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Six Nations 2022 - Super Saturday predictions
Here we go then, the final Saturday of the 2022 Six Nations - here is what I anticipate might happen:First up - Wales vs Italy in Cardiff. Easy Welsh win, you might think, but Italy went well last...
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Six Nations 2022 - Verdict
And so another Six Nations reaches its conclusion. Plenty of positives for some teams, plenty of negatives for others. Super Saturday delivered up a surprise in Cardiff but was otherwise fairly...
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Six Nations 2022 - Champs & Chumps
Not everyone will agree, but here it is, the TF team of the tournament aka the Six Nations 2022 CHAMPS:15. Ange Capuozzo - a superstar is born. What an impact. 14. Josh Adams - his gesture in handing...
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England Watch - is it time for Eddie to go?
So, England finished in third place in the 2022 Six Nations behind France and Ireland, two excellent teams.No disgrace in that, you might think, but only two victories out of five in the Six Nations...
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Head in the sand for "dishonest" RFU?
Whether or not Eddie Jones is replaced as England's head coach - and I fear that we are, for better or for worse, stuck with him until after the World Cup next year - the RFU statement issued on Sunday...
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Women's Six Nations 2022 - a predictable start?
This weekend saw the first round of matches in this year's women's Six Nations and the results were, for the most part, quite predictable.Big wins for England and France - over Scotland and Italy...
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RIP Maddy Lawrence
My condolences and sympathies go out to the family and friends of Maddy Lawrence, a 20 year old student at the the University of West England, who has tragically passed away following an injury...
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Serious flaws in England's "Project Everest"
It appears, from comments made by the RFU’s CEO Bill Sweeney, that the RFU want to appoint an Englishman as the next England Head Coach and, moreover, want to have the appointment in place prior to the...
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Why is the World Cup the be all and end all?
I read comments today by Newcastle Falcons head coach Dean Richards that, should England win the 2023 World Cup, then the RFU may want Eddie Jones to stay on as England's head coach.Quite how this fits...
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US investment a "Game Changer"
I was intrigued to read this morning that the proposed $200 million investment in New Zealand Rugby by global finance company Silver Lake - which has been agreed by NZR and currently awaits...
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Things that make me feel old #7
Remember Kyran Bracken - that young fella that used to play for England between 1993 and 2004? Yes? Well his son, Charlie, made his first team debut for Saracens against Wasps last week.Yep. I'm that old.
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Victorious Ealing now in limbo
Well done to Ealing Trailfinders who, by virtue of their 60-10 victory over Richmond at the weekend, sealed the 2021-22 RFU Championship title. The story should have had the perfect ending with...
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Eddie is at it again
Weeks after another awful England Six Nations campaign, it turns out that Eddie Jones is back in Japan, reprising his consultancy role with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath.The RFU is said to be...
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Tom Smith RIP
Terribly sad news that Tom Smith, former Scotland and Lions prop, has passed away, aged just 50, after a battle with colon cancer, having been diagnosed in 2019.Smith was a phenomenal player and a true...
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More sad news
Another really sad piece of news, as it has been reported this week that Oleski Tsibko, former captain of Ukraine's national rugby team and former president of the Ukrainian Rugby Federation, has been...
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Out of order?
Interesting minor spat between Leicester and England prop Ellis Genge and former England hooker Brian Moore.Moore had commented on the fact that, during Leicester Tigers loss to Harlequins at the...
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Ealing dream remains on hold
Sadly I still can't claim to have ever played for a Premiership club following the news last week that Ealing Trailfinders have chosen not to pursue their appeal against the decision to deny them entry...
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Patrick Crabtree RIP
More gloomy news I'm afraid, as I discovered recently that former Barnes Rugby Club stalwart, Patrick Crabtree, had died on Easter Monday, after a year long battle with cancer. I can't pretend to have...
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England Women go in search of another Slam
England's women may well be on the brink of another Six Nations Grand Slam as they head to France this weekend.Their record so far - four wins from four games, having scored 42 tries and conceded only...
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Good luck Tom Youngs
Huge kudos to Leicester and former England and Lions hooker Tom Youngs, who this week announced that he was hanging up his boots with immediate effect at the age of 35.Youngs has been on indefinite...
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Pain in Spain - again!
It would appear that Spain, for the second Rugby World Cup running, have been kicked out of the competition, having been found guilty of breaching player eligibility laws by selecting South African...
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Chris Ashton: Record Breaker
Huge congrats to Leicester's Chris Ashton who yesterday became the Premiership's all-time top try-scorer.Ashton's 20-minute first-half hat-trick against Bristol at Welford Road took his Premiership try...
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Big win for Ireland
Many congrats to Heaton Moor RUFC's Mike Ireland, who played his final game for the club this weekend at the age of 56, captaining the club's 3rd XV alongside his SEVEN sons in the Heaton Moor pack.To...
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Whither England (Women)?
England Women's 24-12 win over France at the weekend, which secured a Grand Slam, their 23rd victory in a row and a fourth successive Women's Six Nations title, means that they are red hot favourites...
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So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu...
I started this blog on 9th May 2007 - exactly fifteen years ago.Back then I was taking tentative steps to re-start my rugby journey by coming out of retirement aged 42, a comeback which may only have...
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