"Sam Simmonds will join Montpellier from Exeter Chiefs next season.
That's according to The Times, who claim the British & Irish Lions No 8 has told Exeter he will be leaving, although he is hoping to carry on playing for England.
An RFU policy means players based abroad cannot feature for the national team, but Simmonds is reportedly trying to structure a deal with Montpellier that will allow him to join them after next autumn's World Cup, should he be selected by Eddie Jones.
His departure will certainly be seen as a big blow to Exeter, where he racked up a Premiership record of 20 tries in the 2020-21 season, picking up the award for the league's player of the year.
With his contract up at the end of the year, Simmonds will replace Montpellier's Zach Mercer, who's returning to England to join Gloucester."
dtaai-maai wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 1:17 am
^^"Should he be selected" indeed. There's an awful lot of competition for that no. 8 spot in the England lineup.
Indeed, but a damn fine player - and the shock is him leaving Exeter. Changes abound there....... Discontent within the squad?
Not seen the matches, but (unfortunately) caught the results - Bristol vs London Irish and Saracens vs Gloucester seem to be the matches of the weekend.
I'm still very much pi$$ed off with Bath despite the 2nd half comeback. Massive changes needed.
I'll keep away from Cardiff.......
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
Here's the Rugby Championship final pool standings. Jimmy Greaves takes the win with a lower TDM (Total Distance From Margin). The spoon this round goes to Dai_L, not to Pooley. Thanks to everyone for playing.
phpBjFd8jPM.jpg (40.43 KiB) Viewed 452 times
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
PeteC wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 11:05 am
Here's the Rugby Championship final pool standings. Jimmy Greaves takes the win with a lower TDM (Total Distance From Margin). The spoon this round goes to Dai_L, not to Pooley. Thanks to everyone for playing.
Thanks for sorting out Pete - certainly a Topsy Turvey competition this year all round. Congrats to JG for the tile, but I think this "TDM" is a load of b*ll*cks - I should have taken the title purely for being Welsh
All good fun and looking forward to the next league.
[EDIT] Oh, and having great fun with the fact that Dai_L finished dead last.....
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
Well, today's the day for Worcester and things are looking far from good
"Financially-stricken Worcester Warriors are uncertain they will avoid being suspended from all competition on Monday by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
Staff have been told to collect their items from Sixways before gates to the ground are locked at 16:30 BST.
The club have until 17:00 BST to show rugby's governing body they have a "credible" plan for the future."
"Worcester Warriors have been suspended from all competitions after failing to meet a funding ultimatum set by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
The financially stricken club had to provide proof of a "credible" plan for the future by 17:00 BST on Monday.
The men's team will now be banned from the Premiership and its women's side from the Premier 15s.
"We have had to take this action to protect everyone's best interests," RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said.
Sweeney added that the news was "incredibly difficult for fans, staff and players" and thanked them for working "tirelessly over recent weeks to enable matches to continue".
What happens next to Warriors is not confirmed - with the club yet to enter administration - but Sweeney hopes a buyer can be found as soon as possible, with the club potentially able to resume matches if the suspension is lifted.
The RFU are yet to announce any further sanctions on Warriors, which may include a 35-point deduction or possible relegation."
Well, Bristol given a bit of a reality check and Exeter showing some style - apologies if I've ruined things for those not yet to watch...... Bit of a shocker last night for Bristol, and as a Bath supporter suffering at the moment, it gave some enjoyment!!
As for the latter, Bath take on Gloucester shortly - would be nice to win a bloody game!! That said, Gloucester are looking good, though only two Premiership games in for them.......
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
Sad times for rugby in general, but certainly worrying for the Premiership clubs as a whole as Wasps follow Worcester into administration and are now suspended. With the squad sizes and (higher) salary cap in English rugby, things were going to go Pete Tong IMHO
Wasps Suspended From Premiership And Set to Enter Ddministration 'Within Days'
"Financially troubled Wasps have been suspended from the Premiership after announcing they are "likely" to go into administration "within days".
The club have twice filed notice to get insolvency experts in to help with their debts, which run to tens of millions of pounds.
They face becoming the second side to go into administration within weeks, following Worcester last month.
Their suspension was confirmed by the RFU's Club Financial Viability Group.
"We appreciate this is a very difficult time for Wasps players, staff and supporters who will be concerned at news that the club is likely to enter administration," the Rugby Football Union said in a statement.
"The RFU will continue to work with the club, PRL and any potential administrator or future investors to find the best possible outcome for the club."
Wasps can reapply for the suspension to be lifted if they are able to demonstrate the means and commitment to pay their rugby creditors.
In a statement following the announcement of their pending administration, Wasps Holdings Limited said they had been working "tirelessly" to secure the club's future.
"We strongly believe it is the right course of action," the statement added."
lindosfan1 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 10:45 pm
Rugby league world cup England 60 Samoa 6. Very entertaining fast moving game.
Was never going to be a contest in all honesty lindos - I watched until the proper rugby started (UNION)
AND WHAT A MATCH IT WAS!! Proper "West Country Derby" - Glocester vs Bristol. One of the best games I've seen in a long while - I shan't post the score, but advise anyone who didn't get a chance to watch it to do so!!
[EDIT] A great advert for rugby in these dificult times....
Welsh games to follow - the LHG already somewhat p'd off.....
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
Nothing like over analalysing things..... Pity the club and operators' CFO's aren't as "smart"!
Revolutionary New Rugby Ball To Be Used in Autumn Internationals And Change Fan Experience
"A new smart ball will be used during the Autumn Nation Series and Six Nations that promises fans and coaches greater insight into matches.
The smart ball technology, which provides real time data and analytics, is the result of a new partnership between Six Nations Rugby and Sage, a global leader in software technology. The partnership will span the upcoming November internationals as well as both the men's and women's Six Nations tournaments.
The smart ball will be first used when Scotland host Australia on October 29 at Murrayfield. As well as providing more real time data to allow broadcasters to offer metrics on things such as kick hang-times and territorial gains from kicking battles, it will also provide coaches with plenty of analytics - allowing them to make more informed decisions."
The spoon this round goes to Dai_L, not to Pooley. Thanks to everyone for playing. 
