Tag: Rugby

How would a European Rugby Super League work?

Is a European Rugby Super League feasible? Would it positively impact Rugby Union in the Northern Hemisphere?

Earlier today Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal announced he wants to scrap the European Champions Cup and start a European Super League. Using this idea and the NFL as an influence here’s my idea of what a European Super League cold look like taking into account the following aims. Continue reading “How would a European Rugby Super League work?”

What should each team realistically aim for in the Six Nations? Part Three Ireland and Wales.

With the Six Nations kicking off THIS WEEK, here’s My Ignorant Opinion on what Ireland and Wales should expect of themselves.

Links to Part One and Part Two.

Last month I talked about how England and France shouldn’t expect too much after regime changes and disappointing World Cup campaigns. With Ireland and Wales it’s the exact opposite. Both nations should be aiming to win the Six Nation…here’s why. Continue reading “What should each team realistically aim for in the Six Nations? Part Three Ireland and Wales.”

What should each team realistically aim for in the Six Nations? Part Two Italy and Scotland.

With less than a month to go until the Six Nations kicks off, here’s My Ignorant Opinion on what Italy and Scotland should expect of themselves.

Last week I talked about how England and France shouldn’t expect too much after regime changes and disappointing world cup campaigns. Arguing both COULD win the Six Nations, but it is unlikely and other priorities should come first. This week I look at the what the two teams most often at the bottom of the table should aim for this year – Italy and Scotland. Continue reading “What should each team realistically aim for in the Six Nations? Part Two Italy and Scotland.”

What should each team realistically aim for in the Six Nations? Part One England and France.

With the Six Nations now only a month away each team will want to do as well as possible – but what should they hope for realistically?

February 6th is now only a month away and that means this year Six Nations kicks off with France vs Italy at the Stade de France.  After an embarrassing World Cup for much of the northern hemisphere (cough…England…cough) what should each Six Nations country/supporters/media expect of their teams in the coming tournament? Obviously every player and supporter wants their team to win the whole tournament, but here’s My Ignorant Opinion on what should be some more realistic aims for each of the team. Part One focuses on England and France: Continue reading “What should each team realistically aim for in the Six Nations? Part One England and France.”

How common are Performance Enhancing Drugs and Doping in Sport?

Russian Athletics has taken heat for their doping policy – however, they are not the only country or sport with a problem.

After the recent announcement that Russian Athletics has been banned from competing at the 2016 Olympics due to accusations of state sponsored doping there has been much debate online about how prevalent the practice is in various sports. The main topic of conversation seems to be whether Russia are in-fact the only nation to have a state sponsored doping regime, with many arguing that Russia have been singled out for political reasons. Obviously, I am not involved in professional sport, nor am I part of any anti-doping agency. I am, however, pretty in-tune with sports news and media – so here’s my ignorant opinion on how prevalent doping and performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) are in different sports. Continue reading “How common are Performance Enhancing Drugs and Doping in Sport?”

Should Georgia and/or Romania be Included in the Six Nations?

Including Georgia and Romania in the Six Nations? – unlikely, if not impossible for the time being.

There has been a lot of talk in recent years (basically since Italy joined) of including Georgia and Romania in the Six Nations. Their recent good performances in the World Cup have resurfaced this debate. However, expanding the top flight of International European rugby to a seven or eight nations has some inherent problems that make Georgia or Romania’s inclusion unlikely, if not impossible for the time being. Continue reading “Should Georgia and/or Romania be Included in the Six Nations?”

Historic Final This Saturday

New Zealand play Australia for the first time ever in a Rugby World Cup final.

After weeks of build up the Rugby World Cup final arrives this weekend. The All Blacks play the Wallabies for the first time ever in a Rugby World Cup final. Continue reading “Historic Final This Saturday”

Aviva Premiership Predictions 2015/16

After a shock to the Premiership establishment last year looks set to be more open than ever this season – here’s my prediction for who might make the play-offs this season.

After a delayed start to the season, thanks to the Rugby World Cup, Rugby Union’s club game in England is back tonight, and perhaps unfortunately England’s best players will be able to join in thanks to their early world cup exit. After a shock to the Premiership establishment last year (with Bath coming second) the tournament looks set to be more open than ever this season.

So here’s my prediction for who might make the play-offs this season. Continue reading “Aviva Premiership Predictions 2015/16”

North vs South Weekend

This weekend the Northern and Southern Hemispheres go to war in the Rugby World Cup

This weekend the Northern and Southern Hemispheres go to war in the Rugby World Cup, with every game this quarter-final weekend consisting of a Northern side against a Southern one: Continue reading “North vs South Weekend”

England’s Word Cup Exit

England’s exit from the ‘pool of death’ has come as an embarrassing shock to much of the UK media and the RFU.

Anyone following the Rugby World Cup will know that England’s exit from the ‘pool of death’ has come as an embarrassing shock to much of the UK media and the RFU. As such, the blame game started almost immediately, with Stuart Lancaster, Andy Farrell, Chris Robshaw and Sam Burgess all in the firing line. Continue reading “England’s Word Cup Exit”