Barbeary and in doing so the Red Card cost us two huge ball carriers and an advantage in the scrum. I was truly concerned this would kill the match, Bath however did fantastically well even leading with less than 10 minutes to go.

I would have loved to have blamed the ref - which DM has pointed out I generally have no problem in doing , but despite the odd close decision going Northampton's way, the refereeing was very good.

MOTM (or as DM insists is now POTM) should have been Bath's Underhill who was head and shoulders above others - this complete BS that only a member of the winning team can receive the honour is a joke (as was the selection of the "Person", "Player", "Pr*ck" of the Match - the latter of course should have gone to TNT Commentator Austin Healey.

Fair play to Northampton though, leading the league throughout and deserved winners. They are however now losing many players due to moving overseas or retirement - Bath are back again!!

[EDIT] Just as an an add on, it was quite incredible for the crowd to applaud on the 7th minute of this match. A tribute to Rob Burrows who sadly passed away recently, who wore the Number 7 Shirt

[dtaai-maai]

[EDIT] Just as an an add on, it was quite incredible for the crowd to applaud on the 7th minute of this match. A tribute to Rob Burrows who sadly passed away recently, who wore the Number 7 Shirt

Yes, very moving. And the applause continued for a long time after play was resumed.

I saw the 30-minute documentary on his life yesterday - what a sob-fest! It opened with the phrase "If you are watching this, I will no longer be here", or words to that effect. One of the things that shone through for me, apart from the man's courage, was his amazing family: his wonderful wife, their kids, and his parents.

[pharvey]

Of course the Euros will take precedence over pretty much all this weekend, but there is plenty of decent rugby on the cards, with the URC Semi's and the French Top 14 Play-offs (though the "usual" channels seem to be ignoring things ) : -

(URC) Bulls vs Leinster - 15/06 3:00pm KO (UK).
(URC) Munster vs Glasgow - 15/06 6:00pm KO (UK).
(Top 14) Toulon vs La Rochelle - 15/06 8:00pm (UK).
(Top 14) Bordeaux vs Racing - 16/06 8:00pm (UK).

Racing and the La Rochelle matches could well be worth a look and I'd love to see Leinster get stuffed (sorry to say). Might just be the Leinster match for me.

Must admit, I've not followed the Super Rugby Pacific this season - mainly due to the time difference and a whole lot of other sport on.... The LHG does have her limitations! This tournament is up to Semi Final stage: -

Hurricanes vs Chiefs - 15/06 05:35am (UK) - Good for HH/Thai viewers!

[pharvey]

Good news for the game IMHO and should have been in place with realistic standards (capacity, seating, facilities etc.) years ago - despite the fact this would have seen the likes of Bath relegated on earlier occasions....

Major England Rugby Announcement


"Championship clubs have welcomed the approval of promotion to the Gallagher Premiership as a "new era" for the professional game in England.

The Rugby Football Union's council has ratified a two-match home and away play-off between the bottom-placed Premiership club and the winner of the Championship, starting from the 2025-26 season.

It means there could be movement between the top two divisions for the first time since Saracens returned to the top flight in 2021 after receiving a 105-point deduction for salary cap breaches, resulting in their relegation 12 months earlier.

In addition, Friday's meeting saw the RFU council vote to relax the minimum operating standards for promotion, with the deadline for achieving those standards spread over four seasons.

An independently chaired Tier 2 board is also to be set up, giving the Championship greater control over commercial deals.

"We have got what we came for. Now our clubs - and every club - can realistically dream of promotion to the Premiership," Championship chairman Simon Halliday said.

"There is now a genuine path for ambitious clubs to rise. The top tier is reconnected to the rest of English rugby and we can use our commercial potential to fund the growth that rugby sorely needs at our level.

"This is a result that brings common resolve to our sport, guaranteeing that English rugby remains open and fair from the lowest league to the highest.""

From: - https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... r-29358153

[pharvey]

The Euros may be on, but there is also a shed load of "proper sport" , including RUGBY on this weekend!!

NOTE: - For those in the "Superbru/HHF Rugby Internationals" League, remember to make your picks.

