General Chat

Lovely to see you Hilary<3

Feel like a duck out of water with this one

It may be an oval ball, but there are quite a few differences between Union and League :-D

The Ref is an Australian

The TMO is an Englishman

and one of each on the touchline

AND WE ARE OFF

Morning Jem <3 feel as if I want to hide behind sofa. Should be brilliant game, I don't know much about either games but really enjoy them.
GO GO GO ENGLAND :-) :-D :-) :-D

RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FINAL 2017

AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND


THE TEAMS:

ENGLAND:
1. Gareth Widdop 2. Jermaine McGillvary 3. Kallum Watkins 4. John Bateman 5. Ryan Hall 6. Kevin Brown 7. Luke Gale 8. Chris Hill 9. James Roby 10. James Graham 11. Sam Burgess 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Sean O’Loughlin 14. Alex Walmsley 15. Thomas Burgess 16. Ben Currie 17. Chris Heighington 18. Jonny Lomax 19. Scott Taylor 20. George Williams 21. Mark Percival

AUSTRALIA:
1. Billy Slater 2. Dane Gagai 3. Will Chambers 4. Josh Dugan 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Michael Morgan 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Aaron Woods 9. Cameron Smith 10. David Klemmer 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh McGuire 14. Wade Graham 15. Jordan McLean 16. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 17. Tyson Frizell 18. Felise Kaufusi 19. Tom Trbojevic 20. Josh Mansour 21. James Maloney

AUSTRALIA

ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Good singer :-)

ANTHEMS

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.

Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour,
Long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen.

HERE WE GO

NO COMMENTARY FROM ME .... I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT LEAGUE

But if anyone is watching and wants to cheer the team of their choice on .... come and join us


THE FINALISTS ARE COMING OUT

AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND

Goooood Morning Hilary :-D <3

I'm here .... I know NOTHING about Rugby League, except a bit of what I looked up yesterday :-D but I'm going to try to be here to watch the game.
Circumstances here mean that I may have to go at any point!

COME ON ENGLAND :-D

But since I was bestowed Honorary Aussie Status by Our Allan some time ago .... I hope the Aussie's have a good game too. But not quite as much as England :-D
since my Mum was from Kent originally!

Morning everyone, not long to go now. Come on ENGLAND, you can do it. :-) :-) :-)

ANY RUGBY LEAGUE FANS LOOKING IN?

THE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FINAL 2017 ....

TOMORROW MORNING
Saturday December 2nd


AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND

KICK OFF: 9.00am (UK)
or 7.00pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)


LIVE ON BBC 1

The final Rugby Union International of the Autumn Series

HERE'S THE SOUTH AFRICA TEAM TO FACE WALES TOMORROW

SOUTH AFRICA

Backs:
15. Andries Coetzee
14. Dillyn Leyds
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Francois Venter
11. Warrick Gelant
10. Handré Pollard
9. Ross Cronje

Forwards:
1. Steven Kitshoff
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Wilco Louw
4. Eben Etzebeth (Captain)
5. Lood de Jager
6. Siya Kolisi
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
8. Dan du Preez


Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi
17. Trevor Nyakane
18. Ruan Dreyer
19. Oupa Mohoje
20. Uzair Cassiem
21. Louis Schreuder
22. Elton Jantjies
23. Lukhanyo Am



Tomorrow: Saturday December 2nd

WALES v SOUTH AFRICA ..... Kick Off 2.30pm

Live TV: BBC One from 2:00pm
Live Radio:
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru

BBC WALES SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

WHO WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR WALES RUGBY UNION INTERNATIONAL ~ LOVELY JONATHAN DAVIES<3 ?
(Pretty Please!) :-D

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.


Llanelli Scarlets & Wales International Jonathan is hailed as one of the best Centres in the world.
He won "Man of the Series" for his outstanding work with the British & Irish Lions Tour 2017.



BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2017: Voting open for six nominees

You can vote for any of the Welsh Sports Personalities listed below, if you'd prefer.


GARETH BALE (Football)

ELINOR BARKER (Cycling)

ALED SION DAVIES (Para Athletics)

JONATHAN DAVIES (Rugby Union)

NATALIE PARKER (Judo)

GERAINT THOMAS (Cycling)

You can vote by telephone ( I shall add the number when it comes on the TV again!) ....or for free on the BBC Website on the link listed below :-)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/42053313


BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year award 2017
Venue: Celtic Manor Resort, Newport Date and time: Monday, 4 December at 19:30 GMT
Coverage: Live video stream on the BBC website, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app, with coverage and updates also on BBC RW and BBC RC; repeated on the Red Button 9 Dec, 17:30-19:30 GMT.

