Latest news with #RugbyFootballUnion
Yahoo
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Bristol tap into class divide in bid to shock ‘posh' rivals and title favourites Bath
When the Rugby Football Union launched its rebrand of the Championship last month, Henry Pollock was put front and centre, made the poster boy by virtue of his five loan appearances for Bedford Blues. You can hardly blame the union for trying to capitalise on the hype but there are better examples of players who epitomise the strengths of the second tier. None more so than James Williams, Bristol's inside-centre who at 28 has taken the road less travelled to the Premiership semi-finals. Williams began his career at Birmingham Moseley in National League One before moving to Hartpury. He joined Worcester in 2018 but managed just one appearance, signed with Sale a year later and appeared just three times and when Covid hit he was released by the Sharks. Advertisement Related: Club rugby needs a radical fix – but is R360 breakaway league the cure to its ills? | Andy Bull Soon Williams found himself arranging a return to Hartpury, all the while juggling a job renovating flats in Bristol. For 18 months Williams would set off for Gloucester at 5am, be on the training field at 7am until 8.30am before dashing back to begin work an hour later. In the 2021-22 campaign, he finished as the Championship's top points scorer and Pat Lam soon came calling. 'I actually honestly really enjoyed it,' says Williams. 'They were busy days, obviously you were a bit knackered but it's a testament to Hartpury and the programme they ran, it was very accommodating for the boys who worked. We had a few teachers in the squad and they had to leave at 8am so they'd shoot straight off. The rugby-work balance was pretty savage. 'The bottom line is that I love playing rugby. Even if I didn't make it to the Premiership, I'd still be playing rugby at whatever level for as long as possible. I always thought I'd keep going until something comes along, my dad would always say the cream rises to the top. Advertisement 'I've been doing a bit of coaching at Dings and they're National One and there is some raw talent out there. Boys are actually class and you think, 'you could be a Premiership player', but it's just having the opportunity and having the coaches who put a bit of time into you. I say it to the academy boys who got released last year, you just have to play rugby and as long as you're playing it and you're enjoying it, you're probably going to be playing quite well so just keep going with it.' Williams admits to suffering 'imposter syndrome' when first joining Bristol, arriving into a changing room filled with the kind of superstars that was once the Bears' calling card. In many ways, however, Williams typifies Bristol's move away from big-spending galaticos. Having spent much of his career at fly-half, he slots in seamlessly outside AJ MacGinty and allows Benhard Janse van Rensburg to do his thing in the No 13 channel. It helps to have firepower such as Gabriel Ibitoye outside him but Williams has thrived at Ashton Gate since Bristol opted to reprise their swashbuckling approach towards the end of last season. 'When I first came into the changing room it was like, crikey, there are some big names around me and Pat has given me the responsibility to drive these boys,' he adds. 'This year I feel like I've shaken that a little bit and people do listen to what I say and I if I can be a solid seven or eight out of 10 most weeks then I know the rest of the boys will be going pretty well outside me if I can just be solid and make good decisions on the ball.' Bristol sealed their semi-final trip to Bath on Friday night with a thumping win over Harlequins last Saturday. Results in April threatened to derail Bristol's season but victory over Bath in Cardiff - albeit against a second string side - put the Bears back on track. They head to the Rec as underdogs but Lam has been quick to point out that since their promotion to the Premiership in 2018 they have won 11 of their 14 matches against their rivals. Advertisement Bristol have not sold their full allocation of tickets with Lam again quick to stoke the flames, suggesting that Bath's 'huge' ticket prices for a stadium with sub-par facilities - 'Even my wife was keen to go and when I went to look at the tickets I said: 'Love, you don't want to get drenched in that rain' - was to blame. And evidently the Bears are tapping into the class divide that separates these two cities, just 12 miles apart. 'It is honestly bred into Bristolians about the fact that Bath, down the road, is seen as an upper class city and they're seen as being quite posh is probably the word,' says Williams. 'Bristolians are probably proud of the fact that they're not like that, it's a working class city and again that is in the blood of the Bristolian lads. When you come to this club everyone understands early on that Bristol v Bath is a humongous fixture, not just for rugby but for the wider communities in terms of what the cities represent. That definitely gets played on and you can see the passion within the boys, getting really emotional talking about it in the week and before the game.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Players would risk England futures in rebel league
