The Rugby World Cup

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The IRB have acted swiftly to replace their outgoing CEO and managing director of Rugby World Cup Limited, Mike Miller.

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Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News wrote this article.
As if they need an introduction, here are the four England Rugby 2015 Ambassadors tasked with spreading the gospel of RWC 2015.

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Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News wrote this article.
ER 2015 Chief Executive Officer Paul Vaughan speaks with Total Rugby about the exciting plans for Rugby World Cup 2015.

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admin wrote this article.
The infamous teapot tape has been leaked online on a file-sharing site, with an invitation to download the file and share it so that it “can’t be taken back!”.The teapot tape is the recording of a conversation between Prime Minister…

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Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News wrote this article.
Rugbyworldcup.com, the official website of RWC 2015, launches today to offer an innovative digital offering for Rugby’s showcase event.

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newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz wrote this article.
It’s all over now … but here’s one last gift for RWC2011, from us to you.
Here’s a link to download a PDF compiling all Ruggerblogger’s infographics for the games, all 48 of them.
Enjoy. Now let’s get cracking on 2012.

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Lee Coan wrote this article.
Philippe Saint-André, the new French national coach, has named his 30 players group for the Six Nations tournament including two uncapped players. Toulouse and Clermont, the two best teams in Top 14 and H Cup during the first half of the season, are the most represented in this list with respectively 11 and 7 players.
Clermont’s utility back Wesley Fofana (who will likely play inside centre) and Toulouse’s lock Yoann Maestri are the two new faces that are expected to wear their first blue jersey this year. PSA has also recalled players that were unofficially banned by Marc Lièvremont like fullback Clermont Poitrenaud and flanker Yannick Nyanga from Toulouse and wing Julien Malzieu from Clermont.
Florian Fritz is still missing despite high performances with Toulouse for the last two years. His absence seems incomprehensible but he might still carry the burden of some offside incidents. Yann David, his substitute with Toulouse has been called instead.
Lionel Beauxis, who has left the Stade Français for Toulouse, is back with Les Bleus thanks to high level display sending Luke McAlister to  the bench. Loosehead prop Vincent Debaty is the only surprise of this list, taking advantage of Thomas Domingo two successive injuries to win a starting spot with Clermont.  (….continued below Video….)
Click here to view the embedded video.
Philippe Saint-André has stated that his strategy is selecting the best available players to win the Six Nations and impress during spring and autumn tours. He has no interest in selecting youngsters in order to prepare the next World Cup in 2015 like Marc Lievremont did at the beginning of his spell.
“I’m preparing tomorrow and the future! No one is eliminated. Those who are selected today will not necessary be there for the next four years”.

This group is experienced with 22 of them who were in New Zealand last october. Lionel Nallet, 35 yo, was not selected at first but was recalled when Romain Millo-Chlusky got injured during a Top 14 game. Damien Traille, David Marty and Cedric Heymans have been omitted and their time with Les Bleus seems to be over. Thierry Dusautoir remains the captain but a fierce competition will take place for a starting spot on the third line, within the halves and at the centre of the attack. William Servat, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Papé, Thierry Dusautoir, Vincent Clerc and Maxime Médard are almost certain to start thanks to their high level of performance this season.
France are a strong chance to win this 2012 Six Nations Tournament as it is hosting three games, especially two clashes against England and Ireland plus Italy for the opening fixture. The last game will be against Wales at the Millenium Stadium. An opportunity for the Welsh to take their revenge from the controversial world cup semi final. The referee will be… Craig Joubert!
Props: Fabien Barcella (Biarritz) – Vincent Debaty (Clermont) – Luc Ducalcon (Castres) – Nicolas Mas (Perpignan) – Jean Baptiste Poux (Toulouse)
Hookers: William Servat (Toulouse) – Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français)
Locks: Yoann Mastri (Toulouse) – Lionel Nallet (Racing Metro […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article.

A drinking team with a rugby problem

To give a bit of context behind the plan to lose the pool games, the way the Hottest 7s tournament runs, the lowest qualifiers from each pool play for the Gecko Cup. The main goal for the team is to be the best of the worst, so taking out the Gecko Cup does that. There is two ways to get to the cup final, the second lowest qualifiers play quarter finals, and the lowest skip straight to the semis, so the quickest way to the final is to lose the pools.
True to the Mudchook traditions, they boys took to the field for their first game more than a little worse for wear, the “hydration” session from the night before had ensured they were well watered, a couple of hair of the dogs took the edge off. They put a good showing on the ground though, save for actually scoring a try, they followed the game plan to perfection and we lost.
With a couple of hours to kill and it being the hottest part of the day, we headed back to the hotel for recovery in the pool. a couple of loaves of bread and BBQ chickens saw to the nutritional needs before we were back on the bus on the way to the ground.

Click here to view the embedded video.
Game 2 was against the Smashed Crabs and I’m not sure if it was the heightened tension because of the way the Chooka was challenged back by the ‘crabs war challenge or just a brain snap, but Kenny was carded right on half time for a late tackle. He sat out his 2 minute sin bin. On his return to the field we were kicking off, and it was a cracker, so high it was coming down with snow on it. This gave Kenny a split second too long to think and he checked the guy taking the ball. The ref went to the pocket again. The second yellow was automatically upgraded to a red and the was his tournament done (Official rules say a red card is an automatic suspension for the rest of the tournament).
We challenged the ruling and had a meeting with the judiciary booked, Fano and I were going in to save the Chooks chances. Fano fronted the tournament director with negotiation skills honed through the years at countless Kangaroo court style fining sessions. The result was that the cards stood, but the automatic suspension was reduced to one match.
Last game was in the cool and wet of night. It may have been a combination of the wet turf slowing the other team down a bit or just the fact the hangovers had passed, but the boys put on a cracking display. with a minute to go scores were levelled at 5 apiece. before the game plan was remembered and a missed tackle let them in, the loss was secured.

