Domestic and European Rugby Union

[UK Redsox]

Wasps Holdings Limited now in Administration and the club relegated

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63244504

Unclear yet what will happen to the company that holds the stadium lease. Arena Coventry Limited have filed notice of intention to appoint liquidators.
This gives them a couple of weeks to sort out the stadium situation

[KNVillan]

Wasps: Rugby Club’s debts totalled £95m

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63874443

[UK Redsox]

Struggling for Refs here in Gloucestershire.

Second time in a few weeks that we’ve had a Gloucestershire South league game called off due to no official being available

[UK Redsox]

Looks like Gloucester think they have no chance against Leinster no matter what side they put out, so it’s very much a reserve line up.

[paul_e]

Great news for Wasps, they've been approved to play in the championship next season and will be ground-sharing with Solihull Moors. Still a long way for them to go and a lot of problems to solve but it's a bit step in the right direction. Now we need to see things get sorted at Worcester as well.

[UK Redsox]

I hope that they give Jersey or Ealing a chance of playing in the Premiership.

[UK Redsox]

Richard Wigglesworth retiring from playing to take over as Leicester interim head coach

[lovejoy]

I hope that they give Jersey or Ealing a chance of playing in the Premiership.

i understand that Ealing are going to be given a shot at it.

[paul_e]

I hope that they give Jersey or Ealing a chance of playing in the Premiership.

i understand that Ealing are going to be given a shot at it.

They will be, the rules have been changed. From this season clubs need a capacity of at least 500 (which they have) along with planning permission, designs, contractors and proof of funds to build a 10,001 capacity stadium by the start of 24/25 season.

The reason is that grounds of more than 10k capacity have far higher H&S and facility requirements to be certified as suitable venues and that certification is required by the league. The weird thing is the crowd size isn't really what matters, it's just the simplest way to ensure the club has to have everything in place for media, etc.

[nigel]

Just read an article about Ollie Woodburn, Exeter wing.
Didn’t realise he’s only 31!!
I’d have guessed late 30’s he seems to have been about forever.

[paul_e]

Just read an article about Ollie Woodburn, Exeter wing.
Didn’t realise he’s only 31!!
I’d have guessed late 30’s he seems to have been about forever.

He's one of those strange players who look too good to not get capped but not good enough to stand out in a position with so much competition so he stacks up loads of club appearances and tries and feels like he's been around forever (Mikey Haywood is the other promenent one right now who is a similar age and has a simlar number of appearances). Coming through as 20 year olds helps because in rugby it's much more common for players to breakthrough a little later than we're used to as football fans, with a fair few players only breaking through at 23-24.

[dcdavecollett]

You would have thought he would have had a chance given Eddie's selection policy!

[paul_e]

You would have thought he would have had a chance given Eddie's selection policy!

He's the sort of player Jones would've called up and given 1 cap to if there was a rumour of him having an irish/welsh/scottish grandparent

[dcdavecollett]

He's gone, he's gone, Paul!!

Calm down...

[paul_e]

This doesn't really fit in this thread but the RFU have announced changes for age group and amateur rugby setting the tackle height at the waist.

I understand the idea but I honestly believe this will lead to more harm than good. Aside from it basically removing choke tackles and mauls from the game it also massively increases the risk of people with poor tackle technique getting caught with their head on the wrong side. At lower levels of the sport I suspect that's already more common, and more dangerous, than tackling a little more upright. It will also speed the game up by encouraging offloading and upright running (the statement from the RFU specifically calls out ball carriers being encouraged to avoid dipping into tackles) and I'm not sure many lower league forwards will be happy about that.