- James Standley
- 31 Jan 07, 07:13 PM
London - Iâve seen Jonny Wilkinson in an England shirt and he looked good.
OK, it was an England training top and the opposition was only Englandâs Under-20 side, but all the same it was marvellous to see the gambolling happily around a paddock like heâd never been away.
England held an open training session at Bath University on Wednesday and the first man out on the pitch was, you guessed it, Wilkinson.
He was fully involved throughout the session, talking lots, calling the shots and looking like a man doing what he was born to do.
Continue reading "Here's Jonny!"
- Andrew Cotter
- 31 Jan 07, 01:58 PM
London - "What might have been?" Four words that never should be spoken in professional sport.
So is it ok to at least think them? Because I can't help it when I consider two players on either side of the Calcutta Cup divide on Saturday.
The first is, of course, Jonny Wilkinson - a name which, for the past three years, has been uttered by rugby fans only in conjunction with a furrowed brow, a rueful shake of the head and increasingly wild (and possibly untrue) speculation about his health.
"He'll never play again, of course". "I heard he had to have a stair-lift installed at his house"."Friend of mine said they had to replace his entire left leg with a titanium job. Japanese technology."
Continue reading "The fly-half who never was"
- James Standley
- 31 Jan 07, 08:23 AM
London - Ireland may be favourites for the 2007 Six Nations and there is no doubt they have the most settled team.
For all their strengths they do have one glaring weakness which surely must cost them sooner or later, but the rest of the sides may have even greater problems of their own.
Here, I cast my eye over what will be keeping Messrs Ashton, Jenkins, Hadden, O'Sullivan, Laporte and Berbizier awake at night.
Continue reading "Six Nations weaknesses"
- Jim Stokes
- 30 Jan 07, 01:24 PM
Belfast - In the Nineties, during my days as a cavalier rugby journo of ill-repute, I adored travelling to Cardiff for three particular reasons. There are more reasons, but...
The first was the fact that Ireland usually won at the old ; the second was the singing; and the third was rubbing shoulders in the media area alongside two of my favourite players of all time - Gerald Davies and Phil Bennett.
By the way, they are only topped by a certain , but that's for another time.
Continue reading "When the Welsh re-invented rugby"
- John Beattie
- 30 Jan 07, 10:34 AM
Glasgow - Proof this morning of global warming because I woke up and still had the hots for my wife.
But as I creaked out of bed, gingerly, for I am approaching a major birthday this year, I pondered on whether I had played rugby too long.
And that's the topic today, who's the oldest rugby player you've met or played with or against? Just for fun let us celebrate the older player. How long can you keep playing rugby?
I played until I was 29. The ball sailed my way at the start of the second half at Twickenham and I ran at the nearest English player. He tackled me low, very low, and, bang, the right knee gave way. I should never have caught that flaming ball. Gary Pearce, I shall visit you one day...
Continue reading "The generation game"
- Hugh Watkins - Professional rugby union referee
- 30 Jan 07, 08:49 AM
There's a certain amount of pressure involved with every international for a referee or touch judge, but there is something special about the Six Nations that really gets the whole world interested.
Just like the players, all the officials would have dreamed about walking out in front of 80,000 roaring fans ever since their humble beginnings refereeing local games in the park.
There is a team of six that officiate at every Six Nations game; the referee, two touch judges, a television match official (the TMO, or video referee), a reserve touch judge and a fifth official who deals with the replacements as well as sin-bins and blood-bins.
The referee is chosen by the International Rugby Board from the , while the touch judges and TMO are chosen from a panel of 19 officials. I'm one of those 19 hoping to graduate to the elite refereeing panel.
This year's tournament will see the introduction of a .
Continue reading "Changes to the scrum law"
- Bruce Pope
- 29 Jan 07, 04:41 PM
Cardiff - "How we sing as we limp through the air; Look below, there's our field over there; With our full crew aboard and our trust in the Lord; We're coming in on a wing and a prayer"
I'm trying to think of a previous time when a player has been definitely ruled out of a major international, only to then miraculously recover just in time (I believe in some rugby circles it's known as an 'anti-Wilkinson', although Jonny's ready for ).
But you know how it is, you wait for one and then two come along at once with from the Wales camp that Shane Williams and Mark Jones could yet face Ireland.
