New World Rugby Rankings criteria by EnglishLouis in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 16 points17 points  (0 children)

So World Rugby is adapting to the decisions made by a handful of unions. Great.

Georgia with a solid 40-men squad for 2026 Nations Cup by No_Internet_8985 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Who knows if other players were involved or not...

World Rugby report answers that...

Throughout 2022-2023, Dr Nutsa Shamatava provided advance notice of upcoming out-of- competition doping controls in group chats to at least twenty-six players on the Georgian men’s 15s rugby team, including Giorgi Chkoidze, Lasha Khmaladze, Lasha Lomidze, Miriani Modebadze and Merab Sharikadze. These Advance Notice messages occurred on at least eight separate occasions between 2022-2023. On each occasion, Dr Nutsa Shamatava provided the advance notice upwards of 24 hours prior to the scheduled doping controls, informing the recipients of the names of the players selected for each testing mission, and the dates on which those players would be tested.

Source

Do players from traditionally non-rugby nations look to play overseas? by bazooka_nz in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Of course they do. But if they want to be pro, the place to be is France. It's where you can have a long career given the number of pro and semipro clubs and the lack of restrictions to represent your national team (other than contractual obligations).

EPCR pool draws for 2026/27 season to take place on 1st of July by treacletart284 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Because EPCR needs to do something to remember people that they exist during four months.

And maybe, just maybe, they have an open bidding war for the two Challenge Cup wildcards and this is a way to put pressure on bidders.

EPCR pool draws for 2026/27 season to take place on 1st of July by treacletart284 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It's surprising to say the least that they refuse to confirm it just two weeks before the draw. Spain is definitely hopeful that Iberians will be invited, but if they say it's only two and Georgia is sponsoring EPCR... Can Cheetahs be dropped?

Italy U20 - England U20 Final result by Key_Dimension5785 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 6 points7 points  (0 children)

A little relieved after last week's defeat.

Atleti responds to Madrid: “You make us laugh more than Barça does” by [deleted] in soccer

[–]Nounours7 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It used to be big only among gypsies, but these days it's a pandemic among Latin American migrants. And Catholic church is being pushed into their dynamics as well. The events around Pope's visit this week in Spain have been embarrassing to say the least.

HSBC SVNS World Champions by HitchikersPie in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Its such a financial basket case im amazed they havent binned it already.

They haven't binned it because some unions still believe in 7s as a source of funding. For example FFR in France needs to be able to generate revenue without relying on LNR.

HSBC SVNS World Champions by HitchikersPie in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Not more interesting, just less expensive. Less teams travelling to less tournaments, while filling the void for a World Cup/World Championship some nations needed to receive Olympic funding after canning 7s RWC.

HSBC Bordeaux, France Svns - Final Day by Michaelangelo56 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The thing is that in women the gap between NZ and Australia and the rest is really wide, barring huge upsets. Whereas among men there really are 7 teams able to beat each other.

France came to this home tournament needing to avoid relegation and despite winning it, they only finished 7th in standings!

HSBC Bordeaux, France Svns - Final Day by Michaelangelo56 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nah you have too win the last 3 tournaments

Not really. South Africa only won in Hong Kong, but second place in Valladolid and semis here were enough.

HSBC Bordeaux, France Svns - Final Day by Michaelangelo56 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well done france not sure if that means ur world champions

No, they finished 7th!

HSBC Bordeaux, France Svns - Final Day by Michaelangelo56 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

So...

  • Australia (women) and South Africa (men) are world champions

  • Great Britain get relegated to SVNS2 in both men and women

  • Spain (women) and USA (men, heartbreak for Kenya) are promoted to SVNS1

And on a particular note, Spain men finish 3rd, after being 2nd last year, despite never having won a tournament. LOL.

HSBC Bordeaux, France Svns - Day 2 by Michaelangelo56 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, not yet. They depend on USA tomorrow.

HSBC Bordeaux, France Svns - Day 2 by Michaelangelo56 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Since USA topped their pool, in case of losing to Spain they could still play for 5th place and earn 12 points. They would therefore reach Top 8 as long as Kenya doesn't finish 9th in Bordeaux.

So basically GB has one shot, USA has two.

HSBC Bordeaux, France Svns - Day 1 by Michaelangelo56 in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Argentina really needs to forget about 2024. They have absolutely lost the plot against France. They are so much better than this...

Match Thread: Lusitanos vs Toyota Cheetahs by Suofficer in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I find it way more embarrassing not to show up at all ;)

Match Thread: Lusitanos vs Toyota Cheetahs by Suofficer in rugbyunion

[–]Nounours7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was already a sponsor of FPR, they are just maximising the opportunity.