Someone on the Bath board got, well, a bit bored:sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2024 1:25 pm
Someone on Reddit knocked this up in the time since the announcement. Looks loads better.
The Official English Rugby Thread
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- Hal Jordan
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Langdon junior signs for Saints. Guess it will depend on injuries as to how much game time he gets. Langdon Snr, Smith, the newly capped Scottish hooker and Craig Wright who had an outstanding U20 RWC will be ahead of him. But there again if he's anywhere near as good as his older brother who knows?
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/brothe ... t-saints/Nathan Langdon has signed on with Northampton Saints ahead of the 2024/25 season, linking up with his brother Curtis, who has proved to be such a big hit at Franklin’s Gardens.
Also a hooker, the 23-year-old has impressed at Sale FC since graduating from Loughborough University.
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Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.
https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins
Seems like an odd signing.
https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins
Seems like an odd signing.
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Did he manage to make a game out in NZ?sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 9:38 am Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.
https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins
Seems like an odd signing.
A 35 year old who hasn't played in a year.
He's got real defensive strengths - although a bit kamikaze - but I'm not sure he quite fits the Quins' attacking game?
It does seem a bit odd. maybe a stepping stone into coaching a la Adam Jones?
Yet another question, although I should perhaps know this- who is he injury cover for?
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Murley and possibly David.inactionman wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 10:44 amDid he manage to make a game out in NZ?sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 9:38 am Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.
https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins
Seems like an odd signing.
A 35 year old who hasn't played in a year.
He's got real defensive strengths - although a bit kamikaze - but I'm not sure he quite fits the Quins' attacking game?
It does seem a bit odd. maybe a stepping stone into coaching a la Adam Jones?
Yet another question, although I should perhaps know this- who is he injury cover for?
I'm generally not a fan of signing late career players unless they are there just as cover and to mentor up and comers. Having said that, I said the same about Adam Jones who has worked out very well for Quins.
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Ta, wasn't aware Murley was crocked. I was aware Lynagh has moved to sunnier climes but that's of course not injury cover.Dinsdale Piranha wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 11:26 amMurley and possibly David.inactionman wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 10:44 amDid he manage to make a game out in NZ?sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 9:38 am Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.
https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins
Seems like an odd signing.
A 35 year old who hasn't played in a year.
He's got real defensive strengths - although a bit kamikaze - but I'm not sure he quite fits the Quins' attacking game?
It does seem a bit odd. maybe a stepping stone into coaching a la Adam Jones?
Yet another question, although I should perhaps know this- who is he injury cover for?
I'm generally not a fan of signing late career players unless they are there just as cover and to mentor up and comers. Having said that, I said the same about Adam Jones who has worked out very well for Quins.
Loose head prop Wyn Jones has also signed.sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 9:38 am Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.
https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins
Seems like an odd signing.
Harlequins have followed the signing of Leigh Halfpenny by recruiting his former Wales and Scarlets teammate Wyn Jones.
The 32-year-old loosehead prop has joined Quins with immediate effect as injury cover for the upcoming season.
The 48-cap Wales international has become the second prop to move to the Stoop this summer, with former Saracens tighthead Titi Lamositele also arriving.
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Makes sense if Baxter and possibly Marler are away, and Marler is also injured at the moment.
Well, that's a bugger!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c3033n01yy9oAled Walters has left his role as England's head of strength and conditioning to take up a position as head of athletic performance with Ireland.
Walters joined England from Leicester Tigers before the Rugby World Cup in 2023, having worked in rugby for 18 years including roles with Munster and South Africa.
The highly-rated Welshman, who was head of athletic performance for the 2019 Springboks' Rugby World Cup-winning squad, replaces Jason Cowman in the role.
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It's just not worked out for him from an England perspective, so it's a real shame but I wouldn't really blame him. It went brilliantly for him at club level in France.
If I was him I'd have been pissed to be stuck behind later-years Billy in Eddie's teams, but he's still behind Earl, Dombrandt and arguably Barbeary so can't see where he'll get a look-in.
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I'm a bit behind the curve on this one - the RFU are redrawing/have redrawn the academy system and boundaries given the demise of the 3 teams.
