General Chat

Tribute on Radio 5 live tonight .David Campese .spoke about him .well loved by all . RIp <3

Jonah Lomu R.I.P

ALL BLACKS TAKE THE WEBB ELLIS TROPHY TO JERRY COLLINS' GRAVE!

After their return to New Zealand, five All Black Stars took the Rugby World Cup trophy to their former AB team mate's grave.

Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams, Ma'a Nonu, Jerome Kaino and Liam Messam took the Webb Ellis Cup to the resting place of the late flanker the day after what would have been his 35th birthday.


Jerry Collins and his wife, Alana Madill, were both killed when they were involved in a road traffic accident in France in July this year.
The couple's 4 month old baby girl, Ayla Collins, survived the crash, but sustained "life changing injuries".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3304887/New-Zealand-stars-time-homecoming-tour-Christchurch-visit-grave-Blacks-legend-Jerry-Collins.html


Jerry Collins was well loved in Wales.
He played from 2009 -2011 for South Wales club OSPREYS.



Jerry Collins' family were thrilled with the All Black's visit to his grave.
Sadly, the Collins family buried Jerry's Aunt, Thursday.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73771208/maa-nonu-pays-tribute-to-jerry-collins-at-all-blacks-wellington-parade



THE MORE I READ ABOUT THESE GREAT GUYS, THE MORE I AM LOVING THE ALL BLACKS! <3 :-) :-) :-)

SAM BURGESS IS GOING BACK TO OZ AND BACK TO LEAGUE!


"Cross-Code" International Sam Burgess, who played for England in the Rugby World Cup, has decided to go back to Rugby League after just one season in Rugby Union.

26 year old Sam said his decision to return to Australia was because he missed his family. He is set to rejoin his old club, Actor Russell Crowe's team SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS on a 3 year deal. He will play alongside his brothers Tom and George, also Rabbitohs players.


Sam thanked everyone in England Rugby Union and Bath "for some great memories over the last 12 months".

"I must also thank Bath", said Sam "for granting my immediate release to return home to my family, who I have missed more than I could have imagined!"

Sam has left his Rugby Union club BATH with immediate effect.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34732141

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/34741035


Sam Burgess was born in Liversedge, Kirklees, West Yorkshire in 1988.

He has three brothers- older brother Luke and younger twin brothers Tom and George, all professional Rugby League players, as was their late father- Mark Burgess, who died of Motor Neuron Disease.

Mother Julie emigrated to Australia to be with her sons who were all signed to Australian teams.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/meet-the-magnificent-mrs-burgess/story-fni0cvc9-1226690449682

Sam is due to marry his Australian Fiance PHOEBE HOOK next month.


All on Radio Jem ;-) Congratulate Sam and Phoebe on their forthcoming wedding.
We also wish Sam a happy reunion with his family, and all the best for his future :-)

WARREN GATLAND IS GOING HOME TO NEW ZEALAND! :-(

BUT IT'S OK WALES FANS ..... NOT UNTIL 2019! ;-) :-D :-D


BBC News announced this evening, that Wales' Head Coach Warren Gatland will be going home to New Zealand, after the Rugby World Cup 2019.

In an interview with a New Zealand Radio Station, 52 year old Warren confirmed that he will be returning home after this competition, when his contract with Wales Rugby Union comes to an end.

Warren Gatland took over as Wales' Head Coach in 2007. Since then, he has led Wales to two Grand Slam Victories.

When he leaves Wales in 2019, he will have become the LONGEST SERVING COACH IN WALES RUGBY HISTORY.


When he goes home-
WARREN HOPES TO TAKE UP A JOB IN SUPER RUGBY!

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatland-reveals-step-down-10393356

JEM's GEMS ..... DR. JAMIE ROBERTS <3


Wales Centre, the lovely Jamie Roberts, has taken a break from professional rugby to go back to University.

Just weeks after playing in the Rugby World Cup, the 28 year old doctor, is taking a Part Time Masters Degree in Medical Science.


JAMIE MAY BE BACK AT "SCHOOL" BUT NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT BULLIES! ;-)

This is what his old friend and team mate MIKE PHILLIPS tweeted!

mike phillips ? @mikephillips009
If anyone bullies you about losing your hair, just let me know and I'll sort them out! #gotyourback @Jamiehuwroberts @Cambridge_Uni
1:18 PM - 26 Oct 2015

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-star-jamie-roberts-begins-10333312



BUT JAMIE ROBERTS IS STILL PLAYING RUGBY!

