Rugby World Cup

Six Things We Learned From Ireland’s Failed Rugby World Cup Bid…

Steve Bradley on November 24, 2017, 4:48 pm

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Last week’s surprise decision to grant the 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) to France was a huge disappointment for the Irish, who had been bookies’ favourite throughout the process. As the dust finally settles on the five-year effort to bring one of the world’s largest sporting events to these shores, here are six key lessons we can draw from the experience : Ireland CAN hold events of global significance. The positive message for Ireland in a disappointing process was that …

Is Irish Rugby Truly the Beacon of Inclusiveness It Is Purported to Be?

Daniel Collins on October 23, 2015, 8:12 am

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We often hear that Irish rugby has yet to shed its elitist baggage and that the very significant level of coverage devoted to the game by the Irish media is disproportionate in comparison to the level of genuine national interest in the game across the country – whether this is true or not, it’s a debate that rages on in light of Ireland’s elimination from the Rugby World Cup at the hands of Argentina last weekend – but, amidst all …

RWC – Mum: ‘He proved them wrong’

Dewi on October 24, 2011, 4:25 am

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Wonderful stuff from the NZ Herald: Sheryll Donald this morning said she never doubted her son would turn in a great game when he was called off the bench with 50 minutes to go. Seeing him rescue the flagging All Blacks side was one of the proudest moments of her life, she said. And as Graham Henry said: Didn’t he do well. Steve Donald. Superb DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

RWC – almost done….come on All Blacks!

Dewi on October 23, 2011, 8:34 am

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Enjoy: Power’s back on in Auckland. Sticking with the Herald – A number of All Blacks are pacing around the playing surface.. Enjoy! DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

RWC: Final – Will France make a game of it?

Dewi on October 20, 2011, 9:20 pm

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New Zealand unchanged and supremely confident. France? “le match de toute une vie” – Imanol Harinordoquy ain’t a bad player. Let’s face it – they’ve done it before.. I hope New Zealand stuff them and sink their ship on the way home. Any objective observations? DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

RWC: What’s Welsh for “gutted” ?

Dewi on October 17, 2011, 3:51 pm

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Watched the re-run on S4C on Saturday: Interviewer to Shane Williams: “Sut wyt ti’n teimlo Shane ?” (How do you feel Shane?) – “Gutted” To Jamie Roberts – “Beth oedd y teimlad yn yr ystafell newid?” (What was the feeling in the changing room?) – “Roedd y bechgyn yn “gutted”. (The boys were gutted) My sister phoned me after the game – we go halfway round the world, play like heroes and can’t even have a game against the All-Blacks. I’m …

RWC: Wales v France

Dewi on October 15, 2011, 7:41 am

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OK – off to the Millenium Stadium – along with 60,000 others. Let me know how we are doing. In the meantime: Jonathan’s a fan again… Enjoy! DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

RWC: Semi Final Day…Make History Wales…please!!

Dewi on October 14, 2011, 12:13 pm

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2 Fairly big games this weekend in Auckland. On Sunday New Zealand face Australia. Is McCaw fit? Will the all Blacks risk Cruden or play Weepu first five eighth? (Where on earth does “first five eighth” come from?) Here’s the NZ Herald – Graham Henry will be trying to stay awake…it’s a 9pm start in New Zealand – which is a bit different for the players. In Australia they are working on those Sonny Bill Williams voodoo dolls…might be working – …

RWC: Wales goes bonkers…

Dewi on October 9, 2011, 9:08 pm

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Or as the Independent on Sunday puts it : Rydyn ni gyd yn Gymry nawr… There are three sheep for every human, and in winter it’s the wettest place in Britain. But today Wales, the most maligned member of the union, can hold its head up as the mightiest after becoming the only British country to secure a place in the semi-finals of the rugby World Cup. Wales Online captures the mood. DOES it get any better than this? Well, …

RWC – Kevin McLaughlin exclusive for Slugger.

