The Rugby thread. Union & League

[Doc Holliday]

Furthermore all those young ladies playing rugger nowadays they surely ought to have some sort of head protection?...

Womens rugby apparently has lower rates of concussion. Unlike men they do however have the added issue of another painful area of the body to protect.

[mr.bluesky]

I guess this is down to the less frequent heavy impacts as the womens game is probably played at a slower speed than the men's game but having seen some of the recent Women's world cup games there are some bloody big women players. I would not want to tangle with them. 

[bigden40]

Womens rugby apparently has lower rates of concussion. Unlike men they do however have the added issue of another painful area of the body to protect.

Yep, it’s understandable for all the reasons that women do not (cannot) play in men’s sport. Men's Rugby is faster, players are stronger and hit harder. We’re also a bunch of aggressive arseholes.

That said concussion is increasing in the women’s game and there’s a lot less research on this.

[chrishornx]

Ealing trail finders will probably win the championship ( sorry I refuse to call it the champ  ) they are the Manchester  city of the league - very rich owner , he owns Trailfinders holiday company - hence the name. If not them Worcester Warriors with my team Coventry Rugby in with an outside chance but if I were a betting man I'd put it on Ealing Trail finders.

pointless Ealing winning the league

[mr.bluesky]

pointless Ealing winning the league

True - unless they bring their ground up to Premiership standard they won't get promoted so the Premiership is virtually a closed shop.

[chrishornx]

It’s a bit shit but I think one of the issues, from a branding perspective, is differentiating Championship Rugby from the Rugby Championship.

then change the name completely using some imagination

[bigden40]

then change the name completely using some imagination

I agree, which is why I described as a bit shit.

[bigden40]

True - unless they bring their ground up to Premiership standard they won't get promoted so the Premiership is virtually a closed shop.

I believe Worcester are the only club in the Champ that meet Prem stadium standard.

[mr.bluesky]

I believe Worcester are the only club in the Champ that meet Prem stadium standard.

Yeah, having been a Premiership club before theirs is the only stadium likely to meet the criteria.

[catweazle]

I enjoy watching Union. I played for the school (tight head prop), so have a long standing interest in the game .

When I watch games, I get frustrated by players trying to tackle by grabbing at the opponents arms or upper body. When I first played, one lesson I was taught which still sticks in my mind, is " get the legs.... Someone can't run if you're holding his legs!".

So, a tackle, round the legs, tuck your head in behind the opponents knees and you've got protection when he goes down.

[bigden40]

I enjoy watching Union. I played for the school (tight head prop), so have a long standing interest in the game .

When I watch games, I get frustrated by players trying to tackle by grabbing at the opponents arms or upper body. When I first played, one lesson I was taught which still sticks in my mind, is " get the legs.... Someone can't run if you're holding his legs!".

So, a tackle, round the legs, tuck your head in behind the opponents knees and you've got protection when he goes down.

At the top level if you tackle too low it’s an easy offload for the ball carrier, which is nightmare for defences. Tacklers are trying to wrap up the ball as well and prevent quick recycling.

[rocket88]

At the top level if you tackle too low it’s an easy offload for the ball carrier, which is nightmare for defences. Tacklers are trying to wrap up the ball as well and prevent quick recycling.

At Rugby League games the cry often goes up from the spectators -
'man and ball'!

[mr.bluesky]

At the top level if you tackle too low it’s an easy offload for the ball carrier, which is nightmare for defences. Tacklers are trying to wrap up the ball as well and prevent quick recycling.

The problem with this is you get a lot of swinging arm tackles which make contact with the ball carriers neck or head which is probably the cause of a lot of concussion in the game.

[bigden40]

The problem with this is you get a lot of swinging arm tackles which make contact with the ball carriers neck or head which is probably the cause of a lot of concussion in the game.

Not really, there are very few of these in a game these days.  World Rugby has cracked down on contact with the head such that  even the most innocuous ones are getting carded.

I would suggest that most are caused by poor tackle technique injuring the tackler or dangerous entry to the ruck.

[scouting]

Not really, there are very few of these in a game these days.  World Rugby has cracked down on contact with the head such that  even the most innocuous ones are getting carded.

I would suggest that most are caused by poor tackle technique injuring the tackler or dangerous entry to the ruck.

I agree wrt union. Mr.bs may be referring to League about which I know little. One of the areas of contention (in union) these days is where both parties entering a ruck go extremely low but still collide head-on-head. For a while the officials had zero tolerance and the dominant player would see red, but there are signs that they seem to be taking a slightly more pragmatic approach recently.

