Author: Nick Hartman

Thursday’s Rugby News has an EGM to be hopefully held soon, Simon Cron and his charges optimistic, and Will Genia not snubbed. [one_half last=”no”] EGM The VRU and RUPA have joined together to issue a demand for an EGM at the ARU, reports rugby.com.au. The ARU has responded, scheduling a special meeting in 7 days. EGMs have to have 21 days’ notice, hence why it’s a special meeting. “We acknowledge the request by the VRU, supported by RUPA, for a special General Meeting,” said ARU chairman Cameron Clyne. “We must provide 21 days notice to voting members to convene a…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has a broadside from Morgan Turunui, Rocky Elsom: angel investor angel, Beale needed for Bledisloe, and Karmichael Hunt chat. Rah! [one_half last=”no”] Turinui Terror HMAS Morgan Turunui has fired a broadside at the ARU, in a rampacious chat with rugby.com.au. “Our players are under a lot of stress,” said Turunui, the Rebels’ backs coach. “It is really starting to wear thin. “We haven’t played well, we haven’t won enough games – that’s a separate issue. “But Andrew Cox looked me in the eye, shook my hand and said the Rebels will be here for years to come.…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has Sean McMahon possibly doing one, Matt Giteau to Japan, the ARU’s coaching summit not a summit, the Vikings bought out, and the results from the Paris Sevens. [one_half last=”no”] McMahon Doing One? Sean McMahon might be doing one at the end of the season, reports The Australian. McMahon, who has 15 caps at only 22 years of age, is considering offers from Japan, as well as Europe. He is reportedly unimpressed so far by contract offers from the Australian Rugby Union, and this news story might actually be a sneaky way of his agent drumming up interest.…

Monday’s Rugby News has Johan Ackermann being smart, Andrew Hore being dumb, Daryl Gibson being honest and a wrap-up of the Women’s National Champs. [one_half last=”no”] Ackermann A-Ok Lions coach Johan Ackermann is a really really cool guy. On an entirely unrelated note, he’s put fist to chin and opined that Australian rugby shouldn’t be written off. “It is difficult to judge the Australian teams,” Ackermann told the Canberra Times. “You just look at the Brumbies and they’ve got seven bonus points and that shows they’ve been in the games. [Wallabies coach] Michael Cheika made a comment that if they put…

Blake, James and Richard breakdown round 12 focusing on grubby play and some quality rugby. Who’s your bum of the week? Yes that’s a pic of Pamela Anderson WARNING – contains effin’ and jeffin’

Thursday’s Rugby News is actually ok. The Tahs are going play club rugby this weekend, Slack wants Cheika to have selectors, Aidan Toua wants to stay as does Karmichael. [one_half last=”no”] World Cup Draw The World Cup draw has taken place! Exciting times. The Wallabies have been drawn in Pool D, as top seeds. They are joined by Wales and GAGR’s own Georgia, as well Oceania 1 and Americas 2. Eddie Jones’ Brave England have been drawn in Pool C, the group of death, alongside France and Argentina. Americas 1 and Oceania 2 will be the poor whipping boys of that…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has a optimistic Michael Cheika, more info on that coaching summit, the Scotland squad for June and Cooper Cronk back where he belongs? [one_half last=”no”] Cheika Upbeat Wallabies coach Michael Cheika isn’t totally glum about Australian rugby, which is easy for him to say – he’s good at his job. “I can understand why people might think it’s all doom and gloom – a hundred per cent. But it’s not from my perspective,” Cheika told AAP.  “I know the Super Rugby form from our teams hasn’t been brilliant. No one can argue with that. “But there’s been some…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has more ARU crap, even more ARU crap, Marika Koroibete happy at the Rebels and Blake Enever reckons he knows how to beat the Lions. [one_half last=”no”] Ruh Roh Rebels The Herald Sun is reporting that the ARU has offered to buy out the Melbourne Rebels, which would end the Super Rugby saga. Andrew Cox, the Rebels owner, says no offer is made. Ain’t this stuff great?Cox said: “No comment. We have reserved all our rights with the ARU.” On one hand the Victorian government are quite wary about the Melbourne Rebels rugby league team folding, for…

The boys get a case of the mid season blues and take aim at some underperforming players. Who’s your bum of the week? WARNING – contains some effing and jeffing.

