Inappropriate to even speculate this, but has there ever been rumours of Lomu and steroid use? It seems an awkward coincidence that the biggest freak of player had kidney failure. A friend who played at a club in NZ (it might have been league though) said that steroid use was rife and that would have been the same era.
Tarquin is that you? You still owe me 50p from prep school.
Another state comp interloper here.Was at a do where Gareth Chilcott and Stuart Barnes were the speakers last night. Managed to have a chat with Barnesy afterwards - he's a top bloke. He's a lot more forthright in person than he's allowed to be on air. Fairly scathing about the Lancaster reign. And he's really small, especially for a rugby player - I'm not quite six foot and I towered over him. He wouldn't get a look-in nowadays, he said as much...And I told Chilcott to pull his bloody finger out and publish that Iraq report.
Quote from: DaveD on December 04, 2015, 03:54:19 PMAnother state comp interloper here.Was at a do where Gareth Chilcott and Stuart Barnes were the speakers last night. Managed to have a chat with Barnesy afterwards - he's a top bloke. He's a lot more forthright in person than he's allowed to be on air. Fairly scathing about the Lancaster reign. And he's really small, especially for a rugby player - I'm not quite six foot and I towered over him. He wouldn't get a look-in nowadays, he said as much...And I told Chilcott to pull his bloody finger out and publish that Iraq report.I've long been of the opinion that the commentators are scared to be too honest about England, the only one who's ever really said it as I see it is Guscott (who I've met a few times, smart guy and knows the game well but is a right smug arse with it). Even after a truly dire world cup there were some defending him, it's really odd.
Quote from: paul_e on December 04, 2015, 09:00:36 PMQuote from: DaveD on December 04, 2015, 03:54:19 PMAnother state comp interloper here.Was at a do where Gareth Chilcott and Stuart Barnes were the speakers last night. Managed to have a chat with Barnesy afterwards - he's a top bloke. He's a lot more forthright in person than he's allowed to be on air. Fairly scathing about the Lancaster reign. And he's really small, especially for a rugby player - I'm not quite six foot and I towered over him. He wouldn't get a look-in nowadays, he said as much...And I told Chilcott to pull his bloody finger out and publish that Iraq report.I've long been of the opinion that the commentators are scared to be too honest about England, the only one who's ever really said it as I see it is Guscott (who I've met a few times, smart guy and knows the game well but is a right smug arse with it). Even after a truly dire world cup there were some defending him, it's really odd.Brian Moore? Maybe he limits his criticism to the team rather than the infrastructure but generally speaks his mind in my opinion.
Wasn't a thrombosis that killed Lomu?
All things considered, domestic rugby is strong. Both at grass roots and bringing people through and at the top. It just needs harnassing.
Quote from: cheltenhamlion on December 09, 2015, 06:31:46 PMAll things considered, domestic rugby is strong. Both at grass roots and bringing people through and at the top. It just needs harnassing. The top division is strong, outside that the game is really no better than it was in the first years after professionalisation.
Quote from: paul_e on December 10, 2015, 11:08:34 AMQuote from: cheltenhamlion on December 09, 2015, 06:31:46 PMAll things considered, domestic rugby is strong. Both at grass roots and bringing people through and at the top. It just needs harnassing. The top division is strong, outside that the game is really no better than it was in the first years after professionalisation.I must admit whenever I see my local club training sessions that I am impressed by the professionalism.When the youth are training I reckon there's about 5 lads to each coach. Furthermore friends who help/coach the kids have all undertaken courses so that there is a coherent thread to what they're teaching. This is infinitely better than my experiences playing football as a nipper and much better that when I played rugby from 15-18. I'm unsure whether the improvement has any thing to do with Andrew or Richie though.