[timsussex]

Elliot Daly was injured on the Lions tour  played on for 3 minutes  but " I knew arm was broken when it wobbled and clicked as I ran" Then he sat on the bench with some ice on it for the rest of the game
the injury needed 16 screws and a plate

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[mr.bluesky]

Elliot Daly was injured on the Lions tour tried to play on but " I knew arm was broken when it wobbled and clicked as I ran"


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Tough breed Rugby players, Warrington Wolves player Jack Hughes once ruptured his testicle in a game and carried on playing against Catalan Dragons.  It wasn't until later that he had surgery on it in France before flying back to England

[Adoniron]

Hull FC's Joe Westerman dislocated his knee in a match. He put it back into place himself and just carried on playing.
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He later achieved even greater fame after being filmed rimming a woman in an alley near Greggs in Pontefract on a night out.

[mr.bluesky]

Congratulations to Hull KR on winning the Super league grand final to add to their League leaders shield and Challenge cup titles. A new name on the grand final trophy and the fifth time a team has won the Grand slam. As a neutral I was hoping they would win. I always think it's a shame that the World club championship between the Super league champions and NRL champions doesn't take place until the start of next season as some players may have retired or moved to other clubs. It would be better to stage it at the end of the current season surely  so assuming the game goes ahead next year it will be Hull K R v Brisbane Broncos

[VladtheImpaleHer]

I love rugby union. But I'm starting to get into rugby league. Looking forward to England v Australia tomorrow. I prefer the NRL to Super League. And it's good to see that rugby league loving Papua New Guinea will have a team in the NRL from 2028. The Chiefs they will be called.

Also, great to see Chile qualify for a second consecutive rugby union world cup in 2027. Spent time there when I was younger. Lovely country! I think they'll win their first game at the world cup. I also think they have a bright future! Pablo Lemoine has done a great job. He should be nominated for coach of the year.

[mr.bluesky]

I love rugby union. But I'm starting to get into rugby league. Looking forward to England v Australia tomorrow. I prefer the NRL to Super League. And it's good to see that rugby league loving Papua New Guinea will have a team in the NRL from 2028. The Chiefs they will be called.

Also, great to see Chile qualify for a second consecutive rugby union world cup in 2027. Spent time there when I was younger. Lovely country! I think they'll win their first game at the world cup. I also think they have a bright future! Pablo Lemoine has done a great job. He should be nominated for coach of the year.

Should be a cracking game tomorrow in the first Rugby League ashes test between England and Australia. The game will be shown live on BBC 1 tomorrow from 2pm. I think it will be a close series but I think Australia will just edge it 2-1.
I have been watching the Rugby Union Rugby Championship . Argentina have really come on strong in recent years which is good to see.
I enjoy watching the NRL on Sky. The Aussies certainly love their Rugby league. The State of origin games between Queensland and New South Wales are something else.

[Adoniron]

Should be a cracking game tomorrow in the first Rugby League ashes test between England and Australia. The game will be shown live on BBC 1 tomorrow from 2pm. I think it will be a close series but I think Australia will just edge it 2-1.
I have been watching the Rugby Union Rugby Championship . Argentina have really come on strong in recent years which is good to see.
I enjoy watching the NRL on Sky. The Aussies certainly love their Rugby league. The State of origin games between Queensland and New South Wales are something else.

I think it will be 3-0 to the Aussies. NRL is a whole different standard to Super League. To make it worse, Shaun Wane has picked an England team based on reputation and favouritism rather than form.

[mr.bluesky]

I think it will be 3-0 to the Aussies. NRL is a whole different standard to Super League. To make it worse, Shaun Wane has picked an England team based on reputation and favouritism rather than form.

Yes, some of the players he's left out has me scratching my head. How could he not pick man of steel Jake Connor of Leeds Rhinos.

[Adoniron]

Well first Ashes test went pretty much as I expected. Massive gulf between the two teams.

[mr.bluesky]

Well first Ashes test went pretty much as I expected. Massive gulf between the two teams.

Which probably highlights the gulf between the NRL and the Super League. I fear a 3-0 whitewash to the Aussies on that performance.

[VladtheImpaleHer]

Fantastic player Reece Walsh. Watched him play in the NRL final for the Brisbane Broncos.

[chrishornx]

Which probably highlights the gulf between the NRL and the Super League. I fear a 3-0 whitewash to the Aussies on that performance.

inevitable

[yandex]

Which probably highlights the gulf between the NRL and the Super League. I fear a 3-0 whitewash to the Aussies on that performance.

Sadly you are probably right. The Aussies are just too good, from their mentality through to their physicality and playing of the game.

Reflects a more general attitude to sport and life down under.

At least I can take solace from a Yorkshire team doing the treble this year.

[hullad]

The next test has an Aussie ref 

Hewill not give England the chance to slow the PTB down like they enjoyed on Saturday, they will rip us apart this time like a cat playing with a mouse 

[mr.bluesky]

A double dose of the Aussies this weekend. In League England play Australia in the 2nd Ashes test match at Everton's new Stadium. Having lost the first test 24-6 they need to "up" their game quite considerably if the are going to avoid a test series whitewash, I'm going for a closer game this time but Australia coming out on top.
In Union England play Australia in the Autumn series at Twickenham. Australia gave the British and Irish Lions a good run for their money in the recent Lions tour but I'm going for an England win.