Monday’s Rugby News has Tana Umaga being nice, rugby au UAE, Italian teams being removed and Youngs out of the Lions. [one_half last=”no”] Tana Being Nice Tana Umaga says that NZ teams are taking advantage of the uncertainty hovering over Australian teams. Which is probably deliberate obfuscaiton, but oh well. “We all know there’s been some tough things going on over here and not just on the field, obviously,  off the field,” Umaga told rugby.com.au “So it’s unsettling. When you’ve got that, it’s pretty tough to keep everyone on an even keel when you’re always looking over shoulder wondering, ‘What…

Thursday’s Rugby News has George Smith for the Wallabies, Ben McCalman and Nic Stirzaker in and around being injured, Cam Clark lovin’ life and a new face in the u20s. [one_half last=”no”] Smith 4 WBs Phil Waugh has told News Ltd that he reckons that George Smith should add to his 111 caps for the Wallabies. “I think Australia’s probably one of the only countries in the world that talks about a player being old at 31 or 32,” Waugh said of Smith, 73. “And then, even at 36 in other places in the world, he may not even be…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has a new proposal for the NRC, the Tahs not moving, the ‘horrific’ u20s, and Pascal Pape punches his way home. [one_half last=”no”] Mitre 10 meets NRC? Andrew Hore said a lot of things to the Guardian’s Rajiv Maharaj, but there’s a few snippets in there that raise eyebrows. Hore, the NSWRU CEO, reckons it’s worth thinking about having NRC teams playing Mitre 10 Cup teams. “Does [this idea] have merit – yes, it does. It would be great for coaches, it would be great for players and it would enhance the competition,” Hore said. “The NRC…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has a new jersey, a new u20s side, an angry QRU boss, and the June series tickets will go on sale tomorrow (but wait, there’s more!). [one_half last=”no”] New Jersey The Wallabies have a new jersey. It’s gold and green, and has green piping and junk. It also has a southern cross, symbolising Australia’s position in the southern hemipshere, on the right shoulder. The new shirts have been shown off one month before the June series. Jerseys are $160 for men, and $150 for women (expect Mark Latham to mention that in a tweet at 5am tomorrow morning).…

Monday’s Rugby News has a Eureka moment from Tony McGahan, the u20s winning, Cheika telling Aussies to play shackle free, and Daryl Gibson chuffed with a win (and a job). [one_half last=”no”] No Halfbacks, No Good Rebels head coach Tony McGahan has put finger to chin and come up with the following wisdom. “It wasn’t much of a spectacle, really, was it,” said McGahan, according to rugby.com.au, who saw his team get tonked 44-3 by the Kings. “Especially on our side, losing Nic Stirzaker last night really hurt us. We only travelled with two nines, Mick Snowden starts, goes in and…

The gang is back together to discuss a classic game between NSW and QLD, whilst reflecting on the difficulties of picking a wallaby 23. We also review all the games of the round and preview next week. WARNING – may contain the s-word, f-word maybe even the b-word (bum).

Thursday’s Rugby News has no rugby State of Origin, Ben McCalman and DHP injury worries, the Tahs’ worst crowd in 21 years, and there’s more ARU depression… [one_half last=”no”] SOO Not Going On The proposed rugby State of Origin isn’t going on, reports the Daily Telegraph. “Following a meeting of all Australian franchises and the ARU earlier in the year, the QRU met senior executives from Brisbane Marketing and Tourism and Events Queensland,” a QRU spokesman told AAP. “They were receptive to the idea of more rugby content following the success of the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens. The State of…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has the ARU saying no to a Brumbies/Rebels merger, Karmichael Hunt up for the derby, Simon Cron bigging up Australian talent and some interesting thoughts on the state of the game. [one_half last=”no”] ARU Say No The ARU have said there won’t be a Brumbies/Rebels merger. Knowing the ARU, that probably means it still is a possibility. The Daily Telegraph reports an ARU spokesman as saying ‘nein’ to these ideas, despite not offering any quotes. This is really all a load of hot air – but hey, it’s a public holiday! – but it seems to have…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has Daryl Gibson’s full supprt, Daryl Gibson bemoaning Australian rugby development, Quade talking NSW and rules for the Lions. [one_half last=”no”] Full* Support Ruh-roh. Daryl Gibson has been given the vote of confidence from the Waratahs board. “Daryl continues to have the full support of the board,” NSWRU chairman Roger Davis told SMH. “Obviously he is as disappointed with the results as we are and he’s foot to the pedal in order to correct the mistakes and errors and failings that we’ve had of late. That’s about all I can say.” Wow great, what backing. It’s ok…

Monday’s Rugby News has Bob Dwyer slamming the Tahs, the female sevens team snagging bronze, Nick Stirzaker not banned and an Indigenous jersey. [one_half last=”no”] Dwyer Dishes The Dirt GAGR’s pal Bob Dwyer has put the boot in the Waratahs, saying their performance against the Kings was less than Shute Shield level. “It was the worst game I’ve seen for a long while,” Dwyer told SMH. “The standard of club games is higher. If you compare it to last year’s grand final between Sydney University and Norths, that was way better than it in standard. “There is no doubt the Waratahs have…

The usual suspects have dished up the report for this week. A worsening Waratah team and the Lions squad announcement get the team fired up. Who’s your bum of the week? WARNING: Contains Effing And Jeffing