Search found 382 matches
- Mon Jun 16, 2025 12:26 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Premiership rebrands to become the 'Prem' from next season
- Replies: 43
- Views: 1868
Re: Premiership rebrands to become the 'Prem' from next season
What have the RFU got against 'ships'?? First "the Champ" and now this. What utter nonsense.
- Mon Jun 16, 2025 10:46 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Retirement - WTF ?
- Replies: 222
- Views: 7555
Re: Retirement - WTF ?
Following this thread with some interest. I'm 54, and have just added the cost of a home extension to my mortgage, so retirement is no nearer than the horizon for the time being. But I watched my Dad's wellbeing deteriorate rapidly on retirement. Having run his own successful business for years, on ...
- Tue May 20, 2025 12:19 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: 2026 6N -wtaf
- Replies: 46
- Views: 6503
Re: 2026 6N -wtaf
Supposedly for french tv where rugby matches on thursdays are very common? Whatever the reason, it’s silly. People have lives, kids, and work outside of rugby, and for the vast majority of people Thursday just isn’t as easy to give a few hours and ££££ over to rugby. Attendance , sponsorship, adver...
- Mon May 19, 2025 3:56 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: 2026 6N -wtaf
- Replies: 46
- Views: 6503
Re: 2026 6N -wtaf
The Thursday thing is an oddity, but as a one-off because of the Olympics, I can live with it. And I'm not sad to see the 2nd fallow weekend go. Always feels weird having all the surrounding hype and excitement and then a random hiatus. World Cup games are usually played only (approx) a week apart, ...
- Mon May 19, 2025 9:34 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
I last watched Tier 2 rugby in 2007/8 when Saints were relegated. They had a glorious seasons, winning immediate promotion back to the Premiership with 30 wins from 30 matches. They also won the EDF Energy Trophy that year. Trying to remember the teams from that season Pirates, Launceston, Exeter, ...
- Fri May 16, 2025 12:39 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
It's this season's 12 clubs plus Richmond (promoted from Nat 1) and Worcester (the only one of the three that went bust that the RFU said met the minimum required criteria for a return) Today's news isn't all that much news. We already knew it was going to be 14 clubs; we already knew which 14 club...
- Mon Apr 07, 2025 9:52 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Has Anyone Ever Been Attracted To Their Boss At Work? Is It A Recipe For Disaster?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 6229
Re: Has Anyone Ever Been Attracted To Their Boss At Work? Is It A Recipe For Disaster?
Not something I've experienced, but we've got lots of couples who met at work in our organisation. General view seems to be keep it very quiet to start with, have your eyes open to the risks, and if it turns into something serious / ongoing, be prepared that one of you is going to have to change rol...
- Fri Apr 04, 2025 9:10 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Worcester Warriors back for next season!!!
- Replies: 20
- Views: 967
Re: Worcester Warriors back for next season!!!
Terrible news , send a message of old boys club and not professional sport. I take it you are predicting this will end in tears. No idea what he is thinking. Surely good for English rugby to have a thriving Championships that can be sold as a package with the GP, like the French set up. Not exactly...
- Mon Mar 17, 2025 10:15 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: The best new and returning TV series of 2025?
- Replies: 12480
- Views: 1526198
Re: The best new and returning TV series of 2025?
Adolescence on Netflix? Just started but looks decent to far, Steven graham says it'll be good, Ashley Walters says not so sure... wanted to get into it next, it's been getting great reviews anyone finished it ? Yep, binged it over the weekend. I'm not a parent, so can only imagine how they'll feel...
- Wed Feb 19, 2025 3:06 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: ‘Clubs are going to disappear’: grassroots rugby crying for help in Six Nations’ shadow
- Replies: 99
- Views: 19656
Re: ‘Clubs are going to disappear’: grassroots rugby crying for help in Six Nations’ shadow
Not sure if there's some personal politics going on here, but I'm with Mog on this; I'm a bit stunned by the idea that people might think the amateur game provides nothing for the pro game. I may be a lifelong supporter of what is now a Championship club, but Bedford have been an amateur club for th...
- Wed Feb 19, 2025 11:00 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: ‘Clubs are going to disappear’: grassroots rugby crying for help in Six Nations’ shadow
- Replies: 99
- Views: 19656
Re: ‘Clubs are going to disappear’: grassroots rugby crying for help in Six Nations’ shadow
I don't claim to understand the finer details of how grassroots rugby operates, or funds itself, as a lifelong supporter of a Championship club, but from a purely logical (and possibly very niave) perspective, surely it's clear to see why grassroots/community rugby is so important? Without those clu...
- Fri Jan 10, 2025 2:23 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
In other news...
This isn't going away.
I'm beginning to feel like there's no way for the RFU to avoid this now.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... is-blocked
This isn't going away.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... is-blocked
- Wed Jan 01, 2025 9:13 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: How many decades have you lived in?
- Replies: 85
- Views: 3497
Re: How many decades have you lived in?
