The Official English Rugby Thread

[SaintK]

Bristol Quins off due to Quins having to isolate too many front row players after 1 positive covid test.

So is that 4 points to Bristol and 2 to Quin?
Saints have also had a positive test but have enough negative tested players to put out a matchday squad against L Irish

[JM2K6]

Agreed. Although with the virus as it currently stands, I find it baffling that we're still playing right now.

I guess with all the testing they're doing the clubs would rather risk missing a couple of fixtures each week, but still have the money coming.

Oh I'm sure the clubs will want to keep going, but it shouldn't be their decision. It's safer to stop the league while this virus is spreading so rapidly.

[JM2K6]

Bristol Quins off due to Quins having to isolate too many front row players after 1 positive covid test.

So is that 4 points to Bristol and 2 to Quin?
Saints have also had a positive test but have enough negative tested players to put out a matchday squad against L Irish

Worcs, not Bristol. We've basically had to cough up a decent chance of a win because one of our props coughed up.

Still our record away to Worcs isn't great...

[Raggs]

I don't think we can retroactively change results thanks to Covid (but it's worth a try)

Worcs - Quins must be in doubt though ;)

Lol, yeah, that's more likely :D.

Having seen legitimate concerns that the league relegation may end up being decided by covid, I'm backing the idea that we cancel relegation this season, just doesn't seem fair...

Ringfence for one season, increase the league size, or relegate two sides the next season again?

RIngfence for just this season. I mean it's a shame Ealing won't be able to get promoted, but oh well...

[sockwithaticket]

Agreed. Although with the virus as it currently stands, I find it baffling that we're still playing right now.

I guess with all the testing they're doing the clubs would rather risk missing a couple of fixtures each week, but still have the money coming.

Oh I'm sure the clubs will want to keep going, but it shouldn't be their decision. It's safer to stop the league while this virus is spreading so rapidly.

I think giving us sport to watch is part of the plan help keep people in their homes, especially over this festive period.

[JM2K6]

I guess with all the testing they're doing the clubs would rather risk missing a couple of fixtures each week, but still have the money coming.

Oh I'm sure the clubs will want to keep going, but it shouldn't be their decision. It's safer to stop the league while this virus is spreading so rapidly.

I think giving us sport to watch is part of the plan help keep people in their homes, especially over this festive period.

Has it worked so far?

(No-one really watches club rugby in this country anyway)

[SaintK]

Bristol Quins off due to Quins having to isolate too many front row players after 1 positive covid test.

So is that 4 points to Bristol and 2 to Quin?
Saints have also had a positive test but have enough negative tested players to put out a matchday squad against L Irish

Worcs, not Bristol. We've basically had to cough up a decent chance of a win because one of our props coughed up.

Still our record away to Worcs isn't great...

Ah thanks, Raggs must have been confused!!!
That'll take Warriors off the bottom of the table, though it's already a bit crowded down there

[sockwithaticket]

Oh I'm sure the clubs will want to keep going, but it shouldn't be their decision. It's safer to stop the league while this virus is spreading so rapidly.

I think giving us sport to watch is part of the plan help keep people in their homes, especially over this festive period.

Has it worked so far?

(No-one really watches club rugby in this country anyway)

I'm not left with the impression that the government's all that interested in effective measures... That said, it's never gonna stop everyone going out, but

I did say sport rather than rugby for a reason, primarily they're leaving football be for the masses and rugby's allowed to ride those coat tails and keep going too.

[Kawazaki]

I'm assuming that pro sports squads are paying for the vaccine jab - it's only about £10 per person so you could immunise the whole Premier League for about £20000 which most third reserve goalkeepers wouldn't get out of bed for per week. Probably about half that figure to immunise the Premiership.

[Saint]

I'm assuming that pro sports squads are paying for the vaccine jab - it's only about £10 per person so you could immunise the whole Premier League for about £20000 which most third reserve goalkeepers wouldn't get out of bed for per week. Probably about half that figure to immunise the Premiership.

It's not available in the UK outside of the NHS

[Hal Jordan]

Bristol Quins off due to Quins having to isolate too many front row players after 1 positive covid test.

I don't think we can retroactively change results thanks to Covid (but it's worth a try)

Worcs - Quins must be in doubt though ;)

It’s off. The two points will be welcome.

[Margin__Walker]

LI v Saints off.

LI look like being the at 'fault' party, so Saints should get the 4 points.

London a crap location for a rugby club at the moment.

[Kawazaki]

I'm assuming that pro sports squads are paying for the vaccine jab - it's only about £10 per person so you could immunise the whole Premier League for about £20000 which most third reserve goalkeepers wouldn't get out of bed for per week. Probably about half that figure to immunise the Premiership.

It's not available in the UK outside of the NHS

Seems a bit stupid not to allow people that have been given a dispensation to travel around the country and play sport the vaccine. You can buy it in the UAE for about £10.

[Saint]

I'm assuming that pro sports squads are paying for the vaccine jab - it's only about £10 per person so you could immunise the whole Premier League for about £20000 which most third reserve goalkeepers wouldn't get out of bed for per week. Probably about half that figure to immunise the Premiership.

It's not available in the UK outside of the NHS

Seems a bit stupid not to allow people that have been given a dispensation to travel around the country and play sport the vaccine. You can buy it in the UAE for about £10.

