European Club Rugby
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@mikethesnow Option D (for Dunce) all of the above.
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@mikethesnow said in NH club rugby:
@daffy-jaffy said in NH club rugby:
So what did he actually go for?
No arms?
Late?
Head contact?slightly late, no head contact, but guy in air
mitigating factors: it was on a halfback
no case to answer
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in all seriousness, when i watched it i burst out laughing it was that ridiculous. I mean, it's a complete brain snap, he was always arriving late, so he just went all in and jumped in to him at full pace while the guy was still in the air. It's hilarious.
The reaction to his red card was funny too. Slight surprise, then just walks off
French Rugby has changed though, even 10 years ago that results in a massive brawl
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@mariner4life it amusing seeing all the players form the white team go past thier mate on the ground to get the guy who hit him
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@mariner4life said in NH club rugby:
@mikethesnow said in NH club rugby:
@daffy-jaffy said in NH club rugby:
So what did he actually go for?
No arms?
Late?
Head contact?slightly late, no head contact, but guy in air
mitigating factors: it was on a halfback
no case to answer
I've seen a lot worse go unsanctioned
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Speaks well, and has been great in the UK
Jimmy Gopperth: ‘I’m a country lad from a farm – rugby is not everything’
The 38-year-old Wasps fly-half played with Tana Umaga, and now lines up with Umaga’s nephew Jacob, but he is in no rush to retire
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@machpants I see Brad Shields is his team's captain so once again keeps Vaea FIfita, who has been named to start at lock, out of the number six jersey for Wasps season opening game against Bristol. It is being televised live on one of the ky Sports channels starting at 1.55am for any night owls wanting to watch.
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Saracens to be taken over by consortium in £32m deal that will end Nigel Wray’s ownership
Saracens taken over by consortium in £32m deal that ends Nigel Wray’s ownership
The consortium includes Francois Pienaar while the president of Roc Nation, an agency founded by Jay-Z, will join the club as an adviser
(likely paywalled) "Saracens are to be taken over by an investment consortium that includes former World Cup winning-captain Francois Pienaar in a £32 million deal that will secure the long-term future of the club and bring to an end Nigel Wray’s 26-year ownership.
The consortium is headed up by Dominic Silvester, the chief executive of a global insurance company who has had a long-standing connection with the club, and also includes Marco Masotti, the New York-based owner of the Sharks, the South African franchise.
The deal will also see Maggie Alphonsi, the former England Women’s World Cup winner and former Saracens player join the board. It is understood that Michael Yormark, the president of Roc Nation, an entertainment and talent agency founded by Jay-Z, the rapper, will also join the club as a special adviser.
The deal will come as a watershed moment for the club who have won the Premiership five times as well as three European titles but saw their achievements and reputation tarnished by the salary cap breaches over three seasons that saw them relegated to the Championship last season and fined £5.36 million.
Wray’s daughter, Lucy, is to remain as the club’s chief executive but her father will effectively cede all control as the issuing of equity to the consortium will leave him as a minority shareholder and it is understood he intends to be a passive investor with no input to decisions.
The cash injection will enable the club to cover the costs of completing the new west stand development at the StoneX stadium in north London while the investors are keen to develop the women’s team while there is also a longer term goal to build a high performance centre at the complex. Saracens currently train at Old Albanian, a club just north of St Albans.
Wray, who first invested in the club in 1995, had been looking for new investment in the club since it was rocked by the salary cap scandal in 2019, which saw the three times European champions relegated to the champions last season. He held discussions with executives from private investment firm MSD Capital during the summer but the deal fell through.
The new consortium also includes Paul O'Shea, who works with Silvester, Nick Leslau, a property entrepreneur and current chairman Neil Golding, a partner at law firm Freshfields, who was brought in to replace Wray as chairman 20 months ago overhaul the club following their salary cap sanctions. The details of the takeover are expected to be announced on Saturday morning before the club’s match against Leicester Tigers. The consortium will then seek approval for the takeover from the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby."
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@l_n_p said in NH club rugby:
Saracens to be taken over by consortium in £32m deal that will end Nigel Wray’s ownership
Saracens taken over by consortium in £32m deal that ends Nigel Wray’s ownership
The consortium includes Francois Pienaar while the president of Roc Nation, an agency founded by Jay-Z, will join the club as an adviser
(likely paywalled) "Saracens are to be taken over by an investment consortium that includes former World Cup winning-captain Francois Pienaar in a £32 million deal that will secure the long-term future of the club and bring to an end Nigel Wray’s 26-year ownership.
The consortium is headed up by Dominic Silvester, the chief executive of a global insurance company who has had a long-standing connection with the club, and also includes Marco Masotti, the New York-based owner of the Sharks, the South African franchise.
The deal will also see Maggie Alphonsi, the former England Women’s World Cup winner and former Saracens player join the board. It is understood that Michael Yormark, the president of Roc Nation, an entertainment and talent agency founded by Jay-Z, the rapper, will also join the club as a special adviser.
The deal will come as a watershed moment for the club who have won the Premiership five times as well as three European titles but saw their achievements and reputation tarnished by the salary cap breaches over three seasons that saw them relegated to the Championship last season and fined £5.36 million.
Wray’s daughter, Lucy, is to remain as the club’s chief executive but her father will effectively cede all control as the issuing of equity to the consortium will leave him as a minority shareholder and it is understood he intends to be a passive investor with no input to decisions.