70s 80s 90s 00s 10s 20s Have to say the 90s was the best decade Same decades, but honestly feel like I'm living my best life right now! 70s and 80s I was still just a kid really, stumbling along & not really knowing / appreciating much. Made some poor life choices in the 90s and 00s, and finally st...
- Tue Dec 24, 2024 2:03 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: That's Amazing
- Replies: 115
- Views: 8373
Re: That's Amazing
Again, not sure what to make of this either! Never been married so can't comment, but if it's true, which I find hard to believe, that's desperately sad, and a poor reflection on, well...someone, or something.

- Tue Dec 24, 2024 1:29 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: That's Amazing
- Replies: 115
- Views: 8373
Re: That's Amazing
Fair point!!fatcat wrote: ↑Tue Dec 24, 2024 1:21 pmHey, it started an interesting discussion on bananas.Calendar Blue wrote: ↑Tue Dec 24, 2024 1:10 pmI genuinely don't know what to make of this.
Not the statement, but the fact that it's in this thread...
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- Tue Dec 24, 2024 1:23 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: The Training Thread - all aspects of fitness and health
- Replies: 27659
- Views: 2350188
Re: The Training Thread - all aspects of fitness and health
Having never been in a gym until 18 months ago, I'm now addicted! Cardio was what got the weight off for me, 2 stone in about 6 months without really trying, other than doing lots of sessions. Not sure if that works the same for you guys as us girls? I've now changed gyms and am doing more weight & ...
- Tue Dec 24, 2024 1:10 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: That's Amazing
- Replies: 115
- Views: 8373
- Fri Dec 20, 2024 2:00 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 9g5zdq514o
Well, things seem to be moving at some pace...Sweeney gone by the new year??!!
Well, things seem to be moving at some pace...Sweeney gone by the new year??!!
- Wed Dec 18, 2024 10:55 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
National League 1 now joining the bunfight... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c62z6v80188o Feels like a head of steam building up, with an emergency meeting of the RFU Council today, but will it be enough? Yeah i did hear they were definitely going for it. More power to their colle...
- Wed Dec 18, 2024 10:01 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
National League 1 now joining the bunfight...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 2z6v80188o
Feels like a head of steam building up, with an emergency meeting of the RFU Council today, but will it be enough?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 2z6v80188o
Feels like a head of steam building up, with an emergency meeting of the RFU Council today, but will it be enough?
- Mon Dec 16, 2024 10:10 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: How is your local club getting on?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 14279
Re: How is your local club getting on?
Got Smoked- although Cambridge getting dicked 95-7 at Ealing softens the blow nicely 😂 Are you a Caldy supporter DD? Bedford committed yet another daylight robbery at London Scottish yesterday; according to our own Twitterfeed, we were poor throughout, and yet somehow managed to find a couple of pe...
- Tue Dec 10, 2024 10:00 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c3vrp790ekyo Exactly as per a discussion I had with our (Bedford) Chairman on Saturday afternoon. He's always very measured & diplomatic when talking to us supporters but was more fired up on this subject than I've ever seen him. Doubt it'll deliver t...
- Thu Nov 28, 2024 10:30 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
And there it is...The £1.3 million paid in LTIP bonuses to the five executive directors and Sweeney is more than the £1 million that the RFU pays to Championship clubs.

- Mon Nov 18, 2024 11:17 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: The best new and returning TV series of 2025?
- Replies: 12480
- Views: 1526198
Re: The best new and returning TV series of 2024?
Good thing about this time of year is we usually get some decent tele. I'm enjoying Lioness, the Lincoln Lawyer's back, just started the Jackal, 2nd season of the Diplomat is pending, and I know everyone else seems to hate it, but I love Yellowstone! Other than Wolf Hall on a Sunday night, I'm watch...
- Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:38 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Official Les Bleus v All Blacks NH Tour Match thread,
- Replies: 1015
- Views: 24058
Re: Official Les Bleus v All Blacks NH Tour Match thread,
Just wanted to drop in here and say that this was the best test match I've watched this year. The intensity and physical commitment from both sides was leagues ahead of everything else we saw this weekend. A really enjoyable 80 minutes as a neutral. Agreed. This was the World Cup final that I wishe...
- Thu Oct 31, 2024 10:13 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Haka is absurd
- Replies: 427
- Views: 17260
Re: Haka is absurd
Why does the haka upset the English so much? Doesn't upset me. I love it. On a recent corporate 'away day', y'know, the God-awful team-building guff, we had some Kiwi guys come & do demo's and explanations of the haka. Best part of the day; really fascinating understanding all the cultural referenc...
- Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:04 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: How is your local club getting on?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 14279
Re: How is your local club getting on?
Finally started to play at kick-off, rather than waiting til 60 mins, and pulled off a good win against Donny, on Ladies Day at Bedford. Sitting reasonably comfortably in third, although mudbath pitches for the next few months rarely suits us. Loads of money raised for Breast Cancer, mostly by piss...
