Best of the Rest

It’s been an extraordinarily eventful couple of weeks in the rugby world and as such we’ve collected a number of interesting stories from other online publications that are worth a gander. Professional rugby in New York, concerns in BC, American rugby, Pumas exiles, Canadian players, French interests in America, refereeing, mental health, and retirement.

 

New York’s Pro Rugby Team Debuts – by Martin Pengelly / The Guardian

“Between them, Kennedy and Layfield know a thing or two about the dark arts of promotion. The former is a fast-talking Irishman who made his money in construction, the latter a WWE champion turned Fox Business analyst and rugby union evangelist.”

 

Blue Skies over Jericho – by Peter MacDonald / BC Rugby News

“With pro rugby ambitions in North America do club rugby ambitions need to be adjusted? Length of season, Island/Mainland play, promotion relegation, minimum three men’s teams per club… lots to think about. ”

 

Congress Gravely Concerned about RIM – by Pat Clifton / Rugby Today

“While the figures are neither public nor confirmed, it’s believed a cash guarantee has been made to both Wales and South Africa in the neighborhood of $750,000 each, with a break-even attendance hovering near 27,000.”

 

The Forbidden Players of Europe Return – by Alejo Miranda / La Nacion (in Spanish)

“After two years and a fraction, none of this happened. In the short term at least, the restriction was counterproductive. The adaptation to the Super Rugby was more complex than expected and ended up hurting the Pumas, who since then won nine of the 25 games they played.”

 

Trucking, Rucking, and Living the Dream – by Will Carpenter / Bristol Rugby

“Back in Argentina and before I joined Bristol, I worked as a lorry driver for my father’s business from about 23 to 26. I was doing 12 hours in the lorry and then stopping half way through to do a gym session.”

 

Rugby, Business, and Beetroot – by Bryan Kelly / Rugby Canada

“Most people know him as the formidable 29-year-old, six-foot-two, 225-pound Canadian inside-centre; What people don’t know about the powerful runner and strong tackler is that the Alberta native has been living completely off plant-based nutrition for the past four years.”

 

Campbell’s Journey from the CFL to scoring Sevens Tries – by Patrick Johnston / The Province

“Campbell, a native of Scarborough, Ont., played university football at the University of Regina and also ran track. Before being drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2015, Campbell shattered the 40-yard sprint record at the CFL draft combine.”

 

The American Dream – by Emilie Dudon / Midi Olympique (in French)

“It has been very well understood in France where exchanges are taking place, such as the upcoming partnership between Stade Français and New York Rugby United or meetings between the leaders of the LNR and the MLR.”

 

The Biggest Mistake of my Entire Rugby Refereeing Career – by Nigel Owens / Wales Online

“Here’s the thing, though: There is absolutely no one out there in any walk of life who has yet to make a mistake. It’s just that for a leading referee there can be thousands of people watching pitchside and millions more watching on TV, so everything gets magnified.”

 

Jonny Wilkinson Opens up on Mental Health Problems – by Neil Squires / The Express

“The team was outside in a huddle waiting for me. I was supposed to be giving the ‘come on we can do this’ speech and I was a shivering wreck in the toilet.”

 

The End is really the Beginning, Part 1 – by Jamie Heaslip / The Sports Chronicle

“The World Cup in 2019 was the bare minimum for a swansong. I never felt fitter, stronger, at the absolute peak of my powers. Only when the first test against New Zealand kicked off last summer did I accept that a third British and Irish Lions tour had slipped out of reach.”