[GreatBriton]

$1:

Rugby has traditionally been strong in the UK in Wales and amongst the middle classes in England and Scotland.

That's because it was invented in Rugby, Warwickshire.

In the 19th Century, there was a schoolboys' football (soccer) match in the town of Rugby in Warwickshire when a little boy ran onto the field, picked the ball up and started running with it. The players, angry that the game had been disrupted, started chasing the boy to get the ball back.

And so, a new sport was born.

There are two versions of rugby - Rugby League and Rugby Union. Rugby Union is the national sport of Wales and New Zealand - in those places the game is a religion, like soccer is in England.

In England, Rugby Union is only popular in the South of England whereas Rugby League (which is seen to be the tougher version) is popular in North of England. Rugby League is also popular in Australia.

So the Welsh, New Zealanders, Scots, Irish, French, Italians, South Africans, Tongans, Fijians, Argentinians, Namibians and Southern English like Rugby Union, whereas the Northern English and Australians like Rugby League.

[GreatBriton]

Prestwick Prestwick:

In England the problem is especially acute. Despite having one of the highest number of rugby players in the world, its system of introducing new talent to top flight rugby is at best haphazard and at worst shambolic to the extreme.

Yeah. That's why England are the World Champions and Scotland, Wales and Ireland are not and never have been.

And I predict England will win the World Cup again in 2007.

[GreatBriton]

$1:

Canada's currently strong on 7s

England's 7s team are also the World Champions.

In fact, England have won the last two Sevens World Cups.

here's England celebrating their last Sevens tournament win -


------------





And on 5th November, England - the proper team, not the Sevens team - are playing New Zealand. This is the England squad -


England Announce 30 Man Squad For Investec Challege Match Against New Zealand


25 October 2006
England Head Coach, Andy Robinson OBE announced today his 30 man squad to prepare for the Investec Challenge Match against New Zealand on Sunday, November 5th, kick off 3.30pm. The squad includes seven uncapped players.

The match will also celebrate the opening of the seating bowl of the new South Stand at Twickenham Stadium, which will bring the capacity up to 82,000.

Andy Robinson said today “I’m pleased with the 30 man squad that will prepare for the Investec Challenge match against New Zealand on November 5th. It includes a good mix of experience and also gives an opportunity for some of the newcomers to the Elite squad to push further their claims for a starting place at some point during the four test matches in November.

“I’d like to congratulate the uncapped players, Tom Rees (London Wasps), Stuart Turner (Sale Sharks), Anthony Allen and Olly Morgan (Gloucester), Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons), Paul Sackey (London Wasps) and Shaun Perry (Bristol Rugby) for all making the 30 man squad. They have all been in excellent form for their clubs.

“I will amend and add to the squad for the Argentina game to ensure that no player starts more than three of the four games.

“I’ll also consider players who haven’t made the 30 this time around. Some players have recently returned from injury and there is a good possibility that they and others may feature in other Investec Challenge matches this November.

“The four match Investec Series is one all of the England squad and management are looking forward to. New Zealand are the number one team in the world, Argentina are playing some very good rugby and had a good summer series against Wales and South Africa are also giving some players the opportunity to stake their claims for a RWC spot.

“I will announce the Captain and the starting XV for the New Zealand game on Monday October 30th.


Squad:

Forwards

George Chuter ..Leicester Tigers
Martin Corry ..Leicester Tigers
Perry Freshwater ..Perpignan
James Forrester ..Gloucester
Danny Grewcock ..Bath Rugby
Chris Jones ..Sale Sharks
Ben Kay ..Leicester Tigers
Magnus Lund ..Sale Sharks
Lee Mears ..Bath Rugby
Lewis Moody ..Leicester Tigers
Tom Palmer ..London Wasps
*Tom Rees.. London Wasps
Pat Sanderson ..Worcester Warriors
Andrew Sheridan ..Sale Sharks
*Stuart Turner ..Sale Sharks
Julian White ..Leicester Tigers