Dewi on October 8, 2011, 10:34 am

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Many thanks to the good people at Gainline.ie – which is a wonderful mix of financial spread betting and Rugby, for a world exclusive opportunity for the observations of Kevin McLaughlin on the Rugby World Cup. Here’s the press release on the launch of the blog. We asked 5 questions: 1. The wonderful win against Australia was widely ascribed to that “Irish Passion” thing. I disagree– it was clinical and professional. Indeed is the reduction in“passion” a key element in Ireland’s recent …

RWC – Here we go…..

Dewi on October 8, 2011, 5:28 am

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Ok – I hope everyone’s awake for the biggest game in Irish and Welsh rugby history! Enjoy…. DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

RWC – Wales v Ireland – views from the Press.

Dewi on October 7, 2011, 2:36 pm

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Guess which Newspaper front page headline is “Two nations…one mission….COME ON WALES!” It promises to be tense, tight, titanic. So when the alarm goes off tomorrow morning, don’t switch it off and roll over. Even from 12,000 miles away, your country needs you. Because, make no mistake, there’s a piece of rugby history to be made. Two nations, one mission… come on Wales. And from the Irish Times – “One more box to tick” Yet in the crunch games against …

RWC – The teams for Saturday:

Dewi on October 6, 2011, 11:34 am

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Wales 15 Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues) 14 George North (Scarlets) 13 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) 12 Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues) 11 Shane Williams (Ospreys) 10 Rhys Priestland (Scarlets) 9 Mike Phillips (Bayonne) 6 Dan Lydiate (Dragons) 8 Toby Faletau (Dragons) 7 Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt) 5 Luke Charteris (Dragons) 4 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) 2 Huw Bennett (Ospreys) 3 Adam Jones (Ospreys) Replacements: Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Paul James (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Scott …

RWC – now it get’s a little bit exciting….

Dewi on October 3, 2011, 9:14 pm

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First on Carter: Eddie Butler in the Guardian: For all the encouraging noises that the wounded player and the team that he leaves behind were obliged to make, there was no hiding a sense of foreboding at his farewell session. All those present knew what three sets of World Cup opponents know, that the All Blacks without Carter are not the same. When he went down, New Zealand went down and not many on this bleak day felt like bouncing …

RWC – Final Group Games…

Dewi on September 30, 2011, 12:54 pm

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Ok – let’s eliminate absurdites and look at the more realistic scenarios for the Six Nation Teams: 1. In Pool D – Barring losing to Fiji by 62 39 points or more Wales are through the Group of Death in second behind South Africa. 2. In Pool B – Scotland need to beat England by 8 points and restrict England to less than 4 tries to get through in second. If they do Argentina win the group, providing they secure …

RWC – New Zealand up the bar.

Dewi on September 24, 2011, 5:40 pm

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Wonderful stuff this morning… All the tv bods said that NZ beat France physically – not true – they were wonderful in the backs… P.S . 3.30 am Fiji Samoa – this is hard work… DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

Magnificent Ireland at the RWC

Dewi on September 17, 2011, 11:20 am

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15-6 v Australia in their half of the world. 2 words I think: Professional and fearless. If you were not going to face Wales in the quarters I think you’d win this…. DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

RWC Prediction Competition

Dewi on September 8, 2011, 8:08 am

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Articles suggests these questions – I agree. So, answers by 9.30 am tomorrow please. The winners The runners up The remaining two semi finalists The highest points scorers The lowest points scorers Team with most Red cards Stage at which England go out Stage at which Ireland go out Player of the tournament To make my life easier could you please answer in this fashion: (My entry) Wales, New Zealand, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Namibia, France, Semi Final, …

Rugby World Cup: Wales could be in with a shout, but Ireland must dream…

Dewi on September 5, 2011, 1:58 pm

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Mick has sent me to New Zealand for the RWC (in my sweet and wonderful dreams…). Anyway a wonderful opinion piece in the New Zealand Herald (required reading for the next month or so): “While we are on the topic of RWC lunacy, how did Quade Cooper escape with no punishment after the obviously deliberate kneeing of McCaw last week? At the risk of sounding an All Black paranoid, if it had been McCaw’s knee on Cooper, the world would …