Rugby Union Thread

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **still** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 11:21 am

Update on Dupont:-

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... up-surgery

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Knoyleo** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 2:32 pm

I am screaming for Portugal.

Edit: gutting.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **still** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:51 pm

Hurray, England are going to win the World Cup!!

Now to shout for Ireland.

Edit: Really hope this lives up to the billing!

Edit again: It did! Well played Ireland, Mr Sexton and Mr Farrell in particular. Really think they could go all the way now but a hell of a long way to go yet.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Captain Kinopio** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 9:49 pm

Get in there Ireland!

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Knoyleo** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 8:00 am

Thought that was going to be all SA after the Irish errors in the first 10-15 minutes, but they're defence was incredible, as well as their game management and withstanding the bomb squad.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **still** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:24 pm

Tonight I will be shouting very loudly for Wales. Please note, this happens very, very rarely!! Good luck Wales!

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Knoyleo** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 9:52 pm

Holy strawberry floating gooseberry fool, that was insane.

40-6? Better than I'd even have wished for!

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Mini E** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 9:55 pm

You strawberry floating beauty.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **BTB** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 9:58 pm

Into the QFs 8-)

Felt odd being so calm watching a Wales game, not that I'm complaining! Great stuff!

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **still** » Mon Sep 25, 2023 11:27 am

Has Eddie gone yet?!

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **still** » Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:23 pm

As a complete Japanophile, I'm shouting for the Blossoms tonight.

Edit: That was thoroughly enjoyable. Potentially Japan vs Argentina could be a real match to watch.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **sawyerpip** » Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:39 pm

Are Irish fans getting worried watching this? :dread:

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Knoyleo** » Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:47 pm

sawyerpip wrote:Are Irish fans getting worried watching this?

I wouldn't start to get too worried, Italy have looked especially meek in defence tonight.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **still** » Sat Sep 30, 2023 10:45 am

Dupont is back:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66970360

I just hope it isn't too early and he isn't putting himself at risk.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Knoyleo** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 9:50 pm

Brilliant display from Tonga. So much fun to watch. :wub:

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Rax** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 9:29 am

Really enjoyed this world cup so far, seen at least a bit of every game so far, might be able to go all the way! There has been some really great pool matches outside of the obvious "big" games, World Rugby really needs to get its gooseberry fool together and find ways to get more top level exposure for these tier 2 sides, so many of them are not far off the pace if they could just get some more exposure to regular high level rugby.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **DML** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 2:45 pm

Rax wrote:Really enjoyed this world cup so far, seen at least a bit of every game so far, might be able to go all the way! There has been some really great pool matches outside of the obvious "big" games, World Rugby really needs to get its gooseberry fool together and find ways to get more top level exposure for these tier 2 sides, so many of them are not far off the pace if they could just get some more exposure to regular high level rugby.

Eight Nations would be quality. Portugal and Georgia and two groups of four.

EDIT - Or Romania.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Tomous** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 2:47 pm

What they should do is have a 2nd tier Six Nations (Portugal, Romania, Georgia, Spain, Russia, someone else) and then the winner of that gets a playoff match against wooden spoon in the Six Nations.

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **DML** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 3:12 pm

Tomous wrote:What they should do is have a 2nd tier Six Nations (Portugal, Romania, Georgia, Spain, Russia, someone else) and then the winner of that gets a playoff match against wooden spoon in the Six Nations.

OMG PROMOTION RELEGATION. GET BETTER ITALY!

PostRe: Rugby Union Thread by **Rax** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 9:51 am

There is a second tier championship already so its relatively easy to implement. The problem is money, theres not enough of it, even in big nations, English clubs are going to the wall at a alarming pace, Wales is in absolute turmoil, Italy struggle to keep their players in Italy, Scotland the same, its really only Ireland and France who are in good shape financially but they largely rely on the 6 Nations to fund that. If you introduce nations with even less cash and the pool is diluted further then theres even more problems. I would love to see some way for Georgia or Portugal to earn a crack at the 6 Nations but the money needs to be sorted out and thats never going to happen unfortunately.

My bigger issue is this Nations Championship gooseberry fool theyre putting together isnt the answer, they think it is but its a bone thrown to a couple of tier 2 sides rather than an actual attempt to grow the game. Tier 1 sides all so focused on the short term, for their survival honestly, that none of them will look at the bigger picture and try to actually grow things to make the pie bigger, rather than just try to take a bigger slice of whats already there.

Rugby Union Thread

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