The London & South Central, Midlands Central and Midlands West Academies won't be continuing, and the 11 remaining will be rejigged.
https://nextgenxv.com/2024/04/10/rfu-pr ... e_vignette
Does anyone have any view on what the new boundaries will look like? The Bath website refers to the old 14 regions so either I've been given duff info or it's still work in progress.
The London & South Central, Midlands Central and Midlands West Academies won't be continuing, and the 11 remaining will be rejigged.
https://nextgenxv.com/2024/04/10/rfu-pr ... e_vignette
Does anyone have any view on what the new boundaries will look like? The Bath website refers to the old 14 regions so either I've been given duff info or it's still work in progress.
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Felix Jones gone now too according to The Times (saw it on reddit, so no link).SaintK wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2024 3:07 pm Well, that's a bugger!https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c3033n01yy9oAled Walters has left his role as England's head of strength and conditioning to take up a position as head of athletic performance with Ireland.
Walters joined England from Leicester Tigers before the Rugby World Cup in 2023, having worked in rugby for 18 years including roles with Munster and South Africa.
The highly-rated Welshman, who was head of athletic performance for the 2019 Springboks' Rugby World Cup-winning squad, replaces Jason Cowman in the role.
Story in the Times that Felix Jones has quit the England coaching set up - big loss if true especially following the departure of Aled Walter’s as well.
https://apple.news/Ave66Vy_hSvu1fkpVc6WqPw
https://apple.news/Ave66Vy_hSvu1fkpVc6WqPw
Telegraph reporting that Felix Jones has resigned as England defence coach and left with immediate effect!!!
That is a huge blow!
Behind a paywall so no link
That is a huge blow!
Behind a paywall so no link
Sounds like Borthwick is a shit manager.The Times reports that Jones exits his role at the Rugby Football Union due to becoming “unhappy with an unstable working environment” in the England set-up.
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Is that an allusion to the lengths being gone to to accommodate Sinfield? From the outside that situation has been very weird. First of all he's leaving, then he's hanging around a bit longer in a vague role before he goes, now he's sticking around.
I'm sure he's a lovely bloke they all respect, but I don't think he warrants this level of special treatment.
Apparently another longstanding S&C bloke left with Walters.
I'm sure he's a lovely bloke they all respect, but I don't think he warrants this level of special treatment.
Apparently another longstanding S&C bloke left with Walters.
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Hey guys. Bad news. I heard Felix Jones has left
Yes all very odd regards Sinfield. Evidently the players like him and wanted him kept involved. Hopefully he'll be nowhere near defence as it was utter shite on his watch.sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Aug 24, 2024 12:51 pm Is that an allusion to the lengths being gone to to accommodate Sinfield? From the outside that situation has been very weird. First of all he's leaving, then he's hanging around a bit longer in a vague role before he goes, now he's sticking around.
I'm sure he's a lovely bloke they all respect, but I don't think he warrants this level of special treatment.
Apparently another longstanding S&C bloke left with Walters.
Felix Jones is a major loss. O'Shea better pull his finger out a get a decent replacement in as soonest.
Walters was offered a lot more money and far wider remit with the IRFU
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Well don't be too hasty, I mean it could be RFU that is what's broken.SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Aug 24, 2024 12:46 pm Telegraph reporting that Felix Jones has resigned as England defence coach and left with immediate effect!!!
That is a huge blow!
Behind a paywall so no linkSounds like Borthwick is a shit manager.The Times reports that Jones exits his role at the Rugby Football Union due to becoming “unhappy with an unstable working environment” in the England set-up.
But on the other hand, Borthwick might have picked up his management technique of his coaches, when he himself was first a coach .... under EJ
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12 month notice period apparently, although expect some arrangement will be made
Bit of a kick in the nuts, as others have noted we weren't great defensively for a few years, and we went from passive and porous to encouragingly aggressive on his watch
Bit of a kick in the nuts, as others have noted we weren't great defensively for a few years, and we went from passive and porous to encouragingly aggressive on his watch
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Not directly England any more, but I note Tuilagi is injured again, the poor sod.
