Nigel Owens- legend.

Always worth sharing again.
[video]http://youtu.be/5YUF9LSXAkY[/video]

Dont have sky 😥

only caught the last few seconds of that … gutted, On a local note Yorkshire under 15 girls and under 18 girls both beat Durham and cumbria girls comfortably at darlington. great games, I never expected to be cheering my daughters on playing rugby (union) .some proper crunching tackles going in Go Hannah 😀

Just managed to watch it. Incredible game, Ireland were excellent for 60 minutes. ABs showed their class though. Great spectacle, right up there with that other game against South Africa

I might start a thread on it.

Do it. Yes, I serious 😉

Anybody able to record next week’s and put it on a DVD for a_a?

I could.. if he really wants it..?

Was that the one with the nice Irish fella called Derek storming off? 🙂

To be fair to the man, he has monumental mantits 🙂

Cuthbert, Owen Williams and Lydiate all start. Otherwise as expected. North to start currently.

@DanW – it would seem perfectly normal for PRL to have a contract with the clubs which says whether they can release players outside of the agreed window. I would have imagined that the window agreement took quite a bit of negotiation. PRL doesn’t want it’s product diminished because good players are off playing internationals outside the agreed window. All the other nations seemed to be able to arrange their games inside the window why not Wales ?

@jambalaya, I agree that scheduling shouldn’t be hard in theory and I can see why the leagues have a interest in keeping international players playing club rugby in their league as much as possible… but I was surprised the PRL actually contract clubs to do this- normally the club’s contract with the player either does or doesn’t let them play at certain times, not the league organisation that dictates this. Also, the English players are exempt…

England’s first Test with NZ falls outside the international window and clashes with the Premiership Final since the international windows were decided many years in advance. It is easily done.

Mallinder seems to have a very sensible view- He argues North coming to Northampton has generated a lot of interest, excitement and revenue and at the times when North is away with Wales it gives the young, local players a chance to play having trained and gained a lot from North’s experience. With all that gained who is he to deny a player from representing their country. Seems very pragmatic.

“George is a world-class player who in his short time at Franklin’s Gardens has brought a great deal of excitement and quality, not just to the Saints but to the Aviva Premiership as a competition.

“When his signing was announced it was hailed in the media and by the league’s hierarchy as a massive statement of intent by the club and a reflection of the competitive nature and high profile offered by the Aviva Premiership.

“Every player asks for specific conditions to be included in their agreements. This is not unusual in professional sport.

“In order to realise this rare opportunity of bringing a player like George to Franklin’s Gardens we agreed to allow him to represent Wales if, and when, selected.”

@DanW – thanks interesting. I did see a piece just now saying that the June 7 2014 tour match with NZ would be a problem.

@El Vino – the difference is that in rugby it’s the internationals which lead the way, I don’t see that changing in the same way as football did with Champions League. In rugby the money is in the TV coverage of internationals.

I really dont mind the big players going overseas, just means more young Welsh players get to play in the RABO. As long as the ones that go play regularly and are available for the national squad then all well and good. If Wales do well more kids start to play at school and local clubs. Dont agree with AA that the game is going to die, change (which it already has) but not die. What will kill the game in england is owners wanting to make money, buy in top players from around the world and not give english young talent a chance.

RWC prices are a bit steep.

Wrecker I see the clubs in england wanting to take controll of the domestic game, much like in football. The H-C is just the start and as in football they dont give a monkeys about the national side. I really think they see the football premiership as a template to what they want to achieve.

Sorry you have lost me on the EPQ thing, it has been a tough couple of days 😆

The French have committed to the ERC and the Heineken Cup for next year. Just then English to go in making a decision I think

Don’t underestimate the pig headedness of the wealthy. There will be some bruised egos today.
Of course, this could all have been avoided with some negotiation over a year ago!

1/2p is going to Toulon so rumors say.

Interesting. Will Armitage play on the wing then, he’s been playing well ?

I cannot see the English Clubs holding out on their own or playing some other tournament with South African sides. I do think the H Cup needs less meaningless group games.