[mr.bluesky]

So Australia take the Rugby League Ashes 2-0. A better performance from England than the first test but just couldn't breach the Aussies defence.

[timsussex]

indeed England the better side in the first half and beginning of second but then the Aussies take a half chance and its all over

However on the union side England looking v good

so 1-1 overall

[bigden40]

Still makes me giggle that the Aussie scorer was Harry Potter.  Good try though.

[bigden40]

Scotland up 45-0 at half time against USA who have just qualified for RWC. Obviously they’ve been impacted by a couple of the Major League Rugby teams folding but the is way more one-sided than I expected.

[daviemac]

So Australia take the Rugby League Ashes 2-0. A better performance from England than the first test but just couldn't breach the Aussies defence.

I don't follow rugby but when I turned over for final score the end of match was on, how can they call it 'the ashes'? what did they burn to obtain them?   

I know in cricket they burned the bails and put the ashes in the little 'urn'.

[bigden40]

Scotland up 45-0 at half time against USA who have just qualified for RWC. Obviously they’ve been impacted by a couple of the Major League Rugby teams folding but the is way more one-sided than I expected.

85-0 in the end.  Good team performance, didn’t take their foot of the gas in second half.

And without the “exile” players too.

NZ next week.

[chrishornx]

I don't follow rugby but when I turned over for final score the end of match was on, how can they call it 'the ashes'? what did they burn to obtain them?   

I know in cricket they burned the bails and put the ashes in the little 'urn'.

nothing was burnt

over a century ago someone suggested the name and it just seemed to continue being used

[VladtheImpaleHer]

85-0 in the end.  Good team performance, didn’t take their foot of the gas in second half.

And without the “exile” players too.

NZ next week.

While I'm glad the 2027 Rugby World Cup will have 24 teams in it. I feel there might be some cricket scores in them. Hong Kong got beaten by a Japanese second team 14-59.

[Malvolio]

On the topic of the RWC, can someone explain why the seedings are determined nearly two years before the competition starts?

I get that the world rankings are used for the seedings, but why not use the world rankings six months before the world cup starts?

[mr.bluesky]

On the topic of the RWC, can someone explain why the seedings are determined nearly two years before the competition starts?

I get that the world rankings are used for the seedings, but why not use the world rankings six months before the world cup starts?

It does seem a bit ridiculous especially as there will be two six nations championships and two Rugby Championships played before the RWC and a couple of Autumn test matches too. I guess they think the top 3 southern hemisphere nations of New Zealand , South Africa and Australia will not alter much in the rankings same as the top three Northern hemisphere nations of France , Ireland and probably England or Scotland will be the same.

[chrishornx]

It does seem a bit ridiculous especially as there will be two six nations championships and two Rugby Championships played before the RWC and a couple of Autumn test matches too. I guess they think the top 3 southern hemisphere nations of New Zealand , South Africa and Australia will not alter much in the rankings same as the top three Northern hemisphere nations of France , Ireland and probably England or Scotland will be the same.

you partly answer the issue yourself.

you state two 6 nations and 2RC's to go - (actually wrong - see below)

if you accept for a start that the last rounds are too near the World Cup as the rankings are also used to seed junior nations and determine who may automatically  qualify and who has to face playoffs. That leave just on around left

rankings/seedings for the Fiji, Georgia and USA of this world are determined differently as they don't have the tournaments like the 6 nations and to a large extent the Autumn internationals when many like Fiji play the bigger nations and that helps determine the rankings. After this Autumn there is only one more round of Autumn internationals next year and that is far too close to the world cup for play off etc to be organised globally (remember qualifiers have to play din specified windows of international rugby to allow for player release from clubs) so this November realistically becomes the cut off round of games

the rankings are always a bit misleading anyway - which one of the 2 big tournaments do you use as a cut off date? England could win all five of their 6 nations matches in '26 and move well up the world rankings whilst NZ and SA are totally inactive and don't even touch a rugby ball - that isn't really painting a true picture. Equally in the Rugby championship SA may play NZ twice at home, win them both and jump ahead of NZ courtesy of home advantage so that doesn't paint a fair picture and the info below could distort the rankings even more ....

if you were to check the latest facts the 2026 Rugby championship is NOT being played at all so that distorts rankings further. New Zealand are playing 4 tests away in South Africa in August and September so getting real ranking stats from that will be awkward. At the same time Australia and Argentina do not play each other 4 times to balance matters and Argentina don't play NZ or SA


I totally agree that the system is flawed and illogical  but to find abetter cut off a date nearer the world cup is very difficult to establish as time is so restricted for player release and dates available to pay all qualifiers. If they used the end of the 6 nations as a cut off date England feasibly could win another r7 games before then and jump further up the rankings than might be the case after a 2026 rugby championship , if it existed

the Lions tour also throws a curve balls as all the summer the home nations tour with reduce strength teams that may have led to unfair results and an adverse effect on their rankings

so many factors to consider, perhaps someone could come up with  a better option.on here .....