Gareth Jenkins' backs cupboard had been looking a bit bare, what with injuries and possible bans, and we'd all enjoyed keeping a close eye on Gavin Henson to see if he fitted the bill at full-back (general concensus in the last blog seemed to lean towards 'not at the moment').
Continue reading "Surprises wing in from Wales camp"
- James Standley
- 29 Jan 07, 03:16 PM
London - When I last year, before he rejoined the England set-up, he bemoaned the cultural conservatism afflicting English rugby.
Well, , the England coach has set out his determination to inject some life into the national team.
Ashton has brought back Jonny Wilkinson after just 40 minutes of rugby and has handed Andy Farrell his first England union cap after little more than a handful of games at centre.
And I, for one, am delighted.
Continue reading "Ashton gambles on big guns"
- James Standley
- 29 Jan 07, 11:42 AM
London - New coach Brian Ashton announces his first, eagerly-awaited, on Monday afternoon.
He's not the only one breaking new ground - this is my first blog entry.
I'm the website's man at Twickenham on Saturday so I'll be popping in throughout the build-up to the match.
As for Ashton, he has a far harder task than me, namely rejuvenating the floundering world champions.
Continue reading "Ashton - a lucky general?"
- Gareth Lewis - ±«Óătv Wales Sport presenter
- 29 Jan 07, 08:02 AM
Cardiff - Usually in the run up to international matches in Wales, there's frantic speculation about who will play and in what position.
Since my previous blog post, injuries have taken an untimely toll, but not even they, not even the spiky-haired wonder, have dominated conversation.
Alfie has.
Continue reading "Has Alfie scuppered his swansong?"
- Stevie Miller - ±«Óătv Scotland Sport journalist
- 28 Jan 07, 03:38 PM
Glasgow - The cost of rugby matches is a constant source of debate - I've certainly done my share of moaning at the price of a ticket - but does it really cost too much to see your country?
In the interests of science, and after shaking my head in disbelief that people paid ÂŁ61 to watch Arsenal v Tottenham last week, I thought a little comparison between different sports would show up whether the Six Nations represents value for money or a rip-off.
Continue reading "Is the Six Nations value for money?"
- Mark Orlovac
- 28 Jan 07, 12:34 PM
I refused to watch the endless repeats of against last night.
Especially after the presenter announced that the Bristol number eight had dislocated his kneecap, an injury I have suffered five times.
As he lay stricken on the Franklin's Gardens pitch with an oxygen mask, the memories of how painful the injury is came flooding back.
Continue reading "Ward-Smith heartbreak"
- John Beattie
- 26 Jan 07, 06:00 PM
Glasgow - Are rugby fans more aggressive toward each other now? Especially this silly nonsense between small-minded Scots and equally small-minded English fans?
Do I sense that in some of the postings here, and do I see it and hear it at weekends?
Do we really dislike each other because someone, a long time ago, drew a line in the ground, called it a border, and persuaded us all that those across it were different?
When I was a kid I went to Murrayfield to watch the internationals. I think I can say, hand on heart, that I looked forward to the (then) Five Nations like an excited child anticipating a first bike for Christmas.
Continue reading "Do we need nationalistic rivalry?"
- Bruce Pope
- 26 Jan 07, 05:00 PM
Cardiff - Apparently, Gavin Henson has into the Wales number 15 shirt for the Six Nations opener against Ireland on Sunday week.
Wales have requested he has a run-out at full-back this weekend for the , as national coach Gareth Jenkins seems to be running out of backs.
Wings Shane Williams and Mark Jones are crocked, full-back Lee Byrne and centre Sonny Parker are very crocked, fellow midfield man Tom Shanklin is struggling with a thigh strain, while hanging over him.
I don't think full-back is Henson's ideal position, especially if you look back at the 2005 vintage at inside centre which, in harness with Shanklin, was so integral to .
Continue reading "Will Henson get his groove back?"
- Jim Stokes
- 26 Jan 07, 03:34 PM
Belfast - The rugby posts are up at Croke Park ⊠but nobody has seen them yet, except the players of course.
The general public are being kept in the dark until the gates of the Gaelic Athletic Association's 83,000 capacity emporium in the suburbs of north Dublin are opened for the visit of on 11 February.
