Author: Guest Writer

Woodville wins first junior flag in 30years!Big shout out & thanks to Craig Basford for the article & images provided.There was the briefest of silence immediately following the final whistle. The sort of brief, uneasy quiet in the space between a bomb going off in the far distance and the soundwave hitting you. Then it hit, the guttural roar of 23 U14 players who had just seen off the previously undefeated Brighton. Then came the shock wave of coaches, family and friends rushing the ground sweeping them all up and the chant of ‘Woodies, Woodies’ ringing around Brighton Rugby Club.The…

Article provided by KB from the Apple IsleI was disappointed I couldn’t make it to the final. A 500km round trip is a bit hard on a poor old pensioner (who is not really on the pension and not that old) and who drives a diesel guzzling ute at $2.20 a litre. So much of this report comes courtesy of TAS Rugby News – so thanks to them.Anyway, it was a top of the table clash as minor premiers Launceston Tigers (season of 13 wins from 14 starts) faced off against second placed Taroona Penguins (also on 13 wins from…

UPDATE:Brisbane’s Iona College has fallen short of their Rugby Heritage Cup dream last night in Pontlevoy, going down 40-20 to New Zealand’s Condor Sevens team in an entertaining final in France.The Rugby Heritage Cup is a global schools rugby sevens competition celebrating 200 years since the birth of the code, and is acting as a lead-in to the Rugby World Cup in Paris.Every nation competing at the Rugby World Cup was invited to nominate a boys team and a girls team to compete in the event in a ‘celebration of rugby’ that also challenged the teams in a cooking challenge…

Today we welcome via a referral from Charlie a new contributor to G&GR: Anaseini Wailutu. Anaseini has significant involvement in rugby in both Australia and New Zealand, and today has the following post (hopefully the first of many): AU and NZ women’s rugbyDo you remember that scene from Back to the Future I/II when Marty McFly returned to 1985 and he went home, over the gate and climbed through his bedroom window only to find it wasn’t his bedroom or the reality he knew? Well that’s kind of what it’s like on the other side of the ditch for women’s…

This report from Michael Westlake from the tournament in France. Australia’s representatives at the Rugby Heritage Cup in France, Brisbane’s Iona College, are through to the world semi-finals after defeating Tonga College 35-15 in their quarter-final last night (Tuesday) in Pontlevoy.The Rugby Heritage Cup is a global schools rugby sevens competition celebrating 200 years since the birth of the code, and is acting as a lead-in to the Rugby World Cup in Paris.Iona finished on top of the ladder after the round of pool matches, winning all three of their games convincingly against teams from Argentina, England and France:The win…

Join with us today for the 8th instalment of the history of the RWC by guest writer and now honorary NSWelshman ‘Damo’. Been a Herculean effort from our Northern Comrade, engaging and terrific reading. Thankyou D-Man & take it away:Saffas make it threefa.When: 20 September – 2 November 2019Hosts: Land of The Rising SunWinners: SaffasRunners up: SDsThird: ABsFourth: BoyosRWC 2023 kicks off in a little over a week. Excitement if you’e a rugby fanatic and trepidation if you’re a Wallabies supporter. I’m definitely in both camps there. And with the tournament looming our review of past Cups concludes with the…

Black to Black Wins.In BriefWhen: September 18th to October 31stThe Hosts: The Mother CountryWinners: Nigel Owens AB’sRunners Up: AussiesThird: Saffa’sFourth: ArgiesAnd, so, we come to the penultimate version of the RWC Chronicles, 2015, with not only RWC 2023 looming, but also the imminent end of RDU, which has bookended the Chronicles and is soon to be consigned to the list of fascinating historical short stories, along with the likes of the Leyland P76, Mal Meninga’s political career and France’s 1940 defensive line. Looking forward to RDU reverting back to our old friend, a bigger and brighter G&GR. It’s been fun…

Welcome back our northern guest writer ‘Damo’ for the 7th installment of the history of the RWC. The French get Shafted.In Brief:When: Sept 09th – Oct 23rdHosts: Land of the All Black Crowd.Winners: All BlacksRunners Up: FrogsThird: WobsFourth: The Valley Boyo’sFor me, RWC 2011 in New Zealand, the one the ABs just had to take out no matter what, of all the iterations of this event so far was the one most dominated by selection issues, injuries, off field controversies and surprise results. We will flag some of those issues in the words below. In the end however, the team…

It’s time to welcome our favourite (& only) guest writer from Tasmania (from an indigenous word meaning ‘wallet will not open’) the one, the only ‘Mayor of Launceston : KB’ for his preview of this weekends NH World Cup ‘friendlies’.Over to you Mr Thrifty.It’s Warm Up North – All ChangeAfter last weekend we might have been expecting changes to the respective line ups. However, these have not been as wholesale as we might have thought. Rather than field weaker teams both Scotland and Wales have decided to take it to the opposition on their home turf and more power too…

