NH club rugby

[Daffy Jaffy]

Bath‘s director of rugby, Todd Blackadder, has announced that he will part ways with the Premiership club at the end of the current season.

Blackadder has been granted early release from his one-year contract extension in order to allow him to join Toshiba in Japan as head coach.

“It’s been an honour and a privilege to lead the Blue, Black and White for the past three years and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved,” said Blackadder.

“It might not be silverware but together we have built strong foundations and I leave knowing that the best is absolutely yet to come.

“Bath is a very special club. I’d like to thank everyone, especially the players and all of the staff. I also want to thank our supporters, even in the wind, rain and biting cold they are all at the Rec cheering us on. Thank you.

“Our sights remain set on a top four finish and we are all intent on making this season our best one yet.”

Tarquin McDonald, Bath’s chief executive, thanked Blackadder for his unwavering commitment.

“Todd and I have been open and consistent with our conversations regarding the progression and future of the rugby department,” he said.

“We are confident that the club can move forward and deliver on our long-term plan with solid foundations and a system that is ready to accommodate such change. I am pleased that we have been able to support Todd’s decision knowing it is right for him and his family.

“I have said before that it is a mark of Todd’s special and unique character, rare among coaches, that we have been able to bring about such positive change to the culture of our club whilst he has been at the helm.

“Todd leaves us a stronger club than the one he joined three years ago. He has been a pleasure to work with and I would like to thank him not only for his contribution of what has gone by but also for what is yet to come. I wish him every success for the future.”

Blackadder will depart Bath following the final game of the season.
From Rugby Planet.

[Machpants]

Gotta be the longest time without silverware for a high level NZ coach

[sparky]

European Cup Semi Final 1: Saracens Vs Munster in Coventry.

The teams:

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Jackson Wray, 6 Mike Rhodes, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Nick Tompkins, 23 David Strettle

Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Chris Farrell, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Darren Sweetnam, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Jack O’Donoghue, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Dave Kilcoyne
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Alby Mathewson, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Dan Goggin

Date: Saturday, April 20
Venue: Ricoh Arena
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

[sparky]

European Cup Semi Final 2: Leinster Vs Toulouse in Dublin

The teams:

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c) 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Seán O’Brien, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Seán Cronin, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Scott Fardy, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Rory O’Loughlin

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Sofiane Guitoune, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Antoine Dupont, 9 Sébastien Bézy, 8 Jerome Kaino (c), 7 Joe Tekori, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Clément Castets
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Maks Van Dyk, 19 Selevasio Tolofua, 20 Piula Faasalele, 21 Francois Cros, 22 Romain Ntamack, 23 Maxime Médard

Date: Sunday, April 21
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 15:15 BST (14:15 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

[sparky]

European Challenge Cup

Clermont Vs Harlequins

The teams:

Clermont: 15 Setariki Tuicuvu, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 George Moala, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra (c), 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Arthur Iturria, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Etienne Falgoux
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Beka Kakabadze, 18 Mickael Simutoga, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams, 23 Peter Betham

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Ross Chisholm, 13 Alofa Alofa, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Charlie Walker, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Jack Clifford, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Alex Dombrandt, 5 Ben Glynn, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Josh Ibuanokpe, 19 Stan South, 20 Semi Kunatani, 21 Niall Saunders, 22 James Lang, 23 Francis Saili

Venue: Stade Marcel-Michelin
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT)
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), George Clancy (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

La Rochelle v Sale Sharks

The teams:

La Rochelle: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Botia Veivuke, 11 Arthur Retiere, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Alexi Bales, 8 Victor Vito (c), 7 Grégory Alldritt, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 Mathieu Tanguy, 4 Romain Sazy, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Vincent Pelo, 18 Arthur Joly, 19 Thomas Jolmes, 20 Kevin Gourdon, 21 Thomas Berjon, 22 Maxime Lafage, 23 Jules Favre

Sale Sharks: 15 Luke James, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Sam James, 12 James O’Connor, 11 Chris Ashton, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jono Ross (c), 7 Tom Curry, 6 Ben Curry, 5 James Phillips, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Joe Jones, 19 Matthew Postlewhaite, 20 Sam Moore, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Aaron Reed

Venue: Stade Marcel Deflandre
Kick-off: 18:30 local (17:30 BST, 16:30 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Ian Davies (Wales)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

[Stargazer]

So that's in NZT:

Sun 21 April, 2am: Saracens v Munster
Sun 21 April, 4.30am: La Rochelle v Sale Sharks
Sun 21 April, 7.00am: Clermont v Harlequins
Mon 22 April, 2.15am: Leinster v Toulouse

It doesn't look like any of these games will be televised in NZ.

Does anyone know whether these games are (legally) livestreamed somewhere for countries where the games aren't televised? I don't mean something like Rugbypass, but something similar to what WorldRugby does for sevens (livestreaming on its FB page or website).

[Machpants]

@Stargazer I really doubt it, this is from a profit making group, not something that actually wants to see rugby grow and improve. ABs do it to spread their brand recognition

[sparky]

Very short highlights of European Cup and European Champions Cup games end up on Youtube on this channel:

Investec Champions Cup & EPCR Challenge Cup

🏉✅Welcome to the Official YouTube channel of European Professional Club Rugby and...

[Stargazer]

Too bad, I'll have to look for dodgy streams again. I may try it for the Clermont game, which is at a reasonable hour.

[Machpants]

Some odd halfs decisions there for Toulouse, half back in 10, France starting 10 on the bench, and noob Ahki put up too. I hope they win to knock Sexton back even more, and Kaino is captain

[sparky]

@Machpants

Joe Tekori at 7 caught my eye as an interesting selection. I thought he was a Lock.

[Tim]

@sparky what the hell?

[Stargazer]

All European semis are on Spark Sport: https://www.sparksport.co.nz/

Maybe it's time to take that free trial

[sparky]

Highlights of Saracens- Munster with lots of spoilers and talking points:

[sparky]

This post is deleted!

[Bones]

Channel 4 with live coverage of Toulouse Vs Leinster. Not a good start with them virtue signalling their way to the sigh bucket, they're not working with Billy Vunipola anymore though eh. Wow how very noble.

[Bones]

Love Sexton, such a humble guy. Kicks it out on the full and immediately starts shouting at everyone else because it's their fault.

[Billy Tell]

So I watched the 2 HEC semis.

Saracens vs Munster was men vs boys. Saracens remarkably had not a single Kiwi in their side. Munster had Bleyendaal starting at 10 - not our world cup 3rd choice 10 based on this anonymous display (admittedly behind a beaten pack). Munster also had Rhys Marshall off the bench at hooker and Alby Mathewson as back-up 9.

Leinster vs Toulouse. Leinster had James Lowe who scored a very good try and looked lively throughout. Leinster also had Michael Bent off the bench.

Toulouse, who were tactically and mentally a shambles, had Faumuina at 3, still in fine fettle, Kaino at 8 (pulled early in the 2nd half) and unbelievably they stuck Pita Ahki at starting 12.

Think Saracens will win, at a neutral ground, they will play smarter rugby than Toulouse and have just a little too much for Leinster.

[sparky]

@Billy-Tell Sean Maitland is a kilted Kiwi.

[sparky]

Leinster bearing Toulouse.