Jamie made his debut for Cambridge University playing a "friendly" against Worcester Cavaliers yesterday!

Despite our "bulldozing" Jamie playing for the full 80 minutes, the final score-
WORCESTER CAVALIERS 29 ~ CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY 7 :-0 :-0 :-0

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34728719

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/jamie-roberts-makes-cambridge-university-10389681


THIS IS JAMIE's FIRST STEP IN FULFILLING A LIFELONG AMBITION-
TO PLAY IN A VARSITY MATCH!
He will realise this ambition next month.


After the Varsity Match
JAMIE WILL BE JOINING THE PREMIERSHIP SIDE, HARLEQUINS


Jem and all the Rugby Gang wish Jamie every success for the future-
for his Cambridge Master's Degree and his Harlequins Career :-) :-) :-)

"SONNY BILL WILLIAMS's THOUGHTLESS ACT OF GENEROSITY HAS RUINED SPORT FOREVER!"

Stuart Heritage writing for the Guardian!


Now, when I saw this headline, my back was already up!:-| :-|

How dare this man run down All Black Sonny Bill Williams, the man that has wormed his way into my heart and into the hearts of people all over the world, when he gave his winner's medal away to a young boy! :-| :-|



But having read this article, I found it amusing! Very "tongue in cheek"!

"Thanks to his kindhearted efforts, the victims of Sonny Bill’s action are literally every single person who has ever won – or will ever win – anything.....

".....In fact, I’ve already started to judge other successful sports stars retroactively, simply because they didn’t immediately give their medals away. Until this weekend, for example, I thought nothing of Sir Chris Hoy parading his Olympic gold medals around on various television shows in 2012. Now, though, I can’t help wondering what sort of monster would even keep them in the first place."

The above words quoted from Stuart Heritage's article.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/02/sony-boy-williams-medal-rugby-world-cup-ruined-sport

Have they gone :-S :-S <3

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS ~ FAREWELL VISIT FROM CHARLIE LINE.....

......The boy he gave his Winner's medal to!

As the All Blacks prepared to fly off from London, Sonny Bill met up again with young Charlie to say Goodbye!

"Good to see the young fulla today, ur part of the team now bro," Williams tweeted with a photo of Line who was still carrying the medal.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73620947/sonny-bill-williams-gets-farewell-visit-by-boy-he-gave-rugby-world-cup-medal-to


If you missed this earlier story....
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73585030/revealed-sonny-bill-williams-british-schoolboy-bro-gifted-rwc-winners-medal


Sonny Bill Williams and his lovely wife Alana
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/20909292

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/20906743

ALL BLACKS ARRIVE HOME TO HEROES' WELCOME!

The All Blacks have arrived home in New Zealand. They flew into Auckland in a specially black painted Air New Zealand plane to a "frenzy of hakas and hysteria"!


The first off the plane was New Zealand Captain RICHIE McCAW clutching the WILLIAM ELLIS TROPHY!

MIND YOU, HE NEEDED TO CLUTCH IT.... JUST IN CASE SONNY BILL WILLIAMS DECIDED TO GIVE IT AWAY! ;-):-D :-D :-D

The victorious team were greeted by airport staff who promptly performed the Haka especially for their heroes!

Inside the airport were 4,000 black-clad supporters, many of whom had camped out all night for the privilege of seeing the All Blacks arrive home.

In central Auckland, a further 50,000 fans were congregating, to celebrate their nations Rugby World Cup triumph for the third time!


New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said that the mood in New Zealand was "Euphoric"

Prince Charles and Camilla also arrived in New Zealand Wednesday (NZ time) on an official visit, and have expressed a desire to meet the the RWC Winners, if their schedules permit.


Read more about The All Blacks Home-coming on the following link, including video coverage-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/11974056/Homecoming-haka-for-Rugby-World-Cup-winners-New-Zealands-All-Blacks.html


BBC SPORT Rugby Union-
Rugby World Cup 2015: 'Hugely satisfied' McCaw revels in win

More video footage including interviews
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34689989



And on a lighter note ....

