Here be rugby
Rejoice, northern hemisphere rugby fans! For there is actually some rugby on the telly tonight, in the form of a pre-season ‘friendly’ between Ulster and Exeter. Scarlets v Bristol and Leinster v Harlequins are also tonight, but on some dodgy channels I’ve never heard of. On Saturday and Sunday, there are Rugby Championship and Top14 … Continue reading The Return of Rugby
It’s Christmas in July as the Northern behemoths head south to upside-down-world and a feast of rugby! With this being the last July tour before the World Cup next year in France, there are markers to be put down, there are points to be made and there are matches to be won! Not the usual … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season to be Jolly!
The Baa Baas always conjure up romantic auld rugby images, with fly-halves ghosting defenders, props looping passes to wingers and penalty kicks declined to keep the ball in play for the benefit of a raucous crowd. To be honest though, half the time nowadays they are games where an opposition coach will try out his … Continue reading Barbarians at the Gates
It’s the play-offs for both the URC and the English Premiership. As Ulster v Munster kicks off shortly, I shan’t waste any more time. Onna telly this week Friday 3rd June Ulster v Munster 19:35 TG4 / Premier Sports 2 Saturday 4th June Bulls v Sharks 12:45 Premier Sports 2 Gloucester v Saracens 15:00 BT … Continue reading Now It Gets Real
Two matches. Two Cups. Two minutes to create a new post. Tonight 20:00 on BT Sport 1: Lyon v Toulon for the Little Cup. Tomorrow 16:45 on Channel Four or BT Sport 2, Leinster v La Rochelle for the Big Cup.
Bitter, moi? Further reading Updates on grass-roots rugby from TomPirracas and Triskaidekaphobia. Much less depressing than the Pro stuff. Onna telly this week Friday 6th May Cardiff v Zebre 19:35 BBC2 Wales /Premier Sports 1 Gloucester v Saracens 20:00 BT Sport 1 Saturday 7th May Edinburgh v Wasps 12:30 BT Sport 2 Munster v Toulouse … Continue reading European Rugby Cup: Round Who-Cares
‘Tis a cruel, cruel championship that makes you play the same very, very good side two weeks in a row. Ulster somehow managed to pull off an away win against Toulouse, but nearly threw it away at the end. What was so scary about the champions? Their seven-foot (or nearly) line-out stealer Their incredible counter-rucking … Continue reading European Rugby Cup: Round of Sixteen, Second Leg
And now, the end is near…. That sounds good. I should put it in a song. That can wait, though. The real reason you’re reading this gibberish is to find out what the results are going to be on Saturday. First up, Wales against Italy. Wales have scored 5 tries to Italy’s 4. That makes … Continue reading Six Nations 2022: The Grand Finale!
Getting to the business end now, so things are hotting up or cooling down, depending on your perspective. Three teams still in it, and away fixtures for the two favourites, so could be a good round of games. Could be. As the times demand a number of contradictory but yet plausible expert views, the blog’s … Continue reading Six Nations 2022: Round Four
What’s that you hear? A thirty-footed blue monster rumbling down the rugby world, with a ferocious grin, silky hands and a Gargantuan appetite? After a decade of mediocrity, losing limply to almost every opponent regardless of their quality, France seem back on track to be a serious contender, so let’s try to look at what … Continue reading So Where the Hell Did THAT France Come From?
