The Rugby Thread

[PeteC]

When does the World Cup start as we should get a pool going. I think the captain of the NZ 2011 team now plays for the Crusaders in Super 15. I don't know his name off hand, but he is a much older looking dude now as compared to the special documentary he was in after the 2011 win. I'm making an assumption he won't be a factor for NZ in this coming cup? Pete

[PeteC]

Another revelation. I realized today why I'm watch so much rugby on TV. There are no commercials! Not a one on this True Setanta channel. A few small things at halftime and that's it. I imagine the bulk is paid by the digital field banners and perimeter signs around the stadiums concerning Super 15 and NRL. In any event, it's a pleasure to watch in comparison to NFL, MLB etc., concerning the constant commercial breaks they have. Pete

[PeteC]

^^ Richie McCaw of the Crusaders New Zealand was who I was referring to above. Pete

[pharvey]

The Rugby World Cup kicks off on September 18th...

Beelzebub's XV as hosts will play the opening match against those damned Islander's of Fiji.... (damned, simply because they have been a hoodoo team for God's Own in the past)..

As for Richie McCaw, one of the true legends of the game with an incredible record - I have zero doubt he will have a big part to play in this year's tournament, but he's not going to be playing at international level long after.

For all of the info. on the tournament, fixtures and teams, go to http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

[pharvey]

All excellent for the game as a whole - not too sure what this means for Argentina, as they already play in the 4-team annual "Rugby Championship" along with Australia, South Africa and New Zealand...... are they contemplating pulling out I wonder?

North and South American rugby unions plan their own Six Nations

"Six nations from North and South America plan to launch a Pan-American annual championship based on the successful European model, USA Rugby announced on Friday.

Representatives of rugby unions from Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Canada and the United States met in Miami this week to discuss the plan.

The former England captain Nigel Melville, now CEO of USA Rugby, said: “This is an exciting time for rugby in the Americas and the establishment of a sustainable annual international rugby championship for the unions in the Americas will be an important step forward for the development of the game in the region.”

No name has yet been given to the championship which would be run under the guidance of the Pan American Rugby Association (Para). The competition, which it is hoped will begin in 2016, would guarantee each nation five matches annually.

Agustín Pichot, the former Argentina captain and current president of the Para, said: “There is a lot of work to be done but the future looks bright. As a group of unions we believe that an American championship would contribute significantly to the development of the game.”

Executives are working on an initial five-year plan for fixtures."

[pharvey]

Cracking game coming up tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, where Toulon take on Clermont in the (European) Champions Cup Final.. Again, however showing the strength and financial backing ( ) of the French League. Toulon will be going for an historic hat-trick of European Cup wins, where Clermont will be looking for their first - losing narrowly (16-15) to Toulon in the 2013 final.

Hopefully the weather will allow for the cracking game it should be with these two teams (some incredible international talent on show) - Nigel Owens is the referee and he generally allows for the open game. Kick-off is 17:00 UK time, so not great timing for you guys in Thailand....

For those interested, http://cricfree.sx/ is a great site for sport streaming and it'll be shown on BT Sport 1 (see tab on left).

[PeteC]

Watched the European Challenge Cup final last night live. Wasn't that riveting until the last quarter or so when Gloucester was playing a man down. If there had been 10 more minutes I think Edinburgh would have done it.

What they are calling "a high tackle" by Meakes, who was ejected, looked very intentional to me on the replay in slow motion. He almost took the man's head off! In the NFL they call that a "clothes line" tackle. I imagine some financial penalty coming. Meakes was crying in the dock once he realized the possible result of what he did, especially with Edinburgh scoring a try about 2 minutes after he came off. Pete

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/32515291

[Big Boy]

Short notice Pete, but did you know this is happening in your own backyard?

rugby.jpg (30.83 KiB) Viewed 646 times

[PeteC]

Nope, didn't see it advertised until now. I don't think it's going to happen for me as we have to go to a wedding this weekend which includes an overnight stay. Pete

[PeteC]

Point of order Pharvey or others......I thought the rule was that in the last 5 minutes the clock stops if the action stops. "Action" to me means actual plays, not walking around before/after a play. It looks arbitrary to me as sometimes the clock does stop, than at other times it doesn't when IMO it should? Very confusing to me and a distinct advantage or disadvantage if the match is close. Pete

[dtaai-maai]

The last 5 minutes is no different from the rest of the game, Pete. The clock stops when the ref tells it to (you can usually hear him calling 'time'), and he does that when there's an offence that needs a ticking off or an injury that needs treatment combined with a stoppage in play (scrum, lineout, penalty, etc.). The clock doesn't stop every time the ball goes out of play.
Once the 80 minutes is up, the game finishes the next time the ball goes out of play.

[PeteC]

I know I had seen it and heard it watching matches and looking it up, it seems it is only an NRL rule. Sorry for any confusion as it doesn't appear to have anything to do with Rugby Union. Pete

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/j ... 014-season

[pharvey]

Watched the European Challenge Cup final last night live. Wasn't that riveting until the last quarter or so when Gloucester was playing a man down. If there had been 10 more minutes I think Edinburgh would have done it.

What they are calling "a high tackle" by Meakes, who was ejected, looked very intentional to me on the replay in slow motion. He almost took the man's head off! In the NFL they call that a "clothes line" tackle. I imagine some financial penalty coming. Meakes was crying in the dock once he realized the possible result of what he did, especially with Edinburgh scoring a try about 2 minutes after he came off. Pete

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/32515291

Yes - I didn't mention that one as it was literally about to start when I posted regarding the Champions Cup Final, and quite honestly thought 1 am might be a bit past it for you guys to watch rugby!!

It was never going to be a riveting game with those 2 sides - but certainly a couple of talking points with yellow and red cards..... and Gloucester IMO just about deserving the win.

There will not be any financial penalty for Meakes, but he'll likely get a few weeks ban. Moriarty who picked up a yellow card for coming in with the knee is going to be "cited" IMO and will also get a ban of several weeks. The Moriarty clan are quite something, his uncle Richard was was one hell of a dirty sod on and off the pitch - his father Paul a little better, but still a hard bugger.



DM has it spot on regarding timing

[pharvey]

WOW, just WOW.

Jesus H.... well, you know his surname. What a game!!

I shall make a better post, once I sober up, the LHG no longer has implements to remove my testicles and "Bob the Dog" appears again from under the bed... Unfortunately neither the volume or language forthcoming from my gob has been good!

[pharvey]

The Welsh national squad under Warren Gatland have been known to use cryo-chambers to aid in recovery times and fitness.... we may not need them next season!! This will be an away match from hell (once it's frozen over)..

"Russian champions RC Yenisei-STM booked their place in the Eurepean Challenge Cup after winning a two-legged playoff against Romania's Baia Mare.

And with the group stages of the competition set to be crammed between November an January, the side from the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk are bound to be an away trip no team will want to have to face.

The average temperatures in the city are a pretty nippy -21 degrees Celsius".

Not too sure I'll bother to go over to support the Newport-Gwent Dragons if they're unfortunate enough to be placed in that pool!!