Sunday 1st Sept: 09:10

The Rugby Championship served up a couple of crackers. At least I assume they did on the basis I haven’t yet watched Los Pumas v the Wallabies but the reports indicate it was. Certainly South Africa v New Zealand was some game. I thought so at least.

For long periods the All Blacks were at their pragmatic and attritional best. There was nothing too flashy about their play, they simple kept ball in hand with backs and forwards linking well. The Boks struggled to get possession in the early exchanges but when they did have the ball they played at pace. The All Black defence was certainly put to the test. Two tries to one at half time with the visitors having the most slender of leads.

I have to say I didn’t think Andrew Brace had his best game, and I was very surprised that the Bongi Mbonambi try was not checked by the TMO. From the comfort of my armchair it looked as if he had lost control of the ball before grounding it. My mate Mal Bec thought so too.

The second half started much the same with the All Blacks being the better side. The Jordie Barrett intercept and the excellent Caleb Clarke going over for a second, things looked bleak for the hosts. You write the Boks off at your peril and so it transpired. Having made a raft of changes, and the visitors down a man thanks to a Tu’ungafasi yellow card, the tide slowly turned. Mr broken nose himself, Kwagga Smith, barrelled over and the boot of Mngomezulu brought them home. The All Blacks were stunned, the thousands in the stands euphoric.

Two stand out moments. The pre-match anthems and haka were something else, enhanced by the A380 fly past, and that 60 metre penalty from Mngomezulu was terrific.

I’ll be watching the other game shortly. News on that tomorrow.

I don’t have any news of the pre-season warm up games from Wales or England, nor the local stuff sorry. Sadly our game was cancelled meaning we’ll go into the first game of the season against Canterbury II cold.

It seems another of our players has been lured away by the promise of money for playing. I have no problem with players wanting to play at the highest level possible but the bribery that goes with it sticks in the throat a bit. The time has come for clubs who pay players (legitimately) who take from clubs at levels where they can’t pay to stump up some sort of transfer fee. The game is on its knees right now in a lot of places and that will only get worse if clubs are able to pillage the the home grown talent from elsewhere with impunity.

The Torygraph continue to look at the race to become the new supremo of World Rugby. The Aussie, Brett Robinson, is urging the game to look at some sort of financial fair play to ensure the game is sustainable. Not just sustainable by getting clubs, regions, franchises to operate within their means, but also sustainable to stop the rich simply plundering from the poor. Hoorah to that, I say.

The same article also states that the time has come to reduce the number of subs. How long have I been bleating on, and on, and on, and on about that. It has to happen for the good of the game, and the safety of the players.

Zac Mercer is ready to give the bird to the English setup and head back to France. It is madness he is not included in Steve Borthwicks plans, in my opinion.

Plenty across the media about Louis Rees-Zammit being signed by the Jacksonville Jaquars. He is only on their practice squad, but that is a £170,000 gig. I’m sorry to say I don’t think he’ll make the grade in the cut throat world that is NFL. I hope he does but his lack of American football experience growing up will go against him.

In other sport England are cruising to victory over Sri Lanka in the 2nd test. Leicester City lost to Aston Villa despite a stirring second half comeback. The Italian version of Scaletrix today. With the spoilt Dutchman starting down the field it could be worth watching.

Plenty in the proper news to raise the blood pressure, especially if you are a pensioner who has worked hard all their life, paid their taxes and set a little aside for luxuries as the curtain coming down gets closer and closer. Instead of hitting the old the Government needs to get the bone idle into work, cut waste in the public sector, remove failed asylum seekers sponging off benefits, and don’t get me started on the champagne swilling socialists like Gary Lineker and Gary Neville and their tax avoidance schemes.

Friday 30th Aug: 17:00

Tomorrows game at Mavericks is CANCELLED

Back on Sunday with more news.

Thursday 29th Aug: 08:50

Not much in the way of rugby news despite us being just a week away from the season starting. Louis Rees-Zammit has been released by Kansas City Chiefs. As I suspected it feels like a PR exercise that has run its course so L R-Z has served his purpose so can now ‘bugger off’. Rumours abound that he might join Jacksonville Jaguars on their practice squad.

There is trouble at Ealing Trailfinders Ladies with the Director of Rugby, Giselle Mather, leaving after a power struggle with MD Ben Ward.

Jaques Vermeulen has expressed his desire to play for England. The big Exeter lock has no chance of getting into the Boks squad so using the residency rules he might get his chance. Makes a mockery of the academy system!!

Don’t forget the boys are at Mavericks in Essex on Saturday and the league lunch on Sept 7th.

That’ll do as those pitches are not going to mark themselves.

Wednesday 28th Aug: 08:30

Not long now before the season starts. Work at Steel Cross goes on at a pace. Pitches will be marked this week and ready for the kick off on Sept 7th. Before that the boys are off to Essex to play Mavericks on Saturday. I don’t yet have the full details so watch this space. Sadly due to family commitments I am unlikely to be there.

I can’t predict what sort of season we will have, all I know is our fabulous coaching team will work with whatever is at their disposal, and those players will continue to give 100%. Bring it on.

Louis Rees-Zammit headlines several of the papers after missing out on Kansas City Chiefs 53 man roster. He has been placed on the waiver list meaning any of the other NFL teams can pick him for their squads. If that doesn’t happen then there is the possibility LR-Z could be put on the Chiefs practice squad. That is still a lucrative gig and keeps his dream of playing in the NFL alive. If that doesn’t happen then I would hope he returns to the UK to resume his rugby career here.

The fall out from the Felix Jones announcement continues. Several players have expressed their shock and disappointment. Steve Borthwick has allegedly held talks with the players, and they supposedly have given him their backing.

The politics of, and within, World Rugby continues. It has been confirmed that the Southern Hemisphere are making a bid to take control of the game by putting forward Australian Brett Robinson to replace Sir Bill Beaumont. It is not clear what this might mean for the game but criticism abounds about the time it takes to get things to happen, and the lack of imagination in terms of igniting greater interest in the game.

Rassie Erasmus has announced his team making a raft of changes to the one that faced Australia. Plenty of the papers have the squad for your delectation. He has been accused of playing mind games with regard to the extent of Eben Etzebeth’s knee injury. Although not in the squad many are predicting he will feature.

The IRFU are ramping up their focus on the women’s game announcing 37 central contracts covering the 15s and 7s game. With the World Cup just a year away that makes sense.

England is not the only country facing a coaching dilemma. The much praised Leon MacDonald has left the All Black setup after just five tests. Apparently it was differences of opinion between him and Scott Robinson that caused the rift.

Peter O’Mahoney, the Irish legend, has confirmed this is his last season. The abrasive flanker will be missed when he hangs up his boots.

