Italophile
Darby Loudon (17)
Racing and Stade 10th and 12th. Good grief. And to think Racing's star recruit will be going on a Lions tour.
Northern Hemisphere/6N Rugby
- Thread starter Dctarget
- Start date
Italophile
Darby Loudon (17)
Northampton turn over hot favourites Leinster in the Champions Cup SF. Outstanding effort despite two YCs. Leinster turning down penalty kicks late on a mistake but that's Leinster hubris.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
It's being reported by Rugbypass that Red Bull may be in line to purchase the Newcastle Falcons.
Italophile
Darby Loudon (17)
Why not? Newcastle are a distressed asset, a rugby outpost in that part of the world, and the comp will be ring fenced. More upside for them than downside.
Italophile
Darby Loudon (17)
A top motivator, for sure.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
The proposed move to the franchise model certainly would have encouraged the investment.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
Feels harsh but mental gymnastics make the forums go round. Few coaches in between and DM by the end of the year will hopefully triple last years wins for the Tahs.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
WRU set to cut a side:
www.walesonline.co.uk
Feels a lot like the way RA went about cutting the Force and given the quality of their administration I imagine they're in for just as much pain and chaos. Maybe more, given the side they own is Cardiff and it's the least likely to be cut.
Selfishly hoping it's Ospreys so the Reds can hang onto Ryan Smith.
Welsh region to be cut in bombshell development
Welsh rugby is set for seismic change after the WRU informed the four professional teams it intends to go down to three
Feels a lot like the way RA went about cutting the Force and given the quality of their administration I imagine they're in for just as much pain and chaos. Maybe more, given the side they own is Cardiff and it's the least likely to be cut.
Selfishly hoping it's Ospreys so the Reds can hang onto Ryan Smith.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
WRU set to cut a side:
Welsh region to be cut in bombshell development
Welsh rugby is set for seismic change after the WRU informed the four professional teams it intends to go down to three
Feels a lot like the way RA went about cutting the Force and given the quality of their administration I imagine they're in for just as much pain and chaos. Maybe more, given the side they own is Cardiff and it's the least likely to be cut.
Selfishly hoping it's Ospreys so the Reds can hang onto Ryan Smith.
Don't think it'll be Ospreys. They've just moved St Helens Sports Ground and have a development agreement with Swansea Council to build out the facility into a new purpose built stadium for them.
It won't be Cardiff. Because. It's Cardiff. So it will likely be between Dragons and Scarletts. Dragon have the argument that they actually
make money. They also have the advantage of being based in Newport which is 3 and a half times that of Illanelli in terms of population.
So it's most likely Scarletts. Which would be a shame as they have the best stadium.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Look, logic says Scarletts, but this has more than a whiff of the Force axing where the top body decides one has to go and figures they can sort it out later. The teams themselves will have a lot more to say about that then I think the WRU have considered.
From our perspective it might not matter too much which team is cut though though - they'll be keen to re-home those player in a way that will see external contracts canceled (or at least not renewed) where possible in the remaining teams. Smith aside, I hope someone is on the phone to Harry Wilson and Max Douglas (amongst others).
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
Douglas would/should be high on any sides list. 25 years old 201cm.... Could see him paired with Frost and give Shaw a bit more runway to develop. The Way Williams came back in his prime should have the phone ringing off the hook.
Not as sold on Wilson but a decent depth pickup if a side needed outside backs or a cover 13. Lachie Anderson ceiling...
Not as sold on Wilson but a decent depth pickup if a side needed outside backs or a cover 13. Lachie Anderson ceiling...
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
in the build up to Josh Kemeny's biggest match of his life (after Rebels v Moana) he's been awarded two awards: Northampton's players' player of the season and also the coach's player of the season. Not a bad effort for his first season and competing with England darling Henry Pollock. I like that Josh has continued the trend of Australian backrowers going over to England and absolutely carving up and becoming a crowd favourite. Would be a good guy to get back, still young and lots to prove.
Northampton v Bordeaux for the Champions Cup final in Cardiff.
You'd think it will be an absolute procession but I said that last time and Northampton managed to beat the unbeatable in Dublin...
More than likely Pete Samu and Adam Coleman will be the latest European champions by Sunday morning.
Northampton v Bordeaux for the Champions Cup final in Cardiff.
You'd think it will be an absolute procession but I said that last time and Northampton managed to beat the unbeatable in Dublin...
More than likely Pete Samu and Adam Coleman will be the latest European champions by Sunday morning.
Italophile
Darby Loudon (17)
You'd have to think so. With less hubris and more common sense Leinster would have beaten Saints.
Rumours here of Menoncello heading to Toulon from Benetton next season. His centre partner Brex already on his way there. Benetton denying it, Menoncello has another year on his contract. It's said BB had already sounded out Benetton and they put a prohibitive price on releasing him early. Would be a good move for his rugby playing at a higher club level.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
Going too well. Nobody will let him go and other offers in France will blow anything here out of the water.
He looked on track for Wallaby squad selection last year before injuries curtailed it. Wonder what sort of impact that may have had in keeping him just to be around the set up more. He'd offer the Force more than Harris or Ekuasi. Tizzano, Kemeny, CDC would be a brutal back row and also fits the Force being Sydney Uni's Super Rugby side but I'd also selfishly love to see him at NSW.
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
Very excited to see Menocello and Brex in a really good team. Centres have been something Toulon have lacked for a while, astute signings. T14 need strong Bordeaux and Toulon.
Italophile
Darby Loudon (17)
Too true. Boils down to whether Toulon will meet Benetton's demands for an early release or whether they can even afford it. They're having a bit of a clean out. Eg, Dan Biggar, who presumably wasn't on peanuts.