URC 22/23

[Ruckedtobits]

Watched the Cardiff game in full. They handled the downpour (early in the game) so much better. BTW, the rain was so heavy, cameras could hardly pick up the ball on far side of pitch. Cardiff front five were superb in scrum & maul and when Sharks couldn't bully them there, they almost resigned from contest.

Carre at LHP was excellent as were half-backs Lloyd Williams & Jarrod Evans. But the stars of the show were Turnball, Young & Botham in Cardiff back-row, who owned the second half. Decent team Cardiff, despite missing 6 or 7 with Wales.

Really disappointed for Noel McCamara that Sharks crumbled so completely. They face Ospreys this weekend (5 pm Fri Viaplus 1) and who knows which Sharks team will turn up?

[neill_m]

Sharks coach has quit/been sacked.

[Ruckedtobits]

Sharks coach has quit/been sacked.

Sean Everitt sacked and Director of Rugby (Neill Powell) takes over. No mention of McNamara.

[ronk]

Sharks coach has quit/been sacked.

Sean Everitt sacked and Director of Rugby (Neill Powell) takes over. No mention of McNamara.

3 losses this season. Away to Bulls and us, then this game.

It's kinda reassuring about the ambition of the league that embarrassing defeats have sunk 2 coaches (Sharks and Glasgow).

[paddyor]

Sharks coach has quit/been sacked.

Sean Everitt sacked and Director of Rugby (Neill Powell) takes over. No mention of McNamara.

The rest of the URC coaching staff remains unchanged.

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/sharks-sack-everitt/

[Oldschool]

Ospreys scraping the bottom of the barrel to field a team against the Shark due to "illness" in the camp.
What's this "illness" all about, it seems to be very prevalent in visiting squads.

[neill_m]

Ospreys scraping the bottom of the barrel to field a team against the Shark due to "illness" in the camp.
What's this "illness" all about, it seems to be very prevalent in visiting squads.

E.coli confirmed for Ospreys squad, only Cardiff have avoided being sick in Durban so far. Benetton and Munster go there in 2023.

[Dexter]

Ospreys scraping the bottom of the barrel to field a team against the Shark due to "illness" in the camp.
What's this "illness" all about, it seems to be very prevalent in visiting squads.

E.coli confirmed for Ospreys squad, only Cardiff have avoided being sick in Durban so far. Benetton and Munster go there in 2023.

And Cardiff the only ones to have won there too?

[Schumi]

Ospreys scraping the bottom of the barrel to field a team against the Shark due to "illness" in the camp.
What's this "illness" all about, it seems to be very prevalent in visiting squads.

E.coli confirmed for Ospreys squad, only Cardiff have avoided being sick in Durban so far. Benetton and Munster go there in 2023.

No wonder we sent our second string last year.

[Laighin Break]

Will the URC CEO claim they picked that up in Wales before they left?!

[Laighin Break]

Bulls winger Nkosi has been missing for three weeks and a missing person case has been opened

https://bullsrugby.co.za/club-statement-on-sub-nkosi/

[deco]

Bulls winger Nkosi has been missing for three weeks and a missing person case has been opened

https://bullsrugby.co.za/club-statement-on-sub-nkosi/

That doesn't sound good, hope he's okay .

[cormac]

Welsh regions and the WRU have reached a provisional agreement for funding for the next six years.

[IanD]

Bulls winger Nkosi has been missing for three weeks and a missing person case has been opened

https://bullsrugby.co.za/club-statement-on-sub-nkosi/

That doesn't sound good, hope he's okay .

Has been found safe.

[riocard911]

Sbu Nkosi: South Africa winger found 'safe and sound', opens up on rugby 'pressure'

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... y-pressure

Poor fella was holed up at his dad's after falling mentally off the cliff. Can only wish him a speedy recovery.

[hugonaut]

Sbu Nkosi: South Africa winger found 'safe and sound', opens up on rugby 'pressure'

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... y-pressure

Poor fella was holed up at his dad's after falling mentally off the cliff. Can only wish him a speedy recovery.

100%. Really relieved that he has been found and has opened up, I thought that was going to end badly. It sounds like he was suffering severe mental trauma. Hopefully he can get the help he needs and begin to start feeling better about himself and about life.

[neill_m]

Friday, 23 December 2022
Cell C Sharks vs Emirates Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban - 15h00
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant Referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Paul Mente
Television Match Official: Marius van der Westhuizen
Split Screen Operator: Archie Sehlako

DHL Stormers vs Vodacom Bulls at DHL Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town - 17h15
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Griffin Colby
Television Match Official: Marius Jonker
Split Screen Operator: Quinton Immelman

Glasgow Warriors vs Edinburgh Rugby at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow - 19h35
Referee: Ben Blain
Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson, Sam Grove-White
Television Match Official: Mike Adamson

Connacht vs Ulster at The Sportsground, Galway - 19h35
Referee: Frank Murphy
Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross, Andrew Cole
Television Match Official: Olly Hodges

Saturday, 24 December 2022
Benetton vs Zebre Parma at Stadio Monigo, Treviso - 12h30
Referee: Andrea Piardi
Assistant Referees: Alex Frasson, Filippo Russo
Television Match Official: Matteo Liperini

Monday, 26 December 2022
Dragons RFC vs Cardiff Rugby at Rodney Parade, Newport - 14h15
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
Assistant Referees: Mike English, Aled Evans
Television Match Official: Sean Brickell

Ospreys vs Scarlets at Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea - 17h15
Referee: Craig Evans
Assistant Referees: Rhys Jones, Gwyn Morris
Television Match Official: Jon Mason

https://www.sareferees.com/News/referee ... 2/2831625/

[neill_m]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/ ... are_btn_tw

Hmmm, this is a shocker. Italy prop Cherif Traorè given rotten banana in club Secret Santa.

[Dave Cahill]

That is absolutely disgusting

[the spoofer]

That is absolutely disgusting

That's a sacking regardless of who the player is.