***** RUGBY UNION LAST INTERNATIONAL*****

WALES v SOUTH AFRICA

Here's your team Wales ...


WALES <3

Backs:
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Hallam Amos
13. Scott Williams
12. Hadleigh Parkes* 1st Wales Cap
11. Steff Evans
10. Dan Biggar
9. Aled Davies

Forwards:
1. Rob Evans
2. Kristian Dacey
3. Scott Andrews
4. Cory Hill
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Captain)
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Josh Navidi
8. Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee
17. Wyn Jones
18. Rhodri Jones
19. Seb Davies
20. Dan Lydiate
21. Rhys Webb
22. Rhys Patchell
23. Owen Watkin.


Not sure what I think of this team so far!

HALLAM AMOS is a good choice for the right wing I think.
STEFF EVANS (left wing) has huge potential although he was a little bit quiet in the last game.

LEIGH HALFPENNY's kicking skills have not been as faultless of late.
Hopefully he has his golden boots this time- although DAN BIGGAR (Fly Half 10) and RHYS PATCHELL (Fly Half- bench) are very good kickers too!

Wales' First Choice Scrum Half, RHYS WEBB is on the bench. He had a bad head injury last week. Surprised that last week's Captain, DAN LYDIATE is on the bench though!

FIRST WALES CAP
New Zealander HADLEIGH PARKES will have his 1st WALES CAP on Saturday after fulfilling the 3 year Wales residency criteria.
Hadleigh has been playing for the Llanelli based Club SCARLETS since 2014, where he has won 44 Scarlets Caps to date.

CORY HILL (Dragons) takes over from the injured JAKE BALL.

It's good to see the inclusion of JOSH NAVIDI, who until recently has been overlooked for Wales. He had a really good game last week.
Also AARON SHINGLER who has played well.



SO CAN WALES BEAT THE SPRINGBOKS?

Saturday December 2nd

WALES v SOUTH AFRICA ..... Kick Off 2.30pm

Live on BBC One from 2:00pm & BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru



SOUTH AFRICA's TEAM TO BE CONFIRMED

THE LAST AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL 2017 ....

WALES v SOUTH AFRICA ... SAT... Kick Off 2.30pm

Warren Gatland has been forced to make changes because a number of players are now unavailable to him, given the game falls outside the World Rugby international window.

Also adding Warren's dilemma are the number of injured Wales players!


THE TEAM WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORT;Y ... SO WATCH THIS SPACE

****LEAGUE****

RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FINAL 2017

AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND


THE TEAMS:

ENGLAND:
1. Gareth Widdop 2. Jermaine McGillvary 3. Kallum Watkins 4. John Bateman 5. Ryan Hall 6. Kevin Brown 7. Luke Gale 8. Chris Hill 9. James Roby 10. James Graham 11. Sam Burgess 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Sean O’Loughlin 14. Alex Walmsley 15. Thomas Burgess 16. Ben Currie 17. Chris Heighington 18. Jonny Lomax 19. Scott Taylor 20. George Williams 21. Mark Percival

AUSTRALIA:
1. Billy Slater 2. Dane Gagai 3. Will Chambers 4. Josh Dugan 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Michael Morgan 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Aaron Woods 9. Cameron Smith 10. David Klemmer 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh McGuire 14. Wade Graham 15. Jordan McLean 16. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 17. Tyson Frizell 18. Felise Kaufusi 19. Tom Trbojevic 20. Josh Mansour 21. James Maloney

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/rugby-league-world-cup-final-2017-team-lists-for-the-australiaengland-showdown/news-story/b71d2e47e0e532d3b9f518311b1d2a43


Saturday December 2nd

AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND
Rugby League World Cup Final 2017

KICK OFF 9.00am (UK)
or 7.00pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)


LIVE ON BBC 1

WALES NEWS:

MORE INJURIES: BALL & TIPURIC INJURED OUT!

Those who watched the Wales v All Blacks game last Saturday will have witnessed the distress of Wales Lock, JAKE BALL, when he sustained a shoulder injury.
It has been confirmed now that Jake did indeed dislocate his shoulder and will require surgery.