England players who participate in rugby union's prospective new breakaway league will risk becoming ineligible for the national are under way for a revolutionary franchise league that hopes to attract the game's biggest competition, known as R360, is scheduled to be launched next year, with benefactors from across other sports reported to be interested in insist the new league will not clash with international rugby and say players will be able to continue to represent their countries in tournaments such as the Six any player who quits the Premiership to compete in R360 risks curtailing their international the terms of the new Professional Game Partnership (PGP), the Rugby Football Union is contractually obligated to only pick players who play in the Premiership. Sources have told the BBC there are no plans to rewrite the terms of the PGP - an eight-year deal for which was announced in September 2024 to much fanfare - with one leading administrator saying there is "zero chance" R360 will get off the ground or attract the players plans for the rebel league continue to develop in a bid to overthrow rugby union's world a prospectus seen by the BBC, R360 says it can give the sport its "Super Bowl moment" with a global league that would be the "pinnacle of rugby". With an aim to attract the top 300 men's and women's players in the world, the franchise competition would be played predominantly in the summer in some of the world's major cities - with London, Paris, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Buenos Aires and Cape Town all mentioned.R360 has also vowed to "unlock the potential of the women's game", with American superstar Ilona Maher featuring on the promotional a number of senior figures in the game believe the proposals lack substance and will struggle to get either the approval needed from the governing bodies or the required investment."It's the world 12s again," one source told the BBC, referencing a shorter format of the game that never materialised., externalR360 plans to take place in two blocks – April to June and August to September – and while this would not clash with the men's Six Nations or the November internationals – it would overlap with both the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship and the Women's Six Nations.R360 is headed up by World Cup winner Mike Tindall and former Bath captain and director of rugby Stuart says in the prospectus that R360 is being launched as a response to a club game that has "failed to capture the same level of interest and investment as international rugby"."Clubs around the world are feeling the strain and are being propped up by the international game," Tindall added."Rugby's lack of innovation and ability to change risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market."
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Rugby's concussion lawsuit grows again as lawyers representing former players argue game's authorities have their 'heads in the sand'
The lawyers representing ex-players suing rugby's authorities for alleged negligence have accused the sport's authorities of putting the game at risk by 'burying their heads in the sand.' On Monday, legal firm Rylands Garth confirmed more than 500 further former professionals from both rugby codes have joined the litigation. Rylands say they now represent in excess of 1,000 ex-players from across rugby union and league who are now suffering with brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. Mail Sport understands more than 700 of those are from union. The former players involved in the case argue that rugby's governing bodies failed to take reasonable action to protect them from the impacts of concussive and sub-concussive blows during their playing careers, despite knowing the risks. In union, claimants are seeking compensation from World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union. 'This surge in claimants exposes the deep-rooted issues in rugby and the substantial impact the negligence of authorities has had on players,' Rylands said in a statement. 'Many of our players have seen their lives upended by the injuries they sustained during their careers, with little or no aftercare or support. 'If governing bodies continue to bury their heads in the sand, the very future of rugby is at risk. Players continue to play almost all-year round, with many elite players soon to embark on extremely physical summer tours. 'We will continue to fight for justice for those who gave so much to the game.' May 30 marked the final opportunity for new players to join the long-running legal action. Rylands also represent those who played football as well as rugby's two codes. The next case management hearing in the rugby litigation is due to be held across two days in July. Both sides have been asked to put forward suggestions for test claimants to the court who will then be used as case studies when the trial begins, potentially next year. 'Since the final sign-up deadline was set, we have been inundated with requests from concerned players and their families,' Rylands added. 'There is no doubt the number affected far exceeds even those we have issued proceedings for.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Essex University study reveals rugby players brains 'remain altered' after concussion