Plenty of football last night. Leicester City finally get a win on the board, albeit against lowly Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

In the proper news, as expected, Sir U-turn painted the gloomiest of gloomy pictures blaming it all on the previous Government. It is fair to say that the last few years of the Tories was shambolic at best, bloody useless at worst. However the situation is nowhere near as gloomy as Labour will have you believe, and some of the alleged ‘black hole, was due to this Government capitulating with regard to the unions pay demands. £9bn that has cost.

The boats are still coming. Yes, it is still early days for Sir U-turn, but I don’t see anything that indicates they have any sort of plan.

What do I know about anything? Not at a lot to be sure, so lets move on before I get cancelled, whatever that means.

Tuesday 27th Aug: 09:30

How did I ever have time to work? Another busy day lies ahead so just a few comments this morning.

The Rugby Championship is back on Saturday. The Boks v All Blacks is definitely one to watch. No specific team news but rumours suggest Eben Etzebeth is out due to injury and Rassie Erasmus will not be going 7-1 on his bench.

Saracens have named Maro Itoje as captain for next season. This ahead of England captain Jamie George. Itoje will do a fine job….. one hopes!

Surprise, surprise, Manu Tuilagi’s debut in France is on hold due to injury. This time a broken hand will prevent him from pulling on the Bayonne shirt for some weeks.

David Nucifora joins the Scotland setup as a consultant guiding the performance program for the SRU. To be honest, I’ve never heard of him, but according to the BBC his CV is long and very, very impressive.

The Guardian suggest that Shaun Edwards is the answer to England’s coaching woes and they should ‘prioritise recruiting the rugby league legend whatever the cost’. It is a sensible suggestion. In fact it is a good suggestion, BUT, thinking about how short of cash the RFU are, and cuts to grassroots rugby continue, I disagree with the ‘whatever it costs’ proposal.

George Skivington over at Kingsholm seems very happy with the arrival of Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe. Its great for Wales as two more of our talent pool are playing at a higher level than they would be in Wales. Why the English clubs want to fill their squads with overseas players amazes me when they spend a fortune on academies. I’m surprised the RFU find it acceptable too.

Louis Rees-Zammit is discovering how ruthless the NFL can be. Having trained and played in the No.9 shirt since his arrival in the US the Kansas City Chiefs have taken it off him and given it to Juju-Smith-Schuster returning to KCC from the Patriots. Rees-Zammit will learn his fate today, and I for one, as I have said from the outset, state he is unlikely to make it.

I have cousin who plays high school football, even their play book is like a telephone directory. American Football is a very complicated, and intricate game. You cannot pick it up in just a few short months. The plays and expectations are ingrained from a very early age.

The Pacific Cup is going on right now. Fiji beat Samoa, Canada got thumped by Japan yesterday, and Samoa play Tonga on Friday. I got the highlights of the Canada v Japan game. The Japanese were very good….. led by imports from overseas!!!!

That’ll do for now rugby wise.

Sad to hear of the passing of Sven-Goran Eriksson, but England didn’t exactly shine under him, and why it was headline news when people are being slaughtered in Ukraine and the Middle East I don’t know. It is very sad but……

The Paralympics start this week. It should be good.

You know you are in trouble when a Labour Chancellor gets lambasted in The Guardian. This morning’s cartoon really hits the nail on the head with Rachel Reeves burning election pledges and the winter fuel report whilst the energy companies raise prices and MPs expenses go unchecked. The people wanted change. What we’ve got is more of the same. Incompetent self-serving politicians milking the system for their own ends whilst hard working people get shafted. Happy days.

More mealy mouthed rhetoric from Sir U-turn on the agenda for today.

Oh, and don’t forget the league lunch on Sept 7th. The season is almost upon us.

Monday 26th Aug: 10:00

Its a bank holiday but for Bleater it seems the same as any other day. With regard to rugby right now that means a paucity of stuff to drone on about. The shambles that is England Rugby is still causing waves in the press. Steve Borthwick has refused to comment and the RFU are noticeable by their absence. Not sure I can add anything of value to the debate other than it comes as no surprise.

The press seem to think the RFU will try and hold Jones to his 12 month contract. A stupid move in my humble opinion. If he doesn’t want to be there, and the environment is already toxic, you have to let him go.

My good friend PK has reminded me that we are now a year away from the Women’s World Cup. It should be a brilliant event with with brilliant venues at the heart of it. I think the first tranche of tickets go on sale in the next few weeks.

As the Welsh regions gear up for the start of the season Callum Sheedy is keener than most. Having moved from Bristol to Cardiff he is on a mission to catch the eye of Warren Gatland and his coaching staff ahead of the Six Nations.

Cardiff, the city, has caused a bit of a furore the other side of the Severn Bridge. Some Bristol fans are up in arms that they will need to travel to Cardiff to watch the biggest of local derbies; Bristol v Bath. Pat Lam has responded in typical Pat Lam way; get over it, we need the money!

A special mention for Crowborough Hospital. It is their annual fete today. I know several of the boys from the club are there now helping to set up, and I know the Friday Club have been most generous is buying raffle tickets.

The F1 yesterday lacked much in the way of drama, again!!! Swansea v Cardiff City was pretty eventful however. Players acting like Sir Larry Olivier, the crowd doing a fine impression of baying hyenas teeth bared, and a manager being sent to the stands for being a dick.

In the proper news the fire in the East London tower block is horrendous, as is the rhetoric coming out of the Middle East. Netanyahu and his hawks continue to fan the flames after adding plenty of fuel to the already raging fire.

I see the honeymoon is over. Sir U-Turn is under severe pressure to reverse the cut to the winter fuel allowance, this after a 10% increase in the energy cap was announced. I see he has been caught up in sleaze with donors being given plum jobs, and one even being given keys to No.10. Then there is the public schools fiasco. Parents desperate to get their kids into the best of the state system, meaning the planned windfall is not going to happen and the already overwhelmed state system will buckle under the pressure.

Let’s hope the weather picks up. Lots to do today.

Sunday 25th Aug: 09:15

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark me thinks. Well, perhaps not in Denmark but certainly at England Rugby. Just when we thought the revolving doors of the Eddie Jones era was over so first we see Aled Walters leave, and now Felix Jones is on his toes. Jones has been credited with transforming England’s defence, bringing with it renewed optimism. The highly rated Jones was seen as a key piece in the jigsaw, and thinking back to the two New Zealand tests the blitz defence worked and there was a spring in the step across the park. This is a huge blow to Steve Borthwick, and the team, ahead of the season starting and the Six Nations in February. Making matters worse is the fact that conditioning coach Tom Tombleson had already departed the scene. In one of the papers there is a comment that suggests the RFU might force Jones to work out his 12 month notice period. That would be a huge mistake I think. All the papers carry the story.

