Rugby Union RWC and Season 2011-12

Any suggestions/personal favourites as to who will lift the Web Ellis this time around?

It would be nice to think that England would be in with a shout, when they play well they play well.  But inconsistency, plus the distraction of the current structural turmoil at the RFU, makes it a less than certain bet!

Southern Hemisphere will be strong as always.

I'd like to see some of the small nations do well - improve in their own terms, even if unlikely that they would win overall.  That is what'll make it a great festival of rugby.  Plus of course a good welcome from the host nation

The biggest bummer of all for the RWC is that the games are all early morning and therefore no chance for a sherbert or two whilst watching .

Tigers have just confirmed Julian Salvi as a replacement for Newby who will be out untill December

Now you know how we feel when watching sports that are geared to European TV viewing time slots (tried to insert a winking graemlin but it appears my work browser doesn't support the function...) 

I'm sure we'll do our best and then charge you for the privilege :-)

No problem deadlifter.  It's one of the disadvantages of living so far ahead of GMT. 

My biggest gripe is reserved for Bernie Ecclestone, who goes on about F1 being a global sport and introducing it to new markets etc. end then dictating that races in far flung locales have to be held at a time suitable for the European TV audiences.   

I note that the head coaches of a couple of the favourites are coming out with their excuses already ... 'burnout' NZ and 'injuries' SA.

Ahh, F1 now your talking BIG MONEY which is what makes Bernie even richer, but i understand the BBC are going to give up showing it once their five years are up [which may be the end of this season ] so maybe things might change you never know .

Anyway it must be your bed time about now

Apparently De villers is keeping his best twenty one players at home to rest them 

I think de Villiers is just copying what Jake White did last time around.

I suggest that both South Africa and NZ could be undone by the age of their squad and a number of key players past their best and need every advantage they can get.  Ironically a lot of the media here are saying many AB's aren't match fit and actually need more match time.

Australia on the other hand have a young talented team, belief, and a good coach.

Good old Samoa!  Well done on beating the Wallabies!

Mathew Tait is now confirmed at Tigers 

WYCOMBE Wanderers' plans for a new 17,500 seater stadium and sports village were rejected by the town council last night.

Wycombe District Council (WDC) met to decide on the controversial Wycombe Air Park proposals in Booker before voting against them.

Club owner Steve Hayes was hoping to move Wanderers and Rugby Union side Wasps from their Adams Park home to a new sports village which would include housing and community facilities.

But the plans, designed by Hayes' Wycombe Sports Development Ltd (WSDL) company, had been met with protest from supporter groups and environmental campaigners.

Wycombe Wanderers Trust said there were too many risks around the new stadium plans but hopes WSDL and Hayes come back to the negotiating table with a better offer.

A statement said: "The cabinet's unanimous decision was taken on a combination of concerns in respect of development on an area of Green Belt and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and on financial prudence, given the uncertain benefits compared with the very real costs and risks associated with the proposal.
"The Trust will be arranging discussions with Steve Hayes, and will welcome further discussions with WDC to discuss how Wycombe Wanderers can move forward at Adams Park, and the part that it can play in the next era of the club."

WSDL has insisted it is not financially viable for Wanderers and Wasps to remain at Adams Park with both clubs losing money annually while the Premiership rugby giants have also threatened to leave the town in search of more profits.

Reacting to the decision a WSDL statement said: "Our outline business case sets out a sustainable plan which delivers long term economic and social benefits to the whole area.

"The Wycombe Sporting Village creates at least 400 new jobs in the area, generates at least £125million worth of social benefits over the next 25 years, produces a projected £12.5m of rent receipts for WDC over 25 years, secures professional sport in Wycombe, provides affordable housing and offers world class leisure and recreational facilities for the community.

"We will continue to leave no stone unturned in endeavouring to secure the best possible future for professional sport in Wycombe, for the benefit of all in the community."

"The Council's decision tonight represents the potential loss of a golden opportunity to build towards a better future for Wycombe."

Oop`s

WYCOMBE Wanderers' plans for a new 17,500 seater stadium and sports village were rejected by the town council last night.

Wycombe District Council (WDC) met to decide on the controversial Wycombe Air Park proposals in Booker before voting against them.

Club owner Steve Hayes was hoping to move Wanderers and Rugby Union side Wasps from their Adams Park home to a new sports village which would include housing and community facilities.

But the plans, designed by Hayes' Wycombe Sports Development Ltd (WSDL) company, had been met with protest from supporter groups and environmental campaigners.

Wycombe Wanderers Trust said there were too many risks around the new stadium plans but hopes WSDL and Hayes come back to the negotiating table with a better offer.

A statement said: "The cabinet's unanimous decision was taken on a combination of concerns in respect of development on an area of Green Belt and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and on financial prudence, given the uncertain benefits compared with the very real costs and risks associated with the proposal.
"The Trust will be arranging discussions with Steve Hayes, and will welcome further discussions with WDC to discuss how Wycombe Wanderers can move forward at Adams Park, and the part that it can play in the next era of the club."

WSDL has insisted it is not financially viable for Wanderers and Wasps to remain at Adams Park with both clubs losing money annually while the Premiership rugby giants have also threatened to leave the town in search of more profits.

Reacting to the decision a WSDL statement said: "Our outline business case sets out a sustainable plan which delivers long term economic and social benefits to the whole area.

"The Wycombe Sporting Village creates at least 400 new jobs in the area, generates at least £125million worth of social benefits over the next 25 years, produces a projected £12.5m of rent receipts for WDC over 25 years, secures professional sport in Wycombe, provides affordable housing and offers world class leisure and recreational facilities for the community.

"We will continue to leave no stone unturned in endeavouring to secure the best possible future for professional sport in Wycombe, for the benefit of all in the community."

"The Council's decision tonight represents the potential loss of a golden opportunity to build towards a better future for Wycombe."

Oop`s  also not sure about the term Premiership giants, not anymore anyway

It begins...



Tickets booked for opening match of the Season, Tigers vs Exeter.  Caterpillar Stand Block GL row K.  Just right for Scott Hamilton going over to score in the corner.

So Danny Care is out of the world cup now with a broken big toe

Great game for the Tigers yesterday at Welford road walloping Lyon 38-3 and despite not having all of our first XV, the season looks to be promising and had you been there James you would have been delighted with Scott Hamilton`s two trys in the corner 

Mathew Tait put in a good performance as did George Ford and 36

The generosity of Leicester Tigers is noted.  They given the rest of the Premiership clubs a headstart, by supplying 1/5 of the RWC England squad, Castro to Italy, Murph to Ireland and Alex the Fridge to Samoa, plus Jordan Crane resting up for the season with major knee op...

Will still swat Pests tho.

Again it seems that our national team vs Ireland will be shown on a certain subscription channel with only the highlights on the BBC this evening, an absolute bloody disgrace 

Tigers 7   Ireland 0 

Well all in all a good performance by the boys in white today, they just need to drop the penalty count against them 

Watch out, Manu's coming!  The nation will be relieved that Tigers fought his deportation when his student visa ran out!

His defending and other general play seemed much improved too.  Feel really bad for David Wallace tho, poor s*d.  Just a totally legal but uncompromising tackle into touch by Manu.

The Wasp seems to be conspicuous by his absense

CHIEFS CHIEFS CHIEFS