Rugby

My thoughts exactly.. last year they were a bit more obvious, appearing in more tournaments etc (like the Welsh, although their 'World Cup win' is the biggest 7s upset ever still), I was mightily surprised to see them in the final.

The Welsh seem to be getting their act together too - decent showing last week in the Gold Coast

Does anyone want to go see the Sarries v Ospreys match on Saturday?

I won 10 free tickets but won't be able to make it back in time from my away match in Hastings.

If you want to go, add your name to the list:

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It will require one person pretending to be me in order to pick them up on the day and sending an e-mail to someone at Saracens, giving an address & contact phone number. PM me if you're willing to do it and I'll give you more details.

thanks for the offer wibble but eugh....... Sarries shiver. that and i'm playing.

I realise that I will probably be in the minority in feeling a little sad about this but Chris Patterson, excellent place kicker, utility back and all-round nice guy has announced his retirement from international rugby.

I feel like one era of Rugby Union is finishing, and a new one beginning - we are seeing the end of the first generation of professionals, who came from or grew up in the amateur game.

The the new generation have only ever know the pro game

Very true, speaking of professionalism does this sound like sour grapes anyone?

I realise that I will probably be in the minority in feeling a little sad about this but Chris Patterson, excellent place kicker, utility back and all-round nice guy has announced his retirement from international rugby.

i always liked patterson. shame

I'll always respect Paterson.. He essentially carried Scottish rugby on his shoulders for many years.

Always dependable and at the end of the day, that's what you want from a player.

+1

Fucksticks

Got a lot of time for Danny Care. Badly missed at the world cup. now this.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/16408098.stm#TWEET55121

England have plenty of options at scrum-half with Simpson, Youngs, Micky Young (also of Leicester), Wigglesworth and a few others around the fringes..

I personally prefer using a combo of someone with a steadying head like Wigglesworth and snipers like Care/Simpson. Either use the quicker, more attacking player when defences tire late on or bring on the steadying head to close out a game.

I have a lot of time for Care, he's been a great servant to Irish rugby, as well as a source of monumental comedy genius with his 'I hate cyclists, they get in my way when I'm driving home bladdered' schtick.

Wigglesworth is out for the season with injury anyway - personally i dont think hes anywhere near international quality anyway.

Youngs, Simpson, and Dickinson would be my guess for the EPS.

The young players need to be exposed to the heat of the battle if they are to get the experience needed to become calm heads.

'kin hell played for the first time in about a month yesterday (had injury at beginning of December), I don't remember it being this hard to come back from injury before, I have even started making an old man groan when I stand up/sit down........ Is this the beginning of getting old or am i just being a wuss?

I was in Paris for the weekend visiting Mrs Brave parents and watch quite a lot of Top 14 rugby. Christ, every team is like an all star squad. Really expansive running rugby as well. Plus almost very game had one or two mass punch ups.. They still love the handbags le french

Top 14 rugby is good, sadly I think it is pretty unsustainable and will cause problems when it inevitably collapses.

I feel you're right.. Sadly. still, great fun while it lasts..

'kin hell played for the first time in about a month yesterday (had injury at beginning of December), I don't remember it being this hard to come back from injury before, I have even started making an old man groan when I stand up/sit down........ Is this the beginning of getting old or am i just being a wuss?

Getting old ;)

My team mates always comment on my constant, intensive, training regime. But they havent seen how fast an over used body, in its late 30s, can degrade.

The worst thing for me is a niggling hip injury. Seems to crop up when I do steep runs, or play rugby. Nothing makes you sound old, like grumbling about your hip....

...which int alf givin me jip.

Definitely getting old. I seem to have a constant stream of niggling little annoying-as-fuck injuries I can't shake and if I do manage to sort one out there'll be a new one crop up the next week.

the "niggling" injury finally put paid to my rugby days.. just couldn't shake anything in the end.

the "niggling" injury finally put paid to my rugby days.. just couldn't shake anything in the end.

I fear this myself.

We've been playing a lot of 5 v 5 touch rugby. This aggrevates my hip, which pulls my left hamstring, which hurts like hell. I think some strength training on that spot will buy me time. But I cant see it ever going completely.

As far as I understand it, the best way to avoid injuries (other than not playing ;]) is to strengthen your core and regularly stretch (not just before/after sports). Having physio friends may have influenced this opinion but a lot of rugby players will focus on strengthening their larger muscles and ignore the equally important parts that stabilise everything.

It's all about balance really. If you stretch when you wake up and before you go to bed every day and throw in some core stuff you'll last a lot longer as a sportsman.

^Makes sense, it's not rugby I know, but Ryan Giggs attributes his longevity as a footballer to yoga which lets face it is really good for strengthening core muscles

As far as I understand it, the best way to avoid injuries (other than not playing ;]) is to strengthen your core and regularly stretch (not just before/after sports). Having physio friends may have influenced this opinion but a lot of rugby players will focus on strengthening their larger muscles and ignore the equally important parts that stabilise everything.

It's all about balance really. If you stretch when you wake up and before you go to bed every day and throw in some core stuff you'll last a lot longer as a sportsman.

I'm pretty good core training wise TBH. I am a keen runner, and core strength simply makes this easier.

I'm also a firm believer in the idea that being more flexible makes you faster. Its not always the best thing for forward play though. I've been training my neck to the point were I have noticably less ability to glance over my shoulder, while cycling. But I've had it hyper-extended playing hooker, and never want to experiance that again.

Basically I think the running + cycling + weights + rugby, fit OK together. But that the explosive nature of low number touch rugby (or say 5-a-side football). Is a slight step too far for someone of my build and weight. People will say that 15s rugby can be explosive. Not the way I play it is'nt ;)