It has been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride for the GAA and one can understand their nervousness after 123 years preserving and cultivating national pastimes with Croke Park the citadel. One may wonder today as to what constitutes a national past time in Ireland, but I wonât go into that!
Continue reading "Stoker from Croker"
- Claire Stocks
- 26 Jan 07, 01:01 PM
London - Folks, if you are out and about with a digital camera or camera phone this weekend, you may want to enter our to win tickets to Six Nations games.
First up, are tickets to the England v Scotland opener at Twickenham (3 Feb KO 1600 GMT) and also Sunday's sizzler which pitches Wales versus Ireland (KO 1500 GMT).
Get your entries in by midnight on Tuesday 30th - for inspiration.
We will be running our competition throughout this year's tournament.
- Martin Conaghan - ±«Óătv Scotland Sport journalist
- 26 Jan 07, 09:06 AM
I work as a producer on ±«Óătv Sport's website in Glasgow. I have to admit my main passion is Scottish football, but I also have a big interest in blogging.
So I'll be approaching this year's Six Nations from the perspective of an armchair spectator who can't tell the difference between a fly-half and drop-kick...
Outside of the ±«Óătv, I spend far too much time on the internet, usually searching for obscure websites and seeking out absurd facts, so expect some rugby ephemera in the coming weeks.
I'm also going to side with the bookies for my championship tip, and anger my fellow countrymen and colleagues by picking Ireland for the trophy.
- Dewi Hughes - ±«Óătv Wales Sport journalist
- 26 Jan 07, 08:54 AM
Having endured a five-year winless streak with , rugby union has never really brought me much happiness.
My losing aura obviously rubbed off on the Wales national team too, as the infamous on my 12th birthday in 1988 was the first international I attended.
Since then, I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen Wales win - so it was an easy choice to join the two seasons ago rather risk spoiling the hopes of a nation by going to the stadium.
However, the sport has given the most bizarre experience of my journalism career to date⊠sitting with some of Wales' finest rugby hacks listening to Mike Ruddock going through his full repertoire of Beatles hits on guitar!
I got my taste of journalism with a short stint with the , (covering my beloved Bangor City FC) before then making a potentially hazardous switch to Caernarfon to join the .
I joined the ±«Óătv Sport website in Cardiff in 2000 and have been writing on all aspects of Welsh sport ever since.
- Rob Hodgetts
- 26 Jan 07, 08:46 AM
London - Ok, so who fancies a gentle Friday warm-up argument then? You know, just to get the banter fine-tuned for the weekend.
England coach Brian Ashton names his starting XV on Monday for the Scotland opener, and it seems highly likely that will be named to start at inside centre. Inadvertently, I've found myself quite excited about this.
But I don't want to turn this into a Farrell debate, more a general, philosophical head-scratch on the England backline.
Continue reading "Backs to basics for England"
- John Beattie
- 25 Jan 07, 10:38 AM
Glasgow - I got into the today on a bright, crisp morning and thought: âWhat a flaming lovely day. It feels good to be alive.â
This was just before I started chittering and grabbed a cd cover to scrape the ice off the front windscreen. Inside the car the temperature gauge registered -3 degrees. Minus three! Is this really rugby-playing weather?
Now, I write this because I coach up here North of Hadrianâs Wall, and we shall be training tonight on a surface that will, at best, be described as âcrispyâ.
Continue reading "Should rugby be played in the summer?"
- Rob Hodgetts
- 24 Jan 07, 02:29 PM
Hurlingham Club, London - "It's time to let rugby do the talking. Let the games begin."
So said Jacques Laurans, chairman of the RBS Six Nations committee, at the official launch of the competition at the plush Hurlingham Club in snowy south west London on Wednesday.
They were all there, the great and the good of the European game, with captains and coaches from each side exposed to the media for a one-hit quotes-fest.
The general consensus among the press and the pundits is that Ireland are marginal favourites in one of the most open Six Nations for years. And forget old Calcutta Cup rivalries. The opener between is going to be a positive giggle.
Continue reading "Six Nations starts here..."
- John Beattie
- 24 Jan 07, 12:59 PM
Glasgow - Today is one of those days. Busy. Still no word from Charlotte, maybe I should speak to . Can one speak to Gavin Henson?
Is it possible to pick up a phone, call the Ospreys, and say: âCan I speak to Gavin Henson please?â
Anyway, I was just along the corridor at the high tech bit of the ±«Óătv here in Scotland where they edit fancy bits and pieces together.
