The News Review:
- JPR attacks Welsh rugby’s set-up
- Things must change for rugby to flourish
- BBC SPRT / RUGBY LEAGUE
- Andy Robinson: The big question is not whether England can win but…
JPR attacks Welsh rugby’s set-up
BBC News – May 26, 2007
He combined a nostalgic look back at the good old days with straightforward views on the current game. The full-back in the legendary 1970s team who recently failed in a bid to become Welsh Rugby Union president criticised the sport’s present set-up. He claimed some were more concerned with retaining positions than changing the way the game is organised in Wales. He said Welsh rugby had more of a club culture but acknowledged that the regional system was here to stay… The full-back in the legendary 1970s team who recently failed in a bid to become Welsh Rugby Union president criticised the sport’s present set-up. He claimed some were more concerned with retaining positions than changing the way the game is organised in Wales. He said Welsh rugby had more of a club culture but acknowledged that the regional system was here to stay. “I think we like our clubs better than our regions – but it’s probably too late to change” Williams told an audience at the 20th festival in the Powys town. Asked what he would have done in his first 100 days as WRU president had he won the recent election instead of Glanmor Griffiths he said the position was merely that of “figurehead”. But he said there was a lot to be done still to the image of the WRU and there were too many more concerned with their position on the committee next year than rugby this year. Williams said more financial help was needed to develop young players with many giving up at 16.
Things must change for rugby to flourish
Walesnline – May 26, 2007
cfm –>Things must change for rugby to flourishMay 26 2007by Phil Blanche Western MailAs Wales prepare to play in Sydney today former WRU chief executive David Moffett believes New Zealand and Australia must go it alone to shape a new global integrated seasonIN the end it all comes down to numbers – life’s like that. The important number this week is 52 the number of weeks in a year. It would be great if there was 56 but no matter how many times you count there are only 52. The International Rugby Board is currently wrestling with this inescapable fact as they try to resolve the myriad issues surrounding an integrated season. Unfortunately they seem fixated on the problems of the French and English clubs to the exclusion of the rest of world rugby.
BBC SPRT / RUGBY LEAGUE
BBC News – May 26, 2007
Hull were 16-2 ahead after just 31 minutes with Lee Radford Craig Hall and Willie Manu all scoring. But stand-off Trent Barrett scored twice at the end of the first half to drag the home side back into the game. Wigan then ran riot in the second half Richards scoring three tries while Mick Higham and Chris Ashton also crossed. Wigan had gone into the game with just two wins from their six Super League matches at the JJB and it looked as if they were on the way to a fifth home defeat of the season after a dismal opening 35 minutes.
Andy Robinson: The big question is not whether England can win but…
Independent – May 26, 2007
The moment we devalue it make a mockery of it we will be at serious risk of losing the best of ourselves. When I look at the international matches being played this weekend and run my eye over the weakened teams representing the home countries – England in South Africa Wales in Australia Ireland in Argentina – I have a problem. It is not a sudden problem; I questioned the purpose of England’s two matches against the Springboks two years ago when the draw for this year’s World Cup put us in the same pool. But now the fixtures are upon us I am more convinced than ever that the International Rugby Board needs to take a hard look at itself… Both sports would love to have what we have so it is hardly rocket science to say we should guard it with our lives. Yet we are placing our own integrity under threat by going ahead with matches that undermine the very principles of Test rugby – that it should be reserved for the very best players; that there should never be anything mundane or half-baked about it. By going down this road we are doing ourselves no favours. Under-strength teams are becoming too much of a fact of life for my liking.