Domestic and European Rugby Union

[UK Redsox]

Michael Cheika appointed Leicester coach

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c10l5pr5ry8o

[lovejoy]

So I booked a trip with a mate to travel all through France to watch our team then find the coach plays the kids and you get humped. Slightly annoying. But the wine made up for it.

[UK Redsox]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/12/f1-legend-eddie-jordan-consortium-london-irish-rugby-union

[paul_e]

I don't particularly like him but that's great news for the club and the sport. With Wasps and Worcester also both looking like they're on the mend I think we're through the worst of the mess and hopefully coming out the other side in a better state.

[UK Redsox]

This a mistake in my view. It's part of Rugby that fans mix together.

Premiership Rugby is trialling away ends at two matches next month in a bid to boost atmosphere and attendances.

April's games between Saracens and Gloucester at the Stone X stadium and Leicester against Harlequins at Welford Road will have areas designated for travelling fans to sit together.

While there will be no segregation like at football matches, Saracens and Leicester will give away supporters the option to group into one block.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cjevp313wpdo

[paul_e]

This a mistake in my view. It's part of Rugby that fans mix together.

Premiership Rugby is trialling away ends at two matches next month in a bid to boost atmosphere and attendances.

April's games between Saracens and Gloucester at the Stone X stadium and Leicester against Harlequins at Welford Road will have areas designated for travelling fans to sit together.

While there will be no segregation like at football matches, Saracens and Leicester will give away supporters the option to group into one block.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cjevp313wpdo

Agreed, I think a huge part of why I prefer watching rugby over football (in person) is that the mixed crowd makes for a much better atmosphere.

[cdbearsfan]

It's because people aren't as passionate about rugby as they are about football. Witness the total lack of effort to stop Wasps moving to Coventry. Hopefully creating a more adversarial atmosphere will make people care more about their team.

[paul_e]

It's because people aren't as passionate about rugby as they are about football. Witness the total lack of effort to stop Wasps moving to Coventry. Hopefully creating a more adversarial atmosphere will make people care more about their team.

I don't think that's true, I think it's just that rugby fans are more willing to take taunts as a joke rather than feeling the need to fight. If you need to see how passionate rugby fans can be I'd recommend a trip to the principality for a Wales - England game, or on a smaller scale a Bath/Glaws derby or a Tigers/Saints derby, there's plenty of atmosphere, it's just not so angry.

Wasps is a bad case because they'd been nomadic for a while before the move, having left their own ground in the mid-90s they had stints at QPR and Wycombe before Coventry (and I think they played a handful of games elsewhere as well). They're looking at a location in Kent as part of their return next year. In all of those cases I think the choice was always move or die so the fans complaints didn't really have much weight.

[cdbearsfan]

But it's the same with loads of teams, nobody does anything when a team moves or goes bust. In football even teams with tiny supports will have a phoenix club set up within weeks of going tits up.

As for Wales, turning up to internationals is one thing. They have only four professional clubs and they're desperately trying to get rid of one of them. I'll await the full scale protests if and when it happens (spoiler: it won't, they'll shrug their shoulders like the Wasps fans did).

[UK Redsox]

Long article on 'Bloodgate'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cqjd1p98l4jo

[Villa Lew]

Rugby is returning to Sixways, the Warriors will be playig in the Championship next season, which is good news.

[cdbearsfan]

Did Saracens tell their fans they weren't going to bother trying to win the European Cup before the group stage, and, if not, will they be refunding said tickets?

[paul_e]

Really good first half for Saints after a couple of iffy league performances.

Pollock, Mitchell, Smith and Freeman will all go with the lions if they keep playing like this and it's picked on form.

[Somniloquism]

Flashbacks to Dec 98 with the Rugby the weekend.

[dcdavecollett]

The selection of Pollock at this stage would be a major surprise, Paul?