Pete, Chris, Katie ( all three locked away in a high static hotbed of multi million pound technology) and I got into a conversation about the size of rugby players as Pete had been at the filming the âportraitsâ of the players.
Continue reading "Eating a Big Mac after beating England"
- Hugh Watkins - Professional rugby union referee
- 24 Jan 07, 08:40 AM
A shoulder injury forced me to retire from my playing days as a centre or full-back for . But from the ashes came the beginnings of my refereeing career in 1990.
I became professional in 2001 and have officiated in the Heineken Cup, World Cup qualifiers as well as the World Series Sevens in exotic places like Hong Kong, Beijing and Cardiff...
To date I am on the and have participated in Tri-Nations, RBS Six Nations and I'm hoping to be selected for the World Cup as a touch judge.
Without doubt the funniest moment in rugby has to be as a touch judge for France v Italy when winger Christophe Dominici had an easy run in for a score. He stuck his tongue out and was about to touch down near the deadball line when he dropped the ball! His face was a picture - as was mine!!!
The strangest thing a spectator has said to me was that I was missing a bloody good rugby game!
- Bruce Pope
- 24 Jan 07, 08:15 AM
Cardiff - There are few better places than Wales to live and work if you love your sport - even if you happen to be an Englishman - so it's been a happy six years since they let me in the front door here in Cardiff.
I'm Devon-born and Dorset-raised but it wasn't till I ended up in Swansea at the end of my studies that I had a top-flight rugby team to support, just as the in the 90s.
Regional rugby and the amalgamation with Neath means the have inherited my loyalty.
I got my first taste of journalism during an exchange year in the USA, as a tennis reporter for the . After graduating and a year back-packing in Africa I started freelancing in London, working as a sports sub-editor for the likes of the and the .
It's always a hard task to put aside being an over-excited fan (and put down the beer glass) during a major tournament and take on the role of impartial ±«Óătv journalist, plus a Welsh girlfriend and an Irish mother mean I've got my feet in a few camps.
- John Beattie
- 23 Jan 07, 02:29 PM
Glasgow - Anyone know where Charlotte Church is? I need her to sing at a gig in Edinburgh in a couple of weeks?
Sometimes there is so much more to life than a mere result and although I am writing this while we all wait for the Scottish rugby team to take on England to be announced, sometimes itâs worth pausing to realise that friendship is more important than who scores more points.
A couple of my former Scottish team mates have health problems and I want to say hello to them without naming them, and I talked to two current Scottish rugby players last night.
Scrum half Chris Cusiter and back row man Kelly Brown are going to play in my band on 10 February at a big function to try to raise money for .
Continue reading "Banging the drum for rugby's casualties"
- Gareth Lewis - ±«Óătv Wales Sport presenter
- 22 Jan 07, 12:54 PM
Cardiff - Interesting to see that the Doomsday clock, which signifies how close the world is to nuclear disaster, was moved to seven minutes to midnight last week, its "latest" time for nine years.
This could be a week when even the Six Nations is overshadowed if England's clubs go for the nuclear button and opt out of the Heineken Cup along with the French.
Tick tock, tick tock⊠we watch and wait. Meanwhile, turning back the hands of time is 34-year-old Colin Charvis.
Continue reading "Clock ticks for Six Nations pretenders"
- Sean Davies
- 22 Jan 07, 11:46 AM
Cardiff - While Gareth Jenkins belongs to the belief that lyrical flow is the way forward in his interviews, the Wales coach has always displayed a more prosaic approach to his rugby selections.
His achievements in 24 years of coaching at Stradey Park were enormous, but there was criticism that a conservative approach in the big games could have cost Llanelli Heineken Cup glory.
Now he has finally been given his deserved chance in charge of Wales, is he showing the same tendency to rely on the tried, the trusted⊠the mundane?
Continue reading "So does Jenkins like flog over flair?"
- Stevie Miller - ±«Óătv Scotland Sport journalist
- 22 Jan 07, 10:29 AM
Glasgow - I played rugby at school until the point everyone realised I was too small to be a forward and not good enough to be a back.
Since then, I've realised the role to which I am best suited on a rugby field is...
Spectator.
