Domestic and European Rugby Union

[UK Redsox]

Hopefully this will mean the start of the return of Hartpury to their proper place in the rugby union hierarchy from the false level partially created by their arrangement with Gloucester

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/gloucester-rugby-announces-leave-hartpury-3279183

[UK Redsox]

I crossed the Wye, Severn and Avon today to watch Lydney play Keynsham.

After a decent first half, leading 9-3, our set pieces fell apart in the second period and we lost 21-12

It’s depressing to watch Lyd playing at this low a level

[UK Redsox]

The not so mightily Lyd won their first game of the season today, a 20-12 victory over Newent.

Still difficult to comprehend that our 1st XV now play Newent. I used to play for our 3rd XV against their 1sts

[Risso]

Have just got back from a charity quiz at Northampton.  Really good fun, with one player from the side on each table.  We had Saints captain Alex Waller on ours, and he was a really nice lad. Came second out of about 50 teams.  We'd probably have won, but the round on rugby was our undoing as none of us knew very much about it, including Alex.

[UK Redsox]

Bristol looking pretty impressive at the start against Bath.

Nathan Hughes looks like being a great signing

[paul_e]

Bath in front now though and it was an excellent try from Mercer (who looks determined to show he should be in Japan).

[UK Redsox]

 Turned into a bit of a romp for Bristol in the end

[paul_e]

Bristol played some great rugby in the last 20, they've benefited massively from not losing many players to the world cup. That said the Bath defending was shocking at times.

[nigel]

Bristol played some great rugby in the last 20, they've benefited massively from not losing many players to the world cup. That said the Bath defending was shocking at times.

The World Cup could make this years premiership interesting.

[paul_e]

Bristol played some great rugby in the last 20, they've benefited massively from not losing many players to the world cup. That said the Bath defending was shocking at times.

The World Cup could make this years premiership interesting.

I agree, I think Sarries and Chiefs will be fine and make the playoffs pretty easily, I suspect saints will join them (on the basis that the 2nd half of last season they were really strong and they have some exceptional young players filling in whilst the internationals get back) but after that things could be really messy. I think Tigers might really struggle again because they haven't really addressed the problems from last year and they've got a lot of players who haven't had pre-season with them.

[UK Redsox]

An old fashioned West Country derby in wet and heavy contains at the Rec tonight.

Bath looking to hang on against Exeter

[paul_e]

In the latest round of evidence that Rugby is better run than football ...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50300756

short version, sarries docked 35 points for repeatedly ignoring the salary cap and setting up fake companies to pay well over the normal amounts to their better players.

I can't see it being enough to see them go down but they're definitely going to be in the battle at the bottom now.

[paul_e]

Hartley has announced his retirement, I think that was inevitable after the injuries, shame he didn't get a last world cup but pleased for him that he got to captain England. I know he had disciplinary issues but his commitment and desire were fantastic and he's always come across as a good guy, he was also a far better player than he gets credit for and was a much better captain than anyone else since Johnno.

[Risso]

He's a top lad.  Going to get him along to a Villa match this season.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Just seen on the news that he spent 50 weeks of his career being banned for fighting, gouging and biting.