I think the European competition is broken, the tv coverage of rugby in the UK, but particularly in England is a nightmare with it being split across so many channels etc. The inclusion of South African teams doesn't work IMO. Not sure how to fix it but i still don't understand how the early round works, nor how they seed teams for the R16
@Catogrande said in NH Club Rugby:
Dickson is a poor ref but that is plumbing depths that even he has not seen before. Astonishing.
I take it you've never watched him ref a Pacific island team against a NH team?
@Dodge Its quite easy to understand. Basic is to get as high as possible in your pool. Winners of pools are rank 1-4. 2nd in pools ranked 5-8, 3rd ranked 9-12, 4th ranked 13-16. Ranked is based on logpoints, point different if equal.
The English clubs look in great shape. Harlequins played some great rugby against the Stormers and specially LaR.
The Stormers would hope for a home playoffs but ended in the URC side of the draw. Their target was to get to the business end, so going forward will be a bonus. Toulon away will be a challenge. The other side of the draw is hectic.
@MiketheSnow true. For the NH competitions you need two squads. The Stormers played Quins on the Sunday and Leicester on the next saturday. No way you can play week after week your strongest match XV. This is a massive shift from Super Rugby and the SA franchises still are in a work in process. The Stormers have done great this year because they contracted their best schoolboy talent in the last 4 years.
@OomPB said in NH Club Rugby:
@Dodge Its quite easy to understand. Basic is to get as high as possible in your pool. Winners of pools are rank 1-4. 2nd in pools ranked 5-8, 3rd ranked 9-12, 4th ranked 13-16. Ranked is based on logpoints, point different if equal.
The English clubs look in great shape. Harlequins played some great rugby against the Stormers and specially LaR.
The Stormers would hope for a home playoffs but ended in the URC side of the draw. Their target was to get to the business end, so going forward will be a bonus. Toulon away will be a challenge. The other side of the draw is hectic.
I don't understand how you can have a group with 6 teams in it but you only play 4 games...
Cripes.
'I'm a scary sight' - Northampton's 23-stone, one-meal man
I LOVE the fact he goes along and coaches the local team. Sounds like a Northampton boy through and through, clearly an England prospect...
@Dodge said in NH Club Rugby:
I think the European competition is broken, the tv coverage of rugby in the UK, but particularly in England is a nightmare with it being split across so many channels etc. The inclusion of South African teams doesn't work IMO. Not sure how to fix it
Tell them to go back to playing in their own comps
@antipodean said in NH Club Rugby:
@Dodge said in NH Club Rugby:
I think the European competition is broken, the tv coverage of rugby in the UK, but particularly in England is a nightmare with it being split across so many channels etc. The inclusion of South African teams doesn't work IMO. Not sure how to fix it
Tell them to go back to playing in their own comps
that fixes the SA problem but not the structure of the whole competition, nor the coverage. IMO rugby needs to decide on one platform to watch all the competitions on (particularly in England given its the largest market outside of France) and maybe make some decisions based on visibility not simply the largest number. As it stands today, you need BBC, ITV, Amazon, Sky Sports, Premier Sports and TNT to watch your international team and your club team in every game - I hate it and lose track as a result, if I can't keep up, how the hell do you attract new eyeballs.
No question the Premiership is the main reason that the European competitions are a bit broken as the HEC worked well before we got silly.
@antipodean said in NH Club Rugby:
@Dodge said in NH Club Rugby:
I think the European competition is broken, the tv coverage of rugby in the UK, but particularly in England is a nightmare with it being split across so many channels etc. The inclusion of South African teams doesn't work IMO. Not sure how to fix it
Tell them to go back to playing in their own comps
Heard some chatter that the cheetahs might end up playing in the super competition. So there’s that.
Uni rugby match in Wales abandoned after almost 30 players brawl on pitch
By Oscar Edwards
BBC Wales
Published
34 minutes ago
A university rugby match had to be abandoned when almost all 30 players began brawling in the final minutes.
