A postscript to yesterday. Not only is it the first Sponsors Lunch on Nov 21st, it is another of our band nights that evening. Check the website for details.

I have had a quick look at the proper news and I am DELIGHTED to say the big orange moron has been given that bloody nose. The mid-terms have dealt him a crushing blow. You cannot pre-voting say to the electorate ‘imagine it is my name on the ballot paper’ then when defeat is obvious turn around and blame everyone else. ‘They were terrible candidates’. Let’s us hope the two Houses of US Government can rein the idiot in, especially as my fear is he will now do something even more stupid than the things he has already done.

Bleater, this is a rugby club website. Come on, where is the rugby news. I’ll get to that, but not before talking about our Supreme Leader who is showing himself to be as much of a clown as Trump. We, the UK, are up to our neck in debt. A debt we are struggling to pay. We are screwing the people with higher taxes, and restrictions to doing business. What does Burnham do? He goes to the EU and says ‘here, lets do a deal. You help me, and I’ll give you our taxpayers money to give to the poorer countries in Europe’. It doesn’t stop there. Your savings are going to be taxed, and not only will the takings be spent on benefits, we are now going to help out Caribbean countries with massive handouts, no matter our the Supreme Leader tries to package it up.

To rugby. Finally!! A huge weekend is ahead of us. Six games, all live on terrestrial TV. You’d expect the papers to be awash with coverage. Well, they are not. What have we got instead. In the Torygraph Oliver Brown suggests the problem with mercenaries has gone beyond a joke. Yes, this is about who should be eligible to play for your nation and who can’t. He also touches on the pathetic change to the rule where after a three downtime period you can switch allegiance. The Aussie Mark Nawaqanitawase is the focus of Brown’s ire, but yes, Janse van Rensburg gets a dishonourable mention. I agree Oliver, it is a joke and has been for some time.

Then you have the papers prattling on about the laws, especially the recent changes, and the fan experience, this in relation to the stop-start nature of the game. Yes, of course the TMO is mentioned in this piece. Interfering so-and-so. The problem is clear. When The Bard and I are discussing the game, and we have been in it for years, and we get flummoxed by the laws, how do you think the casual viewer this weekend is going to cope.

Then, looking left, The Guardian brings us the not unexpected news, Premiership rugby is deep in the financial brown and smelly stuff. According to The Guardian revenues are falling, losses are growing, wages are going up. The combined club debt rises to £366m. The report suggests six of the ten clubs are balance sheet insolvent. The regular reader of this guff knows my view. It is madness.

I see Qatar have pulled out of hosting the 2028 Nations Championship due to the ongoing Middle East crisis. That is no bad thing. In fact, that is a good thing. I’m not sure we want, misogynistic, homophobic, states front and centre showcasing sporting events.

I’m going to close with some sad news. Yesterday I learnt of the passing of Bibi. Who was Bibi? He was a French guy who played for Crowborough, Montargis, and was instrumental in driving the Vets Cap Ferret tours forward. A great player who I had the pleasure of playing alongside on just a few occasions, but more importantly he was a smashing bloke who lived life to the full. He will be missed by his many friends and family.

Tuesday 3rd Nov: 09:25

A couple of announcements to start.

Firstly, next weekend. Our 2s host Midhurst at Steel Cross in one of the many Sussex Cup competitions. I believe the kick off is 14:00 but I’ll confirm on Thursday.

Secondly, Nov 21st. The 1st XV host Sevenoaks II, but more importantly it is the first of our sponsors lunches. Always popular, and a great way to show our appreciation of them by being there at lunch. Contact Louise and book your place.

Ok, looking back at the weekend. Wales women scored a stunning double over Japan in the WXV. Like Canada, Wales are benefitting from having more and more players in the women’s Premiership. England got back to winning ways with a comfortable win over USA.

Leicester Tigers under Geoff Parling have got back to winning ways. They beat Bristol more comfortably than the 16-22 scoreline suggests. Its good to see Quins back to winning. The Saints game against Gloucester was brutal but thoroughly enjoyable.

In the URC the Dragons won again. Marvellous. I was surprised at how easily Cardiff got past the Ospreys, but then again a lot of the Ospreys regulars are away with Wales.

What makes the rugby headlines. The injury to Alex Mitchell and the call up of Ben Spencer and Harry Randall to Steve Borthwick’s squad. Shaun Edwards has gone on record that Borthwick refused his offer of help, even as kit man. Edwards is currently working with Argentina.

I’m still a bit confused about how the Nations Championship works. I think there are two tables; a south and a north, and once the final round of games are done there is a final stage where top plays top etc. This will be held at Twickenham the last weekend of November. I understand there are lots of tickets still available, BUT they don’t seem cheap.

There must be something in the proposal about Welsh regions joining the Premiership. The URC have engaged lawyers to sue the WRU if the matter progresses any further. No panic, both the WRU and those running the Premiership move at snails pace at the best of times.

In other sport, how low have Leicester City fallen. They could only muster a 2-2 draw at home to Stevenage for heavens sake.

Huge congrats to Kimi Antonelli. The young man has been outstanding, and has kept his feet firmly on the ground throughout.

Who would be a football manager. West Ham have sacked their manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Who is going to be next? The guy at Newcastle?

In the proper news it is a big day for the USA. Will the big orange clown get a bloody nose in the mid-terms. I hope so. The man is out of control. In fact, I genuinely think he is losing his mind.

The Supreme Leader is flying to the Caribbean with the newly anointed first lady by his side. What are the chances of him of kow-towing to those who want reparations for our role in the slave trade. History tells us slavery was abhorrent, but we should not be using taxpayers cash to say sorry for something way back in time.

You could hear the slamming of brakes, and the whining of the back seat drivers as Shabana Mahmood went into full U-turn mode. What hacks me off is the simple fact the back benchers are more concerned about their jobs than us the taxpayer, hence the U-turn rather than a sensible rethink. For the record, some of those who have come to the UK and are now working in our stressed and underfunded care system, they need all the praise and support we can give them. I’d take British citizenship off the bone idle born and bred rather than penalise those who have come here to work hard in a challenging environment.

Finally, yes it was in the Daily Fail, but I nearly lost the plot when a women living unashamedly on benefits was asked about the budget. She was unhappy because the rise wasn’t enough, and she was now having to buy cheaper fags. If there was ever a statement that highlighted how broken the benefits system is, that is it.