What is the cause of this unrest in the camp. That is not clear but here are a few suggestions. Steve Borthwick’s dour personality and unrelenting drive. The changing roles following the return, or otherwise, of Kevin Sinfield. Better offers, and a return to the homeland. In Walters’ case this certainly was a factor having an Irish wife and a home on the emerald isle. I guess we’ll never know, but what is certain, England could do without this disruption.

The Torygraph carry an interesting article about Ellis Genge and his constant search for improvement. One way is better kit, in this instance that means boots. He has got someone to adapt a pair of NFL high ankle boots to be rugby compliant. He is looking for extra grip in the set piece and more pace around the field. It could also be a PR gimmick. Call me cynical.

In the same paper Pat Lam bemoans the academy system stating the current ‘flaws could jeopardise golden generation’. In essence the way the academies are structured in terms of geographical restrictions and where players can be released to is limiting the opportunity for talent to flourish. Lam suggests an NFL style draft system could be introduced where players could be moved around to where they are needed. Taking Saracens as an example. What opportunity exists for an academy hooker when you have George and Dan in front of you? If you can access it, it is a good read.

Oh, and if you are vaguely interested, I’m certainly not, the new England kit has been revealed. Yawn!

Now, I’m going to have a swipe at the RFU, because there appears to be little or no grasp of how grassroot clubs are run. Someone in an ivory tower has decided it is a good idea to change the player registration process ahead of the 24/25 season. It requires a huge amount of time from someone at the club, support from the players, and requires a lot of data input. If you are CRFC and you have the AMAZING Ian Geering then the job will get done, but only after a huge amount of time and energy. If you are a club at level 5 or above and you pay players you probably have a paid administrator. What about everybody else, the clubs where the Chairman, or Chairwoman, do pretty much everything. How are they managing? Based on information I’ve seen the answer is: badly! What makes matters worse is the fact that the data has to be put into the despised, hated, dreaded GMS system. If there is one thing clubs, administrators, discipline teams across the land agree on it is that GMS is a crock of sh…

England Rugby also decided to relaunch their website. Nothing wrong with that you cry. No, that is unless you don’t tell anyone you are going to do so. Every link from every club and county website has now had to be checked to see if they still work. What I found interesting was key departments within the RFU, e.g. Discipline, were unaware of what was going!

Maybe, just maybe this totally lack of cohesion is why people are leaving?

England beat Sri Lanka yesterday. Leicester City lost at Fulham, but Newport County won at home. Its F1 today. That was quite a smash in free practice yesterday.

The proper news is dominated by Israel’s so called self-defence, a preemptive strike on Lebanon. Surprise, surprise Hezbollah react with drones and rockets fired at Israel. There is NO innocent party in this situation. Whilst the Israelis demand support for the right to defend itself, I for one don’t see the indiscriminate slaughter of woman, children, old men et al as self defence!!!

Thursday 22nd Aug: 08:40

Still busy, busy, busy, and with the only story of note being Joe Marler’s broken foot I’ll be back on Sunday.

Walking rugby tonight at 6pm.

Check this here website for details of the first league lunch of the season on Sept 7th, and how members can apply for international tickets - the Six Nations.

The motorway network beckons.

Wednesday 21st Aug: 08:40

Not that you are vaguely interested but the journey yesterday, traffic-wise, was OK. A bit sticky at the M25/A3 section due to the ongoing roadworks, but otherwise fine. Where it was tough, really tough, was between Oxford and south of Warwick. At times the wind and rain were of biblical proportions. The deluge was so intense the traffic, quite rightly, slowed to a crawl. Anyway, made it to Bridgnorth in time to be busy, busy, busy. I was going to wander over to watch BRFC train last night and have a snoop around their new clubhouse. It wasn’t to be as paperwork had to be completed ready for this morning. Hey ho.

I’d never make a fisherman. I’ve trawled through the paper and all I’ve got are a few old stories and a piece about the RFU being useless.

Maybe a bit harsh but it seems the Premiership Cup draw has meant the RFU have stuck two fingers up at Chinnor and Cambridge RFC. With only 10 Premiership teams in existence and a regional draw it meant two of the Championship sides miss out. As it happens it is the two that have worked the hardest to get into the Championship and are struggling to stay there. Typical approach of the RFU, in that yet again we see support for the rich and sod the poor.

Being even handed, for those who made the cut it is a decent looking tournament being played during the Six Nations. Four regional groups made up of two Premiership and two Championship sides playing home and away. The BBC Sport website has the full story.

Australia plagued by injury have brought four uncapped players into their 35 man squad to face Argentina on 31st August. Joe Schmidt has definitely got his work cut out for him.

The poor state of Australian rugby, internationally and regionally, is causing concern for The Lions. The visitors need the tour to be competitive as much as the home side do. Those travelling won’t care (too much) as they are there for the occasion not the contest. Those watching from afar will care as The Lions is, like the Six Nations, a massive draw for those who don’t normally follow our great game. A series of one-sided ‘runabouts’ will do nothing to enhance the game at large.

Rassie Erasmus has, no surprise here, recalled all his big guns for the game against the All Blacks. 16:00 on the 31st August for this one. I have it on my list of things to do

Leinster will play their home games in the Champions Cup at the Aviva. Better get booking your tickets because that is the only way way you’ll see the game unless you subscribe to Premier Sports at £10.99 per month.

Elsewhere England host Sri Lanka today in the first test of that series.

The F1 rolls back into town with the Dutch Grand Prix from Zandvoort. If you have SKY then fill your boots with another Verstappen win and a procession of fast cars. I hope not. Lets have some spills and thrills. Interestingly I was chatting to one of CRFC’s Friday Club and Walking Rugby stalwarts last week about F1. He used to be a F1 fanatic. Now, unless he forks out for an expensive SKY subscription, which he refuses to do, he has lost all interest as he can’t watch the races. (Channel 4 do cover some). This is exactly the issue I foresee for rugby. As exposure on TV diminishes so the interest wanes at an equally fast pace.

1-1, I’ll take that all day long. Leicester City were woeful in that first half on Monday against Spurs. They played much better in the second so yes 1-1 is fine thank you very much.

Talking of which, I popped into the Black Horse for a quick one last night once the paperwork was done. There were a group of guys in there talking football and golf. Yes, they were talking complete and utter BALLocks. I did the Evening Standard crosswords.

Kamala Harris has now been anointed dithering Joe Biden’s successor. I’m not convinced by some of her policies, and I fear woke will be to the fore. That said, anything has to be better than Donald Trump.

