My understanding is that he will not play again at home, and I guess he will rest up until the RWC. There is talk that he could play one season in Japan …. will go towards his pension pot
Well that was a very inept refing performance! Two turning points the award of the dubious try to Saracens just before halftime and that suicidal quick lineout which gifted Saracens a try. Also it was never a yellow card. I thought the Ospreys gave a really good account of themselves but shot themselves in the foot with a really bad lineout performance. I think the ref was guessing when he kept penalising the Osprey scrum as I thought Vinipola was culpable on more than one occasion. A good vocal Ospreys support there today.
Wales v Ireland at St Helens in 1949. Wales played with letters on their backs. I hope they reused all that straw.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...ders-shock-resignation-as-rugby-australia-ceo Surely not …..? “Rugby Australia thanked Marinos for his work since taking over the role in December 2020 and said he had been fundamental in the turnaround of the business, which returned to profit for the first time in four years. “Andy will leave RA having delivered several key projects, including the finalisation of the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups, locking in the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour, planning for a new contracting model for the professional game, implementation of strategy to professionalise women’s XVs rugby, and a new four-year collective bargaining agreement for our professional men’s and women’s players,” RA chair Hamish McLennan said.” A rugby focused approach….. Meanwhile, here in Wales, Phillips seemingly oversaw an organisation that was misogynistic, the building of a hotel, saddled the Regions with debt etc.
The list of officials got the RWC has been announced: Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Wayne Barnes (England), Nic Berry (Australia), Andrew Brace (Ireland), Matthew Carley (England), Karl Dickson (England), Angus Gardner (Australia), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Luke Pearce (England), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Mathieu Raynal (France), Paul Williams (New Zealand). Assistant Referees: Chris Busby (Ireland), Pierre Brousset (France), James Doleman (New Zealand), Craig Evans (Wales), Andrea Piardi (Italy), Christophe Ridley (England), Jordan Way (Australia). Television Match Officials: Brett Cronan (Australia), Tom Foley (England), Marius Jonker (South Africa), Brian MacNeice (Ireland), Joy Neville (Ireland), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Ben Whitehouse (Wales). Is it just me, but has the standard of refs dropped significantly in recent years?
Well it's not getting better, it seems. I seem to remember a time when the TMO verdict was a solid safeguard but I'm sure we're going to have a few controversial moments during the RWC!
It won't revolutionise anything, some overly dramatic reporting there. Just make it illegal to tamper with, everyone's on camera.
Just (randomly) came across this. First year of the new Heineken Welsh Leagues - I know that for certain by the front of shirt sponsor logo: that year it had to be sewn on as we did the deal late with Neath: the next year it was embedded in the manufacturing run. Great game and look at the crowds - Regional rugby can only dream of such numbers (apart from the Ospreys v Turks on a Boxing Day). As a Neath boy - those were the days!
A real blood and thunder game that one with Phil Pugh 'fully involved' as always. Those games at a packed out Gnoll were great.
Les Peard was the ref - a traffic cop if I recall correctly, with Billy ‘Flag’ running the line for Neath.