However, it has to be said that, in stereotypically Scottish style, I tend to go to the cheaper internationals, resulting in a worrying intimacy with the likes of Argentina.
My favourite rugby moment was watching David Sole slowly walk Scotland out at Murrayfield in the 1990 Grand Slam - that game was won before it had even started.
I'm looking forward to Scotland building on some good performances in last year's Six Nations and maybe a second-place finish.
- Rob Hodgetts
- 18 Jan 07, 05:51 PM
I'm what's known in rugby parlance as a utility back. Rugby and golf are my main positions - I blogged from Ireland during the Ryder Cup - but you'll see me pop up in all sorts of other areas, too.
My fondest rugby memories are Five Nations Saturdays in the OVT at Birmingham University, and sitting in the press box at Twickenham covering the 1999 World Cup semi-final between France and New Zealand.
All impartiality went out the window when France began their famous comeback, as the hardened hacks, and me, leapt to our feet to cheer on Les Bleus.
Work over, the party in the pub in Twickenham that night was legendary, with a cocktail of French, Kiwis and British all celebrating a sensational game together.
Now then, call me old-school, but I reckon all modern backs should be made to watch videos of the likes of and back in the days when sidesteps (as well as sideburns) were as important as big muscles. Those guys knew how to beat an opponent one-on-one. England backs take heed.
- Gareth Lewis - ±«Óătv Wales Sport presenter
- 18 Jan 07, 05:13 PM
I was born in a part of Wales now scandalously denied professional regional rugby, but those days are gone and like everyone else who lives there I'm not bitter now. Honest...
Just as well, because that famous ±«Óătv impartiality has to come to the fore in my role presenting Scrum V on ±«Óătv Wales television and radio.
Like all fans of my generation, my rugby highlight came two years ago when Wales ended almost three decades of agony by .
Either that or winning the Trignac Sevens u-16 tournament in Brittany, only to be accused by the French of fielding an over-age team. And there's always THAT Gareth Thomas interview, still available on the Scrum V website.
Away from rugby, I follow events at Goodison Park closely (another long wait for a trophy goes on) and spend the rest of my spare time refining the delicate balance between post-match hospitality, and running it off.
- Sean Davies
- 18 Jan 07, 03:57 PM
I'm a sports writer who has been working for the ±«Óătv out of the Cardiff office for the last seven years, specialising - whenever I get the chance - in rugby and boxing.
The Six Nations have been the highlight of my sporting year for as long as I can remember. Although this working lark does seem to have cut back on my chances to enjoy the full range of the tournament's festivities, my liver thanks me for it and it's a privilege to get so close to the stories and the action.
I'm originally from in the south Wales valleys. I have to confess to being a bit soft, though, as I never really took to regular visits to The Rec, and my real love for the game developed in the balmier climes of Swansea where I studied history. I went through my university days there as built his great Swansea side of the early '90s, and it will take a lot to convince me that Wales have moved on since sacking the Grand Slam coach.
- Bryn Palmer
- 18 Jan 07, 08:24 AM
I'm a senior broadcast journalist working on ±«Óătv Sport's website, and responsible for looking after our rugby output. I'm 34, Welsh (don't hold that against me) and have been at the ±«Óătv since early 2002.
My journalism career started with the Press Association in Scotland 10 years ago, writing about everything from the Old Firm to curling, before I moved on to the .
I then spent a wonderful year travelling in Australia and New Zealand, freelancing for various British newspapers, and taking in the Sydney Olympics and the . I've also covered the last two Rugby World Cups, including England's triumph down under four years ago.
Having grown up in south Wales, I'm obviously a Manchester United fan - since I was five, honestly - and have a soft spot for Hereford, who I used to cheer from the home end at Edgar Street. Rugby-wise my heart's with Wales, but I cheer on all the Celtic countries.
My body won't allow for rugby anymore but I still play five-a-side football, a bit of tennis and golf, and love skiing, snowboarding and water-skiing. I'm also a big fan of snooker and darts.
- James Standley
- 18 Jan 07, 08:12 AM
I joined ±«Óătv Sport working for the website back in 2001 and am one of a number of journalists who help out with the rugby union coverage.
I started my career on the before joining the-then Mirror Group after a brief spell at the Press Association.
After the failed re-launch of the Sporting Life I worked on a number of Mirror Group publications, including a memorable week on the news desk of the Sunday People.