Also injured is Flanker JUSTIN TIPURIC who has also been released from the Wales Squad.

In question for Wales' last International game is Scrum Half RHYS WEBB who sustained a head injury during the same game. He will have to undergo strict CONCUSSION PROTOCOL before he will be fit for selection for Wales.

Three other Wales Internationals (also Lions 2017 tourists) - SAM WARBURTON, GEORGE NORTH and ROSS MORIARTY have missed the entire Autumn "Under Armour" Series because of injury.


A GAME TOO FAR?
Former Wales International, Martyn Williams, has said that the forthcoming game v South Africa is a "game too far". This is because a good proportion of Wales players are expected to return to their clubs for duty, and therefore will be unavailable to represent Wales this Saturday. Whereas The Springboks will be at full complement.


Wales Centre JAMIE ROBERTS is one player who is expected to returned to the English Club, HARLEQUINS, and another Centre OWEN WILLIAMS must return to GLOUCESTER.


AN OPENING?
The loss of these Centres could mean that New Zealand born HADLEIGH PARKES (SCARLETS) who has now QUALIFIED ON RESIDENCY could win his 1st WALES CAP!

A FINE?
Wales Eightman TAULUPE FALETAU has been released by his club BATH who are risking being fined by PREMIERSHIP RUGBY by doing so!!:-0


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42151096


***WATCH THIS THREAD FOR THE WALES TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW

ANOTHER ONE COMING HOME! :-D

ROSS MORIARTY IS COMING HOME TO WALES <3

Wales and Lions Forward, Ross Moriarty, is leaving his English Club GLOUCESTER at the end of the season and is set to join the Welsh Club DRAGONS on a two year contract.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42135286


And my guess is that Ross will not be the last!

The new Wales ruling going into force for next year is that unless players have earned 60 Caps or more for Wales, they will not be eligible to be selected for Wales if they play outside Wales at Club Level.

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/39627.php#.Whxbk9Jl8dU

This new ruling has already helped with the decision for George North to come home. (See page 80 of this thread)

Who will be next I wonder?


I'm not sure where this ruling will leave LIAM WILLIAMS, who left Scarlets to join the SARACENS at the end of last season.

Or Scrum Half RHYS WEBB who is leaving the Ospreys to join the French Club TOULON next season.


But thankfully, Wales do have some excellent young players coming in!

CONGRATULATIONS TO HARRY & MEGHAN <3

Well I didn't get back from Tesco in time to watch my Scarlets game Live! :-0
Good job I had it programmed to record :-)

But of course I couldn't use the Red Button on a recording and so I had to watch the game with Welsh Commentary and not English.
Just as well I can understand quite a good bit of Welsh, but I'm not fluent!


IT WAS A GOOD GAME ...
.....EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE MISSING A TOTAL OF NO LESS THAN 19 PLAYERS TO THE INTERNATIONAL TEAMS and INJURY!


A great big cheer went out from Radio Jem's Studio ;-) after half time, when A FAVOURITE OF MINE CAME ON THE PITCH!

FORMER WALES & LIONS SCRUM HALF, MIKE PHILLIPS, HAS COME OUT OF RETIREMENT TO HELP THE SCARLETS OUT!

They needed a Scrum Half desperately as their first and second choice Scrum Halfs were with the Wales Camp.



Talking with S4C, Mike said (In Welsh- He's a fluent Welsh Speaker) that the Scarlets were the first club to give him a chance, and so it was only right that he should repay them by playing "dwy gêm fach" - two small games!

AND HE DIDN'T DISAPPOINT! :-D

IT WAS A CLOSE GAME .... BUT THE FINAL SCORE WAS:

SOUTHERN KINGS 30 ~ SCARLETS 34


GREAT PLAYER!
A player who really excelled today in my opinion was Fly Half DAN JONES.
He scored 6/6 of his goal kicks ( 4 conversions and 2 penalties )
He also scored the final Converted TRY that put Scarlets in the lead!


WELL DONE SCARLETS <3


VIDEO HIGLIGHTS AND MATCH REPORT:
Pro14: Southern Kings 30-34 Scarlets
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42108632


Scarlets will be paying the other new team to the Pro 14 (formerly Pro 12) next Saturday and hopefully it will be another opportunity to watch Mikey in action before he hangs his boots up for good!

Saturday December 2nd
TOYOTA CHEETAHS v SCARLETS ..... Kick Off 5.15pm
Live on S4C or on the BBC iPLAYER