Rugby's Best Characters

Rugby fans up and down the world lately have been hanging on Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins every word and it got me thinking about the best characters in rugby, both past and present.

In the last couple of years there is a couple of moments that have stayed in my mind. Obviously, the latest its The Honey Badgers post-match interviews where he uses phrases such as "Sweating like a gypsy with a mortgage" and "busier than that one-armed bricky in Baghdad".

When the Lions usually go on tour a few funny moments occur. There was the mock court in the 1997 tour where Kieth Wood dished out punishments to the offending players. Last year was no different. One of my favorites was the picture that emerged of Stuart Hogg donning a tiny pair od speedos holding a beer the morning after the Lions were victorious. There was also the clip on the 'Lions Roar' DVD of Zebo getting stitched up.

As a Welshman I've also got to throw this one in... Andy Powell driving a golf cart down the M4 the morning after a Wales game to get some breakfast.

Nick Cummin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrcoFn3s7KM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dd2XXxNDr4

Lions Funnies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AadIGJMkEFE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhITV9bkZ00

http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/54/14EEF79E78870282AB7298B3A87C_h416_w622_m2_q80_cqhvuRCxN.jpg

My Time Playing University Rugby.

I'm in the last couple of months of my three years at university and I put on my University rugby jersey for the final time last Friday. It was in front of a crowd of around 1000 people as it was the derby between the two city's university. For me the occasion was met with mixed emotions; on one hand I was quite relieved because I'd finally be able to get some work done with deadlines becoming ever-present. Ultimately though it was quite sad knowing this will be the last time I play with all these lads, maybe even the last time I'd see some of them.

In my first year I didn't play rugby- and that is my single biggest regret of my Uni experience. Not only did I not play rugby, I didn't do anything at all (apart from watch Breaking Bad and The Wire). I was a lazy waste-of-space in all honesty. Rugby and the gym was a huge part of my life before uni and to go from that to nothing, in hind-sight, was totally stupid.

The day I decided that next year was going to be different was when I went to watch the Uni 1st XV play in the Varsity match against the city's other (better) university. I was swept away in the crowd chanting and all the fun of it. As I watched I couldn't help but think that the standard was not beyond me, which I like to think wasn't big-headed of me as prior to uni I had played for various county teams and North Wales.

So in my second year I started going to training and playing for the 3rd team, which was kind of annoying but I didn't mind as I just really wanted to get back into it and get to know the people involved in the rugby club. I played in that years 3rd team Varsity match, scored a try (I was outside-centre) and we were the only team to win our Varsity fixture that year. Probably one of the best days of my 3 years in university.

Over the summer I took pre-season seriously and prepared correctly- my goal was to be starting in 9 months time in the same fixture I watched back in first year: the 1st XV Varsity. I was expecting to play for the 2s until around Christmas then hopefully get brought up into the 1s with 3 months to go until the Varsity.

To my surprise though I completely by-passed the 2s and went straight to the bench for the 1s after some good performances in training. I stayed on the bench for the first 2 matches and have since been on the wing for the start of every game. As I said last Friday saw the end of my time there and I started and played for 60mins in the 1st XV Varsity so I finally achieved my goal.

All that is great but it is sort of inferior to the whole experience of being involved in a university rugby club. Some will turn out to be your best friends in uni and quite possibly in life after your 3/4 years are up. Rugby at uni, for me at least, was like a bi-product to meeting a great bunch of people and having a massive laugh a few times a week.

If you are in university and not playing rugby anymore my advice would be to just go for it. I've done uni without rugby and with rugby and honestly, there is no comparison. Equally, if your son is uni and not playing rugby get onto him and try and get him to change his mind, my Dad and its part of the reason of why I joined in my second year.

Is Sky still going to show the IPA Greene King Championeship next season?

Is Sky still going to show the IPA Greene King Championeship next season?

I was just as disappointed and angry as the rest of us when I found out Sky Sports had lost the rights to BT Sport to show the Aviva Premiership. I was even questioning whether I would actually need my Sky Sports subscription anymore.

I didn't cancel it though because, being Welsh, I thought I would wait and see what their RaboDirect Pro 12 coverage will be like next season, even though I find the competition pretty unexciting. But as it turns out I am very happy that I did give Sky that last chance because I discovered something new- the English Championship.

Now I must confess, I am biased because I am affiliated somewhat with the mighty Rotherham Titans- Lee Blackett (their headcoach) is also the coach at my uni rugby team as are a few of the Titan's players. They have been for the last 2 years  but I never really took an interest in the Championship until Sky's coverage. This season I have loved it though, and heres why...

Watching the Championship on TV is quite refreshing. Sure, all the players are full-time professionals but I think the rugby is, in some ways, more relatable for the fans. The teams don't seem as worried to make mistakes so there is much more of a "have-a-go" attitude than in the higher tiers of pro rugby. It is not uncommon for teams to try a move in their own 22 in the hope of getting an 80 metre try. The players have a go at little pieces of individual brilliance without the fear of being ridiculed like those playing on the International, Premiership or Pro12  players might do if it didn't come off. As Dewi repeatedly said in yesterdays Sky game, Bedford v Rotherham; "They're not going to get told off for playing rugby".

