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I've just published an article on the ARU's finances which reveals how dire the financial position was at the end of 2012. The hole the ARU has dug can only be fixed by the windfall from the Lions tour! You can also see where the money went that could have been used to develop our game...

The ARU have announced today that they've received increased funding for sevens. Here is an extract from the press release. "Australian Rugby Union has welcomed the Australian Sports Commission’s decision to increase Rugby’s funding in 2013/14. Under the first round of funding of the ASC’s...

Great work Jets - these numbers need pulling apart like this. As I mentioned on the podcast this week, I'm also dubious about 39,000 sevens players. How many of those are double counted - how many actually play for a club or a school in 15's and so have already been counted? I'd say it would...

I don't doubt that Smith will be in the 22 given his experience and he's in good form. With so many matches still to play before the first team is chosen there's still plenty of time for Gill and Hooper to battle it out for the other spot but as Mark says, I reckon they'll all get time over...

After the National Academy trials this year Wade was selected for the combined Academy team behind Hugh Roach for the Pacific Rugby Cup matches. Wade then got the number 2 spot for the Queensland based academy, Maile went and played for Force A and Ready played for the Reds College so we got to...

I just finished watching the second test from 2001 tonight. I'm not sure who was MOM but George Smith was extraordinarily good in that one. I know we all say it's like he was never away (me included) but his current form is nothing compared to what he was doing in his early career. He was...

Rubbish - it was cynical play. But every team will do it in the same circumstances where the referee isn't strong enough to stop them by implementing the laws.

Scotty, what you propose requires a change to the laws - if they are changed, fine, implement the new laws. But whilst there is an upgrade clause for the team card after a yellow to be a red, just as there is for an individual, then they should implement the laws and the guidelines that exists...

Go as hard as you could but once the yellow was issued you have to be aware enough not to infringe again. Before that do whatever you can, legal or not to stop the Reds getting over the line. I don't subscribe to the 'cheating' claims.

Yes, I was just making a point like this on the blog. "There is an equivalent rule for an individual who receives a yellow card – if they then infringe in a similar way again the second yellow becomes a red. Whilst you don’t see it often, the law is there and even though it has a massive...

Hawko, there is no comparison - the difference with the Reds v Waratahs match was that in a 20 minute period (51st min to 71st min) the play went in and out of the Reds 22 numerous times and the Reds had possession numerous times. There was one 5 minute period where the Tahs had the ball...

I agree you don't see it often (the red cards) because referees normally get things under control before it gets out of hand like it did on Saturday but I have seen it in professional matches. If the provisions aren't really meant to be used, why are they included in the current game...

Here's the detail as to why the referee should have issued red cards against the Brumbies, not allowed the repeated infringements in Saturday's match http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/reds-v-brumbies-referee-should-have-issued-red-cards/

Link and Horwill both made the comment last night that the keep attacking strategy rather than look for 3 points was part of the game plan. Mowen made the point that the Reds going for quick taps and lineouts/scrums gave the Brumbies no time to have a breather from the pressure and led to them...

Not so, George Smith contradicted this completely in the press conference last night. He is not contracted by the ARU and has no clearance to play for the Wallabies - refer to my post above this. Deans is, once again, confused and Smith confirmed he has not even spoken to Deans.

At the press conference last night George Smith advised that he does not have clearance from Suntory to play for the Wallabies. He specifically stated that the clearance received last week only allows him to play for the Brumbies, not the Wallabies. He went on to say that he has not been...

Can't argue that one with you because although I remember there was a problem with White in that match, I can't remember enough of it. It must have been really bad to have been worse than what we saw tonight.

That was without doubt the worst refereeing performance of the year. Jackson completely lost control of the breakdown. He showed he is not capable of refereeing the big matches.

Went out to watch Wests and Souths today - a very ordinary game of rugby! Both teams were sloppy and will need to improve significantly if they are to be competitive with the top teams. It turned out to be a bit of a heart breaker for Wests having led the whole match until the last five...

I'll be at Wests v Souths tomorrow. Souths have apparently been quite good the first two rounds - who are the players to watch out for?