Regional championships

Is the next step for the iRB to intropduce mandatory participation in regional championships to secure qualification to the RWC?

Hell yes it should be.

No matter how many points New Zealand would beat Niue by, it is irrelevant they should be in the same competition at the same time trying to make the RWC.

No need to reply about safety and scorelines. Who cares, it is the world cup everyone starts out equal.

Wales v Lithuania, would love to see it.

What is the geatest rugby rivalry?

At any level a local derby is pretty significant. Whether it be Penclawdd RFC versus Gowerton in West Wales rugby or the Warringah versus Manly duels in the Shute Shield, these are keenly contested matches.

At the international level the obvious candidates for a good old fashioned humdinger are New Zealand v South Africa or England v Scotland.

Personally, I believe that the Varsity match between Oxford and Cambridge universities carries the torch for the greatest rivalry. It has tradition, passion, the feel of a real event and it exists without the need for huge TV contracts or too make a few dollars more.

It is truly the greatest rugby rivalry.

Developing club rugby the right way

Is it better for a club to have a strong first XV and a weaker 2nd & 3rd XV so it receives press attention and potentialy win the odd trophy or should a club strive to be competitive across all grades?

This is the dilema facing many of the clubs in the Sydney Shute shield competition at the moment.

Warringah as an example have a very strong first XV but have barely won a grade match below the first grade all season. Where as teams such as Gordon, Eastwood and Easts may not be in the running for the title but they are performing reasonably well across the grades.

So what is the solution?

Personally I believe Eastwood have the right mix, they are a successful club built on a good junior section with not too many players “bought in”, they perform consistently well each year, some years better than others but they are always hard to beat.

A lot of clubs would be well served looking at their model closely and mirroring it.

It may not bring the instant success that the media and sponsors may desire however it will ensure much success in the years to come.

Real rugby continues

With the 6 nations finished, the Magners league, European cup and the Guinness Premiership reaching the business end of the season, the Super 14 is not far behind them too. So that is the end of rugby this season right?

Wrong. Around the world there is much international rugby being played. This weekend alone saw/sees the following matches played:

11.05.2008

Nigeria v Cameroun in Younde (WCQ Africa; North Pre qualifier)

10.05.2008

Spain 21, Portugal 17 in Madrid (ENC 1)

Japan 82, Kazakhstan 6 in Almaty (Asia 5 Nations)

Poland 29, Malta 16 in Marsa (ENC 2B)

Latvia 20, Croatia 8 in Riga (ENC 2B)

Armenia 25, Serbia 0 in Yerevan (ENC 3A)

Norway v Bulgaria in Stavanger (ENC 3B)

Bosnia & Herzegovina 22, Slovenia 17 in Zenica (ENC 3C)

Rwanda v Burundi in Bujumbura (CAR Castel Beer Cup, South, Pool A)

09.05.2008

Korea 43, Arabian Gulf 20 in Doha (Asia 5 Nations)

This is fantastic, this is real rugby. We celebrate people taking a day or two off work to travel to represent their country, most likely on a budget airline or on a dodgy bus so the union can save costs and help develop another few players in a school somewhere in their country.

Wouldn’t it be great to see the list of excuses from a 6 nations team who had just travelled to Bucharest in a bus and been beaten…. Something that most of the players above do as a matter of course. We salute you.

Best ever copybook rugby tackle

Is this the best rugby tackle caught on film?

About 40 seconds into the rugby video a middle aged tubby bloke runs down one of the opposition and brings him down perfectly.

It is the best I have seen and can guarantee that it is the best the middle aged tubby guy has ever done.

Who will win the Asian 5 Nations?

Me thinks Japan, but would love to see the Kazakh’s get up for a suprise championship win.

Or maybe Australia might follow the football team and join Asia so they have a chance of winning something again…. Might be onto something there!