Really dont like these comments from the Rugby Australia chairman about potential of USA hosting next world cup.
Theyre the only two countries still in running right now and decision is next May.
“The one thing I’d say is that in the US, rugby is a relatively immature sport. Objectively, they’ve got to build a team up.
“You saw the score for the US team against the All Blacks – I think they need time to invest in their team and build their stocks up."
Rugby is growing in US and a world cup could boost playing numbers hugely. They werent competitive against New Zealand but hosting a world cup could boost the sport and help them close the gap which a 3rd world cup on Australian soil wont do
Happy days!!!
All Black and Highlanders loosehead prop, Ethan de Groot has signed a new contract that will keep him in the deep south.
de Groot, currently with the All Blacks on their Northern tour, had a breakout season for the Highlanders in 2021. The former Southland Boys High School player debuted for Southland in 2018 as a 20-year-old. After being picked up by the Highlanders in the 2020 squad he went on to debut in July against the Chiefs and less than 12 months later debuted for the All Blacks against Fiji.
It doesn't appear so - In one of the other articles on the subject he specifically mentions the issues around the domestic abuse and explicitly says that he was not making excuses for his behaviour (even though to be fair it may have been a significant contributing factor).
I he using it as an excuse for the domestic abuse?
Scary stuff
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/59142623
https://twitter.com/RugbyKino/status/1455626071068614659?s=20
in the next edition of "what could have been"...
where would Australian Rugby be if they had have taken twiggys offer back in 2017.
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/aru-call-to-reject-twiggys-50m-offer-will-hurt-grassroots-rugby-20170824-gy2v7k.html
See the Blues announced it this morning.
He's only 56 so still some miles in the tank.
He's finished that at the end of the year
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12398171/joe-schmidt-former-ireland-head-coach-to-leave-world-rugby-role
I thought he had a role with world rugby at the moment?
Joe Schmidt dipping his toe back into coaching with a part time gig with the Blues. Wonder if we'll see him getting back to it full time in the next few years.
If you were asked to name the one player in the kiwi team who went on to play for Wales....
Him and the loose head prop are the only 2 names i don't recognise. All the others went on to play test rugby. Hell of a team.
Davy Tweed is dead.
Thats the best I can say for him.
the kiwis must have been short players that day cos a welsh bystander had to come in a play in the 13 jersey for them ;)
The scoreline is impressive, but for me what's even more eye catching is New Zealands squad. So many of their u20's made a successful transition to senior pro rugby and then the test side. There's more than a dozen from that side who went on to win senior caps for the All Blacks. Must be the most successful U20 side ever?
some good news
HIGHLANDERS SECURE NEW LICENCE
The Highlanders ownership group have secured a licence in perpetuity from New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to operate the Highlanders Club in the wider Otago and Southland region.
The current licence to operate expired this year and the process of renewal has been ongoing between NZR and the Highlanders ownership group.
Obtaining the new licence is positive news for the southernmost Super Rugby Club locking in the Highlanders presence in the region and any future Super Rugby competitions
He had great things ahead of him, such a shame, RIP.
Very sad news coming in about the passing of Sean wainui in New Zealand.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/oct/18/sean-wainui-new-zealand-rugby-mourns-death-of-super-rugby-star
Beirne's route is analogous though. I could see younger players, the likes of those who don't graduate into the senior teams from academies, trying their hand with one of the SA teams. The lower wages might not matter so much to guys coming out of the academies who decide to give rugby a couple of years to see how it goes. They'll be in the shop window playing against the provinces each season. I could see a couple of those teams being more competitive than the Welsh or Italian in the coming years, and Ill bet a young player would get some good coaching in SA.
Well indeed - you might get the odd fringe/completely internationally non-existent player going to play, but it won't be any more common than it is now. Which is not very.
Ian Keatley was playing for Glasgow just last season!
We might see one or two head down over time but in reality any Irish player with potential to get capped will likely be playing regularly for one of the Provinces!
I think the SA teams are going to have a tough enough time retaining their Bok eligible players.
Also, if I was a foreign player coming to SA I wouldn't want to be paid in ZAR.
I dont think so, unless SA unions find some serious dough from somewhere
I don't know? If a contract is offered in S.A, I think some players may jump at the opportunity! It certainly could be an option!
About as likely as an Irish player signing for a Welsh or Scottish team.
With the South African teams now playing in our league, what do ye all think of Irish lads signing for a Bok side? I would love to see some of out lads give it a shot.
It seems that Canada weren't allowed or able to or decided not to call up some of the European players, with former captain Tyler Ardron only hooking up with the team for the last game. In the Canooks defence they had played just two summer tests since 2019 before this series so ring rust was undoubtedly a factor for them. That said, Chile were excellent value for their win and were definitely the better team over the two games. For their sins, Los Condórs have to play the US Eagles for the final spot in the summer of 2022; watch this space.
How Canada have fallen , were a very strong team in 1990's now failed to qualify for World Cup, beaten by Chile. Good luck to Chile.
I think it looks decent. Looks like they just combined the 2018 and 2019 6N jerseys and out came that. Better than the 2019 WC one. Although I don’t know how much of that is down to the memories it evokes :D
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