Four New Zealanders, three South Africans and a Samoan. England rugby union falls to new depths of embarrassingly ridiculous farce.

They will no doubt soon have 3 players who started off in RL as well.... Ashton, Farrell and Eastmond.

That will leave only 4 players they produced themselves for the national team.

Then you start to wonder how their higher salary cap is actually benefitting them, because it clearly isn't increasing the quality and number of English players playing at the highest level. I guess it's best use is dragging in the mercenaries from RL.

Who are they?

Not doubting you, just curious.

Shontayne Hape - New Zealand
Thomas Waldrom - New Zealand. As Luke Narraway (who for me should have been in the final squad never mind the first 45) wrote on Twitter: "Good luck to Thomas the tank and his English nan. #notbittermuch."
Dylan Hartley - New Zealand
Riki Flutey - New Zealand

Mouritz Botha - South Africa
Hendre Fourie - South Africa
Matt Stevens - South Africa

Manu Tuilagi - Samoa


Then you've got;

Charlie Sharples - Hong Kong
Alex Corbisiero - USA
Delon Armitage - Trinidad
Joe Simpson - Australia
Paul Doran-Jones - Ireland

That's pushing 30% of the squad born outside the country. Not acceptable, but I don't doubt for one second it will be ignored by the media.

From @Magic_Maurice:

To get into the mindset for two home games at Deepdale against Colchester and Crewe, Maurice has invited Wigan Athletic for a friendly.
Wigan's largest away following of the season is expected, at 723, and some 1,200 pies are expected to be sold in the visitors section.
Busy with more important matters, Maurice will not be attending. And hearing Sky Sports have not picked up the game, neither will Mr Whelan.

723? hahahahahahahahaha

Those naughty, naughty lobbygobblers.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp ... 4#43438674 Amazing to think the Nazi's actually allowed a POW to order a watch and receive it while being detained in one of their camps.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp ... 4#43438674 Amazing to think the Nazi's actually allowed a POW to order a watch and receive it while being detained in one of their camps.

Swedish carmaker Saab says it has no money to pay staff. Move your mind... to the job centre.

Bloody shame but it's been a dying marque for the past 20 odd years. death knell was when they redressed opel/vauxhall motors with a different body; it lost its identity and became another corporate clotheshorse.

www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... om-hell.do

www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... om-hell.do

Part II www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... -in-law.do

Part II www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... -in-law.do

I'm off to Hamburg tomorrow, just thought I'd mention it on here

im off to Waddington Air Show tomorrow, just thought id mention it

I'm doing the '3 Towers Challenge' on Sunday, 23 miles - Peel Tower (Rochdale), to Darwen Tower (nr Blackburn), to Rivington Tower.
Just thought I'd mention it.

I'm going to Gullivers World tomorrow. Just thought I.........

Just in case your're interested, tomorrow Haydock Park would be the place to see me................................

Just in case anyone was wondering, I'll be in Platja d'Aro watching Vitali Klitschko hand David Haye his Saturday neet. Feel free to say awreet and buy me a pint.

I'm just having my dinner (spag bol), no plans for tomorrow yet.

With or without parmesan cheese?

Sadly without

Dairylea?

I like Dairylea on toast, but then again, I like nearly any cheese on toast, not good for my ever increasing waistline !!

Well I've just returned from a nice walk around Harrogate and thoroughly enjoyed it.