Like most sports journalists Iâm a frustrated player who lacked only the pace, power and ability to get right to the top.
A non-tackling fly-half, my rugby career was stymied at a young age by my inability to last a match without getting injured, although now I am officially a sporting veteran I am considering returning for one last fling.
- Claire Stocks
- 17 Jan 07, 02:06 PM
Four ±«Óătv rugby union commentators and a selection of other ±«Óătv journalists working on our Six Nations coverage on the web & Ceefax in London, Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow, will be writing on this blog during the tournament.
We also have an international referee who will be posting here and answering questions about the finer points of the game (be nice to him please).
You can find out a bit more about them all here.
John Beattie
I was born in Borneo, and swinging from tree to tree helped me in later years as I ended up playing rugby for Scotland.
This was predicted, funnily enough, by my Malaysian headmaster who said, on the day I left to start his new life in Scotland as an eleven year old: âBeattie, you are the roughest boy we have ever had here - you will surely play rugby for your new country.â
I won 25 caps and went on two British Lions tours and on retiring slid into broadcasting even though Chartered accountancy was tugging at my heart strings..
I play guitar in a rock band for fun, coach West of Scotland rugby club, and host radio and TV programmes North of Hadrianâs wall. Iâm, frankly, a bit alarmed that my son, also John, now plays international rugby as it doesnât seem that long since the child was brought home in a blanket.
Continue reading "About the authors"
- Nigel Owens
- 17 Jan 07, 01:50 PM
It all began at the age of 16 when a pupil at Maesyryrfa School in Cefneithin, when I refereed my first ever game. That was 18 years ago and I have now been a professional referee for five years.
I have officiated in more than 20 games in the Heineken Cup and four Internationals - Japan v Ireland was my first and this February I will be refereeing my first ever Six Nations match when England play Italy at Twickenham.
Outside rugby I do entertainment work as a stand-up comedian and singer. I also do television work on a Welsh language programme called 'Noson Lawen', as well as the Jonathan show on S4C with Mr Davies.
My best heckle happened a few seasons ago when one spectator shouted out at a game at Stradey Park: "Owens you're a comedian on the stage but you're a better one on the field!"
- Jim Stokes
- 17 Jan 07, 01:45 PM
I was always a man of letters ... I worked as postman for two years before changing tack.
My first job as a sports journalist more than 30 years ago, was as a sailing correspondent at the Belfast Telegraph, that is, until I became becalmed one weekend on and ended up writing about the wildlife.
That trend continued when I became rugby correspondent.
For 16 years, I was a dedicated traveller covering the game from the days of the amateur ethos to the present professionalism of playing by numbers and taking in four World Cups. And I finally succumbed to a change of life when I joined "Auntie" six years ago.
It was inevitable that I would end up as a sports journalist. Sport was my life from my early school days with rugby, football, basketball and cricket my tour de force.
I played rugby for my local Belfast team Malone, and captained the club back in the 1972/3 season and collected an Ulster Senior League medal and Ulster Senior Cup gong.
I was a bit of a rare breed who started life as a fly-half one season, and ended up playing number 8 the next. I donât think the rugby world was ready for a side-stepping, dummying, two-footed kicker in the back-row who had a penchant for dropping goals from the base of the scrum.
During a short break from rugby, I played for the Northern Ireland Youth international team in the 1962 European Championships as a goalkeeper.
But some fella by the name of Pat Jennings strangely got to play in the final against England at Wembley.
They won 4-0. Soon after that, won two caps in the ±«Óătv International series that year, drawing 1-1 with England at Boundary Park where George Best wore the Northern Ireland jersey for the first time.
Now, my engine just keeps on running, literally. Iâm a regular jogger and cyclist, having done a couple of marathons and a stream of 10Ks. I can still give my 24-year-old twins a run for their money, much to their chagrin.
- Mark Orlovac
- 17 Jan 07, 01:36 PM
I'm one of the team that helps look after the rugby union section on the website and on digital text & Ceefax on TV.
But just in case any of the bosses are looking, I do write other stuff as well...
Despite going to a rugby-dominated school, I never played regularly (to be honest I wasnât good enough) but somewhere in my mind I have an image of myself as a dogged, sniping scrum-half â a bit like Gary Armstrong.
