General Chat

If there's any Welsh looking in

SCARLETS v CHEETAHS ... Live from South Africa

Kick Off 5.35pm

On S4C (Wales' Channel 4)
Welsh Commentary or English Commentary on the Red Button.

or watch it Live on the BBC iPLAYER

I'll be watching ... so if anyone else is ... please let me know

SCARLETS are a West Wales Club who were top of the Pro 12 League last season

This year the Pro 12 has become the Pro 14, with the addition of two more teams.
Both these teams are South African teams- SOUTHERN KINGS and CHEETAHS.

Scarlets have been out in South Africa and played (and beat) the Southern Kings last week.

This week it's the Cheetah's turn, but they are a stronger team than Kings.

The Scarlets are based in LLANELLI nick named SOSBAN FACH (Little Saucepan) from the towns history of tin and steel manufacture.

This is Llanelli and Scarlet's song

SOSBAN FACH .... ONLY BOYS ALOUD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=terB8OmB6_E

A BIG FAVOURITE ....

.......Former Wales and Lions International Scrum Half MIKE PHILLIPS<3 has kindly come out of retirement to help out The Scarlets (His first club) because of injury and Wales duty.

The 35 year old is Starting today :-)

I will post the final score and a Match Report if anyone is interested

A bride on her wedding night says to her husband,

" I must confess darling that I used to be a hooker "

He says, " That's alright dear , your past is your past but I must admit I find it quite erotic. Tell me about it.

She replies... " well my name was Nigel and I played for Wigan "

evening Jem :-D :-D <3 <3

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

HIYA BARB, LOVELY TO SEE YOU <3 <3 <3

So our Boyos scraped home....... brilliant news.

There will definitely be a great welcome in the hillside tonight!!!! I am soooo happy for you Jem and all the Welsh rugby team followers. Hopefully things at home will have calmed down and I will be back again next year to enjoy the lovely banter that we all share together on your thread. XXXX

Thank You Kandj .... from me and Our Boyos ;-) :-D

We miss you so much on here, Kandj, and your beautiful singing <3 <3

Hopefully your OH will be much better by the time of the Six Nations next year and you will be able to join in again xxx

SCARLETS NEWS

My Club, the Scarlets, didn't quite make it two out of two this weekend, when they face CHEETAH's in South Africa.

This was a much harder game, than the week before when they beat SOUTHERN KINGS,but they put up a good fight.

Southern Kings and Cheetahs are the two new South African clubs that have joined The Pro 14 League (formerly the Pro 12)
The Scarlets have been in South Africa for the last couple of weeks to play these teams.

FINAL SCORE
CHEETAHS 28 ~ SCARLETS 21

Match Report
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42192897

THE FINAL GAME OF THE AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS WAS PLAYED LAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON


Final Score:
WALES 24 ~ SOUTH AFRICA 22

Rugby Thread Fun Commentary and Participation: Pages 100 - 111
Match Report:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/dec/02/wales-v-south-africa-rugby-union-international-live


"UNDER ARMOUR" MAN OF THE MATCH"
HADLEIGH PARKES

New Zealander, Hadleigh Parkes, made his first debut for WALES in this game.
This was ON THE VERY DAY that Hadleigh (who plays for the Llanelli based club SCARLETS) qualified for to play for Wales due to the THREE YEAR RESIDENCY RULE.

Yes, three years ago, Hadleigh was docking sheep on a Farm in New Zealand.
Then a contract with the West Wales Club meant a move to Wales from the other side of the world.

Centre Hadleigh has flourished with the Scarlets, earning 80 Scarlets' Caps and putting a total of 50 points on the score board.

Hadleigh had a fantastic first Wales game, scoring not one but two Tries against the Springboks. His all round contribution to this game earned him the well deserved "Man Of The Match" honour.

When asked how he was feeling after the game he said ...
"Amazing - A dream come true! I thought this day would never come!
I'm extremely humbled by the opportunity. It's a huge privilege and an honour to be able to come out here and play in front of a fantastic stadium, a fantastic crowd.
It's a lovely country, Yeah!"