Some papers continue to rail on about withdrawing the winter fuel allowance. There are many who will now go without who will struggle to heat their homes when winter arrives. There are many however who will be angry at missing out on their winter drinks allowance. These people can manage and should manage. Where my hackles have been raised is the caving in by the Government with regard to the rail unions pay demands. Most are already paid way more than the UK average, have very generous pension schemes and working conditions, including some dating back to the Victorian era, and are still threatening strike action. Worse, as expected Mick and his Lynch mob have said we want the same, and unless we get it we’ll strike. As I said earlier this week caving in so easily without strings attached solves nothing. The blackmailer will always come back for more until they are stopped.

Monday 19th Aug: 09:00

You are a better man than me Gunga Din if you have found anything about rugby for Bleater to drone on about.

Yep, it is true, the barrel is empty. That is unless you want a rehash of last Saturday’s games. We all know the All Blacks can’t be written off, the Springboks reign supreme (except for Ireland), Los Pumas have wins in them, and Australia’s attack is as blunt as Warren Gatland’s Wales, and boy oh boy that is blunter than the bluntest butter knife.

As I have plenty to do that’s about it for today.

Except to ask: how is it possible to give already highly paid train drivers an inflation busting pay rise with no strings attached, at the same time as removing the winter fuel allowance from pensioners on the bread line, AND, then hearing that the self same ASLEF union have announced a string of new strikes.

Then, as I trawl through the papers, yes that includes The Guardian, I see the GPs are striking, the RMT have said ‘I want a piece of that action’, and the bin men in Scotland are on strike again.

I wanted change, the country needed change, BUT, we need the right change. Not a return to the 70s with the country held to ransom by militant union leaders.

Its early days for Sir U-Turn but I see the boats are still coming, and in ever increasing numbers. There is no deterrent for the migrants, or the gang leaders, to stop coming. The much maligned Rwanda plan would have worked if the lily-livered human rights softies hadn’t got in the way.

Tucked away in The Guardian, even they are saying Rachel Reeves is shooting herself in the foot with her continuing tales of woe, this when the economic data, independent data at that, is saying the UK economy is doing pretty nicely thank you.

Before I go one more question. Where is Wes Streeting? A whirlwind of positivity and good ideas, and what seemed a steely determination to get the NHS and the care system sorted, pre-election. Now, noticeable by his absence.

Bridgnorth tomorrow so back on Wednesday.

Leicester City v Spurs tonight, except it clashes with ‘quiz night’.

Sunday 18th Aug: 09:00

What a splendid afternoon on Friday. The old boys who make up the Friday Club and many of their better halves enjoyed their annual pre-season BBQ. A few photos on the website for your delectation. Sadly Bleater’s better half was away with his daughter and granddaughter so with no-one to keep an eye on the silly sod, he certainly over-imbibed. Hey Ho!

The upside was on Saturday a no guilt full monty breakfast, then New Zealand v Argentina followed by Australia v South Africa, then the eliminators of The Hundred. It was best that Mal Bec didn’t come round!!!

The All Blacks were quite imperious in the first half at a rain drenched Eden Park. Gone were the silly, unforced errors, in came pragmatism and steel. Los Pumas simply had no answer when the All Blacks got the ball. The visitors enjoyed plenty of territory and plenty of possession at fortress Eden Park but it amounted to nothing. The All Blacks on the other hand turned their territory and possession into points. Will Jordan on the wing, Beauden Barrett at full-back and the imp, TJ Perenara, at #9 were all outstanding. The platform was set thanks to a solid performance by the pack. It was like the All Blacks of old. 35-3 at half time tells the story.

As the wind and the rain abated so Los Pumas clawed their way back into the game. The All Blacks made a raft of changes early in the second half and that altered the rhythm and flow of the game. The home defence was only breached late on when the excellent Mallia scored a consolation try for the visitors. The game lacked the excitement of the first test but was still enjoyable enough. As one of the papers states: ‘the All Blacks are not in terminal decline’ and the way they played for 50 minutes proved that.

Next up was Argentina v South Africa in an equally rain drenched Perth. The much changed Springboks were still too good for the Wallabies. Yes, the Wallabies showed some steel, and yes there were plenty of positive signs, and yes the half time score 9-11 reflected the balance of the game. The bottom line however is this was a very much second string Springbok side with many of their front line stars starting on the bench or resting in the stands. The final score 12-30 highlights the strength in depth at Rassie Erasmus’s disposal. On a day when sticking the ball up the jumper would have been more than justified, the Boks still played with imagination showing that they are more than a one trick wildebeest.

The Springboks now fly home awaiting the arrival of the All Blacks in two weeks time. That should be a cracking contest, especially if both sides bring their A game to the party. The Wallabies jet out to Argentina where I expect Los Pumas will be ready and waiting.

The only other story of note is Tom Tainton, former Bristol player and now COO at the Bears, stating that the Premiership is at a ‘crossroads commercially’ and clubs have to ‘think differently’. Obviously one of the strategies the Bears have adopted is to take the game to a wider audience, namely over the bridge to Wales where they will host Bath at the Principality Stadium. Tainton goes on to say that TV coverage is ‘king’, highlighting the benefit of TNT Sports showing every Premiership game live every weekend. Yes, that is a great step forward…. IF you have access to TNT Sports. If you don’t then there is zero benefit. Likewise selling the European Cup TV rights might benefit the coffers but it does absolutely nothing in terms of attracting a wider audience. In fact it is likely to have the opposite effect.

In other sport it is football that dominates. The Premier League kicking off is the headline across all sports pages. A mention for Nottingham Forest’s Danilo who suffered an horrendous injury in the game against Bournemouth.

The men’s eliminator in The Hundred was well worth watching. It went down to an extra five balls with Southern Braves snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Louis Rees-Zammit show continues in Kansas. Is he making waves that means he has to be included in the final 53 man roster? No! Is he doing enough to justify the team persevering with him? Yes, especially as his versatility on special teams has already been noted.

Thursday 15th Aug: 09:00

Has the death knell sounded for rugby union? It will soon be impossible to watch top flight rugby union on terrestrial TV. There is very little of it now, but from September all European Cup matches move from TNT (formerly BT Sports) to Premier Sports. I know many of you don’t have access to TNT so this move will be met with a shrug of the shoulders, however, for those who follow rugby, and have TNT, this is a big loss. TNT shared some coverage with ITV and S4C. I understand this will no longer be the case. If you wish to watch European Cup rugby, or URC rugby, it will now cost you the princely sum of £10.99 per month.

When you consider the TV rights to the Six Nations, after the forthcoming tournament, is almost certainly going to be sold to a pay-to-view channel then the game will be on a knife edge. Right now CRFC has access to TNT so Premiership games are shown on a regular basis. Will the club fork out for a Premier Sports subscription? In the current economic climate, no! SKY subscriptions for pubs and clubs is prohibitively expensive so even if the Six Nations is picked up by them it is unlikely the club could afford to subscribe.

