The Rugby Thread

[PeteC]

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has announced his retirement after a glittering career.

The 34-year-old flanker played a world record 148 Tests and led the All Blacks to two World Cup final victories, including last month's win over Australia.

McCaw is also a three-time winner of the World Player of the Year award.

The news, expected for some time, comes 24 hours after the death of iconic All Black winger Jonah Lomu. From the BBC

[pharvey]

Superb player and captain - incredible career.

[pharvey]

It's not April 1st is it....?

The Ospreys have unveiled their unorthodox 'Batjersey' which they intend to wear in next week's Welsh derby against Cardiff Blues.
The Swansea-based outfit take on Danny Wilson's side at 3pm (GMT) at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, November 28, and as inspiration they have looked to the superhero world.
The unusual shirt has been launched via a collaboration with kit manufacturer BLK and DC Comics, and features the famous Batman logo across the chest and Batsuit body armour detail all over.

The BLK/DC partnership was launched earlier this year as Australian Super Rugby teams Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds wore Superman and The Flash kits, respectively.
Ospreys will first wear the tops against the Blues before being used throughout the Christmas period, and the jerseys are to be donated to charitable organisations and community groups.

They will then to be auctioned-off for fund-raising purposes, with thousands expected to be raised for good causes; a limited number of Batjerseys will be available to buy from the team's club shop, with stock available in store on November 27, dubbed 'Bat Friday.'

Capture.PNG (179.06 KiB) Viewed 678 times

[PeteC]

I'll be interested to see who Japan recruits. They're on the cusp of being a force by the time the 2019 RWC rolls around, and I would like to see that happen. Pete

Eddie Jones: England to confirm Australian as head coach

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/34864504

[pharvey]

^ No doubt a proven and talented coach, and no doubt chasing the money. I don't have much respect for those who've signed long term contracts with sides who have bent over backwards (as the Stormers have) to secure their services, only for them to renege on the contract when a larger offer comes in. Shame on you Eddie Jones .......... you really have sold your soul to the devil...

Will be interesting to see what Beelzibub is shelling out on this deal.

[pharvey]

^^That still doesn't make sense to me. So 3-4 minutes 'in the red' before the final stoppage in play is not 'playing time'? Or am I misinterpreting what's written?

Going back to this one, the RFU confirms that Stoppage Time is still Time in Play, so counts in the Sin-Binning time (10 minutes). Therefore, if say a player was Yellow Carded on 38 minutes, and there was 4 minutes Stoppage Time, the player would remain in the Bin for four minutes of the second half.

[PeteC]

^ I'm totally lost on this one

"Stoppage Time is still Time in Play, so counts in the Sin-Binning time"

That says to me if card at 38 he would only have 2 minutes in the second half?

Maybe best if I just go hide and not worry about it. Pete

[pharvey]

^ I'm totally lost on this one

"Stoppage Time is still Time in Play, so counts in the Sin-Binning time"

That says to me if card at 38 he would only have 2 minutes in the second half?

Maybe best if I just go hide and not worry about it. Pete

Just terminology...

Basically, 10 minutes in the "Sin Bin" (i.e. Yellow Card) - 10 minutes Play Time regardless.

[PeteC]

Can Welsh and Scottish players play for England, or are they considered "foreign" under the rules, given that they have their own national teams? Are there any playing for England? Pete

[arcadianagain]

Can Welsh and Scottish players play for England, or are they considered "foreign" under the rules, given that they have their own national teams? Are there any playing for England? Pete

I can`t think of any Pete, perhaps someone else can confirm how far back into the family tree you can go before being eligible to play for a country you were not born in.
As a sidenote Pete I welcome your interest in a sport which is not mainstream in the USA so can I suggest you take interest in cricket? If you thought rugby laws were complicated you ain`t seen nothing until you delve into cricket!

[PeteC]

I may try concerning Cricket but I don't know..... I captained a Superbru cricket pool for some major event a few years ago and I became totally lost! Let me watch a few matches and see what happens. It's out of season now, correct? Pete

[pharvey]

Can Welsh and Scottish players play for England, or are they considered "foreign" under the rules, given that they have their own national teams? Are there any playing for England? Pete

Players can "qualify" through Parents and Grandparents nationalities. There is also a qualification under "residency" which as it stands is utterly ridiculous in my book. If a foreign player is playing rugby and based in the country for 3 years or more, he can qualify to play for that country. Many countries (including God's Own ) have taken advantage of this ruling.

When it comes to the likes of Falateau who was born in Tonga, but brought up in Wales since he was knee high to a grasshopper, I believe that to be OK - BUT 3 years is way,way too short.

I also think it wrong when you have played at "adult level" say Under 20/21, for a national side, then that is your chosen side - you cannot pick and choose, swap and change.... Many in Wales believe Gareth Anscombe's selection for Wales ahead of others to be wrong. He was born in New Zealand, played for New Zealand Under 20's, was top points scorer (NZ) in the IRB Junior Championships...... yet he was fast tracked into the Welsh set-up (even signing a dual contract) as he qualifies through his Cardiff born mother.

I shan't go into Beelzibub's XV!!

The whole thing needs to looked at very closely and overhauled IMHO.

[dtaai-maai]

Many in Wales believe Gareth Anscombe's selection for Wales ahead of others to be wrong.

I disagree. Anyone named Gareth should be automatically qualified to play for Wales.
(Come to that, anyone named Peter Harvey should be automatically qualified to play for England! )

[pharvey]

(Come to that, anyone named Peter Harvey should be automatically qualified to play for England! )

Oh, that's just wrong DM, plain wrong - I have enough difficulty sleeping at night as it is!!

[PeteC]

I never would have guessed this.

"He scored the most points at Rugby World Cup 2015 with 97. Clever in attack, solid with the boot, makes the back line tick. It's Argentina talisman Nicolas Sanchez." Pete