General Chat

Good Afternoon Everyone :-D :-D :-D <3

Sorry, but I am having to use a different studio in the Radio Jem's HQ today ;-)
and the internet signal is almost on stop :-0 :-0 :-0

Hoping I can manage

Hiya Hilary <3 Linda <3 and Kandj <3

I will be at the start of the game but might not see the end as I'm expecting visitors around that time.

That is such heartbreaking news.... RIP Matthew, condolences to his family and all his friends.

COME ON WALES!!!!

I am all organised, I have dinner all prepped just to go in the oven, so I can watch

Afternoon everyone, looking forward to an exciting game, hopefully. Shame about the virus with Italy game but sensible I suppose. <3
My sympathies to Matthew's family, so young.
See you all later, good luck Jem, hope both our boys do us proud with a really good game.

THE 2 HOUR WARNING EVERYONE

ENGLAND v WALES<3 KICKS OFF AT 4.45pm TODAY


NOT LONG NOW ;-) :-D :-D :-D

Yes, Pat, I heard it on the news earlier. Thanks <3

Yes, sadly, former Wales Centre - MATTHEW JASON WATKINS - has died aged just 41 :-(

https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/115338197

CAREER:
Matthew who won 18 Caps for Wales between 2003 and 2006 played his Club Rugby at SCARLETS, Gloucester and The Dragons among others.


ILLNESS:
Matthew had been suffering from a rare form of Pelvic Cancer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51782373


MATTHEW IN ACTION:
https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/115338114

https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/115338036


TRIBUTES:
Tributes to Matthew are pouring in on Social Media from friends, associates and the public

WRU
https://twitter.com/WelshRugbyUnion?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

JONATHAN DAVIES (Jiffy)
https://twitter.com/JiffyRugby?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews/posts/10157530958667217



CONDOLENCES:
Jem and The Rugby Gang send our deepest condolences to Matthew's Family, Friends and Associates.
Our hearts go out to Matthew's widow Stacey and his sons Siôr and Tal<3

RIP MATTHEW <3

RIP Matthew J Watkins aged 41 <3

THIS WEEKEND's ROUND 4 SCHEDULE

*Saturday March 7th

YES IT'S THE BIG ONE ;-):-0 :-D :-D

******* ENGLAND v WALES<3 *******
:
KICK Off 4.45pm

Live Broadcasting as follows:

ITV1 (English Commentary)
S4C (Welsh Commentary)
Radio Jem ;-) (SILLY Commentary) :-D




*Sunday March 8th
SCOTLAND v FRANCE .... Kick Off 3.00pm

Live on BBC ..... and Radio Jem ;-) (this thread)



*NB
ALL ITALY GAMES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
Non Italy games are going ahead at present

Gregor Townsend has announced his team to face Les Bleus on Sunday

SCOTLAND

Captain: STUART HOGG

Backs:
15. Stuart Hogg (C)
14. Sean Maitland
13. Chris Harris
12. Sam Johnson
11. Blair Kinghorn
10. Adam Hastings
9. Ali Price

Forwards:
1. Rory Sutherland
2. Fraser Brown (VC)
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Scott Cummings
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Hamish Watson
8. Nick Haining (

Replacements:
16. Stuart McInally, 17. Allan Dell, 18. Willem Nel, 19. Sam Skinner, 20. Magnus Bradbury, 21. George Horne, 22. Duncan Weir, 23. Kyle Steyn – uncapped



Sunday March 8th

SCOTLAND v FRANCE .... Kick Off 3.00pm ....... Live on BBC and Radio Jem ;-) :-D

The France Team to face Scotland on Sunday has been announced

FRANCE

Captain: CHARLES OLLIVON

Backs:
15. Anthony Bouthier
14. Damian Penaud
13. Virimi Vakatawa
12. Arthur Vincent
11. Gaël Fickou
10. Romain Ntamack
9. Antoine Dupont

Forwards:
1. Jefferson Poirot
2. Julien Marchand
3. Mohamed Haouas
4. Bernard Le Roux
5. Paul Willemse
6. François Cros
7. Charles Ollivon (C)
8. Grégory Alldritt

Replacements:
16. Camille Chat, 17. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18. Demba Bamba, 19. Romain Taofifenua, 20. Dylan Cretin, 21. Baptiste Serin, 22. Matthieu Jalibert, 23. Thomas Ramos


SCOTLAND TEAM TO BE ANNOUNCED



Sunday March 8th

SCOTLAND v FRANCE .... Kick Off 3.00pm ....... Live on BBC and Radio Jem ;-)

Hi Emms
Yes, I saw it when I read through on my phone last night <3

Jem did you notice I thanked you for our card
on last nights thread <3

ENGLAND v WALES ~ ROUND 4 TEAMS


ENGLAND

Captain: OWEN FARRELL

Backs:
15. Elliot Daly
14. Anthony Watson
13. Manu Tuilagi
12. Owen Farrell (C)
11. Jonny May
10. George Ford
9. Ben Youngs

Forwards:
1. Joe Marler
2. Jamie George
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Maro Itoje
5. George Kruis
6. Courtney Lawes
7. Mark Wilson
8. Tom Curry

Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Ellis Genge
18. Will Stuart
19. Joe Launchbury
20. Charlie Ewels
21. Ben Earl
22. Willi Heinz
23. Henry Slade


WALES <3

Captain: ALUN-WYN JONES

Backs:
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. George North
13. Nick Tompkins
12. Hadleigh Parkes
11. Liam Williams
10. Dan Biggar
9. Tomos Williams

