Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:20 am  

Dunbar wrote:

So, the current England Rugby Union captain is at the Royal Wedding today – as far as I am aware, James Graham didn’t get an invite

And there are people who claim that the old barriers have been broken down... this country is still rife with elitism and class wars

Quins RL take heed

To be fair Tindall is engaged to Prince William's cousin. British Lion Martyn Williams has also been invited to the wedding
What I don't understand is why Brian O'Driscoll was invited. He's turned down the invitation but his wife will be attending.
I've been told Gareth Thomas will be there but I would imagine that will be for a few reasons, rugby league not being one of them.

[Wanderer]

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:29 am  

Catalancs wrote: Gavin Henson - will he ever learn? http://m.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/ ... pe=article Where now? Who will be willing to risk it with him? D-Day today at Toulon.

Catalancs wrote: Gavin Henson - will he ever learn? http://m.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/ ... pe=article Where now? Who will be willing to risk it with him? D-Day today at Toulon.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:03 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

To be fair Tindall is engaged to Prince William's cousin. British Lion Martyn Williams has also been invited to the wedding
What I don't understand is why Brian O'Driscoll was invited. He's turned down the invitation but his wife will be attending.
I've been told Gareth Thomas will be there but I would imagine that will be for a few reasons, rugby league not being one of them.

I think the fact that Tindall is engaged to Zara Phillips probably emphasises the point that Union is embedded in the upper classes of this country

I don't really care about this - it's just that some people seem to think that Rugby League and Rugby Union have broken down the barriers but in the upper circles, it is the same as 100 years ago

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:24 pm  

Do you think many people truly believe that? The evidence to the contrary I'd so overwhelming I can't imagine how anyone could come to that conclusion.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:41 pm  

Gloucester hooker Olivier Azam may have played his last game of rugby after he was handed a four-week ban by the RFU for his headbutt on Northampton's Adam Eustace.

Gloucester hooker Olivier Azam may have played his last game of rugby after he was handed a four-week ban by the RFU for his headbutt on Northampton's Adam Eustace.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Apr 29, 2011 6:51 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Do you think many people truly believe that? The evidence to the contrary I'd so overwhelming I can't imagine how anyone could come to that conclusion.

He has got a point though Catalancs.

Why was Brian O'Driscoll invited and yet not one RL player,I thought the Royal family represented all of the UK,not Ireland.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:35 pm  

cjhatesunion wrote:

He has got a point though Catalancs.

Why was Brian O'Driscoll invited and yet not one RL player,I thought the Royal family represented all of the UK,not Ireland.

cj that was the what I was asking about in the earlier post. One possible argument could be that he is the captain of Ireland and therefore represents Northern Ireland. Technically a rugby league player was invited in Gareth Thomas.

And I know he's got a point. That's what I was trying to say.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Apr 30, 2011 12:34 am  

Union in crisis as Leeds sink £2m into the red. The club’s plight is symptomatic of a financial crisis engulfing the English game. A report revealed that the combined losses for 10 of the 12 Premiership clubs this season was £19m.

Union in crisis as Leeds sink £2m into the red. The club’s plight is symptomatic of a financial crisis engulfing the English game. A report revealed that the combined losses for 10 of the 12 Premiership clubs this season was £19m.

[Wanderer]

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:44 am  

Wanderer wrote:

D-Day today at Toulon.

... now deferred until Monday.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Apr 30, 2011 4:40 pm  

I have felt for a few years now that the Union game will inevitably implode... there are so many clubs operating far beyond their means and relying on wealthy backers... the likes of Sale, Newcastle, Saracens, Wasps and London Irish are trying to run clubs with a £4m salary cap on gates between 5 and 10k – it is quite simply unsustainable Ironically, Leicester Tigers are now leading a call to raise it even further http://www.espnscrum.com/sixnations2011 ... 15018.html probably due to the threat of the French Top 14 The frustrating thing for me is that posters on these forums are clamouring for the League cap to be raised to compete and yet we lose one or two quality players a year (if that) to the Union game – surely not enough of a threat to mortgage your financial security

I have felt for a few years now that the Union game will inevitably implode... there are so many clubs operating far beyond their means and relying on wealthy backers... the likes of Sale, Newcastle, Saracens, Wasps and London Irish are trying to run clubs with a £4m salary cap on gates between 5 and 10k – it is quite simply unsustainable Ironically, Leicester Tigers are now leading a call to raise it even further http://www.espnscrum.com/sixnations2011 ... 15018.html probably due to the threat of the French Top 14 The frustrating thing for me is that posters on these forums are clamouring for the League cap to be raised to compete and yet we lose one or two quality players a year (if that) to the Union game – surely not enough of a threat to mortgage your financial security