Roar Rookie
Joined November 2011
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Rugby Union is one of a number of my passions in life- but the closest I'll ever be to representing the Wallabies in sitting in the stands cheering them on- so i'll have to be content talking about Rugby instead!
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Yesterday, the ARU released the fixture list for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour in June-July 2013. Although it has only been a…
My goodness that’s a pretty awesome Randwick side- shame you don’t see teams like that playing Club Rugby anymore…..
What is your favourite rugby team ever?
Don’t some AFL and NRL clubs discipline their players for drinking while injured, let alone the rest of it?
Beale and Cooper in Brisbane hotel incident
My views on scrums are probably skewed by my father being and old front rower- i.e. the scrum is the most important part of the game! I agree that it’s importance isn’t as valued as it could be- Dad always said that his objective was always to try and win a tight head, and whenever he did the lift it would give the team (as well as the ensuing tactical advantage) was immense.
Having never played in the Front Row myself I can’t vouch for how easy of difficult that might be (maybe topo can enlighten us!) but it does astound me that it doesn’t seem to happen too often at the top level. Is this because they are all so well skilled, or is their focus on other tasks?
The importance of rugby union's scrum
So where can I purchase my Holbrook Submarines membership?
Time for the Gold Coast to give up on sports
As Jack Gibson used to say (and he even coached the Sharkies!)- “Waiting for Cronulla to win a Premiership is like leaving the back porch light on for Harold Holt”.
Cronulla Sharks: Worth the wait
Still remember Dan Parks putting 40 points on Randwick playing for Southern Districts in either 2001 or 2002, and then winning a Shute Shield for Easts in ’03. Also have great memories of Chris Malone at Sydney Uni at the same time- it’s a shame we only had 3 Super Rugby teams back then otherwise these guys may have had a crack at the higher level here rather than in Europe!
Dan Parks and the unsolved questions of expat rugby
Stuart, what was the crowd like down there at Geelong? Do you think the Rebels engaged the locals enough to do something similar again, and positively develop Rugby in Regional Victoria?
Clinical Chiefs cost rusty Rebels in Corio
Fascinating read- Thanks for that, good to get a non-australian perspective on the Union V League issue.
Saint-Andre's France in contention for Six Nations glory
Since when was St. Edmunds College in NSW? That’s why they kicked them out of the Waratah Shield after winning it 7 years in a row, because they’re in the ACT!
Rebels will win Super Rugby before the Waratahs
I was always under the impression that Under 20’s etc didn’t count for Test eligibility. Here in Oz a few years ago we had a Flanker called Keith Gleeson who captained Australia U21’s but couldn’t get past Phil Waugh and George Smith so went and played for Ireland. It sounds like the IRB need to make clear what does and doesn’t count, rather than make one off exeptions and confusing rulings like it appears they have done here.
Rugby dispute as Scotland and Wales claim young player
I think it’s a great idea- the first Cricket match I ever attended at age 6 was at the Lavington Sports Ground in Albury between New South Wales and England- a great memory. I also fondly remember seeing England playing Zimbabwe the following year at the same venue during the World Cup- which was a massive occasion for Albury/Wodonga. If you could get local councils/shires etc. behind it it would be a boom for the regional centres and create some positive media and extra interest in Shield Cricket.
Send the Sheffield Shield into the country
The Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby team went with the Rebels name after the 2007 ARC team of the same name- although the competition only lasted one season, the branding associated with the name was strong. So it does relate to Melbourne’s Rugby history- which is far from short- Victorian teams played early Wallaby and Waratahs touring teams as they transited across the country to sail to England.
Also the “Rebel” moniker has an allusion to going against the considered norm in Victoria- AFL!
Choosing names for the NBL's newest franchises
The Southern NSW Stockmen playing in front of a packed Lavington Sports Ground would get my support- even 1500kms away!!!
How about our own national competition for rugby union?
I always thought the concept and structure of the ARC in 2007 was great, but cost way too much and was held in the middle of a RWC where we were all in Europe. I honestly don’t think a national club competition in on the ARU’s radar simply because they don’t want to pay for it. Remember they don’t even play the ARS for the non-traditional states or even have an Australia A team anymore because of the financial climate. Love to see it happen, but I doubt it.
How about our own national competition for rugby union?
The Greatest team I would have loved to have seen would be the 1927/28 Waratahs- where running Rugby began with Cyril Towers, Tom Lawton Snr Captained by Johnnie Wallace- who continue to inspire generations in this country to play the running game.
Out of teams I have seen hard to go past the Wallabies 1999-2001 and I guess by extension 2000-2001 Brumbies- even now only 10 years later I think “why can’t we play Rugby like that any more???”
What is your favourite rugby team ever?