- Jim Stokes - ±«Óãtv Northern Ireland Sport
- 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 - ±«Óãtv Scotland Sport commentator
- 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"
Wales 27-18 England