Well, you can't do it here

[Sinkers]

Now I don’t want to be a killjoy, but??

https://www.facebook.com/27247141280677 ... 30604/?d=n

[SaintK]

Now I don’t want to be a killjoy, but??

https://www.facebook.com/27247141280677 ... 30604/?d=n

Very odd! You'd have thought Rob Baxter would be in line or even club captain Jack Yeandle.

[Oxbow]

Rob Baxter got an OBE according to BBC Sport.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/55475887

[SaintK]

Rob Baxter got an OBE according to BBC Sport.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/55475887

Good
Thanks

[JM2K6]

Now I don’t want to be a killjoy, but??

https://www.facebook.com/27247141280677 ... 30604/?d=n

What the fuuuuuuuck

[Margin__Walker]

That is a bit odd. Is it for community work in addition to performance on the pitch? If not, how do they choose one player, other than the tried and trusted, if in doubt give MOM to the ten approach?

[JM2K6]

Maybe he's an outreach worker trying to teach the poor, ignorant people of Exeter rugby club about viruses and proper sanitation? Massive job but I don't think the results are worthy of an award just yet

[Raggs]

He was captain for the season. Did captains from Sarries get them for the doubles? It's not like he's been there for the whole journey or anything.

[JM2K6]

I don't think Brad Barritt got anything, no.

To put it in comparison...

[Woddy]

Now I don’t want to be a killjoy, but??

https://www.facebook.com/27247141280677 ... 30604/?d=n

Very odd! You'd have thought Rob Baxter would be in line or even club captain Jack Yeandle.

I'm not on Facebook. What's the news?

[SaintK]

Now I don’t want to be a killjoy, but??

https://www.facebook.com/27247141280677 ... 30604/?d=n

Very odd! You'd have thought Rob Baxter would be in line or even club captain Jack Yeandle.

I'm not on Facebook. What's the news?

Click on the link and you should see it anyway
Joe Simmonds Chiefs fly half and captain in their two final wins awarded an MBE
Baxter was awarded an OBE

[Lobby]

I don't think Brad Barritt got anything, no.

To put it in comparison...

Full list of rugby awards are

OBEs
Rob Baxter (director of rugby at Exeter Chiefs), for services to rugby union.
Dee Bradbury (Scottish Rugby Union president), for services to rugby union.
Matt Hampson (former rugby union player and founder of Matt Hampson Foundation), for voluntary and charitable service.

MBEs
Kevin Aitchison (chair of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby), for services to wheelchair rugby and to people with disabilities.
Damian Hopley (chief executive of the Rugby Players Association), for services to rugby union.
Joe Simmonds (captain of Exeter Chiefs), for services to rugby union.

Joe Simmonds award does seem an outlier in comparison to the others, and to previous years.

[Niegs]

What a joke! Wasn't Yeandle the captain for the first one? Even then, for World Cup winners or long time skippers of a high performing club, sure. For a couple of years?

Which PR stalwart should we put up for it next year?

[Raggs]

What a joke! Wasn't Yeandle the captain for the first one? Even then, for World Cup winners or long time skippers of a high performing club, sure. For a couple of years?

Which PR stalwart should we put up for it next year?

Surely someone like Steenson deserves it more. If it's just for winning, then there should be dozens of them about. If it's for the chiefs journey, then he still shouldn't have got it. My guess is it was just given by someone who hasn't a clue about rugby.

[Margin__Walker]

I guess the one saving grace is imagining the merciless shit he's had to take for it in training today.

[stemoc]

Bristol 15 and 23, this will be the game of the week

[sockwithaticket]

Teams for tomorrow's game at the Ricoh.





Wasps about as close to full strength as they can get right now, probably won't be enough. Umaga needs a big game after Atkinson's recent outings and his last couple before injury being underwhelming. He's got his safety blanket back in Robson, though. Launchbury and Rowlands as a second row combo is always welcome, going to miss it when the latter leaves and crosses the Severn at the end of the season (fuck you Wales, stop rooting around for English lads' Welsh grannies). However that seems to have pushed Gaskell into the back row and Young to the bench which... well, it's not a choice I'd have made.

Chiefs pack don't look that first choice, so maybe we've got a shot? Would back them to take a narrow win, though.

[Raggs]

Rowlands dad is Welsh, and whilst it's no guaranteed, it would be typical that the dad is normally the one who drives rugby in the family.

[sockwithaticket]

Rowlands dad is Welsh, and whilst it's no guaranteed, it would be typical that the dad is normally the one who drives rugby in the family.

Shhh, I'm trying to have an ill-informed rant!

[stemoc]

Bristol game moved to BT2

[Paddington Bear]

Blimey. Thought for a second Newcastle would score from the kick off for a second

[sockwithaticket]

Ridley took a long time to blow that turnover. I thought they were supposed to be speeding up on that.

[Paddington Bear]

How was that not a penalty try? Weak

[Raggs]

How was that not a penalty try? Weak

Because Newcastle lost control at the back of the scrum?

[Paddington Bear]

How was that not a penalty try? Weak

Because Newcastle lost control at the back of the scrum?

Previous one

[Raggs]

How was that not a penalty try? Weak

Because Newcastle lost control at the back of the scrum?

Previous one

They lost control at the back of that one too. If they'd have kept dribbling it along it just would have been a try. Seeing as they lost control, I don't see how it can be a penalty try, since it's obvious that a try wasn't going to be scored.