Of course it is all about money! Clubs are desperate for cash so they will be licking their lips at the thought of an additional injection. They don’t care about the game at large on the basis they can fill their grounds and milk the TV companies. However, in the longer term, if little Johnny or Jenny* can’t find rugby on the TV how is he or she going to be hooked enough to become the next paying punter at The Rec or Sandy Park. More importantly how are they going to be inspired to sign up at their local club.

this is not me being PC, women’s and girls rugby is really on the up. Keeping the game visible is crucial to maintaining that growth, participation and fan base.

The PWR fixtures have now been released. That all kicks off on October 5th with Saracens v Trailfinders Women.

Yesterday I referred to The Hundred. I’ve been to a game. It’s great entertainment. My son and grandson, my daughter and her family have been to several games. They all love it. What has made the difference? Being able to catch plenty of coverage on the BBC. Whilst SKY show every game, there are plenty of matches on terrestrial TV. This, without doubt, has helped this format of cricket catch the imagination of young and old alike.

Before moving off this topic, I notice that the deal was led by the French executive of the EPCR. Who will benefit the most? The French clubs of course!!!

New Zealand and Australia have made changes ahead of Saturday’s fixtures. Nothing as radical at the Springboks, more a fine tuning, and in the case of Australia bringing back some wise heads: Nic White, Angus Bell and Marika Koroibete.

Friday Club tomorrow so back on Sunday with a review of the action from the Rugby Championship.

Before I go I see that the Met Police, according to The Guardian, are failing or inadequate in key crime fighting areas. Now! Who is the PCC for the Met Police? Oh, of course, it is Sadiq Khan. If he spent more time and energy on working with the Met on sorting out the crime epidemic in London, rather than swanning around glad-handing and spending time and tax payers money on woke vanity projects the capital would be a better place.

Yesterday I referred to ‘work-shy Britain’. Why should we be bothered to work hard and pay our taxes? Those who don’t still get free access to the NHS, generous benefit payments to waste on fags and tattoos, and when they need it their care needs are paid for by the state. You work your butt off for 40, 50, 60 hours a week to put food on the table and a roof over your head. You pay your taxes. You put a little bit by for holidays and other niceties. You invest in a pension for your later years. All for what? For it to be taken away by the state, or in crippling care costs. You lose your savings, your house, and all that whilst the bone idle scroungers are in the same care facility having contributed jack to society all their lives. Yep, why bother working!!!

Wednesday 14th Aug: 09:00

I thought there was a shortage of rugby stuff in the papers yesterday. My fingers are raw after scraping the barrel this morning.

The two French players arrested for assault whilst on the tour to Argentina have been released from house arrest, their tags have been removed, but they remain in the country. The authorities are refusing to return their passports. The trial is not expected until next year.

World Rugby have changed the eligibility criteria, or should I say have tweaked it. I can’t say I fully understand it but in essence, instead of having been resident continuously in a country for 60 months, the player needs to have a credible link to the country via a continuing rugby registration in that country for 60 months. The change means the player can travel during the eligibility period but his rugby must be within his adopted country, or that is how I interpret it. It follows the expulsion of Spain from the 2023 World Cup in France.

Talking of the World Cup, the 2027 bash in Australia will now feature 24 teams, 12 of which have already qualified. Thankfully that includes Wales. The other qualifiers will come from a spread of regional qualifying tournaments, culminating in a knock out round completed at the end of 2025. The draw will take place before the 2026 Six Nations meaning the seedings will better reflect the standings when it comes to the tournament. WalesOnline have done a good summary on what’s what.

The Springboks have made 10 changes ahead of the game in Perth. This could be seen as disrespecting the Australians, but I think it reflects the extraordinary strength in depth of South African Rugby. The Boks did this against Wales in ‘22 and came a cropper. I don’t think that will happen this time. Mid-morning Saturday on SKY for this one.

As our season approaches I have been giving some thought to the issue of National League sides playing their second XVs at several leagues below their first XVs. This is NEVER a criticism of the clubs as they, like us, can only compete in what is put in front of them. I genuinely have concerns about injury, the fact some players might be contracted and therefore get paid, and what it does to the morale of the lower ranked clubs. In the light of yesterday’s drivel where finding better competition for 18-23 academy players was highlighted I ask why can’t the second XVs of National League clubs play in a mirror league to the first XV. At that level the squads are big enough. It just seems so bleedin obvious I don’t understand why it doesn’t happen. Comments?

In other sport it is football, football and more football. The Hundred is approaching its culmination. There are many traditionalists that criticise the format but looking at the crowds it seems to have captured the publics imagination. Loads of youngsters as part of a family day/evening out. Playing the women’s game and the men’s game back to back is a great idea. Perhaps rugby needs to think about imaginative formats. You only have to recall the buzz around the Olympic 7s to recognise the opportunity.

I am deeply troubled by events in the Middle East. There are no winners with Israel’s continuing questionable attacks being countered by more aggression from those opposed to the Israeli state.

Closer to home several papers have been looking at the immigration ‘challenges’. They have come to the conclusion that some of it is self-inflicted as close to 10m British citizens are considered economically inactive. In essence there is a large swathe of Britain where the work-shy need to get off their ass, off benefits and into work. This would reduce the need for employers to find workers from overseas.

That’ll do, the grandson arrives shortly.

Tuesday 13th Aug: 09:10

There is most definitely a paucity of rugby news in the papers, especially as the Premier League kicks off on Friday, and the aftermath of the Olympics is still prominent.

However, I have found a few snippets to comment on.

Dylan Hartley is going back to school. No, not the excellent Beacon Academy, excellent for academic results, not necessarily for sporting success, but the birth place of rugby, Rugby School. Dylan is giving up his life as a Dubai realtor, high end estate agent to you and me, to be the school’s High Performance Lead. Interesting move. Obviously we at CRFC wish him and his family luck.

It comes as no surprise that the Under 18 game between France and England was cancelled as a mark of respect following the disappearance at sea of Medhi Narjissi.

ruck.co.uk is reporting that Steve Borthwick is the highest paid international coach on the circuit right now. This news is no surprise, but it adds to my concern that the windfall from the Allianz deal will end up in the pockets of players, and administrators rather than in the grassroots game, and of course in the emerging formats, and the women’s setup.

The same website also reports that Borthwick’s contract won’t be renewed after the 2027 World Cup. I find this a little odd as the headline was bold enough but the article very sparse on detail.

The fallout from Saturday’s loss to Argentina has heightened the concern about the wider state of the game in Aotearoa. The Cake Tin in Wellington was far from full, and player participation is on the wane. Economic factors are to blame in part. Cost of living versus increasingly exorbitant ticket prices. Sadly however I think New Zealand are now suffering the same societal challenges we in the UK have faced for sometime. Young people don’t want to commit to regimented team sports.