All Blacks retiring Fly Half DAN CARTER ... Modelling
Especially for Our Fly! ;-):-D :-D

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/20906687

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/20906653

Very funny Perse!!! :-D :-D :-D :-D

aw, thank you Kandj :-) <3

My trophy is the satisfaction of what we have achieved in managing to cover this fantastic competition together, and making wonderful friends along the way! :-) :-) :-)

All worthy winners and you will no doubt be especially excited for "Our Nige's" Award.

So where is YOUR award RadioJem???? You deserve one after all your hard work!!

15 people were tackled by security as they tried to get too close to SBW receiving his replacement gold medal. They all later told Police that the story of the young boy inspired them and that they too wanted to know what it feels like to have a RWC gold medal around their neck. After further investigation the Australian Rugby team were let off with just a warning

WORLD RUGBY AWARDS

There was almost a "clean sweep" for New Zealand at the World Rugby Awards Ceremony at Battersea Evolution in London on Sunday night!


First ....
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS RECEIVED A REPLACEMENT GOLD WINNERS MEDAL!

Sonny Bill, in a very compassionate and generous gesture, had given his winners medal to a 14 year old fan! (see post earlier on this page)
The organisers said that there was no way anyone was going home without a medal, so they replaced it! :-)



*** PLAYER OF THE YEAR ..... DAN CARTER (New Zealand)

This is the third time that the dishy Dan Carter has won Player of the Year. He also won this title in 2005 and 2012.

Other nominees for this award were Dan's teammate Julian Savea, Australians David Pocock and Michael Hooper, Wales' Alun-Wyn Jones and Scotland's Greig Laidlaw.



*** TEAM OF THE YEAR ..... THE ALL BLACKS

The New Zealand All Blacks have won this award for the 6th year in a run!



*** BREAKTHROUGH PLAYER OF THE YEAR ..... NEHE MILNER-SKUDDER (New Zealand)

The All Black's Right Winger, Nehe Milner-Skudder made his international debut in July in Sydney



*** TRY OF THE YEAR ..... JULIAN SAVEA (New Zealand)

The All Blacks left winger, Julian Savea, won this award for his "bursting run" during New Zealand's win over France in the RWC Quarter Finals in Cardiff.

I think it must be this one-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywmnfZTNSvw




One award that did not go New Zealand's way!....

*** COACH OF THE YEAR ..... MICHAEL CHEIKA (Australia)


*** INTERNATIONAL RUGBY PLAYERS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL MERIT AWARDS .....

Retired Ireland International ..... BRIAN O'DRISCOLL
Retired Australian International ..... NATHAN SHARPE



Read about these and other World Rugby awards on the link below.
It includes a great video interview with Dan Carter and other All Black RWC winners!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11538760


Congratulations to all award winners from Jem and the gang :-) :-) :-)

"OUR NIGE" WINS WORLD RUGBY REFEREE AWARD!

Wales' very own Nigel Owens, who expertly refereed the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham last Saturday, has won World Rugby's Referee Of The Year.

He received this award at the star-studded World Rugby Awards at Battersea Evolution in London, last night.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/nigel-owens-wins-world-rugby-10369070



Nigel, from the village of Mynyddcerrig in the Gwendraeth Valley, Carmarthenshire, now lives in Pontyberem.

Nigel was "very proud" when he saw a photo of what the villagers of Mynyddcerrig had done. They had decorated his beloved Mam's grave with among other things, Nigel's photo and a rugby ball. He shed tears over this, he said on his Twitter account.


Aged 44, Nigel is the most experienced member of the current referee panel.
He has carried out refereeing duties in the last three Rugby World Cups and 68 Test Matches.

This is an example of "Our Nige's" Refereeing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u55BnNhwKHE



Nigel stays well-grounded (if you pardon the pun! :-D)

After refereeing the biggest rugby game ever, the Rugby World Cup Final in Twickenham with an attendance of 80,125 people, his job this weekend will be in Gowerton, Swansea,refereeing a game between two local village teams, with an average attendance of 125! :-D

Somehow, I think that they can expect an increase in that number, this time!
Who knows, I may just toddle off up there myself, it's only a few miles away from me! :-D :-D :-D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-34693283


OTHER WORK

Nigel Owens also works in TV. He co-presents the S4C (Wales' Channel 4) rugby orientated chat show "JONATHAN" along with former Wales International Rugby star/ BBC Sports Commentator JONATHAN DAVIES and the lovely SARRA ELGAN. Sarra, is a singer/ actress / tv presenter / sports interviewer. She is married to former Irish International Rugby Player SIMON EASTERBY, who is now on the Ireland RU's Coaching staff.

http://www.s4c.cymru/adloniant/e_jonathan_nigel.shtml

Nigel is also a Stand-Up comic and an after dinner speaker.