Winner Winner, Mudchooks Dinner.

Elated with placing right where we wanted, nutrition was […]

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The IRB have confirmed USA wing James Paterson has been banned for four months after testing positive at the World Cup.

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admin wrote this article.
One of the men who played a vital role in the running of last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in standing down from his post.Mike Miller, the chief executive of the IRB and managing director of Rugby World Cup Limited, will…

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newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz wrote this article.
When he shook hands with the players and made his way into the innards of the Wellington Stadium, Bryce Lawrence had no idea his world was about be tilted off its axis.The Wallabies had just won a nail-biter against South Africa…

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admin wrote this article.
Rugby World Cup referee Bryce Lawrence will not be travelling to South Africa for the Super 15.This follows the uproar over his handling of the South Africa-Australia World Cup quarter-final, won 11-9 by the Wallabies, and subsequent…

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IRB chief executive and Rugby World Cup Limited managing director Mike Miller will step down from both roles at the end of January.

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Lee Coan wrote this article.
Some of us north of the border have an inbuilt malevolence against anything rhyming with ‘kidney’, but the old saying still goes: if NSW rugby is strong, then Australian rugby is strong.
Maybe I’m mellowing and a little serendipitous, but I want the Waratahs to have a big year — crikey, don’t tell anyone in Godzone that I said that!

Gaff: an asset

The Waratah’s 2012 squad is seemingly teeming with quality Super Rugby players, including loads of experienced internationals. Well, on paper that is…
The Sydney media is still pumping out the usual guff — you know the pack drill — ho hum, they’ve won it already. But maybe this year they might have a point. Realistically, in the Australian Conference there’ll only be two teams in the race for top honours, the Tahs and the Reds, with daylight next.
An unknown known is the brittleness of the squad with a ream of carry-over injuries from last season. Really, the Tahs did well to the make the play-offs in 2011, in spite of their disgruntled fan base, but injuries cruelled them in the end.
The question will be when will they be able to field their top side? At this early juncture it looks to me like about 2013. A pernicious and chronic hamstring injury to the Rock continues to derail his rugby career.
You’d have to say that the Brumbies probably got the better end of the deal with Ben Mowen heading in the other direction. He’ll be an able replacement for Mitch Chapman.
I think there’s a chance Elsom might miss the entire season. Dan Vickerman wont be ready until midway through the competition. There’s of course a whole platoon of infantry down at the sick bay.
I heard some reassuring noises this week coming out of the Tahs bunker saying that most of the squadies will be ready to go on the 25th (of February for the start of Super Rugby). You reckon?
That’s five weeks for Cliffy Palu, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Drew Mitchell, Rob Horne and Lakky Turner. The latter two sound like they’ll be ready for the opening ‘mega-clash’ against the Reds but I’m not so sure about the others?
Then of course test lock Sitaleki Timani isn’t returning from Japan until his season finishes, whenever that might be? You’d think he might need a rest in between having played continually since the beginning of last year.
The injury prone TPN, Horne and Berrick Barnes would also be week-by-week propositions over the season as a whole. So, how good is the backup?
There’s some pretty solid timber in that forward pack with usual suspects Mummy, a developing Kane Douglas and Dave Dennis at the core. Dennis is becoming a permanent fixture in the side and he’ll be hard to move when the ‘stars’ return.
I’m also looking forward to seeing how Tilse and Ryan respond to increased opportunities in the front row. Hooker is a problem with Fitzpatrick failing to match his Sydney press write-ups and the third string’s a journeyman.
Berrick Barnes is integral to the success of this side. If […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article.

As I sat at the airport waiting to board, I got to thinking the closest thing, short of an epic World Cup tour last year, I haven’t had a proper trip with a rugby team for about a decade. Got to say, it feels good to be part of the “team”, even though I wont don the boots, my role as PR Manager is close enough to the action, and I get to join in with the drinking games. I have been given the official rules, unfortunately rule 9, What goes on tour stays on tour I am unable to fully disclose. I have been given permission to share the odd rule for context, if it is required for PR reasons. Before getting into the tour though, I should give you some background on the Team. The Groote Elyandt Mudchooks are probably best described as an invitational team similar to the Barbarians. Like the Baabaas, a big emphasis is on the off field bonding and enjoying the team environment. The team started back in ’89 when a group of guys working in the mines on Groote Elyandt were looking for a reason to get over to the mainland, and what better reason than a rugby trip. From humble begininngs the Mudchooks legend has grown. During their existance they have been good enough to have been invited to many events, such as the Bancok 10′s, the Gold Coast and Hong Kong sevens, however the adhoc nature of the team prevents the necessary organisational abilities attending those events would go against the spirit of the team. Given a large perrcentage of the team have Islander heritage (mostly Tongan, in fact I might be the only Pakhea in the team) they are probably best known for their traditional challenge, the “Chooka”, which sends fear into the minds of their opponents. Living out their credos of “Best of the Worst” they are often seen at the pointy end of the competition playing for the Gecko Cup, successfully for the majority of the time. The Darwin 7s, or Hottest 7s as it is officially called, is an IRB run tournament that began in ’97 as the territory 7′s.  While not on the International 7s tour, there is an International flavour, with representation from Fiji, Samoa and australian and New Zealand teams, as well as representation from the Brumbies, Sunnybank and plenty of other clubs. There is also a Womens pool so it holds up as a worthwhile event. Talking to past participants, it seems to be a well enjoyed and run tournament with plenty happening on and off the pitch. Tonight I have the official team meeting to attend, where I will recieve my initiaton task and learn the chooka. Can’t wait, it is great to be back on tour.

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