There is talk of an improved pathway for young and aspiring players in England. Right now the academies are full of talent, the top flight university league has plenty too, but they get limited game time, and therefore limited opportunity to enhance their chances of making the big time. All too often the best get farmed out to the Championship or National 1 clubs whilst the rest languish in the gym trying to stay match fit. The idea is to have in place for 25/26 a well structured league for players in the 18 - 23 bracket who are on the verge of making the step up to the big time. A good idea, but I fear that is what it will remain, a good idea.

It won’t be long before Owen Farrell runs out for Racing 92. I’ve skimmed through a piece about why he had to leave for France. The abridged version of the article is as follows: money!!

The Torygraph bring us the notion that Prince Harry could redeem himself by being the face of the LA 2028 rugby sevens. No thanks!

That’s about it for now rugby wise.

If you like your cricket The Hundred is coming nicely to the boil. Some of the stuff we have watched has been great.

Monday night football sees the Mighty Foxes host Spurs. That’s not an easy opener.

In other news the situation in the Middle East is on a knife edge. Our new Supreme Leader has warned Iran not to attack Israel. I hope he has also told Israel to stop, my opinion, their aggression and appalling acts.

Another act of mindless violence in London with a young girl and woman stabbed in Leicester Square. Where is Sadiq Khan? Glad handing with the returning olympians. He needs to stop his woke nonsense, stop the self-aggrandisement, and sort out the unrelenting and ever increasing crime in our glorious city.

Great day for watching the planes fly over the ‘Borough. Plenty of Boeing 777s and 787s due over in the next hour.

Monday 12th Aug: 09:45

Until the grassroots season kicks off there will be a paucity of rugby news. September 7th is when most of that gets going. In the meantime I’ll just bumble on as best I can. I do this stuff to kick start my brain. Of late I have seen the terrible impact dementia can have so as Tesco might say: ‘every little helps’.

The rugby writers are full of praise for the new look Springboks. In essence they are liking the more imaginative approach to the game rather than the bulldozer and wrecking ball game plan. It was certainly very effective against Australia on Saturday, and I expect to see more of the same next week from Perth.

Joe Schmidt and the Wallabies are going to have to rethink where they are, and where they go. Recalling players plying their trade overseas is one option but Schmidt appears to have dismissed this. Getting the basics right and reducing the penalty count have to be high on the agenda. Without the ball, and then no cutting edge in attack, serious challenges lie ahead. There is talent in the squad and, although against lowly Wales and Georgia, they have wins under their belt. It will be a long road before the Wallabies can be considered serious challengers to South Africa, or the other nations at the top table.

There is much gnashing of teeth and wailing ‘woe is me’ in The Land of the Long White Cloud after the defeat to Argentina. Scott Robinson is under pressure to get things back on track, and quickly, after the mediocre Ian Foster era. There is an abundance of talent in the squad so that isn’t the issue. I believe they need to be pragmatic and do the basics brilliantly and then sprinkle the stardust. Right now I think they are trying too hard to be adventurous.

Can Argentina stop the Eden Park run of defeats for visiting sides? England went close but I fear Los Pumas will incur the wrath of the wounded All Blacks. I cannot see New Zealand being as ‘sloppy’ as they were in the second half of the first game so I envisage a fairly comfortable home win.

Three bits of news from the BBC. Sadly the body of 17yo Medhi Narjissi has not been recovered after being swept out to sea off Cape Town. A terrible loss of a young rugby talent.

Welshman Aled Walters has left his role as strength and conditioning coach with England to take up the position of head of athletic performance with Ireland. That is a blow for Steve Borthwick, and a coup for Ireland.

Ulster CEO Hugh McCaughey has revealed Ulster Rugby is facing a deficit of between £2.5m and £3m. I don’t know how many times I have to say it but the game at the top has to cut its cloth accordingly. Players wages are out of control and other overheads need to be trimmed. You’ve heard this all before so I’ll move on.

The Olympics have come to its conclusion. Much of the sport was amazing. There was plenty of controversy too. My three GB picks are: that Tom Pidcock overtake in the mountain biking in the last lap to beat the French guy, the win by the women in the quadruple skulls by the width of a fingernail, and the way our triathlete, Alex Yee, got a second wind and breezed past the Kiwi.

Notable other moments: the French wonder Marchand in the pool, the diving, the USA screwing up in the relay, and the Turkish assassin in the pistol shooting.

It is terrible to read that Graham Thorpe took his own life after struggling with depression. Guys and gals, we need to talk if things get on top of us.

I read with some frustration that highly paid civil servants are refusing to go into the office. The solution is simple. Sack them and get some new, cheaper, more ambitious types in. Mind you that is easier said than done with many of our younger generation thinking that work is something their parents did!!!

Sunday 11th Aug: 09:15

What a stunning morning. Absolutely glorious. I bet Los Pumas woke up this morning wondering if it was all a dream. Beating the All Blacks, and in New Zealand. If you haven’t been able to watch it you’ve missed a cracking contest.

There wasn’t a scrum for 60 minutes, and wasn’t the game better for it. The merry whistle blower, Angus Gardner, kept the game flowing. In the first half the All Blacks played some scintillating rugby but the Argentinian defence was robust. A break by Lienert-Brown, a wonderfully weighted cross-field chip by Beauden Barrett, and a determined chase by debutant Sam Derry for the score was the pick of the first half tries for me. Argentina weren’t rolling over. They stuck at it scoring a well worked, well deserved try through Lucio Cinti, and another through the flying wing Mateo Carreras. Great speed of thought and brilliant side-step. Half-time was 20-15.

The second half and Los Pumas were on the board quickly. They lead for the first time. The All Blacks came roaring back with a try wide out. Then after 60 minutes came the first scrum. It was a shambles. It was around this time in the game the tide slowly but surely turned. Los Pumas were taking control with the All Blacks making uncharacteristic mistakes. Like the Andean puma the men in light blue and white were quick to pounce on their prey. As the clock ticked away Agustin Crevy powered over from a few centimetres out. Argentina were ahead again. Santiago Carreras sealed it with a late penalty. 30-38 the final score.

It was great to see the once mighty All Blacks toppled. It was brilliant to see a resurgent Argentina. Best of all it was superb to watch a really good game of rugby.

Before that I watched South Africa give Australia a massive wake up call. Having beaten an understrength Welsh side, and a decent Georgian outfit, this was the real deal. The men in green were imperious for long periods with the men in gold clutching at straws. This wasn’t just brutality from South Africa. There was skill and dynamism. Wide looping passes, short, snappy offloads, sidestepping centres, free-flowing wings, and incisive running angles. For most of the first half it was attack versus defence with virtually no action in the Springboks 22. The 21-0 half time score line flattered the Wallabies. It could have, should have been 41-0.

