The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

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.

Not quite as severe as I thought it may be for Moriarty..

"Bill Meakes and Ross Moriarty have both received two-week suspensions for foul play during Gloucester's European Challenge Cup final win last Friday.
Meakes, 24, was sent off for a high tackle in the victory over Edinburgh, and has now been banned for two weeks.
Flanker Morarity, 21, has also received a two-week suspension for striking a player in the back with his knee, an offence for which he was sin-binned.
Both will miss Gloucester's final two games of the Premiership season."

[arcadianagain]

[quote="pharvey" 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.

And his Great-great Grandfather tried to kill Sherlock Holmes

[pharvey]

[quote="pharvey" 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.

And his Great-great Grandfather tried to kill Sherlock Holmes

Well that just sums them up.... barstewards!!

[PeteC]

This would bother me, but perhaps people are different these days. Liberal attitude to "share your house" . I wouldn't care about the kit, but I would about the quarters, especially if the 'away' is a bit dismal.

England may be the away side for opener

"England may have to wear red and occupy the away dressing room when they begin their Rugby World Cup campaign against Fiji at Twickenham on 18 September...."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/32632121

[pharvey]

^ Absolute joke quite frankly, but those are the rules for the RWC (and IRB) ........ I'm more sickened about the fact that Beelzebub's XV are allowed to play in red!!

[PeteC]

Oh my. I turned it off and went outside to do some work with Saracen leading, dominating and action not that exciting. Mistake! I'll have to catch it on the re-run tonight or tomorrow. Pete

Saracens 20-24 Exeter Chiefs

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/32596120

[pharvey]

^ Certainly one hell of a tight game, and one Exeter needed to win to get into the play-offs.

Can't say I've enjoyed the refereeing this weekend (not that I often do! ) - there just seems to be zero consistency. Is this the same in all sports?

As an aside Pete, have you been able to watch the 7's rugby? Some cracking games in Scotland over the weekend.

[PeteC]

No, no 7's on that I saw. The bulk of the Rugby Union I see here is the Super 15, with a Premiership game like above thrown in from time to time. The rest is NRL. I must say I enjoy the Super 15 coverage in that the technology, camera, video techniques used seem better to me than the Premiership. Camera angles all over the place including closeups and replays, whereas the Premiership games I've watched seem pretty much just up and down the field. Probably simply the difference in broadcasting companies.

[pharvey]

Always a big mix with regards to coverage. The BBC were always regarded as the best for commentary - perhaps not so much these days..... Just wish Bill Mclaren was still with us!! I get a lot of the rugby through BT Sport now in the UK - and quite frankly the coverage can be appalling !

You're missing out on the 7's - try to get it online!!

[pharvey]

Some more great rugby on this weekend in the Pro 12 and Aviva - UK bias sorry.....

League title/play-off positions and places in Europe all in the balance. Incredibly the top 3 teams in the PRO 12 all on 70 points, with Ulster in 4th with 69.

In the Aviva, both Bath and Northampton are guaranteed home advantage in the play-off's, with Leicester, Exeter and Saracens battling for 3rd and 4th and a place in the play-off's.

The games to watch out for: -

PRO 12: -
Connacht (Ireland) vs Ospreys (Wales)
Glasgow (Scotland) vs Ulster (Ireland)
Munster (Ireland) vs Dragons (Wales)

Aviva Premiership (All England): -
Leicester vs Northampton
Exeter vs Sale

A little way off perhaps Pete, but seems Australia's Wallabies will be touring the US in September for their final warm-up before the Rugby World Cup. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 03,00.html

Here's to some cracking rugby!!

[PeteC]

What kind of money do these Premiership and Super 5 players make? I would guess there's also product endorsements and commercials? Pete

[pharvey]

Players of the game played in heaven do not make anything like that of the overpaid ladyboys of Wendyball - although it must be said, I wouldn't mind the salary of the top players! The money for rugby is in France, where there there is "flexibility" with regards to the salary cap! It shows in the top three earners in rugby are based there: -

Dan Carter (NZ) - £1,000,000 per year. Plays for Racing Metro 92 (France - Top 14)
Matt Giteau (Aus) - £700,000 per year. Plays for Toulon (France - Top 14)
Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) - £600,000 per year. Plays for Toulon (France - Top 14)
Sam Burgess (England) - £500,000 per year. Plays for Bath (England - Aviva)

These are fairly low salaries in comparison to the likes of "The Wingnut of Wendyball" Rooney who's on a reputed salary of £300,000 per WEEK!!

[PeteC]

Yes, it is very low as compared to US pro sports as well. Something to be said though for those who play for the love of the game and not the riches. Hopefully at least most don't need a second job, but I would think many who play in the NRL and similar indeed have other income sources. Pete

[PeteC]

.....You're missing out on the 7's - try to get it online!!

Not much luck except for today when I found an hour highlight show of the recent China 7's tournament. Interestingly, HK won it over Korea, but all the HK players I saw were British/Westeners! Don't know who was on the bench.

I saw what I would describe as many knock on's and forward laterals that weren't called, but perhaps 7's rules are different.

I can't say I like the game, but again it was a highlight film of about 20 matches in an hour (including women) so all you saw were the long runs and scores. Perhaps when I can watch an entire match I'll feel differently. Totally different type of athlete though IMO as compared to regular rugby. Everyone was lean and fast. Pete

[pharvey]

No real difference in the rules - the world 7's has been superb, the last tournament being in London with Fiji winning. The BIG NEWS was The US beating Australia 45-22!!!

See http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/stage/1551