Unfortunately, five knee dislocations led to the premature end of my sporting career in 1997 although I am sure I will be living out my dreams through my two sons â all I am asking for are Scotland and Lions caps.
I started my journalistic career at a local newspaper in Teddington, covering the likes of Harlequins, London Irish, Richmond, London Scottish and London Welsh, before joining the Beeb in 2000.
Away from work, I am a drummer in a 50s jive band and my claim to fame is that my uncle invented hit 80s quiz show âBullseyeâ (my eldest son is the very proud owner of a bendy Bully and before you ask, I canât get you one).
- Nick Mullins
- 17 Jan 07, 01:33 PM
Iâm one of ±«Óătv Sportâs all-rounders. Over the course of a year you might hear me commentating from Centre Court at Wimbledon, the River Thames on Boat Race day or Tower Bridge on London Marathon Sunday.
My day job though is rugby union. I switched codes - from radio to television - in 2001 to help fill the gap left by Bill McLaren and this will be the seventh year Iâve talked my way through the Six Nations for ±«Óătv Sport.
Iâll spend the majority of the tournament with my head in the ±«Óătv scrum, but when I come up for air Iâll look to spend time with the guitar Iâm learning to play, a large film collection and Erin and Rosie - my two young daughters.
- Phil Harlow
- 17 Jan 07, 01:29 PM
My rugby âcareerâ peaked in the early 1990s as a member of the now-legendary Mitcham junior side which reached - and lost - the Surrey Cup final two years in a row.
Since those heady days I have turned out for Croydon and Chipstead as one of the least prolific wingers in England, while writing on infinitely more talented players on the ±«Óătv Sport website.
Iâve also worked on a variety of other sporting events including the World Snooker Championship, Wimbledon and rugby leagueâs Challenge Cup and Grand Final.
Outside of sport, I love my music and purport to be a DJ... even if only two people have let me play in public to date.
Iâm also getting married in the summer (sorry girls), and am discovering the joys of wedding planning on an almost daily basis.
As for claims to fame, Iâm struggling. My mum used to teach Millwall midfielder Neil Ardley, and he was âa nice ladâ apparently.
- Andrew Cotter
- 17 Jan 07, 01:23 PM
Iâm one of ±«Óătv Televisionâs rugby commentators. I come from Troon on the Ayrshire coast (south-west Scotland) but have lived in London for the past seven years - although I make frequent trips north to âvisit the familyâ (play golf).
My grandfather J.L.Cotter played stand-off for Scotland in the 1930âs, as far as Iâm aware was the only minister to have pulled on the dark blue jersey.
My own international sporting recognition was far more limited, representing Scottish Schools at golf against England. Scotland lost.
I started commentating on rugby and golf on ±«Óătv Radio in 2000 before a Bosman-style free transfer to TV.
- John Beattie
- 17 Jan 07, 12:45 PM
I was born in Borneo, and swinging from tree to tree helped me in later years as I ended up playing rugby for Scotland.
This was predicted, funnily enough, by my Malaysian headmaster who said, on the day I left to start his new life in Scotland as an eleven year old: âBeattie, you are the roughest boy we have ever had here - you will surely play rugby for your new country.â
I won 25 caps and went on two British Lions tours and on retiring slid into broadcasting even though Chartered accountancy was tugging at my heart strings..
I play guitar in a rock band for fun, coach West of Scotland rugby club, and host radio and TV programmes North of Hadrianâs wall.
Iâm, frankly, a bit alarmed that my son, also John, now plays international rugby as it doesnât seem that long since the child was brought home in a blanket.
- Claire Stocks
- 17 Jan 07, 11:25 AM
Weâre aiming to enliven the northern hemisphereâs biggest rugby union tournament, which starts on 3 February, by bringing you as much insight, passion, anecdote, rumour and behind-the-scenes chat as we can.
Our bloggers include ±«Óătv commentators Nick Mullins, Andrew Cotter, Gareth Lewis and John Beattie as well as some of our best rugby writers such as Jim Stokes, Bryn Palmer and Rob Hodgetts.
And we will also have regular posts from a top referee, who will explain and answer questions on, some of the actionâs finer points (be nice to him please, it wonât be his fault if the man in the middle gets it wrong...except in the England/Italy game when he will be officiating).
To find out more about all our contributors, check our about the authors page.
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Wales 27-18 England