The second half was less one-sided but that was in part due to the raft of changes made by Rassie Erasmus, and in part due to the Springboks seeing yellow on several occasions. When Australia had the ball the Bokke defence was suffocating, and even down to 13 men the visitors kept Australia at bay. The Aussies did score a consolation try late on but that was all it was, a consolation. As the papers state: this was a crushing defeat for Australia. They go again next week in Perth.

The result is also a wake up call for Wales. The result highlights the challenges Wales face if they are to be worthy of a place at the top table.

In other sports news the football season kicked off yesterday. Both Newport County and Cardiff City lost. Hey Ho. Louis Rees-Zammit finally got to play in an NFL game. The Chiefs were in Jacksonville where LR-Z was given a number of roles. He didn’t feature much and received mixed reviews. There were some positives apparently, but plenty of the die-hard fans were saying he was out of his depth. I don’t think he’ll make the 53 man roster. The Olympics comes to an end this evening. I hope the closing ceremony is not as boring as the opening ceremony. GB have done well. Even in defeat loads of personal bests, plenty of medals, and some wonderful contributions to proceedings. Two more GB medals to top the Tokyo haul.

My daughter and family were at The Hundred in Southampton yesterday. The Braves snatching victory with five sixes from five balls. Wow. What a way to go.

In the news news, the war in Ukraine continues, atrocities are still being committed in the Middle East, and morons continue to cause havoc on our streets. All this in the week 79 years ago the atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Will we ever learn?

Thursday 8th Aug: 08:50

No team news ahead of Saturday, very little in the papers about rugby, and the other news is depressing. That along with the UK motorway network beckoning means just a few words from me this morning.

Surprise, surprise, Sir Knowitall has gone off on one about the sponsorship deal to rename Twickenham. Twit. The game needs the money and IF invested wisely it could be the impetus to get the game, firstly, back on an even keel, and hopefully on an upward trend in terms of participation.

Twickenham will be back in 2025 when the Women’s World Cup rolls into town. The strict licensing deals surrounding most major sporting events means any stadia branding will need to be removed.

Thoughts are with the French Federation at the moment. A member of their U18 squad, Mehdi Narjissi, 17, has been swept out to sea whilst on a bonding trip in South Africa. Fingers crossed he is found alive but the seas around the Cape are notoriously dangerous.

Rugby, along with football, are speaking to the Government about the current civil unrest. Will it spill over into other areas. Soccer has been scandalised by violence in the past, and the game hasn’t completely rid itself of the morons who think scrapping with the opposition is how you support your club.

Right, that’ll do until Sunday.

Walking rugby tonight, traffic permitting.

Wednesday 7th Aug: 08:50

Plenty of rugby news but I’m going to start in The Black Horse in Bridgnorth. Yesterday afternoon Mrs Bleater and I met up with former CRFC and Friday Club member Nigel W and his lovely wife Molly. They are now landed gentry in the rolling hills of Shropshire, currently thinking of their first wine vintage. It was great to catch up and swap updates on family and mutual acquaintances, and chew the fat about this and that. I understand the new Bridgnorth RFC clubhouse is something special. Anyway, Nigel is still a regular reader of this undoubted drivel, so, ‘a huge thank you for coming over, we hope to make it a longer catch up next time’.

The big story is the 10 year, £100m deal to rename Twickenham the Allianz Stadium. The announcement has caused quite a stir. The RFU are in need of a cash injection and this is a sizeable one. All the papers carry the story so you can read the detail for yourselves. The average rugby person who has been relieved of hundreds of pounds to go and see a game will still call it Twickenham I’m sure. The name is so ingrained. There are plenty of places where the blazers should spend the money, with the grassroots game being one. What I don’t want see is it going into the pockets of players, or the blazers who supposedly run the game. Growing participation has to be the priority. The women’s game and alternative forms of the game are likely to be high on the list.

Michael Cheika, the feisty Australian takes over at Welford Road. This is an interesting appointment for the former Wallaby and Argentinian coach. He has a good track record of getting the very best out of whatever resources he has at his disposal. At Leicester Tigers he has plenty of high quality resources to work with. Only time will tell.

Steve Diamond states he wants to ‘put the cat amongst the pigeons’ when the Newcastle Falcons Premiership season starts. Diamond’s abrasive style isn’t everybody’s cup of tea but when at Sale he certainly got them motoring. He, unlike Cheika, has limited resources to work with following an end of season ‘fire sale’ of squad members. I refer you back to my previous statement: only time will tell.

The Rugby Championship gets going on Saturday, as you know. What you might not know is the new laws will be in place. No scrum from a free kick, the ‘croc-roll’ is banned and the nonsense relating to players not retreating from kicks (Duponts law) is resolved. The 20 minute red card is in place but with a twist. A player found guilty of deliberate foul play cannot be replaced after 20 minutes. The offending team remains at 14 men. Good! The kicks at goal will be quicker, as will the setting of the scrum and lineout. The scrum-half will get more protection. I’m ok with all of this as it is intended to either make the game safer, or to speed it up.

Elsewhere the Louis Rees-Zammit roadshow moves on. He will get his first proper taste of the NFL this weekend. Interestingly the noise around his arrival is less positive. He has certainly amazed many in and around the Chiefs with his qualities but questions are now being asked about his grasp of the intricacies of the game. Being fast and able to catch is just a small part of what the NFL is all about.

The Olympics moves relentlessly on. GB are doing ok. Some have over achieved, some have under achieved. More medals to come in the cycling I’m sure. That Swedish pole vaulter certainly set the games alight with his new world record. Plenty of controversy in the papers still. The sewer is too dirty for the wild water swim. The picture of the day is a humpback whale breaching the water during the surfing finals. Go on the interweb thingy if you haven’t seen it.

The appalling behaviour of these mindless louts protesting about immigration continues to be an embarrassment for the country. It is anarchy at its worst.

Monday 5th Aug: 08:50

Is there any good news in the papers? Certainly not today at least. Those who have followed Welsh rugby over many years will be saddened by the passing of Alun Carter at the age of 59. A good old Newport boy who strutted his stuff for Newport, Pontypool and Wales. He spent a short time as copper in Newport before becoming an analyst with the Welsh team. 59, that’s no age.

Then scrolling through the news I read that former England cricketer and coach Graham Thorpe has died at 55. So very sad, still so young.

The only other piece of news of note, and this is pretty minor, Joe Schmidt is looking to recall big Will Skelton to the Wallaby squad. ‘The door is open’ says Schmidt.