The cash injection will enable the club to cover the costs of completing the new west stand development at the StoneX stadium in north London while the investors are keen to develop the women’s team while there is also a longer term goal to build a high performance centre at the complex. Saracens currently train at Old Albanian, a club just north of St Albans.
Wray, who first invested in the club in 1995, had been looking for new investment in the club since it was rocked by the salary cap scandal in 2019, which saw the three times European champions relegated to the champions last season. He held discussions with executives from private investment firm MSD Capital during the summer but the deal fell through.
The new consortium also includes Paul O'Shea, who works with Silvester, Nick Leslau, a property entrepreneur and current chairman Neil Golding, a partner at law firm Freshfields, who was brought in to replace Wray as chairman 20 months ago overhaul the club following their salary cap sanctions. The details of the takeover are expected to be announced on Saturday morning before the club’s match against Leicester Tigers. The consortium will then seek approval for the takeover from the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby."
It we'll be the only South African club in the NH capable of winning a game
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@machpants said in NH club rugby:
It we'll be the only South African club in the NH capable of winning a game
Probably!! I had to check but Saraceren's had 50% SA ownership anyway from 2009-2018 via Remegro who sold out prior to the salary cap scandal, Wray had to buy them out.Saracens lost depth when they went down, have re-assembled some of it via one-season loan arrangements.
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Harlequins look top 3 at Super Rugby Aoteroa level, that's a big compliment from me.
Just watched Harlequins vs Bristol and ... I highly (highly) recommend it, especially the second half. PM me if you want a "sauce" to download the full-game.
Brief thoughts and observations -
Harlequins
- Harlequins are playing rugby the way it's meant to be played. Really good stuff to watch.
- Marcus Smith is the real deal at 22. F**k me I don't want to hype him, but I mean the real real deal. Composed, has all the skills, brave but will need to bulk up for the top level because he's gonna be targetted like hell. I've only seen one or two better young tens and you can guess who at least one is, right?
- Even more impressive is Smith has Danny Care at nine who (on this game) looked like a second-rate TJP. And I don't mean that in a good way
- Surprised and really impressed by Louis Lynagh. Plays like a SH winger, well-rounded and lots of skill ... seems to kick well, pass well, make the right decisions at the right time. Think Cory Jane or Andrew Kellaway with time. No fricken idea how he'd go for England given the gameplay style but reckon he'd be a real asset for the Wallabies, totally wasted with Italy.
- Alex Dombrant showed really lovely skills at eight. Again I can see him easily in a SRA side(+?) but NH has an emphasis on bulk so ... Eddie so... god knows if he'll even bench for England.
Bristol
- As a team seemed pretty out of shape and knackered after 50. Conditioning?
- Piatua seems to have lost all acceleration. Looked okayish, in an average NH kind of way.
- Luatua and Afoa not playing.
- Props seem totally surprised and at sea when they get the ball and pass it like a hot potato to ... "someone, anyone!"
- Harlequins could read their passing from deep all day long, drift their line well and ... just dismantled them the last 50-60.
- I don't know the contract's performance/exit clauses but signing Pat Lam on a new 7-year deal looks dumb. To be fair signing ANY COACH/DoR on a deal that long seems dumb to me.
Other ...
- Saw Wayne Barnes clearly communicate in-game on 50-22s or whatever they are called.
- Cracking ref (these days ) who let the game flow.
- Terrible commentary, I left the sound on only because it had a good "big game" atmosphere
Didn't think it justifies a seperate thread for a TSF audience, but I highly recommend it.
As I say, PM me if you would like a full game link and I'll happily oblige ... -
'He does not come back on the pitch' - The latest bizarre waterboy incident
Once again an incident involving a water carrier is making rugby headlines - this time in the Gallagher Premiership.
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@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
'He does not come back on the pitch' - The latest bizarre waterboy incident
Once again an incident involving a water carrier is making rugby headlines - this time in the Gallagher Premiership.
Blight on the game at the moment. Too many players and members of coaching team wired up and getting involved. The refs have enough to do without monitoring them as well.
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?) they are allowed to run on and slow down the game at every opportunity. Not so bad on TV when there is a chance for a quick replay of something but at the game live it totally wrecks the flow and atmosphere. -
@crucial said in NH club rugby:
@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
'He does not come back on the pitch' - The latest bizarre waterboy incident
Once again an incident involving a water carrier is making rugby headlines - this time in the Gallagher Premiership.
Blight on the game at the moment. Too many players and members of coaching team wired up and getting involved. The refs have enough to do without monitoring them as well.
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?) they are allowed to run on and slow down the game at every opportunity. Not so bad on TV when there is a chance for a quick replay of something but at the game live it totally wrecks the flow and atmosphere.Agree or we'll end up like NFL.
Neutral waterboys (hardly a skilled task?) and all medical staff must be "offline" ie comms via the refereering team?
Maybe one for Joe Schmidt ...
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It was a poor look for sure. Exeter on the attack close to the goal line, multiple penalties occurring, then at the latest one a Wasps player throws the ball away. Slade goes to get it and the waterboy kicks it away. Cue a big scuffle.
It’s a shame really as Wasps and Exeter have had some great matches over the last few years and the mutual respect has been clear to see. But this on top of the “cultural appropriation” questions posed by the Wasps heirachy look to have soured things somewhat.
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