A new blog has just been started by someone who has lived and breathed it in recent years. Looking forward to hearing Ben’s views this season.
Take a look: http://therugbychampionship.blogspot.com/
All posts for the month June, 2009
New Championship Blog
Posted by Ref on 30 June, 2009
https://refblog.co.uk/2009/06/30/new-championship-blog/
Another one on the rocks
Can’t believe London Welsh are in administration! They went fully pro last year and already the wheels have started to come off. Apparently they only have enough money to run for 1 more month.
A sorry state of affairs. I hope they can survive. I wonder if the WRU can step in and support them. Who knows!
Posted by Ref on 23 June, 2009
https://refblog.co.uk/2009/06/23/another-one-on-the-rocks/
Joel Jutge retires
Sources close to Refblog advise that Joel Jutge has been beaten by injury and has retired from refereeing.
Can only find it briefly here: http://www.scrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/98352.html
Sad news – apart from the terrible plastic whistle he used, he was a great referee. Met him at a Heineken Cup game at the Madj Stad a few eyars ago when I was a lowly clip board operator. Terribly nice chap.
I wish him well in his new role with Joel Dume in developing future referees in France.
Hattip: WertTwacky
Posted by Ref on 16 June, 2009
https://refblog.co.uk/2009/06/16/joel-jutge-retires/
Alastair Hignell CBE
Great to see Alastair in the Queens birthday honours list. A true servant of rugby and all round good guy. I know some of my regular readers were at Uni with him and can vouch for that. Congratulations!
Posted by Ref on 13 June, 2009
https://refblog.co.uk/2009/06/13/alastair-hignell-cbe/
Drugs in rugby
What a sorry state of affairs is coming out of Bath RFC. Party gets out of hand. Drugs allegations and fighting rumours emerge. Leading player leaves immediately. Now 3 more players have left the club, moments before the club say they were due to attend a hearing into their refusal to take drugs tests. They say this is utter nonsense.
Who knows what happened then and since, but this whole thing is very bad for rugby as a sport.
These 3 guys can only do one thing to stop the link being made – but will they? I think they should – for the good of the sport.
So what should the RFU/Premiership rugby do next? Complete tests for all squads in the professional game? Unannounced for sure. I don’t know if it would be allowed, but it would sure root out if there was a problem in the sport we all love.
I hope this is cleared up quckly before rugby becomes like cycling in the eyes of the paying public.
Posted by Ref on 1 June, 2009
https://refblog.co.uk/2009/06/01/drugs-in-rugby/
RefBlog - Views from a Rugby Referee 