Friday’s Rugby News: The ARU to take over running the Western Force, Liam Gill still interested in 7’s for Rio, NRL Winger to head to European Rugby after dummy-spit and some interesting statistics from this years 6 Nations.
[one_half last=”no”]
The ARU: Rebels, Force, Br……?
Any improvement in the ARU’s financial position due to the latest SANZAR television is likely to be fleeting, if news from Perth and other places is any indication. The latest mail coming out of Perth is that the Western Force are going to be taken under the ARU’s wing as a result of continuing losses (more than $600k in 2014 and expected to be more for the 2015 financial year).
With the Rebels already into the ARU purse, trouble brewing just a few hours down the Hume Highway, and the QRU slipping back into poor results (some might say deserved given their cavalier treatment of the QLD fan base over the last 18 months), the St Leonards bunker may be forced to start rationing the sugar and teabags soon.
LFG interested in Rio 7’s
France bound Liam Gill has mentioned that if Andy Friend is looking for help, he would be available to go to Rio. Gill made his 7’s debut in Las Vegas in 2010 and last played for the Thunderbolts at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
While an interesting option, astute judges have expressed the opinion that since he has bulked up in order to suit the 15 man game, with the inevitable consequence of slowing down, he is unlikely to have the impact of his 2010 days. Quade Coopers recent comments about leaving a lung on the field in Vegas illustrate the pace of modern 7’s play, and the different aerobic demands from 15 man rugby.
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Mourad? Need a winger?
A determination to apply eligibility rules strictly seems likely to result in the ranks of European Rugby swelling by one of the NRL’s better wingers. Reports claim that Semi Radradra, currently playing for Parramatta and 2 time winner of the Dally M award for winger of the year, is going to walk out on Rugby League unless an exception is made to allow him to play State of Origin for NSW. No doubt Toulon’s talent scouts are dusting off their chequebooks in preparation.
The threat has predictably triggered a good deal of righteous indignation from former players, and the usual statements from the players agent that it’s all a beat-up. Radradra is understood to be on around $250k per year, beer money to the cashed up French and English clubs.
6N Error Rates – The untold Story
An inconvenient fact lost in Eddie Jones belligerent comments on the Red Roses planned tour to the colonies has been uncovered by those renowned supporters of English Rugby otherwise known as English rugby journalists.
Analysis of the 2012 and 2016 6N games shows that error rates (for all 6N teams) have more than doubled over the 4 year period. One of the other interesting stats to pop up was a figure for one particular game showing that more than 90% of possessions were ended with a kick, a statistic most rugby league teams would be proud to possess!
.
[/one_half]