Nigel's life has not always been plain sailing.
He has had a struggle coming to terms with certain aspects of his life, to the point of a suicide attempt when he was younger.

The documentary "NIGEL OWENS- TRUE TO MYSELF" was aired on BBC last week.

If you missed it and would like to see it, you can either find it on BBC iPlayer, or click on the following link, where it has been uploaded on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAuxtbpG5OY


CONGRATULATIONS "OUR NIGE" REFEREE OF THE YEAR! <3
from Jem and the Gang on Radio Jem :-) :-) :-)

Hi Maggie :-)

Yes, I totally agree!

I'm not really into footie, but my OH is. He is a big Man U fan and watches most of the big teams playing when he can.

Following your remark, I asked him did he think that any footballer who had just won the World Cup would give away his medal! No chance, he said!

I do wonder if Sonny Bill acted on impulse, being overwhelmed by the devotion of this young fan, and feeling really sorry for how he was tackled down to the ground. When he got back to the dressing room, did he think to himself "What on earth have I just gone and done?!" :-D :-D :-D :-D

But his kindness has probably earned him a huge army of new fans :-)
The All Blacks have really endeared themselves to Welsh people. They took time out of their heavy schedules to visit schools and colleges in South Wales, working with the youngsters in their rugby training. Also visiting young cancer patients in hospital. Sonny Bill being one of them!

Ok, the more cynical among us may say that it's a PR stunt. But they don't HAVE to do this. All they need to do is turn up and win the game!

I for one am now a big All Blacks fan, and who knows, if they tour this way, playing local clubs as they have in the past, I might just go and watch! :-D



Hi Elizabeth :-)

Thanks very much for you kind words. I am glad that you are enjoying the Rugby Thread.

It is a lot of hard work, and I know that not everyone on GR is a lover of rugby, so it's lovely when people like yourself say they have enjoyed the thread. Thank you xxx

The Six Nations Championship will be next. It will kick off on February 6th 2016 :-)

Dear Jemima

Hello

Just to say how much I have enjoyed looking in on the Rugby thread.

It was a fantastic tournament, excellent play by all.

Very well done to you, dear Radio Jem. <3

I hope you will be doing this again for another
sporting event in the very near future. :-)


Take gentle care
Many good wishes to you and everyone who took part on this thread.
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

You wouldn't get that reaction in football :-D :-D

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION GOLD MEDAL WINNER & HIS YOUNG FAN!

When 14 year old CHARLIE LINE made a dash onto the Twickenham pitch yesterday, in a bold effort to get his hero's autograph, he was rugby tackled to the ground by a security guard.

He was just inches away from his "hero" - SONNY BILL WILLIAMS, one of the ALL BLACKS team, the winners of the Rugby World Cup 2015 who had just been presented with their Gold Medals.

Sonny Bill intervened, and the delighted youngster hugged him in sheer delight!


BUT THAT WAS NOT ALL .....
Sonny Bill Williams then took the medal from around his neck and HUNG IT AROUND YOUNG CHARLIE'S NECK, to the amazement of the ecstatic youngster!


"I felt really sorry for him," said Sonny Bill, " ...... I just picked the kid up and took him back to his old lady, and I just tried to make the night more memorable. Better round his neck than on the wall back home, I guess!


Read this story, along with photos and a video of the incident on the link below!

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/31/sonny-bill-williams-world-cup-winners-medal-14-year-old-fan


BUT DON'T WORRY!

Impressed by Sonny Bill William's compassion and generosity, tournament organisers managed to find a replacement medal.

SONNY BILL WAS PRESENTED WITH HIS NEW MEDAL AT THE WORLD RUGBY AWARDS TONIGHT!

Sonny Bill receiving his medal video on this link!

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-11-01/rugby-world-cup-sonny-bill-williams-gets-new-winners-medal-after-gifting-one-to-a-fan/

Well, it's the end of a fantastic few months!

New Zealand are the Rugby World Cup Winners of 2015!

Another 4 years until the next one!

but hey .... we have The Six Nations Championship before very long :-D :-D :-D


Goodnight Everyone, and thanks! :-) :-) <3

THE PARTY'S OVER ..... DORIS DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV5ynRFzrIM