Today we welcome back honorary NSWelshman & guest writer ‘Damo’, for installment #VI (that’s the equivalent of ‘6’ for those edumecated up north) of the history of the RWC.The Big Men Triumph.In Brief:When: Set 7th to October 20thThe Hosts: The Escargot Hunters (with help from Cardiff & Edinburgh) Winners: SaffasRunners Up: Soap DodgersThird: ArgiesFourth: FrogsIt is an interesting time to look back at the events and outcome of the 2007 RWC as the 2023 qualifying nations finalise squads for the imminent return to France, 16 years later.Both England and France bid to host the tournament. It was announced in April…

So here’s a review of the game from Keith. I’ll be doing a NZ view tomorrow after I watch it as I was on referee duty today and still haven’t seen the game. Enjoy and thank you Keith for the work.The AB may have made a load of changes but with a run on team that has the best second row pairing in world rugby, Sam Cane and Ardie as well as the worlds best half back pair on the bench, they are no mugs.The Wallabies come into the game missing their two best tight heads but do they blow…

Bill Leaves on a Sweet Chariot.Welcome again to the history of the Rugby World Cup from our esteemed Queensland Guest Writer, Mr Damo. Take it away Big D.In Brief:When : October 10 to November 22 2003.The Hosts: Australia & NZWinners: Soap DodgersRunners Up: Wallabies Third: Not so NearliesFourth: FrogsIt seems like as we progress through to the next RWC, the memories become a bit more in focus- which I guess stands to reason. Reviewing the relevant videos was a lot of fun and it was great hear the comforting sound of Gordon Bray and ‘Budda’ Handy on the commentary.October 10…

Today rugbydownunder.com continues it’s support of those less fortunate souls who live north of god’s own lands and welcome back guest writer & proud ‘Slander’ Damo for his fourth installment on the history of the Rugby World Cup.In BriefWhen: October 01st – November 6th 1999The Hosts: The 5 Nations although Wales were technically ‘the hosts’Winners: Macca’s MaraudersRunners up: The Eye Gougers – The FrogsThird: Saffa’sFourth: The NearliesMcQueen & CountryAustralia were convincing winners of the 1999 World Cup. It was never in doubt. Not with players like Warnie, Pidge McGrath, Gilly, Punter and the Waugh boys. Oh, that was the cricket…

Today we welcome back ‘Damo’ from the land of the banana benders for his round #3 of the history of the RWC. Thank you Damo & take it away:In Brief:When: May 25 – June 24 1995The Hosts: The Rainbow NationWinner: Nelson’s lotRunners Up: Those with stomach upsetsThird: Les FrogsFourth: The PomsThe 1995 Rugby World Cup held in South Africa was always going to be one of the best remembered editions of the event. Sandwiched between the technical end of Apartheid, culminating in Nelson Mandela’s election as President in April 1994 and the launch of professional rugby just months after the…

Today we welcome back guest writer and one of only five people from QPRQ with a keyboard, ‘Damo’ to rugbydownunder.com for his second instalment of the History of The RWC.Take it away Damo.RWC ’91 in brief:When: October 3rd – November 2nd 1991. The Hosts: Our 5 Nations brethrenWinners: The Green & Gold macripodsRunners up: The SoapaholicsThird Place: The AB’s. They didn’t ‘choke’ we just beat them.Fourth Place: The Jocks.The ’87 RWC felt a bit like a bit of a test run of the concept. In 1991 I think we experienced the real McCoy. The 8 quarter finalists from the 1987…

The Wallabies first test of 2023 is run & done. Today rugbydownunder.com newbie & self appointed Mayor of Taswegia, Keith ‘KB’ Butler who reviews all the stuff that matters.Take it away KB:The lead in.Once more to the breach dear friends, once more.This was to be Eddie’s first Aussie selection in 18 years. It contains a mixture of the familiar and unfamiliar including two Hoopers and being Eddie a couple of controversial selections in Vunivalu and Hodge. On the plus side he’s brought in a couple of rookies with the other Hooper at 6 and Nonggorr and Gordon warming the pine,…

Today we welcome our first guest writer ‘Damo’ to rugbydownunder.com. Damo is a rusted on Reds supporter. Even bleeds Red. Been around a while, with a playing career highlights reel was recently discovered in a Brisbane archaeological dig. Rugby motto: “It’s only a bloody game”.Welcome Damo & our thanks.Rugby World Cup 1987: So it beginsRWC 1987 in Brief:When: May/June 1987The Hosts: New Zealand / AustraliaWinners: I forgetRunners Up: Frogs3rd: Boyos from The Valleys4th: Best team- robbed.This first world cup had a troubled genesis. The NH nations wanted nothing to do with it. The campaign to bring the event to reality…