Backs

*Anthony Allen ..Gloucester
Iain Balshaw ..Gloucester
Ben Cohen ..Northampton Saints
Mark Cueto ..Sale Sharks
*Toby Flood ..Newcastle Falcons
Andy Goode ..Leicester Tigers
Charlie Hodgson ..Sale Sharks
Josh Lewsey.. London Wasps
*Olly Morgan.. Gloucester
Jamie Noon ..Newcastle Falcons
Mathew Tait ..Newcastle Falcons
*Shaun Perry.. Bristol Rugby
Pete Richards.. Gloucester
*Paul Sackey ..London Wasps



* denotes uncapped player

[danikyvor]

GreatBriton GreatBriton:

Prestwick Prestwick:

In England the problem is especially acute. Despite having one of the highest number of rugby players in the world, its system of introducing new talent to top flight rugby is at best haphazard and at worst shambolic to the extreme.

Yeah. That's why England are the World Champions and Scotland, Wales and Ireland are not and never have been.

And I predict England will win the World Cup again in 2007.

Dude, have you been watching England at all this past year?? Not the same team that won the last World Cup.

I think either New Zealand or Australia will take it this year!

[danikyvor]

Also, I think I should post the interview that Ronan O'Gara gave, that a lot of people agree to. It's the media that is making English rugby better than what it actually is at the moment. They need to start from scratch and build up if they have a hope for the Autumn tests and the Six Nations.

Scotland and Canada are in the same pool for the World Cup, I think Canada is playing at Murrayfield, I've been hearing rumblings about tickets coming up.

I'm watching the Osprey's v Paris game at the moment and GOSH have you guys seen the Paris uniforms?? It looks like Hawaii threw up all over them LoL!

[oli]

You should see our highschool Senior team 8, he's abuot 225 pure muscle. He eats, sleeps and dreams weight lifting, and he's got ewxperience to top it off. I've never seen him drag tackle, so people usually think twice before going in. He's only about 5'11", he's honestly the most well developed 17 year old I've ever seen in my life. The sownside is that we don't have a full line up to match so I think we'll be out of first diviaion this year.

[Prestwick]

GreatBriton GreatBriton:

Yeah. That's why England are the World Champions and Scotland, Wales and Ireland are not and never have been.

And I predict England will win the World Cup again in 2007.

Are you on crack mate? We currently have:

The most incompetent head coach in the last 15 years.

The biggest period of internal strife between Club and Country.

One of the most half arsed, convoluted and frankly rediculous season schedules in the Rugby world.

An injury list long enough to make even the average Iraqi wince in pain.

And on top of all that we're going through one of the biggest transtional processes that English Rugby has ever seen.

I think we'll scape to the Quarters, maybe the Semi finals. But we ain't gonna win. Not if our squad is as depleted as it is now.

Dimoreien Dimoreien:

Also, I think I should post the interview that Ronan O'Gara gave, that a lot of people agree to. It's the media that is making English rugby better than what it actually is at the moment. They need to start from scratch and build up if they have a hope for the Autumn tests and the Six Nations.

Dimo, most the media (well the Daily Telegraph who are practically the only decent source on English rugby) slag off the England team all of the time! Brian Moore, Jeremy Gusgott, Paul Ackford, Mick Cleary et all have written columns since 2003 the length of War and Peace pointing out time and again that unless you find new talent, bed em' in properly and make peace with the Clubs; England will lose the next World Cup.

England have blatantly failed to do most of this and all of these pundits to a man have in frustration pointed this out.

On the other hand, Rugby World magazine is a fearless cheerleader of everything RFU ^^;;;

O'Gara is an idiot anyway, he shoots his mouth off so much it makes Glenn Mc'Grath look like Casper the Ghost.

In 2005 when Wales smashed Ireland, O'Gara spent the next 6 months whinging about it. In the end I think O'Driscoll told him to shut up and let sleeping dogs lie.

Stade Francais have quality kit. They're the Gypsies of Paris and go from stadium to stadium.

