The rugby

[Dorset Boy]

Dorset Boy, you must be happy that planning for Bath's ground improvements can progress now?

Yes, 27 years to get planning permission is frankly ridiculous! It all started in 1998 with the plan for the open stand to be retractable with a grass roof! It's taken a massive amount of work from the wider Bath rugby community to get it over the line and to overcome the frankly pathetic objections of a handful, like Ken Loach.

I've read they will rebuild over 3 summers, with the pitch moving east by something like 10-15 metres, and the sports centre end stand being extended accordingly. I don't know which stand will be first though!

@Pross - Tigers shackled LRZ very well and he'll be delighted to get a full 80 under his belt. And happy to accept I am not exactly unbiased when it comes to Bristol! The do interfere with the opposition 9 a lot and get away with it, and do have a lot of blocking runners, but their handling can be sublime.

 

[Dogtrousers]

A bit behind the times but I just watched the highlights of the 3rd place playoff of the WRWC.

Some great play on show from both sides. Worth watching

 

[Dorset Boy]

Took a drenching at the rec last night - taking the OH, son and the OH's sister and family who are over from Aus to their first ever match.
Good win in really difficult conditions against a very physical Sale side.
How Fazlet was given a Lions spot ahead of George Ford is an utter disgrace - 50 mi drop goal stuck immaculately from 50 m out - wow.

 

[DRM]

Meanwhile in the other code, COME ON HULL KR, get that cheating shower of shite out of the Grand Final!!!

 

[DRM]

YES Hull KR 20 St Helens 12, get lost you cheating, shower of shoot

 

[Beebo]

Terrible news. Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with MND.

I’m sure there are proper scientific research going on into any correlation.

But it does seem odd that 3 well known players who were Mad Dog types who took big hits have got it in recent years.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Terrible news. Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with MND.

I’m sure there are proper scientific research going on into any correlation.

But it doesn’t seem odd that 3 well known players who were Mad Dog types who took big hits have got it in recent years.

Really sad news.

As we have had some of the aussie outlaws staying, I watched a chunk of their Grand Final yesterday. League won't exist in 15 years time if they continue to treat head shots as minor offences. There were at least 3 tucked shoulders to heads with force that weren't even sinbins, and numerous other head hits throughout the match.

 

[Drago]

Terrible news. Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with MND.

I’m sure there are proper scientific research going on into any correlation.

But it doesn’t seem odd that 3 well known players who were Mad Dog types who took big hits have got it in recent years.

Its a bit vague, but there may be a link. A recent study (Russell et al 2022) concluded that former Scottish international rugby union players had an increased risk of developing MND compared to the general population.

Correlation or causation? Very much unknown.

It is sad to see active folk stricken like this.

 

[Beebo]

Really sad news.

As we have had some of the aussie outlaws staying, I watched a chunk of their Grand Final yesterday. League won't exist in 15 years time if they continue to treat head shots as minor offences. There were at least 3 tucked shoulders to heads with force that weren't even sinbins, and numerous other head hits throughout the match.

High tackles in league are crazy.
and dont get me started on the stupid internet big hits that seem to be popular in the Southern Hemispher.

 

[BrumJim]

Terrible news. Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with MND.

I’m sure there are proper scientific research going on into any correlation.

But it does seem odd that 3 well known players who were Mad Dog types who took big hits have got it in recent years.

This one is hitting me hard, although having watched the interview, nothing like as hard as it is hitting his family.

Being a Tigers fan, I've watched him play more times than I can remember, both live and on TV, and really captured the Tigers' spirit at the time - fearless, reckless, fully committed to the game and each other, and uncompromising in quality. More than that, he played rugby at Loughborough school with my brother. Although he confeses that he never managed to tackle him.

And one memorable day at Twickenham, sharing a hospitality prize with my Mum's friend and my Mum, he spoke before the England Italy game. It was only lunch, but he was clearly drunk and swearing incessantly. But, as my rather refined Mum put it, he spoke very well indeed.

 

[AndyRM]

Terrible news. Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with MND.

I’m sure there are proper scientific research going on into any correlation.

But it doesn’t seem odd that 3 well known players who were Mad Dog types who took big hits have got it in recent years.

Absolutely. Regardless of your affiliation, club, code or nationality, this is well worth your money if you're donationally inclined.

You don't even need to wear the boxers.

https://www.myoddballs.com/products/doddie-weir-mens-boxer-shorts

Oddballs are ace in general btw.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I watched a TV program about the "class of 03" Woodman, Thompson, Moody all featured, and the (often concussion related) problems they had faced in retirement. It was very moving.

Now I know that (as above) MND is not necessarily a result of his playing career, but rightly or wrongly it does raise the same feeling - ultimately these guys were doing this to themselves for our entertainment.

On a more positive note, here's a memory from 2003 Vs SA. Moody charge down Greenwood try.


View: https://youtu.be/UccDkA1_5-0?si=-2xUH1UzKqa4s194