NPR

Stranger wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 6:24 pm Is Woodward the young centre at Tigers?
yes and looking promising as a genuine 12

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 4:30 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:04 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:29 am
If they can't get into the Championship they'll try for the URC!!!
https://archive.ph/VBGOq

Zero danger of the RFU signing off on that you’d assume

It's an interesting one. I'd be surprised if Jordan with his experience has thrown a couple of million at the IP without some kind of viable path plotted. We'll see though.

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 5:37 pm The review commissioned by the RFU into RFU remunerations has found the RFU remunerations to be acceptable

Glad that's sorted.

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 5:37 pm The review commissioned by the RFU into RFU remunerations has found the RFU remunerations to be acceptable

Glad that's sorted.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 6:18 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 5:37 pm The review commissioned by the RFU into RFU remunerations has found the RFU remunerations to be acceptable

Glad that's sorted.

IIRC there was a pretty narrow remit of verifying that remuneration was being issued according to RFU policy/guidelines.

Confirming that isn't necessarily saying that said policy/guidelines is in and of itself acceptable.

That said it does have a whiff of "we've investigated ourselves and found that we're doing nothing wrong".

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 8:11 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 6:18 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 5:37 pm The review commissioned by the RFU into RFU remunerations has found the RFU remunerations to be acceptable

Glad that's sorted.

IIRC there was a pretty narrow remit of verifying that remuneration was being issued according to RFU policy/guidelines.

Confirming that isn't necessarily saying that said policy/guidelines is in and of itself acceptable.

That said it does have a whiff of "we've investigated ourselves and found that we're doing nothing wrong".

Pretty much. If he wants to keep his job as much as he clearly does, not sure why Sweeney didn’t come straight out and say something along the lines of ‘I got the RFU through covid, I’m proud of that but recognise the award is over the top in the circumstances so I’m donating 50% to rugby charities’

Still unsure the RFU needs to pay a CEO £700k a year but we are where we are with that. IIRC c.2016 a home international was worth £10m, given ticket and pint prices you can probably double that but a £1m+ package is still a substantial amount of RFU revenue going to one man who doesn’t play or coach. I see it more personally from the ECB, but the amount of English sporting money going to off field admin and management is staggering.

Fortunately I paid for lunch and drinks in a lovely Richmond pub (the White Horse, able to get a seat, excellently kept beers and good food, recommended) rather than for the tickets Saturday so at least my personal cash went to something vaguely productive

dpedin wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:28 am Really interesting article on BBC website today about the different routes taken by George and Genge to the top of the game.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 6g31qjneeo

If they did the same analysis for Scottish rugby it would be the same or even more skewed towards the private school route.

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 1:31 pm Malins back to Sarries next season.
I wonder if that means Goode is hanging up his boots?

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:13 am

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 4:30 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:04 am

Zero danger of the RFU signing off on that you’d assume

It's an interesting one. I'd be surprised if Jordan with his experience has thrown a couple of million at the IP without some kind of viable path plotted. We'll see though.

Certainly a useful negotiating position as a starting point

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:57 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:13 am

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 4:30 pm

It's an interesting one. I'd be surprised if Jordan with his experience has thrown a couple of million at the IP without some kind of viable path plotted. We'll see though.

Certainly a useful negotiating position as a starting point

There might be a very interesting precedent !

I see it reported in the Guardian that RFU would block it, but then there was a discussion a few years ago in Ireland about setting up a 5th provincial team in London, & the same kind of arguments came into play about the UK being the domain of the RFU, etc, etc.

But then the Lawyers weighed in, & Soccer led the way !!

First there was Bozman(sp?), & restraint of trade, & then there was the case of Derry City FC, who used to ply their trade in the IFA Premiership, i.e. in the UK, then, sick of the sectarian shit, they upped metaphorical sticks & joined the FAI, i.e. RoI league. There were objections, but they got approval from UEFA to move, so there is case law on teams changing national domains.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 11:11 pm

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:57 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:13 am

Certainly a useful negotiating position as a starting point

There might be a very interesting precedent !