He's broken his hand which I think is a new one for him.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... y7vgdn8nwo
He's broken his hand which I think is a new one for him.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... y7vgdn8nwo
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Does anyone think that the England management (whoever they are) will get the message, stop picking players to act as a placeholder for him and finally move on, or are we all still waiting for that run of fitness when he solves everything?
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He's gone from England reckoning - his move to Bayonne from Sale means he's ineligible.Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:42 pm Does anyone think that the England management (whoever they are) will get the message, stop picking players to act as a placeholder for him and finally move on, or are we all still waiting for that run of fitness when he solves everything?
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I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here
- fishfoodie
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Nah, he can now become the new Steffon Armitage, & the UK Media will never STFU about him & how he should be the first choice, etc, etc, etcinactionman wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:50 pm I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here
There's plenty of clowns writing about Rugby, & this kind of crap is catnip for them, & saves them having to actually go to games, or expend any effort at actual journalism
Armitage was in his peak playing age and playing for a team winning lots of trophies.fishfoodie wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:54 pmNah, he can now become the new Steffon Armitage, & the UK Media will never STFU about him & how he should be the first choice, etc, etc, etcinactionman wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:50 pm I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here
There's plenty of clowns writing about Rugby, & this kind of crap is catnip for them, & saves them having to actually go to games, or expend any effort at actual journalism
We all know the RFU is a bit dysfunctional.
Suspect it will be Fazlet that becomes the new overseas Messiah.fishfoodie wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:54 pmNah, he can now become the new Steffon Armitage, & the UK Media will never STFU about him & how he should be the first choice, etc, etc, etcinactionman wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:50 pm I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here
There's plenty of clowns writing about Rugby, & this kind of crap is catnip for them, & saves them having to actually go to games, or expend any effort at actual journalism
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Not sure about Owen, or Manu or Billy. Some names will interest, perhaps not Ribbans or Ludlum, but Arundell, Willis, Mercer, Marchant, Sinckler, probably not either Simmonds, and then of course there is the mighty Dan Lancaster, who are we to overlook Dan Lancaster?geordie_6 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 6:56 pmSuspect it will be Fazlet that becomes the new overseas Messiah.fishfoodie wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:54 pmNah, he can now become the new Steffon Armitage, & the UK Media will never STFU about him & how he should be the first choice, etc, etc, etcinactionman wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:50 pm I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here
There's plenty of clowns writing about Rugby, & this kind of crap is catnip for them, & saves them having to actually go to games, or expend any effort at actual journalism
Toulon have bought out his contract for start of 25/26 seasoninactionman wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 10:03 amIt's just not worked out for him from an England perspective, so it's a real shame but I wouldn't really blame him. It went brilliantly for him at club level in France.
If I was him I'd have been pissed to be stuck behind later-years Billy in Eddie's teams, but he's still behind Earl, Dombrandt and arguably Barbeary so can't see where he'll get a look-in.
Star number eight Zach Mercer will swap Gloucester Rugby for French Top 14 glamour side Toulon at the end of the 2024/25 season, GloucestershireLive understands.
Toulon are understood to have come to a compensation agreement with the Cherry and Whites to buy the 27-year-old out of the final two years of his initial four-year contract with the Gallagher Premiership side to bring him to the Stade Mayol for the 2025/26 season.
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Good for both parties that I guess. Glaws can surely do with the money and Mercer gets to go back to a league where he was more effective and enjoy life in the south of France rather than waiting for an England call that's never going to come in an underperforming English team.SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2024 8:48 amToulon have bought out his contract for start of 25/26 seasoninactionman wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 10:03 amIt's just not worked out for him from an England perspective, so it's a real shame but I wouldn't really blame him. It went brilliantly for him at club level in France.
If I was him I'd have been pissed to be stuck behind later-years Billy in Eddie's teams, but he's still behind Earl, Dombrandt and arguably Barbeary so can't see where he'll get a look-in.Star number eight Zach Mercer will swap Gloucester Rugby for French Top 14 glamour side Toulon at the end of the 2024/25 season, GloucestershireLive understands.
Toulon are understood to have come to a compensation agreement with the Cherry and Whites to buy the 27-year-old out of the final two years of his initial four-year contract with the Gallagher Premiership side to bring him to the Stade Mayol for the 2025/26 season.