Rugby – The Incisal Edge

Home Advantage

Paul Rees (no relation – as far as I am aware) writing in The Breakdown. Take the “row” out of “crowd” and what are you left with? CD, a disc which is one way of trying to develop an atmosphere in an empty stadium. Home teams are having to generate their own energy with theContinue reading “Home Advantage”

Dan Tuohy on his disillusionment

“Integrity and loyalty is a thing of the past, even a simple gesture of looking someone in the eye has gone.” “As a professional you get paid well, the lifestyle is class, all the [nonsense] aside it really is a dream job, although I had grown sick and tired of the pre-season goalsetting of honestyContinue reading “Dan Tuohy on his disillusionment”

The Monday Morning Quote #525

We’ve all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a time when talent will only take you so far. The great players go away and work on extra things. They work harder on their skills. They start having early nights and they think about their diet and training. ThatContinue reading “The Monday Morning Quote #525”

Why I’m glad my son doesn’t play the game that I love.

As the 6 Nations reaches its climax it’s time to look hard at the real problem of head injuries. Rugby players more likely than not to sustain a concussion after 25 matches in a season. Concussion is one of the biggest problems facing both rugby union and league. Rates of the traumatic brain injury in rugbyContinue reading “Why I’m glad my son doesn’t play the game that I love.”

We had shown resilience and proven that so much in performance is about belonging and purpose.

We had shown resilience and proven that so much in performance is about belonging and purpose. Like I said, it was a surreal weekend; in a city driven by opulence and materialism there were a bunch of boys from the Fijian villages, some who had no family homes to go back to, happier than anyContinue reading “We had shown resilience and proven that so much in performance is about belonging and purpose.”

The Monday Morning Quote #422

As The British & Irish Lions start their tour of New Zealand….. “Rugby has always been a game for all shapes and sizes. You have the superstars and the fast guys who score the tries, but you also need the workhorses and the people who play all the other roles. Unless they all work togetherContinue reading “The Monday Morning Quote #422”

As the new rugby season kicks off – “Find us a freak – and cheap”

“Fears and revelations of a top rugby agent” “It’s definitely a game of how big can we get them, how quickly, and let’s see if they can cope – otherwise, we’ll move them on.” ‘Find us a freak – and cheap” ‘Almost every player is not 100%’ Sean Longstaff was a winger who played forContinue reading “As the new rugby season kicks off – “Find us a freak – and cheap””

Dewi Sant…

March 1st is the feast day of St. David, Dewi Sant, patron saint of Wales. He was born in 500 and died in 589. His mother is reputed to have been a niece of King Arthur who was seduced or raped by his father and later became a nun. During David’s birth, by the seaContinue reading “Dewi Sant…”

Jonah Lomu – R.I.P.

Jonah Lomu has died at the age of 40. Blessed with an amazing physique, great hands, balance and speed, he was a one-off a man who changed the parameters of the game of rugby union. A rare kidney illness, which had been diagnosed before his entry on the world stage in 1995, and reduced hisContinue reading “Jonah Lomu – R.I.P.”

How To Win The Rugby World Cup.

Worth re-visiting Graham Henry’s article from The Guardian on how to change from losers to winners. Lessons here for anybody involved in selecting, guiding and leading teams. It’s all about the preparation. “Graham Henry looks down at the grass of Eden Park. So many matches, so many memories. One wells up above the others. 23Continue reading “How To Win The Rugby World Cup.”