Forwards:
1. Rob Evans
2. Ken Owens
3. Dillon Lewis
4. Jake Ball
5. Alun Wyn Jones (C)
6. Ross Moriarty
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Josh Navidi

Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias
17. Rhys Carre
18. Leon Brown
19. Aaron Shingler
20. Taulupe Faletau
21. Rhys Webb
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Johnny McNicholl


Saturday March 7

ENGLAND v WALES ........ Kick Off 4.45pm

LIVE BROADCASTING:
ITV 1 (English Commentary)
S4C (Welsh Commentary)
and RADIO JEM ;-) (Silly Commentary)


Yes we are all silly on this thread but we have great fun ;-)
..... So come and join The Rugby Gang:-D :-D :-D

STILL GOING AHEAD (At time of this post anyway :-0)

Saturday March 7

***** ENGLAND v WALES <3 *****

Kick Off 4.45 pm

LIVE ON ITV 1 ...... and RADIO JEM ;-) :-D


Teams Announcement up next :-)

CORONAVIRUS & THE SIX NATIONS ~ LATEST NEWS

SIX NATIONS STATEMENT ON ITALY V ENGLAND GAMES, WEEKEND 13/14/15 MARCH

"Six Nations notes the decree issued by the Italian Government on March 4th with respect to all upcoming sporting events in that country."

ITALY v ENGLAND Weekend of March 13-15 2020

"The decision has now been taken to postpone the three matches between Italy and England (Men’s, Women’s, and U20) set to take place over the weekend of 13th/14th/15th March, with the intention to reschedule them at later dates"


RADIO JEM ADVICE:
Please keep a check on this thread, online or TV Sports News Items for further information or new developments :-)

SCOTLAND NEWS ....


FINN AGAIN ~ BEGIN AGAIN ;-) ;-)

........But not until AFTER the Six Nations 2020!


YES SCOTLAND & FINN RUSSELL HAVE KISSED AND MADE UP!
(Well- Sort of;-)) :-D :-D


Finn Russell could return for Scotland's July tour after holding positive talks with head coach Gregor Townsend

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51698546

OTHER NEWS .....

WALES:

DAN BIGGAR <3

Wales Fly Half (10) DAN BIGGAR injured his knee 20 minutes into his club (Northampton Saints) game v Saracens last weekend.

But according to Former Wales Captain SAM WARBURTON who is now one of the Wales Coaching Team, he is recovering well and it is likely he WILL be FIT for selection v England on Saturday!


LIAM WILLIAMS <3

Great News for Wales- LIAM WILLIAMS (aka The BOMB DEFUSER;-)) who has been kept from playing since the World Cup last year due to injury IS ALSO LIKELY TO BE FIT FOR SELECTION v ENGLAND on Saturday.

THIS NEWS CANNOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME ...
..... because Wales has lost the phenomenal Winger that is JOSH ADAMS <3(fast becoming one of my favourite Wales players) who has been injured out of the rest of the Six Nations 2020 with a serious ankle injury requiring surgery! :-(


GEORGE NORTH<3
George sustained a head injury during a challenge by France's GAEL FICKOU in Wales' last game.
No stranger to concussion, George is following strict "RETURN TO PLAY" PROTOCOL, but it is likely that George will be unfit for this Saturday's England v Wales clash!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51630969



ON A MORE LOCAL LEVEL ....
OUR LIAM IS BACK WHERE HE BELONGS - WITH THE SCARLETS!<3

Yes. Saracens have released Liam Williams early and Liam is all set to resume his career at his old club!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51628224

MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS....

ENGLAND's MAKO VUNIPOLA IS SELF-ISOLATING! :-0

Yes, One Half of England's Vunipola Brothers, Prop Mako Vunipola, has decided to self-isolate!

Mako has made this decision ahead of England's clash with Wales on Saturday because he just RETURNED TO ENGLAND FROM TONGA VIA HONG KONG!
Mako had gone home to Tonga because of "family reasons"

He is not ill but is thinking of others. A sensible decision! Thank You Mako:-)

Full story
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51721889

STATEMENT BY SIX NATIONS RUGBY.....

from their website

"THE SIX NATIONS MET TODAY IN PARIS TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING THE COVID19 VIRUS
Six Nations and its six unions and federations are following the situation very closely with their respective governments and relevant health authorities and will strictly follow any directive given that would impact sporting events.



As it stands today, based on the latest information,
ALL SIX NATIONS MATCHES CURRENTLY SCHEDULED ARE SET TO GO AHEAD.


Six Nations is in contact with FIR and RFU regarding the possibility of relocating the Women’s and U20 Italy vs England matches to another Italian location and we will make a further announcement on this in due course. However, the Italy vs England Senior Men’s match in Rome is planned to go ahead as scheduled.


Six Nations intends to complete all 15 games across all three Championships when time allows but we will refrain from making any rescheduling announcements for the time being while we keep assessing the situation."

LATEST SIX NATIONS CORONAVIRUS NEWS

It has been decided that....

*THE ONLY CANCELLED GAME IS ROUND 4's IRELAND v ITALY
which was scheduled to take place on Saturday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51711687



*NO FURTHER POSTPONEMENTS ARE PLANNED .....
....... but the postponed Ireland v Italy game may not take place until October!

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/02/no-further-six-nations-postponements-expected-after-coronavirus-outbreak-rugby-union


ALL OTHER GAMES ARE SCHEDULED TO GO AHEAD AT PRESENT!