In contrast qualification for the soccer world cup 2026 started officially in September 2023! Nobody is complaining about that

[mr.bluesky]

you partly answer the issue yourself.

you state two 6 nations and 2RC's to go - (actually wrong - see below)

if you accept for a start that the last rounds are too near the World Cup as the rankings are also used to seed junior nations and determine who may automatically  qualify and who has to face playoffs. That leave just on around left

rankings/seedings for the Fiji, Georgia and USA of this world are determined differently as they don't have the tournaments like the 6 nations and to a large extent the Autumn internationals when many like Fiji play the bigger nations and that helps determine the rankings. After this Autumn there is only one more round of Autumn internationals next year and that is far too close to the world cup for play off etc to be organised globally (remember qualifiers have to play din specified windows of international rugby to allow for player release from clubs) so this November realistically becomes the cut off round of games

the rankings are always a bit misleading anyway - which one of the 2 big tournaments do you use as a cut off date? England could win all five of their 6 nations matches in '26 and move well up the world rankings whilst NZ and SA are totally inactive and don't even touch a rugby ball - that isn't really painting a true picture. Equally in the Rugby championship SA may play NZ twice at home, win them both and jump ahead of NZ courtesy of home advantage so that doesn't paint a fair picture and the info below could distort the rankings even more ....

if you were to check the latest facts the 2026 Rugby championship is NOT being played at all so that distorts rankings further. New Zealand are playing 4 tests away in South Africa in August and September so getting real ranking stats from that will be awkward. At the same time Australia and Argentina do not play each other 4 times to balance matters and Argentina don't play NZ or SA


I totally agree that the system is flawed and illogical  but to find abetter cut off a date nearer the world cup is very difficult to establish as time is so restricted for player release and dates available to pay all qualifiers. If they used the end of the 6 nations as a cut off date England feasibly could win another r7 games before then and jump further up the rankings than might be the case after a 2026 rugby championship , if it existed

the Lions tour also throws a curve balls as all the summer the home nations tour with reduce strength teams that may have led to unfair results and an adverse effect on their rankings

so many factors to consider, perhaps someone could come up with  a better option.on here .....


In contrast qualification for the soccer world cup 2026 started officially in September 2023! Nobody is complaining about that

Good points, the football World cup has been extended from 32 teams to 48 so more qualification matches needed. Not forgetting there will be three host nations who are directly seeded to the tournament, Canada, USA and Mexico

[bigden40]

What a surprise, All Blacks avoiding scrutiny from the ref today.

Scrum pens, off feet, no arms tackles, high tackles all ignored. 

[mr.bluesky]

So England loose to Australia again in the Rugby league ashes going 3-0 down in the series. This isnt even an Australian team at their vintage best but they still have far too much for a poor England team. With a World cup coming up next year its hard to see England challenging for the trophy.

[chrishornx]

So England loose to Australia again in the Rugby league ashes going 3-0 down in the series. This isnt even an Australian team at their vintage best but they still have far too much for a poor England team. With a World cup coming up next year its hard to see England challenging for the trophy.

nice to see their Union team beaten by Italy

[mr.bluesky]

nice to see their Union team beaten by Italy

Long gone are the days when Italy used to be the whipping boys of international Rugby Union.

[Adoniron]

So England loose to Australia again in the Rugby league ashes going 3-0 down in the series. This isnt even an Australian team at their vintage best but they still have far too much for a poor England team. With a World cup coming up next year its hard to see England challenging for the trophy.

England need a new coach. Now.

[mr.bluesky]

England need a new coach. Now.

Sam Burgess name has been mentioned but not likely to get it due to past off field misdemeanours
Had a good first season as Warrington coach but not so this season

[ulstersubbie]

What a surprise, All Blacks avoiding scrutiny from the ref today.

Scrum pens, off feet, no arms tackles, high tackles all ignored. 

We still couldn't beat them, at times they were down to fourteen men but as per usual as Scots we totally f*"k up and it's the same old story again and again. Still, Greece and Denmark up next in the football and we still have a chance of winning the group.

[Adoniron]

Sam Burgess name has been mentioned but not likely to get it due to past off field misdemeanours
Had a good first season as Warrington coach but not so this season

As a coach, Burgess has won nothing and is lucky to still be in a job at Warrington.

To be honest I can't think of a British coach who is up to the job. Do we need to look at an Aussie again?