- Tue Oct 29, 2024 10:47 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: How is your local club getting on?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 14279
Re: How is your local club getting on?
Finally started to play at kick-off, rather than waiting til 60 mins, and pulled off a good win against Donny, on Ladies Day at Bedford. Sitting reasonably comfortably in third, although mudbath pitches for the next few months rarely suits us. Loads of money raised for Breast Cancer, mostly by pisse...
- Mon Oct 28, 2024 10:55 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Globus RIP
- Replies: 333
- Views: 19421
Re: Globus RIP
What sad news.
I had the pleasure of meeting him, and 'the management' on a glorious sunny afternoon when they came to join a few of us watching Bedford play. Mad as a box of frogs, but joyfully hilarious company, and very generous.
A loss to the bored, as well as his family.
I had the pleasure of meeting him, and 'the management' on a glorious sunny afternoon when they came to join a few of us watching Bedford play. Mad as a box of frogs, but joyfully hilarious company, and very generous.
A loss to the bored, as well as his family.
- Thu Oct 17, 2024 4:14 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: London Irish back in the Championship from 2025?
- Replies: 122
- Views: 40194
Re: London Irish back in the Championship from 2025?
I know I'm starting to sound like bleating, and there are for sure things that Championship clubs could & should've done off their own bat, but perhaps if the RFU hadn't slashed the Championship clubs funding from £633K to £133k per season, a serious punt at the Prem might not seem such an unachieva...
- Thu Oct 17, 2024 2:25 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: London Irish back in the Championship from 2025?
- Replies: 122
- Views: 40194
Re: London Irish back in the Championship from 2025?
The Championship Clubs podcast (via Spotify in my case) makes for a good listen. And gives some good insight as to how the clubs would like the new agreements to work out. Particularly re relationships with Prem clubs. Personally I still think even allowing LI, Wasps & Worcs to tender is all wrong. ...
- Thu Oct 17, 2024 9:45 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: How is your local club getting on?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 14279
Re: How is your local club getting on?
Bedford are being their usual unpredictable extreme selves. Got completely hammered by Coventry, but have since pulled off two bonkers 'snatched victory from the jaws of defeat' wins against Hartbury and Pirates. Regular supporters are campaigning for multiple defibs around the ground... We're strug...
- Wed Oct 09, 2024 9:28 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Storms from Hell
- Replies: 124
- Views: 7400
Re: Storms from Hell
I used to work for the UK's atmospheric research aircraft, and as such we got to meet some of the team from NOAA (the 'hurricane hunters') and have a look round their Hercules. Some pretty cool guys, with some very cool tech, and frankly balls of steel, who do something you couldn't pay me enough to...
- Fri Oct 04, 2024 10:09 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: and the winner is... SYDNEY!
- Replies: 90
- Views: 4735
Re: and the winner is... SYDNEY!
Watching the Sydney debate with interest, as I'm due to arrive mid-January to spend 3 weeks with my brother & his kids. He's based in St Ives, so late night eating in the city isn't a big thing for us, but I'm always interested to hear the locals' views on Sydney for days out / nice areas to visit. ...
- Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:21 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Worcester have a premiership standard stadium, a proven supporter base - if they can bring some investment into the game as well, then let them join. And pray tell, what sort of "investment" do you think is going to come to the club that gets parachuted back into the Champ? It will be exactly the s...
- Wed Oct 02, 2024 1:05 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
And it would appear that what does interest the RFU is how much more important 'brands' are, than clubs that have managed to survive the swingeing cuts to funding, that are consistently delivering future England players and supporting the community game. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/arti...
- Wed Oct 02, 2024 9:33 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
And it would appear that what does interest the RFU is how much more important 'brands' are, than clubs that have managed to survive the swingeing cuts to funding, that are consistently delivering future England players and supporting the community game. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/artic...
- Wed Oct 02, 2024 9:20 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- Replies: 119147
- Views: 8994871
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Does anyone know where the RFU publish stats on attendance down the pyramid? I found this which points at Championship attendance but no source https://sportsgazette.co.uk/english-rugbys-capacity-crisis-delving-into-the-data/ I doubt the RFU publishes any stats for the Championship (or below) as it...
- Wed Sep 25, 2024 9:04 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Everyday Things That Annoy You
- Replies: 3532
- Views: 358268
Re: Everyday Things That Annoy You
People playing their social media out loud on public transport. Tik tok, Instagram etc. Too many people have no manners. Aligned with this, over 40's vs under 40's are immediately distinguishable. Over 40's hold their phone to their ear as they're talking. At least then the rest of us are only forc...
- Mon Sep 16, 2024 12:18 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: How is your local club getting on?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 14279
Re: How is your local club getting on?
Our season at Bedford has yet to kick off (1st league game on Sat) but the 3 pre-season friendlies went ok. Bit of a battering by Sarries, who surprisingly fielded a number of their internationals, as did Saints last weekend, but generally I think we're in a pretty good place. Large % of last season...