BRAIN imaging technology has shown rugby players are still affected by concussions even after they are allowed to return to the field of play. A new study carried out by Essex University tracked an amateur club through a 22-game season using brain imaging technology and found seven out of eight concussed players still had abnormal brain responses 25 days after injury. This was despite them feeling well enough to return to the field under Rugby Football Union clearance protocols. Leading researcher Dr Ben Jones, who worked with Colchester Rugby Club and wearable tech company PhysiGo, used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to study brain activity. He said: "This study shows that the current protocols are limited and may not be enough on their own for effective concussion recovery." Dr Ben Jones interviews a player about their concussion history (Image: Essex University) The study monitored eight concussions across 41 players, nearly all of whom showed brain activity changes that did not return to normal before the end of the return to play protocol. Dr Jones, a former England 7's international, has called for current guidelines to be revised to improve player safety. He said: "Our research suggests more individualised approaches utilising personalised concussions monitoring using tools like fNIRS could improve player safety. "Rugby has given me so much and this research is not about ruining the game for the millions of players worldwide. "This research should ensure the long-term safety of the grassroots players – who are rugby's lifeblood." His thoughts were echoed by PhysiGo's Dr Jay Perrett, who added: "The study shows that the community game needs cost-effective solutions for players and clubs to measure concussive and rotational force (whiplash) events and assist in the monitoring of their recovery." A player is tackled in training in Colchester (Image: Essex University) The paper, published in Sports Medicine-Open, involved 67 participants - 41 rugby players and 26 non-players. Dr Jones hopes brain imaging could be incorporated into concussion protocols to help protect players. Colchester Rugby Club is continuing to work with Dr Jones and his team, with the study being expanded to the women's team. Club chairman, Karl O'Brien, said: "The lessons learnt are something that the club and the club's medical team have benefitted from and will continue to do so over the coming seasons."
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
‘I've been at Twickenham for matches and this is exactly what Chelsea fans could experience'
Chelsea are deciding over a temporary switch to the home of English rugby at Twickenham as they discuss plans for a new stadium to replace the iconic Stamford Bridge The idea of Chelsea moving to Twickenham makes a lot of sense. Yes, the Range Rovers, picnic hampers and tweed jackets would be nowhere in sight. Instead, they'd be replaced with a uniform of designer gear and a copious amounts of lager, rather than champagne. Twickenham's anthem of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' would likely morph into something less palatable. However, one constant would be a sports team having the privilege of calling a world-class stadium their home. It seems like a logical move for both the football club and the Rugby Football Union (RFU). The proposal has been suggested because Chelsea wants to either redevelop Stamford Bridge or build a new stadium near Earls Court, and would need somewhere to host their home games in the meantime. Meanwhile, the RFU is in desperate need of additional income, due to the ongoing struggle with record losses. If Chelsea did relocate to England HQ, as it's known in rugby circles, we would get to see if the London club is as big as it believes it is. Twickenham, when full, is one of the finest stadiums in the UK. It can hold 82,000 spectators and is capable of creating a thrilling atmosphere. But could Chelsea fill it? That remains to be seen, but what Twickenham is also good at is retaining spectators long after the final whistle. The vast space surrounding the ground is filled with places to eat and drink, albeit at steep prices. Rugby fans seem to linger around the stadium after a match, and perhaps Chelsea could find ways to keep their own fans outside following games. However, it's worth mentioning that commuting to and from Twickenham can be a nightmare. The traffic is unbearable, there's no direct underground link, and the overland trains pack commuters like sardines in a tin. RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has hinted that Richmond Council might be hesitant to let Chelsea become new tenants of Twickenham. Twickenham sits right in the heart of one of London's wealthiest boroughs, and local residents have strong objections to the number of events held there. So, the idea of thousands of Chelsea fans flooding their tranquil suburban streets is likely to fill them with dread. However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan is open to discussions. "My message to Chelsea is come and speak to us in relation to what you want to do," he said (via the Daily Star). "Chelsea are victims of their own success, and Stamford Bridge is now too small for them. After all, this is a team that has twice won the Champions League. We work closely with all seven of our Premier League clubs but I'm sure Chelsea look with some envy at the stadiums some of their rivals in London have." Despite Khan's comments, Chelsea haven't clinched the league title since 2017. Their popularity as the biggest club in the capital is also an ongoing competition, which puts the potential move to Twickenham as a real test of their stature in football. Because if this venue turns out to be impractical, Wembley could then be a potential alternative, but that would present an entirely new set of challenges.