I see it reported in the Guardian that RFU would block it, but then there was a discussion a few years ago in Ireland about setting up a 5th provincial team in London, & the same kind of arguments came into play about the UK being the domain of the RFU, etc, etc.

But then the Lawyers weighed in, & Soccer led the way !!

First there was Bozman(sp?), & restraint of trade, & then there was the case of Derry City FC, who used to ply their trade in the IFA Premiership, i.e. in the UK, then, sick of the sectarian shit, they upped metaphorical sticks & joined the FAI, i.e. RoI league. There were objections, but they got approval from UEFA to move, so there is case law on teams changing national domains.

Cardiff and Swansea both play in the English football leagues, Berwick Rangers play in the Scottish leagues

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 11:36 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 11:11 pm

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:57 pm

There might be a very interesting precedent !

I see it reported in the Guardian that RFU would block it, but then there was a discussion a few years ago in Ireland about setting up a 5th provincial team in London, & the same kind of arguments came into play about the UK being the domain of the RFU, etc, etc.

But then the Lawyers weighed in, & Soccer led the way !!

First there was Bozman(sp?), & restraint of trade, & then there was the case of Derry City FC, who used to ply their trade in the IFA Premiership, i.e. in the UK, then, sick of the sectarian shit, they upped metaphorical sticks & joined the FAI, i.e. RoI league. There were objections, but they got approval from UEFA to move, so there is case law on teams changing national domains.

Cardiff and Swansea both play in the English football leagues, Berwick Rangers play in the Scottish leagues

Exactly. The existence of a national league our administrative org doesn't explicitly bind any a team to that league or org, & if the RFU tries to force the issue, they could end up with a black eye & a bloody big legal bill which might just open the door for a rebel "English Union" !

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:42 pm Harlequins 1st XV 29 - Saracens under 11s 30

inactionman wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:50 pm I noted the replacement scrumhalf for Sarries is the offspring of Kyran Bracken.

Any good?

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:13 pm Blimey, St Helens have put 82 points on Salford I the League match this evening.

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:13 pm Blimey, St Helens have put 82 points on Salford I the League match this evening.

Sale Sharks have agreed to sign Harlequins hooker Nathan Jibulu for next season.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:57 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:13 am

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 4:30 pm

It's an interesting one. I'd be surprised if Jordan with his experience has thrown a couple of million at the IP without some kind of viable path plotted. We'll see though.

Certainly a useful negotiating position as a starting point

There might be a very interesting precedent !

I see it reported in the Guardian that RFU would block it, but then there was a discussion a few years ago in Ireland about setting up a 5th provincial team in London, & the same kind of arguments came into play about the UK being the domain of the RFU, etc, etc.

But then the Lawyers weighed in, & Soccer led the way !!

First there was Bozman(sp?), & restraint of trade, & then there was the case of Derry City FC, who used to ply their trade in the IFA Premiership, i.e. in the UK, then, sick of the sectarian shit, they upped metaphorical sticks & joined the FAI, i.e. RoI league. There were objections, but they got approval from UEFA to move, so there is case law on teams changing national domains.

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 3:27 pm So the only change for England is Chessum to start and Martin to the bench.
I have no idea why Randall continues to be selected, I guess it must just be a pacee thing.
Starting XV: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis.
Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Martin, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Randall, Daly.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 3:44 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 3:27 pm So the only change for England is Chessum to start and Martin to the bench.
I have no idea why Randall continues to be selected, I guess it must just be a pacee thing.
Starting XV: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis.
Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Martin, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Randall, Daly.

Hard to argue with.

Tbh now Borthwick has established that a 9 can play 80 minutes, we may as well gamble with one scrum half in the squad and give ourselves another outside back option

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:04 pm LCD continues to worry me, his lineout work has always been shonky, whoever he's been throwing in to, and he's not the dynamo he was before all the injuries, which was his main selling point.

Jamie George has been absolutely magnificent for England down the years, but time's catching up with him as well.

Martin has been a bit meh this 6N.