The Olympics continue. The triathlon relay is this morning. In essence a swim through a sewer, then a bike ride through the streets of Paris, before a run to the end where you can throw up. GB have a chance in this.

Plenty of rhetoric about the atrocious rioting across Britain. Our new supreme leader is right. This is thuggery of the worst kind, based on misinformation and driven by dark forces on social media. The government do have to wake up to the cause of the unrest and pull their finger out with regard to addressing it however.

So much to do, and so little time, so that will do for today. Bridgnorth beckons so there might not be a blog tomorrow you’ll be relieved to hear.

You’ll be delighted to know the Magma Aviation Boeing 747 cargo plane on route to HHN (Frankfurt) is at 39,000ft over the ‘Borough as I type.

Sunday 4th Aug: 08:40

I don’t know about you but some of the Olympics has been amazing. It’s been gripping stuff and well worth the decision to be a couch potato even though the weather has been pretty good. That said, whilst gazing out of the window I noticed the leaves on our neighbour’s tree are already starting to turn from green to brown. A portend that autumn, then winter march relentlessly towards us.

Very little rugby news in the papers. It seems Siya Kolisi could be leaving Racing 92. The relationship with the owner has all but broken down with criticism of his form, his weight, his lack of on-field presence during key games, and all against the backdrop of a huge £1m a year salary.

It has been confirmed that England A will play Ireland A in February at Ashton Gate. That should be a cracking contest. England A return after the Saxons were scrapped with the game against Australia in November at The Stoop.

Hollie Davidson will be the first woman to be part of an officiating team during the upcoming Rugby Championship. She has been given an AR role for the Australia v South Africa game in Brisbane next Saturday, and again when the two sides meet in Perth the following weekend. Well done her. This is not tokenism, this is a referee who has shown she is up to the task of officiating at top flight rugby. End of story. Well actually no, it is real shame that we are blighted with tokenism and quotas and woke. Vacancies should be filled by the very best candidate regardless of gender, religion, colour, creed or any other subdivision of society.

Henry Slade will miss the start of the Premiership season, and is unlikely to make it for the Autumn Internationals following shoulder surgery. That’s a big blow for Exeter with Slade being back to his brilliant best.

The Pumas 44 - Natal Sharks 44. Those in the sparsely populated Mbombela Stadium witnessed an incredible Currie Cup contest yesterday. The Pumas were home and hosed until the Sharks finally stirred from their slumbers. One hell of a game.

Another packed day of Olympic action ahead, but with the weather to be better than yesterday the garden beckons. A bit of weeding and feeding, a bit of reading and chilling, followed by a bit eating and drinking. Home grown potatoes, lettuce and tomatoes with a couple of burgers and sausages nicely grilled on the BBQ. Sod vegetarianism!!

We did ok in the medal stakes yesterday but a couple of disappointments. Hey Ho! That’s sport I guess.

What an absolute disgrace. An embarrassment for this great country of ours. Thugs and hooligans causing mayhem in our cities. Mindless vandalism, and racist hate, all sparked by dark forces on social media. I’m frustrated by the lack of progress on stopping illegal migration but what is happening now is outrageous, and is not going to solve anything. Sadly it is also an example of underfunding our police force, and having the wrong priorities for those who are on the front line of policing…. In MY opinion.

Also in MY opinion I applaud the judges who are jailing the Just Stop Oil idiots. Climate change is a serious problem but these clowns are turning people away from the challenges we face as opposed to getting them on side. For them to argue being jailed is against their human rights makes me laugh. What about the human rights of the people being denied the chance to get to a funeral of a loved one, or those missing crucial hospital appointments, or nurses unable to get to work, or depriving hardworking tax paying tradespeople of earning a living. Yes, they have human rights too you muppets.

Thursday 1st Aug: 09:40

Just a few bits to comment on this morning. First up is the news that Leigh Halfpenny has been signed by Harlequins as emergency injury cover. It had been widely rumoured he was off to France as his swansong so this comes as a big surprise. How much game time he’ll get is anyone’s guess.

It seems that Welsh prop, and thoroughly nice bloke, Wyn Jones is also on his way to Harlequins. Out of contract with Scarlets, and none of the Welsh regions picking him up, this is a good move for him. I’m sure the RFU will be raising a few eyebrows as decent English qualified front row forwards are in short supply. Importing ‘overseas’ players only serves to block the opportunity for the next Fin Smith.

It is worth noting you Quins fans; whilst both players are entering the twilight of their careers they have plenty to offer, BUT both have been plagued by injury.

Promotion to the Premiership is (potentially) back. The blazers have tweaked the stadia criteria making access to the top table more likely. The Torygraph has done a good piece on the four most likely contenders to make it to the top of the table, and most likely to meet the revised requirements.

Bath fans will be groaning and moaning as it is announced that Regan Grace has returned from Wales duty requiring hamstring surgery. He made an immediate impact in his one appearance so not being available at the start of the season will be seriously frustrating.

Former England players have accused the RFU of suppressing data in brain injury case. This issue is becoming increasingly bitter. The Guardian carries the full story.

That’s about it for rugby news. There should be more next week as we build up to the Rugby Championship, always a great tournament.

The Olympics continue with hopes of more GB medals on the cards. That French swimmer, Leon Marchand, is something else. The Women’s beach volleyball is always well worth watching. The athletics start tomorrow.

Even if the Olympics isn’t for you go onto the interweb thingy and look for 51 yo Turkish shooter Yusef Dikec in the 10m air pistol. Whilst the competitors around him have all the gear, eye protectors, ear muffs, etc, he is stood there one had in the pocket like he’s shooting for ducks at the fair. I like the comment: ‘I know a trained assassin when I see one’. He picked up silver by the way!!

Outside sport it was another night of anarchy and unwanted violence on our streets. The hot weather often brings out the worst in people, the misinformation peddled by social media stirs up tensions, and people are frustrated by the lack of action with regard to issues relating to Britain. Illegal immigration being one.

On a separate subject I am finding out how broken our NHS and care system is. I’m also discovering that doing the right thing such as working hard, paying your taxes, and planning for your future, good and bad, makes no sense. You are better off not working, and sponging off the state for your entire life. There is no joined up thinking with the right hand telling you the opposite of what the left hand is saying. The NHS is strangled by red tape, and getting anyone to tell you exactly what is going on is impossible.

That’ll do as my blood pressure is through the roof at the moment.

Wednesday 31st July: 08:15

We are in the rugby twilight zone right now. Well, almost at least. The Olympics 7s are over and what a show it was. Unlike many events in Paris the Stade de France was packed from start to finish. Those present were royally entertained with great action, and as my good friend PK points out, rugby in its simplest form, and therefore easy to understand. New Zealand came through to lift the women