Also they have the record for highest crowd at any sports league gamein France, they even beat the big Soccer clubs

[Prestwick]

Oh yes, squad for the England - New Zealand match:

15 Iain Balshaw (Gloucester Rugby)

14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)

13 Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons)

12 Anthony Allen (Gloucester Rugby)

11 Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints)

10 Charlie Hodgson (vice-captain, Sale Sharks)

9 Shaun Perry (vice-capt, Bristol Rugby)

1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)

2 George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)

3 Julian White (Leicester Tigers)

4 Danny Grewcock (Bath Rugby)

5 Ben Kay (vice-capt, Leicester Tigers)

6 Martin Corry (capt, Leicester Tigers)

7 Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)

8 Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors)

Now. I think thats a nice squad, however lots of England fans have questioned the back 6.7 and 8 positions.

[danikyvor]

Hey now, Ronan is one of my favourite players.

And he did apologise for his remarks when he won man of the match at the end of the Munster-Leicester match. I thought it was very good of him to do that.

I'll disagree with you though, I agree with every word he said LOL

It's not so much the news media, than it is the commentators. They go over the top. Even when it's blatantly obvious a team is playing crap.

[Prestwick]

The blame for that specifically lies squarely with Brian Moore.

I can tell you most England fans can't stand him. When he opens his mouth all you hear is "Blah blah blah!"

The three usual pundits of Keith Wood, Gavin Edwards and Jeremy Gussgott talk alot of sense though. Calm, restrained (except with Edwards when they won the grand slam ) and thoughtful in their remarks.

[danikyvor]

$1:

Stade Francais have quality kit. They're the Gypsies of Paris and go from stadium to stadium.

Too bad their uniforms suck!!! lol

[oli]

GreatBriton GreatBriton:

$1:

Canada's currently strong on 7s

England's 7s team are also the World Champions.

In fact, England have won the last two Sevens World Cups.

here's England celebrating their last Sevens tournament win -


------------

I didn't actually read that ridiculous post, lol, I only notice the stir it caused. You're retarded right? We're talking about people's interest in Canadian rugby, and I'm in the process of humbling Canada's performances, whilst mentioning the past years success with 7s. Good job flaunting, but how about this, can your country build a car that won't burn out in an electrical fire? Oh wait you did, the new Jag, oh no wait, that's a Ford.

How about how many hockey tournaments England won?

We're not here to flaunt one pride over another, and you sound like more of a statistician than a fan, England barely held up in some 7s matches with Canada this summer. AND historically, have you heard of a team called the All Blacks? THAT'S 7s play.

But good work on your fantastic British skill... of pissing people off. It worked in this thread.

[Prestwick]

$1:

Too bad their uniforms suck!!! lol

Haha aye Dimo. Kind of like something that Bruno out of Ali G in America would design!

Hey, if you are down from Scotland in England sometime between now and January, want to go see a game? I'm based in Worcester but if you're down in the south of England I'd be up for watching games at Gloucester, Bristol, Sarries, London Irish, Wasps, Harlequins, you name it.

$1:

But good work on your fantastic British skill... of pissing people off. It worked in this thread.

Sorry I had to laugh there. How GB just rampaged in out of nowhere. Class

[danikyvor]

$1:

Haha aye Dimo. Kind of like something that Bruno out of Ali G in America would design!

Hey, if you are down from Scotland in England sometime between now and January, want to go see a game? I'm based in Worcester but if you're down in the south of England I'd be up for watching games at Gloucester, Bristol, Sarries, London Irish, Wasps, Harlequins, you name it.

I can't see myself having time to come down to England in the next two months to be honest, work is crazy and we've got rugby games up here to go to too

I do want to see Sale and Northampton though, great teams! (I'm biased though cause Jason White plays for Sale and he's my favourite Scotland player lol, and Sean Lamont plays for Northampton and he's another great player from Scotland so....)

[danikyvor]

$1:

Sorry I had to laugh there. How GB just rampaged in out of nowhere. Class

Aye, he's really good at stirring the pot. Everything's all about England to him. Bla bla bla.