WalesOnline - Rugby

Stepping Stones and Wales captains

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:33:15 +0000

I was over at the Millennium Stadium in the ex-players' Wrex bar on Thursday morning, where it was revealed a team of 15 Wales captains will climb Mount kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Stepping Stones Appeal, supporting lung cancer research.

Burger ban joke

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:10:43 +0000

The measly eight-week ban handed to Schalk Burger for 'making contact with the face in the eye area' is an appalling blow to the quest to eradicate one of the most heinous acts of foul play from the game.

Burger fiasco

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:36:00 +0000

There is no debate to be had about whether Schalk Burger should have been red-carded against the Lions on Saturday.

Who the Lions should bring in

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:33:09 +0000

It's high time Martyn Williams started a Lions Test match after eight years of waiting to do so.

Cheer up Geech

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:20:00 +0000

There were no major surprises in the Lions Test team, but I couldn't help but notice the rather downbeat demeanour of head coach Ian McGeechan.

Lions shake-up

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:10:20 +0000

With four games now gone, I'm a little clearer in my own mind about the likely Lions line-up for the first Test against South Africa on Saturday week.

Penalty shoot-out solution

Wed, 06 May 2009 11:57:47 +0000

I wouldn't completely dismiss the merits of a penalty shoot-out to decide rugby matches, despite the outcry from traditionalists in the wake of the Blues-Leicester lottery last Sunday.

Rather you than me Mauger

Fri, 01 May 2009 10:23:28 +0000

Considering I am presently lying at home recuperating from surgery on a prolapsed disc, it is no surprise that the race for fitness of Leicester centre Aaron Mauger has caught my attention.

Some Heineken reality please

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:27:32 +0000

There has been excited talk in some quarters about a race for automatic Heineken Cup qualification between the Dragons and Scarlets in the last few weeks of the Magners League campaign.

No regrets Nicky Robinson

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:47:15 +0000

Despite the contrasting fortunes of the two sides - and it doesn't get more contrasting than a 50-12 EDF final rout at Twickenham - Nicky Robinson should have no regrets about his impending move from Cardiff Blues to Gloucester.

Wrong call Stephen Jones!

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:59:20 +0000

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but as he prepares to go on his second Lions tour, what odds Stephen Jones now regrets choosing to go back to the Scarlets rather than join the Blues two years ago?

Scott Johnson's arrival

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:58:51 +0000

Scott Johnson was his usual unusual self as he was unveiled to the media as the new Ospreys head honcho on Friday afternoon.

Ospreys shock?

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:49:26 +0000

Such has been the chorus of disapproval about the shortcomings of the star-studded Ospreys in the last two weeks, that I've a feeling we might just see a response of some substance when they tackle Munster in their Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park on Sunday.

Tragic Dragons

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:25:42 +0000

I penned an article in the Western Mail towards the beginning of the season lamenting the state of the Dragons and a steady stream of invective came my way from various quarters in the following weeks.

Is there one good display in Italy?

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:41:59 +0000

Even with 11 changes, one positional, to the Wales team for Rome on Saturday, you would back Warren Gatland's boys to prevail.