Cardiff University was beating Swansea University 28-19 at Dunvant RFC's ground when both sides began fighting on Wednesday night.
The clash was sparked by a high tackle on a Cardiff player which angered visiting players and fans, who then threw beers at the brawling teams.
League organisers British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) said they wished to express their "sincere disappointment" for the abandonment of the game and confirmed an investigation was ongoing. Both universities condoned the behaviour at the game and said they were co-operating with BUCS.
The fight took place near the touchline, as students watched from the stands.
Those in the crowd threw beer over the players as the referee tried to defuse the situation.
BUCS, the national governing body for higher education sports in the UK, said in a statement that the game was abandoned by the referee in the 78th minute.
"We will progress quickly with an investigation into this incident, working with members at both institutions as well as the Welsh Rugby Union," the body added.
Under current regulations, external, as more than 75% of the game had been played, the result will stand, "subject to any potential disciplinary action," said BUCS.
The match carried huge significance for both sides who currently sit 9th and 10th in the BUCS Super Rugby table.
The incident comes after Cardiff University cricket club was suspended for the rest of the academic year, and players banned, following an investigation into reports of serious misconduct during a night out.
Cardiff University were leading 28-19 when the game was abandoned in the closing minutes.
In a joint statement, Swansea University and Swansea University Students' Union said the behaviour was "unacceptable and does not reflect the values" of both organisations.
They added: "We recognise the concern and distress that this incident may have caused and apologise for its impact on those involved, including Cardiff University, the players, match officials and local rugby communities, along with our wider community."
Both said they were "actively co-operating with BUCS, the WRU, the Student Rugby Club and Cardiff University to ensure all relevant information is considered".
A Cardiff University spokesperson said: "We condemn the behaviour witnessed at last night's game in the strongest possible terms.
"We are working closely with colleagues from Swansea University and BUCS to investigate the incident. Whilst investigations remain ongoing, we will not be offering further comment."
@cgrant said in NH Club Rugby:
@Bones
I've never been impressed by his performance when he was playing for Stade Français in the Top 14. He was mainly sitting on the bench.
Pretty harsh to judge someone's on field performance by how they sit on the bench bro.
@sparky said in NH Club Rugby:
Both universities condoned the behaviour at the game
The only two universities that haven't gone woke as shit in the last 15 years!
@antipodean said in NH Club Rugby:
@sparky said in NH Club Rugby:
Both universities condoned the behaviour at the game
The only two universities that haven't gone woke as shit in the last 15 years!
Holy shit completely missed that
@Bones said in NH Club Rugby:
@cgrant said in NH Club Rugby:
@Bones
I've never been impressed by his performance when he was playing for Stade Français in the Top 14. He was mainly sitting on the bench.Pretty harsh to judge someone's on field performance by how they sit on the bench bro.
:grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
Paris has too many attractions ! Van der Mescht looked overweight , slow and unfit.
15 days later
no more promotion/relegation
now just need to switch to summer rugby
13 days later
7 days later
Reiko Ioane has been dumped by Leinster. He's not even on the bench for their next game against the Scarlets.
Has he been dropped as such, or just rested. I know Jordie didn't play every game (or even on bench) for Leinster when he was there. I think it was partly to do with the deal with NZR, not suggesting Reiko's is or anything..
Irish pundits are distinctly lukewarm about Reiko Ioane: https://www.planetrugby.com/news/bernard-jackman-the-reality-of-rieko-ioanes-form-as-rg-snyman-rumour-puts-even-more-pressure-on-all-blacks-star
7 days later
@Bones said in NH Club Rugby:
Oh man
My guess is that Eddie Hearns absolutely hated playing the game at private school when he would have rather have been playing soccer, so this is his revenge against Rugby Union.
@Catogrande said in NH Club Rugby:
marketeer
They seem quite characterful whenever I see them on the Tele.
Crazy game between Northampton and Castres:
Reiko Ioane has been named at 13 for Leinster's Champions Cup game tomorrow against Edinburgh.
It will be very interesting to see how he goes:
