The Silver Fern

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<div><strong><span style="font-size:36px;">Rugby: Former All Black Brad Thorn coming out of retirement</span></strong></div>
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<div>5:47 AM Friday Aug 12, 2016</div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;">Evergreen rugby ironman Brad Thorn is at it again. He is coming out of retirement to play rugby at the age of 41.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;">Thorn will play for Queensland Country in the Australian national championship, with his first game coming on August 27 against the Canberra Vikings.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;">The New Zealand-born Queenslander has played 460 game of first class rugby league and rugby union over a staggering career spanning two decades and including Rugby World Cup, Super Rugby, European Cup, NRL grand final and State of Origin triumphs.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;">Since "retiring" from professional rugby last year, Thorn has been part of the coaching staff at the Brisbane-based Reds Super Rugby franchise.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;">He will assist as a coach for Queensland Country as well as playing for them.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://Rugby'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11692202</a></span></div>
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<div>That is all.</div>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="540753" data-time="1447283652">
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<p><span style="font-size:14px;">The evidence Includes multiple positive tests and confirmed examples of the authorities in these countries not doing enough to prevent doping.</span></p>
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<p>You mentioned Kenya and Jamaica. Look, I realize these are poor third-world nations where medical labs may not be at the cutting-edges of pharmaceutical performance enhancing technology. Russia is still pretty backwards, maybe it's second-world.</p>
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<p>But the United States of America is definitely First World, has had SHITLOADS of positive tests, and they ARE on the leading edge of Big Pharma and professional sports. Same goes for Canada, where the public had their eyes rudely opened 27 years ago after decades of finger-pointing at the Soviet-bloc.</p>
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<p>If it happens in the third world, and it happens in the second world, and it also happens in the first world, then yeah, you're probably going to get some ignorant people who suspect that rugby players might be on the juice and will even shrug their shoulders and tell you it's "obvious.".</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="540705" data-time="1447263254">
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<p><span style="font-size:14px;">It also reduces anxiety, and can help focus controlled aggression. Much the same as beta blocker drugs that are also banned.<br><br>
It also opens up the lungs and makes them work better. </span></p>
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<p>Like I said, really, really hard to take WADA seriously. Yoga and transcendental meditation might be next.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crazy Horse" data-cid="540725" data-time="1447276746">
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<p>Some of my best ever long runs were 'under the influence'. It felt like I could run for ever.</p>
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<p>Were you on a stop-watch?</p>
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<p>I was a paid guinea-pig almost 30 years ago at university (Psych Dept), paid to puff weed and conduct mental and physical exercises. It might have distracted me from cramp pains but it sure didn't improve my motor skills, endurance, nor my speed and agility.</p>
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<p>I may have been the outlier. Or, maybe I simply didn't smoke enough of it. </p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="540704" data-time="1447262805">
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<p>It's obvious because of the multiple athletes from each country that have copped bans for drugs.<br><br>
If you follow international athletics at all you'd know that it's the case.<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/oct/30/kenya-jamaica-world-anti-doping-agency">http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/oct/30/kenya-jamaica-world-anti-doping-agency</a><br><br>
Show me a kiwi rugby player who's been busted?</p>
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<p>Not my point. PERCEPTION is the point. There's a skeptical audience and there is "obvious-ness." People have told me in the past month they believe ABs are on steroids. Their evidence...? They don't need any. Not when it's so transparently "obvious." And remember, these are people who grew up with Ben. Incredibly skeptical and suspicious people. "Obviously."</p>
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<p>Many people throwing stones and looking for specks in their brothers eyes, but let me state for the record: There has NEVER been a Kiwi rugby player who even thought of taking a steroid for an advantage and there NEVER will be.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Kirwan" data-cid="539847" data-time="1446848877">
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<p>It's an always expanding Comp buy a new place in it.</p>
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<p>Who actually owns the teams?</p>
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<p>NZ franchises and player contracts are all owned (presumably) by NZRU. I suspect the same is true of Aus and SA franchises, but perhaps the provincial unions own their own franchises (dunno), but I've long wondered if expansion would mean franchises in future become property & playthings of individuals like pro sports clubs in the rest of the world; and if so, will there be salary-caps, draft lotteries, unrestricted free agency, player trades & transfers, etc.</p>
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<p>Brave New World...?</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="540612" data-time="1447201079">
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<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:rgb(20,24,35);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>It's pretty obvious</strong> what's happening (or not happening) in Kenya, Jamaica and probably the rest of the world, but will it ever be revealed?</span></span></p>
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<p>Careful now.</p>
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<p>FWIW, I've heard similar the past month from some North Americans saying the same thing about Kiwi rugby players.</p>
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<p>I don't like it, especially when they say it's "obvious."</p>
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<p>In a skeptical world it's not a difficult deduction to make. They hulk up at the Haka, they hit harder, they run faster, less injuries and greater endurance, the "last quarter," they score more points and are far more successful.</p>
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<p>Deduction: Gottaberoids.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="540615" data-time="1447202041">
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<p>There's been a bit of discussion lately in the endurance sport community that they actually do enhance performance</p>
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<p>So do carbs and protein. Maybe they need to be put on the list too...?</p>
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<p>Realistically, the only advantage MJ provides an athlete is recovery time & sleep. It's a very mild painkiller and sedative, and it stimulates appetite. And really, it's all relative -- just because MJ isn't as toxic or as addictive or as dangerous as many prescribed legal pharmaceuticals like Oxycontin over the past decade does not mean it enhances performance. It means it's not nearly as damaging to your health. </p>

<p>"Rogue elements..."</p>
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<p>Lord Coe almost sounds like a conspiracy theorist.</p>

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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="540458" data-time="1447133283">
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<p>great another sport that can no longer be enjoyed without an asterisk beside results. God help me if rugby union comes under this cloud internationally. Bunch of fluffybunnys.</p>
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<p>It's an inevitability, so brace yourself. I just hope the first blockbuster scandal doesn't touch ABs or NZ rugby, because that could do unthinkable damage to the "brand" and "aura."</p>

<p>Russians probably were doping, but until Dick Pound and his political cohort removes cannabinoids from their banned substance list, it's difficult to take WADA and their mandate seriously.</p>

<p>Bills need to beat Jets on Thursday. I realize it's only midpoint of the season, but this game has enormous playoff implications. With Roethlisberger out and so many AFC teams currently sitting with awful records, the race is wide open and Bills at 4-4 actually have a shot at a wild card.</p>

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://deadspin.com/jason-pierre-paul-will-play-tomorrow-for-the-first-time-1741210215'>Jason Pierre-Paul Will Play Tomorrow For The First Time Since Blowing Up His Hand</a>

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://deadspin.com/kyle-turley-suicidal-and-homicidal-tendencies-became-1740891748'>Kyle Turley: "Suicidal And Homicidal Tendencies Became A Part Of My Daily Living"</a>

<p>(i thought trademe was nz-only bidders? did they change their policy...? if so, maybe i'll stop using me mum's paraparaumu address for bids, heh-heh)</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="538600" data-time="1446486479">
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<p>Not only raking his face dragging him down with his arm around his neck. This is what I was talking about earlier when NTA mentioned Kaino.</p>
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<p>Here's a better updated revision....</p>
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<p>(I might have to re-watch the whole test for the 5th time and isolate a Kepu highlight reel package from the final, an audition tape like that could buy him lunch with Vince McMahon...)</p>

<p>True enough, that is a head-high tackle got him 'round the neck into a Bulldog / Samoan side-slam finisher.</p>

<p>Ted has his latest column up at the Guardian. He justifiably spooges over the ABs & Richie who can blame him, not me, then pivots to rugby in general, says it's in good hands but raises questions about the Laws:</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote"><span style="font-size:18px;">What are we going to do with the rules of rugby? Mum is a little concerned about little Johnny because the game is becoming too physical. She may have a point. The rulebook is far too complicated, no wonder it’s difficult for referees. Start again: simplify the laws, decrease the physicality by lowering the tackle zone and use hands to recycle at the breakdown. Make sure all the props are straight and square at a scrum, heads above hips. And does the rolling maul from a lineout give the team with the ball too much of an advantage? Does it contradict how the game is refereed outside of the lineout, with players in front of the ball carrier protecting him? And should we substitute the referee when he is either tired or having a shocker?</span>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/02/new-zealand-rugby-world-cup-final-australia-emerging-countries-rulebook'>http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/02/new-zealand-rugby-world-cup-final-australia-emerging-countries-rulebook</a></p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sambo" data-cid="538560" data-time="1446465739">
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<p>Kepu's rake across Skuds face, what the fuck was that all about. Saw it again in the highlights of Nonu's try. Very dodgie. Deserves a citing IMO.</p>
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<p>"Dodgie...," oh, I thought you said "doggie." Sekope a very lucky boy. He palms his face, and possibly excessively, but no contact between fingers or thumb with eye. Pretty damned close. Brief warning - be more careful. Play on.</p>