Lobby wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:03 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 3:44 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 3:27 pm So the only change for England is Chessum to start and Martin to the bench.
I have no idea why Randall continues to be selected, I guess it must just be a pacee thing.
Starting XV: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis.
Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Martin, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Randall, Daly.

Hard to argue with.

Tbh now Borthwick has established that a 9 can play 80 minutes, we may as well gamble with one scrum half in the squad and give ourselves another outside back option

Borthwick will probably try that against Italy. Mitchell will get injured in the first 5 minutes and we'll end up with Earl filling in at 9 for most of the game, which I expect will go just about as well as when Italy played Mauro Bergamasco at 9.

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:12 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:04 pm LCD continues to worry me, his lineout work has always been shonky, whoever he's been throwing in to, and he's not the dynamo he was before all the injuries, which was his main selling point.

Jamie George has been absolutely magnificent for England down the years, but time's catching up with him as well.

Martin has been a bit meh this 6N.

A couple of the LCD lineout misses last match were lifting errors, though agree the injuries look to be catching up with him.
Thought George was excellent for the 20 minutes he was on against FRance
Dan doesn't exactly fill me with great hope for the future though he does add a bit of zip
I'm amazed that Oghre and Langdon haven't seen any game time off the bench this past 12 months

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:12 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:04 pm LCD continues to worry me, his lineout work has always been shonky, whoever he's been throwing in to, and he's not the dynamo he was before all the injuries, which was his main selling point.

Jamie George has been absolutely magnificent for England down the years, but time's catching up with him as well.

Martin has been a bit meh this 6N.

A couple of the LCD lineout misses last match were lifting errors, though agree the injuries look to be catching up with him.
Thought George was excellent for the 20 minutes he was on against FRance
Dan doesn't exactly fill me with great hope for the future though he does add a bit of zip
I'm amazed that Oghre and Langdon haven't seen any game time off the bench this past 12 months

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:24 pm

Lobby wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:03 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 3:44 pm

Hard to argue with.

Tbh now Borthwick has established that a 9 can play 80 minutes, we may as well gamble with one scrum half in the squad and give ourselves another outside back option

Borthwick will probably try that against Italy. Mitchell will get injured in the first 5 minutes and we'll end up with Earl filling in at 9 for most of the game, which I expect will go just about as well as when Italy played Mauro Bergamasco at 9.

This is Borthwick remember. He'd bring on Steward to play scrumhalf and move Earl to fullback.

Ovals wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 6:01 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:12 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:04 pm LCD continues to worry me, his lineout work has always been shonky, whoever he's been throwing in to, and he's not the dynamo he was before all the injuries, which was his main selling point.

Jamie George has been absolutely magnificent for England down the years, but time's catching up with him as well.

Martin has been a bit meh this 6N.

A couple of the LCD lineout misses last match were lifting errors, though agree the injuries look to be catching up with him.
Thought George was excellent for the 20 minutes he was on against FRance
Dan doesn't exactly fill me with great hope for the future though he does add a bit of zip
I'm amazed that Oghre and Langdon haven't seen any game time off the bench this past 12 months

Maybe Chessum is a better lineout option than Martin and should help improve the Lineout when LCD is throwing.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 3:44 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 3:27 pm So the only change for England is Chessum to start and Martin to the bench.
I have no idea why Randall continues to be selected, I guess it must just be a pacee thing.
Starting XV: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis.
Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Martin, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Randall, Daly.

Hard to argue with.

Tbh now Borthwick has established that a 9 can play 80 minutes, we may as well gamble with one scrum half in the squad and give ourselves another outside back option

geordie_6 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 6:24 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:24 pm

Lobby wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:03 pm

Borthwick will probably try that against Italy. Mitchell will get injured in the first 5 minutes and we'll end up with Earl filling in at 9 for most of the game, which I expect will go just about as well as when Italy played Mauro Bergamasco at 9.

This is Borthwick remember. He'd bring on Steward to play scrumhalf and move Earl to fullback.

And probably encourage to Steward to snipe where possible.