The touching moment Hadleigh Parkes chokes up after watching heartfelt messages from friends and family in New Zealand
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/touching-moment-hadleigh-parkes-chokes-13989150


HADLEIGH & THE WALES ANTHEM:

Fellow Wales and Scarlets team mate, RHYS PATCHELL, has been teaching Hadleigh how to sing the Welsh Anthem "Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" phonetically.
When the men were on the field and singing the anthem, and the camera worked it's way down the line of men, I could see that Hadleigh was correctly singing it!

The post match Interviewer then asked Hadleigh "What was it like to stand there singing loud and proud?"
He replied "An amazing feeling! I really made quite a hard effort to try to learn the anthem. Hopefully I didn't stuff it up!":-D

WELL YOU DIDN'T HADLEIGH! :-D

You are so proud to be representing Wales....
.... AND WALES in turn IS PROUD OF YOU! WELL DONE <3




More news from the last International...

DAN BIGGAR'S 60th WALES CAP!

Something I missed before the Wales v South Africa Game last Saturday.
Our Fly Half (10) Dan Biggar won his 60th Wales Cap!

This is excellent news for Dan and Wales fans .......
........ because if Dan choses at some point to leave Wales to play his rugby elsewhere, he will still be able to qualify to play for Wales.
I'm sure that his current club the Ospreys will be hoping that that scenario will not happen some time soon!

Under the new rules, if a player leaves Wales to play for a Non-Welsh Club, they will not be eligible for Wales selection unless they have earned 60 or more Caps for Wales.

Sadly, Dan's playing partner - Scrum Half RHYS WEBB - will not qualify to play for Wales from next autumn. He will be leaving the Ospreys and will be joining the French Club TOULON.
Having won only 29 Wales Caps so far, it will be impossible for him to reach the 60 Cap landmark by then.



THAT MARKS THE END OF THE AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL GAMES FOR THIS YEAR

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE JOINED IN <3 <3 <3
or taken the trouble to look in at the Rugby Thread :-)




NEXT CHAMPIONSHIP ....
THE SIX NATIONS 2018 WHICH BEGINS ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3rd
:-|

HE DID IT!!!!!!! :-D

I don't know .... perhaps WE did it (page 97) ;-) :-D ......


JONATHAN DAVIES <3 ~ BBC WALES SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2017


Yes, Wales, Lions and Scarlets Centre, 29 year old Jonathan Davies, has been voted BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2017.


Of course we are talking about Jonathan "FOX" Davies (His parents kept the Fox and Hounds Pub in Bancyfelin) .....Not to be confused with Jonathan (Jiffy) Davies the former Wales International now TV Presenter and Pundit.


Jonathan is hailed by many ~ Rugby Experts and Colleagues throughout the rugby playing world ~ as one of the best (if not THE best) Centre today!


Despite being injured out of much of the Autumn Internationals, this is a very well deserved honour in my opinion. Jon was amazing in his role as Centre for the British & Irish Lions Tour in the summer, earning him the title "MAN OF THE SERIES"
Not to mention helping his Club THE SCARLETS win the Pro 12 this year!


Jonathan was not able to attend the award ceremony himself, being laid up with his leg in plaster- He sees the surgeon today .... but he recorded a thank you video.
His proud parents were at the ceremony and accepted the award for him.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/42053313


CONGRATULATIONS LOVELY BOY .... ONWARDS AND UPWARDS <3

More bad news for Wales ....

SAM WARBURTON WILL NOT MAKE THE SIX NATIONS 2018! :-(

On top the the neck injury that he has, He will also need knee surgery.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42284990


Has our Wales Captain has been injured out of more competitions that he's actually played in? Well it feels that way to me anyway! :-0 :-0 :-0

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

... And another one gone, and another one gone, another one bites the dust,
ARGH :-0 :-0


NOW TAULUPE FALETAU IS INJURED OUT OF THE SIX NATIONS!

