The Rugby Thread

[PeteC]

Reminder: European Champions Cup final on today, 1645 hours UK time. Racing 92 vs Saracens

[pharvey]

Reminder: European Champions Cup final on today, 1645 hours UK time. Racing 92 vs Saracens

Yes, I shall certainly be settling in for that one - and as the LHG is away in China visiting family, I shan't be disturbed either!!

Currently watching the Paris 7's which has been pretty decent...

Now this is one of the stranger stories to come out of rugby.....

Sam Broster: Rugby Player Blames Eating Biltong for Positive Drugs Test

"Rugby union player Sam Broster has been suspended from all sport for two years by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).

Broster tested positive for the anabolic agent clenbuterol following a test at Macclesfield in July 2014.

The player had blamed eating Biltong for the positive test, but the Rugby Football Union found no basis for reducing the sanction.

The ban, which has been in place since August 2014, will continue through to 15 August, 2016.

UKAD's director of operations, Pat Myhill, said athletes "are responsible for how and why a prohibited substance is found in their system."

Myhill said in a statement: "Meat is an area of particular risk with clenbuterol as a contaminant, having caused adverse analytical findings in the past."

"However, proving meat contamination is not straightforward, not least because the meat that has been contaminated will, in most cases, have been eaten.

"Finding evidence to support this defence can therefore be difficult.""

[pharvey]

Heartbreaking for Kenya against "The Blackness"......

Wales a complete embarrassment ..... Why we don't push more in the 7's God only knows - Great benefit towards ball handling skills, off-loading etc. for the 15 aside game. The likes of NZ do this to perfection.

Now for Fiji vs Samoa - could be brutal.

[arcadianagain]

Reminder: European Champions Cup final on today, 1645 hours UK time. Racing 92 vs Saracens

A bit of a dour match because of the conditions, Sarries stuck to their game plan and came away with a good result.

[PeteC]

Yes, congratulations to the Saracens. In one season it seems Carter has become the motivator for Racing 92, and without him they don't do too well. Sad to see him go out and if he hadn't, things may have gotten more exciting. Pete

[arcadianagain]

Just caught the end of Wales v Portugual, I`m sure Pharvey will have a comment later.

[pharvey]

Just caught the end of Wales v Portugual, I`m sure Pharvey will have a comment later.

Wales have been dire.. no, embarrassing in the last couple of 7's Series Why oh why we don't take it seriously I don't know - as I've said before, 7's is a great game to improve ball handling and off-loading skills IMHO.

We seem to be concentrating solely on the 15 a side game at both senior and junior levels. I'm hoping with recent changes in the WRU, things will expand.

The likes of Scotland and the USA however have improved superbly in recent years.....

[PeteC]

Setanta has been doing a hard sell on 7's, probably because of the Olympics coming up. IMO they need to do a hard sell as to me, and god knows I've tried and I'm sure many others have as well, it's not that enjoyable to watch. Sure, there's a display of great athletic skills from time to time but little meat on the bone as compared to Union or even League. It just doesn't hold interest for many. Having said that, to those into it and playing it. Pete

[pharvey]

I see your point Pete, but you can have some great games when the top sides play each other. Some of the NZ/Fiji/Samoa games of old have been bl**dy physical - brutal at times. I'll have to see if I can find the one match - it was NZ vs Samoa in the Hong Kong 7's final some years back.

On the other side of the coin, when you have some real speedsters, the game can be won purely on that. The USA have one guy - can't think of his name, but he really is lethal with his speed. Not taking anything away from them, but when simply based on speed it does get somewhat tedious.....

[pharvey]

Coming up tomorrow are the Semi-Finals of the Aviva Premiership with Exeter Chiefs taking on London Wasps and Saracens playing host to Leicester Tigers.... Should be some good rugby!

The ridiculous thing, is that (IMHO) a purely money grabbing match between God's Own and Beezibub's XV has been organised for a week Sunday..... The day after the Premiership Final!! Not only are several internationals going to be involved in the final, it will also effect gates I believe.....

Many of the players have been involved in long hard seasons and could do without this prior to tours of the Southern Hemisphere coming up...... Love the game, but there's always that match too far - it happened to Wales prior to the RWC when we lost 3 or 4 players in an absolutely pointless match.

Anywho..... here's to a great weekend of rugby!

[pharvey]

Missed one, but watched the other......

Won't say the result as I'm sure you guys will get a replay, but Exeter vs Wasps was a cracker despite dire weather....

[arcadianagain]

As a Devonian I am surprised but happy to see Exeter`s rapid rise to the top flight of English rugby, I suppose like most pro sports these days, money talks.

[pharvey]

As a Devonian I am surprised but happy to see Exeter`s rapid rise to the top flight of English rugby,

Indeed - fair play to them, they really have done consistently well since winning promotion to the premiership 5 or 6 years ago.

I suppose like most pro sports these days, money talks.

True to an extent, but all clubs have the same salary cap. Exeter have a superb Head Coach in Rob Baxter and really have made some very clever signings in recent years.

I remember in the late '90's when Newcastle won the tile - that team really was the epitome of "buying" the title. John Hall sunk millions into the club luring players of the likes of Johnny Wilkinson, Tuigamala, Underwood and Tait. Not too many seasons after the money disappeared, so did the club - into the Championship.

[PeteC]

Finally saw the Exeter/Wasps, but only the second half.. Very good game. Exeter only brought Thomas the Tank on at 60 minutes and he had only one good carry for about 10 meters from what I saw. In the last minute or so someone on Exeter lost his shorts and mooned the world for at least 30 seconds.

The final should be great. How can you not cheer for Exeter? (If you're a Saracens fan stupid!) I would guess Nigel Owens will be in charge? Pete

[PeteC]

The final is on Setanta 669 at 0200 hours this coming Sunday morning, May 29. Pete