Also, it looks to me like the Sky pundits genuinely enjoy being there. The coverage comes across as a bit more spontaneous, and as a result, more fun. For example the post-match discussion is often carried out in the clubhouse whilst the fans, sometimes players too, are in the background having a pint. The rapport between everyone seems slightly less informal with Dewi doing light-hearted in-game interviews with coahing staff, throwing in the odd joke like yesterdays pork-pie gag.

The actual storyline to this years comp is pretty good too. On one hand theres the like of Bristol with piles of cash sitting at the top, signing new players such as Dwayne Peel. Then there's Rotherham who are kind of like the little engine that could, proving that moneys not everything as long as you've got a good bunch of lads who aren't afraid to have a go and play rugby. They're currently in 3rd place and it's very likely they are going to be in the play-offs for the Premiership. The top 4 are also hardly seperated in terms of points either so it's pretty exciting stuff in that regard.

I've looked online but can't seem to find anything relating to whether the Championship will still be shown next season, but I really hope Sky do continue to show it alongside their 30 Pro12 matches.

Twitter: @ScrummyRugby.

Six Nations 2014 Peeves.

This years tournament was a good, no doubt about it. However, there were just a couple of things that were starting to grate on me towards the end...

Punditry
On the whole the Beeb's team of seasoned professionals did rather well but...
Clive Woodward, you took a team to the World Cup and were victorious. Many have tried but only few succeed, we get that- well done. But for christ sake man it was back in 2003! Stop reverting every single half-time and post-match analysis back to it!

Jiffy is a legend. That accolade gets thrown around a lot these days but he actually is. He doesn't mince his words and injects a little bit of spice and variety to proceedings. This being said, when commentating he screams "IT'S ON HERE!!" Just chill your bean a bit Jiffy. Just because the ball is in hand it doesnt mean "It's on".

Kieth Wood, just because he's far too unashamedly Irish in his views.

Murrayfield
There is just too much pre-match build up there now. It was good but now it is starting to be a little bit like a shitty Superbowl with nowhere near enough bikini-clad pop sensations with big boobs. Also the guy who screams "3,2,1 C'MOONNNNNN SCOTLAND" right before the fligh half kicks-off proceedings really grinds my gears and I'm not entirly sure why.

Bastareaud Bashing
It seemed to be pretty fashionable amongst the people on television to lay into the huge French Centre this year and I'm not really sure why. Granted he is not the most skillful player on the pitch but he does what he does well. And do you know what Kieth Wood he is a world class centre because he plays for a bloody international team... I'd rather him in my team than Billy Twelvetrees.

Jack Nowell's Hair
Well, pretty self-explanatory really: shockingly awful hair. I personally like to think he only wears the head-guard to protect the highlights

What do you think then? Am I wrong? Am I right? Got anymore to add?

Drop a comment or hit us up on twitter: @ScrummyRugby

Six Nations Super Saturday Predictions

Well it is nearly here! The climax to this year rollercoaster of Six Nations. From a rugby fan's point-of-view its been a great tournament, from a Welsh point-of-view... Not so much. But oh well. Ireland are favourites and right so, but England do still have a chance, albeit a very slim one.

Italy v England - 1230 GMT Kick Off.
Have a feeling this is going to be a fairly straight forward one. England are going to win. It is just a matter of how much- and that's is actuall quite an important question for a change. They are going to need to put around 50 points on Italy to be in contention of nabbing it from the Irish. Scoring that many in any international order is always going to be a tall order but if there is a team to do it against in the Six Nations it is Italy, isn't it? Englands only other hope is if France beat Ireland, and I'm not sure if that is beyond the realms of possibilty.

Final Score: Ita 13 - 33 Eng

Wales v Scotland - 1445 Kick Off.
At last some change within the Welsh team! A completely new front row apart from good ol' Gethin. Except he's not been that good recently, in fact he has been pretty anonymous. When Paul James came on last week in the second half he had a great game, both around the pitch and in the scrum. I actually think Gethin is luckily that it is not a complete overhaul of the front row. Another change in the Welsh team has been very much welcomed by the Welsh fans. Biggar in for Priestland- at last! I am a fan of Priestland but there is no hiding away from it this year- he has not been good enough. When Biggar came on last week, like James, he changed things for the better. Finally Liam Williams is in for the injured Leigh Halfpenny. Got to be sore for James Hooke that one. Everyone in Wales is wondering... What has Hooke done to piss Gatland off so much?!
As for Scotland its been a bit of a topsy turby tournamnet (knid of like Wales') but they've shown some promise and the backs looked a little more inventive last week.
This is going to go two ways- a great game of rugby, or a terribly boring one. If it's the latter Wales may not be able to pull through so easily without Halfpenny

Final Score: Wal 21 - 14 Sco

France v Ireland - 1700 Kick Off
May really be a case of saving the best 'til last here. Realistically all Ireland has to do is win (Sorry English people). That being said, Ireland have only won once in Paris in the last 41 years... Shocking, isn't it. I reckon the French are not gonna go down without a fight here and they will have the Irish people worried for the whole game. All eyes are basically going to be on O'Driscoll (like they have been for the whole bloody tournament!) and I suppose it is deserved but I have a feeling it is gonna get a little bit boring if you are watching and not from across the Irish Sea. A uncomfortable game for Ireland but an eventual win, and what the hell, O'Driscoll will score a try somewhere in the 80 minutes.

Final Score: Fra 19 - 27 Ire