Wales' Eightman Taulupe (formerly known as Toby) Faletau injured his knee while on European duty for his club Bath. The 70-times capped number eight will be out until at least early March with damaged medial knee ligaments, and may require surgery!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42329104


So ...
NO SAM WARBURTON

NO JONATHAN DAVIES

and now NO FALETAU!

Who's next?:-(

WALES FANS OWE A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO AN ENGLISH CLUB!!

BATH HAS BEEN FINED £60,000 FOR RELEASING A WALES EIGHTMAN!

Bath has been fined for releasing TAULUPE FALETAU to play for Wales against South Africa on December 2nd- Wales' last Autumn International Game of 2017- because it was played outside World Rugby's international window.

This is the second time an English Club has been fined for this "crime"!
In 2013 NORTHAMPTON were also fined for releasing Wales Winger GEORGE NORTH for International duty enabling him to play for Wales v Australia.


Bath have urged for a resolution to the ongoing conflict between the international and domestic schedules.
"This is not good for players, clubs or unions," said Bath chief executive Tarquin McDonald.....

Full Story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42494188


THE FINAL SCORE OF THE GAME IN QUESTION:
WALES 24 ~ SOUTH AFRICA 22

OUR DEAR KANDJ <3

Kandj's wonderful Hubby has had a bad relapse and is back in hospital.
This is a very emotional, worrying and stressful time for Kandj and her family.

Jem and all the Rugby Gang are sending you lots of love and (((((((hugs))))))) Kandj, and praying that your lovely hubby will rally again.


We are all thinking of you, Kandj, at this very difficult time xxxx <3 <3 <3

SAM WARBURTON OBE <3

WALES CAPTAIN, SAM WARBURTON, HAS RECIEVED AN OBE IN THE NEW YEARS HONOURS!

Sam, who also led the British & Irish Lions to a Series draw in New Zealand in the summer, has said he was “overwhelmed” to receive an OBE, describing the achievement as the “pinnacle” of his career.

Sam, who is known as a "True Gentleman" has won 74 international caps for Wales, was also the squad's youngest skipper at 24 before the 2-1 victory over the Wallabies in 2013.

The 29-year-old is a Flanker for Cardiff Blues since 2009.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/11188221/lions-captain-sam-warburton-heads-sporting-inclusions-in-new-year-honours


CHARITY WORK:
Sam is also involved in doing a lot of work for charity.
He has been an Ambassador for the Velindre Centre (A cancer charity) for the past 5 years.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/sam-warburton-surprises-cancer-patients-14054997

He regularly involves himself in raising money and awareness for the charity, as he did with "The Winter Walk" in 2016.




OTHER RUGBY UNION PEOPLE HONOURED

* Former Scotland captain IAN McLAUGHLAN is appointed OBE,
* ED MORRISON- England's first full-time professional rugby union Referee- OBE
* Scotland and Lions team doctor JAMES ROBSON is appointed MBE.


Congratulations to Sam and all other recipients of honours this year :-)

:-) :-) :-) HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! :-) :-) :-)

Wishing all my Mad, Rugby Loving, Lovely Friends every happiness in 2018 <3

Thank You to Everyone who has supported "Radio Jem" throughout the year <3
Thank You, too, to all who have taken the time to read the Rugby Thread <3


Love Jem xxx


Kandj <3 <3 <3

I'm very sorry to have to relay some very sad news to the Rugby Gang and readers of the Rugby Thread.

Our lovely Kandj's husband passed away yesterday.

On behalf of Kandj's friends on this thread, I would like to send heartfelt sympathy, condolence and love to our dear friend xxx

We are thinking of you ((((((( Kandj ))))))) <3 <3 <3

((((((((((((((((( Kandj )))))))))))))) Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx thinking of you xxxx

Dear Kandji sending you love and hugs at this very sad time <3 <3 <3 <3