Hence the wink.
I haven't played union to any serious level but I've watched plenty over the years. Quite often in a game I'm waiting for the referee to tell me which law has been broken as it's impossible to tell from the sideline or armchair. I think it's got worse over the years as when, as a young lad, I watched Orrell, I don't remember being as confused so often as I am in some games now.

Another good piece by Andy Wilson. Could rugby union learn from rugby league when it comes to discipline? www.anchorfan.com/blog/codebreak ... -other-one

Another good piece by Andy Wilson. Could rugby union learn from rugby league when it comes to discipline? www.anchorfan.com/blog/codebreak ... -other-one

Rugby Union, by a long way.

Quote ="Catalancs"Another good piece by Andy Wilson. Could rugby union learn from rugby league when it comes to discipline? www.anchorfan.com/blog/codebreak ... -other-one'" That's the first time I've seen anyone championing "on report" as a concept. As Wilson says though, the contrast between the bans for Ashton and Dowson does expose the system to ridicule.

Quote ="Catalancs"Another good piece by Andy Wilson. Could rugby union learn from rugby league when it comes to discipline? www.anchorfan.com/blog/codebreak ... -other-one'" That's the first time I've seen anyone championing "on report" as a concept. As Wilson says though, the contrast between the bans for Ashton and Dowson does expose the system to ridicule.

The 'on report' option is a good one but it should be a last resort. Too many decisions seem to automatically be put on report and it's taking responsibility away from our referees.
Many of the union laws and disciplinary rules need looking at but the problem is that there are just so many of them.

That's old age for you...

I know I live round here somewhere... I only popped out for...

EH?

Agreed, it gets ridiculous sometimes. I go down and watch Hull RUFC sometimes and being on the sidelines is even worse, since you can't actually hear the explanation unless he's shouting.

[url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/rugby/article-24019271-sarries-will-spend-pound-20m-on-their-new-dream-stadium.do?Saracens will spend £20m on their new stadium... in Barnet.[/url
[i'Sarries' annual debt is north of £5m and they pay rent to play home games at Watford FC's Vicarage Road ground.'[/i

[i'When Wray, a major player in the London property market, insists that paying £10m of his own cash to upgrade Barnet Copthall is a better option than using the money to buy a Caribbean island, you start to understand how committed he is to the club.'[/i
Different world.

I live in Barnet, there has been a lot of opposition to this, i can see lots of problems if it goes through.

Presumably it would mean the end of it as a community athletics resource, or are Sarries planning on keeping the track in place and allowing access to their spanking new stadium?

The original us of the stadium will remain but with vastly improve facilities, it's the locals who don't want it, they fought off Barnet FC on previous occasions, we'll see how it pans out.

I bet his wife prefers the Windwards to Watford though...

Are they still planning on using removeable stands so the track can stay?

Football club for one wont be happy.

Just been watching Bath v Leinster. It's currently 6-3 to Bath in a game they must win, but it really is one of the most turgidly cautious games of rugby union I've ever seen. The crowd seem very subdued, maybe is down to the fayre on offer.
Wasn't really surprised to see Northampton go out of the Heineken cup as they're ill discipline has been evident all season. Cracking win for Treviso, even if Biarritz had a few players out. Shame Aironi are still gash.
Toulouse to lift the cup this season.

[url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11122011/58/premiership-rugby-season-move-summer.htmlHow do they come up with these ground-breaking innovations?[/url

You've not watched much yawnion or that is one terrible game.

Oh it was - absolutely horrible.

Can't look beyond a French winner this year I'm afraid.

France with much much larger salaries on offer will dominate for seasons to come.

If you thought that was poor, then you should have watched the Amlin Cup game at Exeter later on, now that really was poor.

We had a debate a few pages back about the Aviva Premiership attendances and the effect of the World Cup

Interesting to note that the average attendance up to and inclusive of Round 6 was 11,780 and the since round 7 (which started Friday the 28th of October, the week after the World Cup final) the average attendance has been 10,646

An extra couple of Newcastle and Sale home games tilting the balance?

Not particularly, Newcastle and Sale each had two home and two away fixtures in the four rounds since round 7. If you were to discount the Twickenham double header in round 1 from the stats then the averages would be 9,212 before round 7 and 10,646 after but seeing as though the teams like to include the Twickenham fixtures to show stronger season averages then I thought I should include

If you discount the Twickenham games then the overall season average is 9,805

I'd wager Sale Sharks get better crowds than Wasps and Exeter.