RUGBY INTERNATIONS

Well, there's times in my life I wanted to forget - seeing the Welsh team to play SA on Saturday is one of them! Again, it's a factor of playing matches outside of the "International Window". More than a dozen first choice players missing through injury or unavailability from an already weak squad... Players at the end of their careers who will not be part of any development let alone be selected for the next RWC are picked!! 6th/7th choice Second Rows FFS!! South Africa's Second Row Eben Etzebeth has more International Caps (119) than the entire Wales starting pack combined (118).... It's going to be a long afternoon.

As a proud Welshman, I will of course support the entire team - sadly though, we'll do well to avoid a 40+ point arse kicking... Yes, we need to play the best teams, BUT we need to play them with our BEST PLAYERS!!

Anywho, before I fall off my Soapbox: -

Japan vs England: KO 06:50am (UK) 22/06/24

Wales vs South Africa: KO 2:00pm (UK) 22/06/24

Barbarians vs Fiji: KO 5:15pm (UK) 22/06/24

FRENCH TOP 14 SEMI-FINALS

Toulouse vs La Rochelle: KO 7:15pm (UK) 21/06/24

Stade Francais vs Bordeaux: KO 8:05pm (UK) 22/06/24

SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC - FINAL

Blues vs Chiefs: KO 8:05am (UK) 22/06/24

NOTE: - Digital Programme @ https://www.flipsnack.com/tahs2015/srp2 ... IXHN,A73,1

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP - FINAL

Bulls vs Glasgow Warriors: KO 5:00pm (UK) 22/06/24

[dtaai-maai]

Japan vs England: KO 06:50am (UK) 22/06/24

I watched this on Rugby Pass this morning, the first time I've used the platform. Free and a very straightforward process. A decent game to watch, Japan always try to play a free style of fast running rugby - mainly because they aren't usually going to bed able to out-muscle their opponents. They started really well, but England scored 4 tries in the first half and, although Japan got a couple of consolotation tries in the 2nd half, it was a comfortable win, marred only by a red card for Ewells after an idiotic clear-out.

I'll have a peek at Sth Africa-Wales this afternoon, hoping to see a competitive game and not men against boys.

[pharvey]

I'll have a peek at Sth Africa-Wales this afternoon, hoping to see a competitive game and not men against boys.

Sadly, I fear you may be disappointed. That said, of course I shall be hoping for the same!

As for the Lillywhites, as you say a very comfortable win with pretty boy certainly playing his part. What goes through Ewels' head at times is beyond me. Could very well put his place on tour at risk.

[pharvey]

Well, unsurprisingly a comfortable with for the Jarpies. The Welsh Front Five were decimated so any decent ball was very hard to come by. Of course as a very proud Welshman, I'm also very biased - that said, there were some very questionable decisions by both the referee and review team. How the flying Kung Fu kick from SA Winger Mapimpi did not earn a straight Red is beyond me, a head on head tackle by SA Prop Ox Nche only gave a penalty to Wales and we shan't mention the yard forward pass that lead to SA's 3rd try. That said, Wales also got away with just a penalty early in the second half where I honestly believe was a borderline Yellow (possibly made up for Dyer's Yellow in the first half which I thought was very harsh).

The 41 - 13 score line showed SA's obvious dominance, but Wales missed two clear try scoring chances with the ball not going to hand. SA looked rusty, Wales looked cr@p and all-in-all a poor game to watch. Wales will have players coming back into the fold for the tour of Australia, but can't say I'm too excited by our prospects....

[pharvey]

Not that it was difficult to improve on the Wales vs SA game, but the Baabaas and Fiji put on one hell of a show!! The level of skill, commitment and pure entertainment was what rugby should be - and hell, the referee wasn't too bad either!!

The 45-32 score-line in favour of the Baabaas summed up the match, but certainly didn't help my score in the HHF Prediction League..... And I truly don't care!!

Long live Baabaas and Fijian Rugby - the former unfortunately is in doubt (as are the British Lions Tours) due to the @reswipes running the game these days.

[PeteC]

You're going to want to watch Glasgow vs Bulls on replay too.

[pharvey]

You're going to want to watch Glasgow vs Bulls on replay too.

Glad you didn't mention the score, it's one for the morning!!

[pharvey]

With all that's going on in the Sporting World at the moment, this is not really going to be on many people's Radar - I'll certainly try and catch a few of the games if only to see the up and coming talent. The teams these days will have few born and bred players and many will turn out for different teams/countries at senior level - I find it completely wrong, but it is what it is.....

ANYWHO!!
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First Round Fixtures (NOTE: - Times Shown are UK): -
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