So is it the RL influence that is to blame, or the 'new laws' or the muckles that make the game so sh it? Only one Ingerlish team through to the last eight. I'm gutted. No, really.

The essence of Beattie's article - which I thought was really well written - was that in order to try and make the game safer the IRB have prevented attacking teams from being able to clear defenders out at the ruck as vigorously as they used to and therefore the game has become much slower.

With slower ball for the attacking team and an offside line that is no more than a few feet away, teams are left with no option than to grind the ball forward through the big men phase after phase or kick it away. Imagine modern rugby league played not under a ten metre or five metre offside rule but one or two metres. That's how little space union attacks have to work in most of the time.

The new laws were designed to clean up the contact area, but in reality all they have done is enable defences to slow ball down even further and bring the game to a shuddering halt.

If it got any slower it would be in reverse.

So, Rugby Union Super League. Where did they get that imaginative name from then?

Probably the same place the RFL stole it from, or do you think that's the only sporting competition anywhere in the world that is allowed to call itself Super League?

Of course its not dumbass, but why name it exactly the same as the RL arm? It's like World Superbikes becoming MotoGP, both bike competitions with different rules with the same. How is that any way a good idea apart from trying outshine?

British Ice Hockey at the same time we did?



What's wrong with 'Premiership' or are they still looking for a way of getting rid of (whisper) P&R?

My point (once again) is that they're 2 totally different sports. Hell the top Greek football league is called Superleague isn't it? But 2 leagues with the same name both with the oval ball? It serves no purpose.

Like professionalism, video refs (and how y does 'Television Match Official' sound) and even squad numbers, where we nick from others, they 'innovate' years later...it'll not paying tax bills next!

[url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby/10/01/28/RUGBYU_RFU.htmlPrince Harry is to become vice patron of England's Rugby Football Union (RFU), it was announced today.[/url

Ireland or Wales for the six nations? Any ideas?

Ah, one more reason to hate the Monarchy.

[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jan/29/lee-byrne-small-talkLee Byrne interview in Guardian[/url

=#0000FFYou started off playing dual-code rugby, also turning out for Bridgend Blue Bulls. Which is harder?
The league players won't agree but in union you've got more skills, the lineout, the scrums and so on, the kicking, so I'd definitely go for rugby union.

=#0000FFAre you saying rugby league is just running in a straight line?
No. There's a lot more than that. There's certain angles you have to hit. But there is more to think about in rugby union.

=#0000FFWhat about the super-fitness of rugby league players. Is it a myth?
I don't think it's much different. They're training themselves to run through brick walls, but union players you're probably covering a bit more ground.

Manchester 14 vs 41 Sedgley Park
Manchester 0 vs 148 Esher
Nuneaton 95 vs 0 Manchester
Manchester 12 vs 145 Blaydon
Wharfedale 124 vs 5 Manchester
Manchester 3 vs 93 Otley
Manchester 3 vs 93 Cinderford
Redruth 91 vs 5 Manchester
Manchester 0 vs 93 London Scottish
Stourbridge 95 vs 5 Manchester
Manchester 0 vs 59 Newbury
Tynedale 93 vs 0 Manchester
Blackheath 82 vs 0 Manchester
Sedgley Park 80 vs 3 Manchester
Manchester 3 vs 50 Cambridge
Launceston 66 vs 0 Manchester
Manchester 23 vs 45 Wharfedale
Otley 87 vs 3 Manchester

-------------- Plyd Won Dw Lost - PF -- PA -- BP - Pnts
Manchester 17 -- 0 -- 0 -- 15 -- 65 - 1539 - 0 - minus2


They have just done a piece on The rugby club on Manchester saying how they lost there finacial backer and most of there playing and coaching staff at the end of last season so they promoted their colts side to the first team this season. Which explains there season so far, But the main part of it was that they had a training session with Lions coach Ian Meechan this week so we will see how well they go when they play Cinderford away tomorrow.

so amateur regional rugby league isnt much different from professional international rugby union

sounds about right

Err, what happened in the two they didn't lose, if they didn't win or draw any games?

Manchester 14 vs 41 Sedgley Park
Manchester 0 vs 148 Esher
Nuneaton 95 vs 0 Manchester
Manchester 12 vs 145 Blaydon
Wharfedale 124 vs 5 Manchester
Manchester 3 vs 93 Otley
Manchester 3 vs 93 Cinderford
Redruth 91 vs 5 Manchester
Manchester 0 vs 93 London Scottish
Stourbridge 95 vs 5 Manchester
Manchester 0 vs 59 Newbury
Tynedale 93 vs 0 Manchester
Blackheath 82 vs 0 Manchester
Sedgley Park 80 vs 3 Manchester
Manchester 3 vs 50 Cambridge
Launceston 66 vs 0 Manchester
Manchester 23 vs 45 Wharfedale
Otley 87 vs 3 Manchester

Cinderford 73 vs 0 Manchester

-------------- Plyd Won Dw Lost - PF -- PA -- BP - Pnts
Manchester 18 -- 0 -- 0 -- 18 -- 65 - 1612 - 0 - minus2

Looks like Ian McGeechan did not rurn them around

And to think they gave him a knighthood.



To be honest this whole 'poor Manchester' thing is wearing a bit thin.
They're crap, albeit due to certain circumstances, and the best thing that coul happen to them is relegation to a division where they stand a chance of being competitive.

[url=http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=151960562&ocid=todayRugby eye 'gouging' incident probed.[/url

Why?

i assume you mean - why do it ?as opposed to why investigate?

vile vile vile

Noticed a french prop got a 70 something week ban for it a couple of weeks ago - it seems to be becoming more prevalent - bring life bans in.

But I just can't understand why they do it in the first place.

Possibly because they were all buggered senseless at public school?

Poor Manchester



Sky Sports did a piece on McGeechan's training session, watch it [url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12325_5888610,00.htmlhere[/url.

That 148-0 scoreline is huge, but the world record was in the French 3rd Division: Lavardac 350-0 Vergt in 1984. In England it's Norwich 177-3 Eccles & Attleborough.

Good to see an ex-RL team (Lavardac) holds the record for sticking it to a union team...

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8500298.stmI wish Rugby League could do 'drama' like this...[/url

See. The BBC can do rugby well if they're interested.