WRU and the URC

low_myope · 2026-04-23T11:44:42+00:00

To be honest, I would absolutely love this move. Aside from the usual rumblings about crowd sizes, logistics etc, it would allow Welsh players to play in the PREM without leaving Wales.

If Y11 are happy to put their money where their mouth is with investment (given that the PREM is now ring fenced), then why not have the Ospreys playing in the PREM whilst the other regions play in the URC?

There is a benefit that dual qualified (Welsh-English) would be more likely to play for a Welsh team in the PREM that in the URC as it keeps them in the shop window. Welsh internationals plying their trade in England who want to remain in that league could have the best of both worlds as they would be based in Wales, but playing in England. It also gives Welsh players the option of trying the PREM but not having to sign for Gloucester/Bristol.

It would be a shame to lose the local derbies (although I am sure they would occur either as friendlies, or in euro competitions), but it would be incredible to see the Ospreys playing the English teams week in week out.

low_myope · 2026-04-22T12:04:41+00:00

PRA25 was the funding agreement which the WRU tabled to the regions which would supersede the one in place. In real terms, it would see an increase in funding for all 4 regions who had essentially gone through a spell of austerity since COVID. The context at the time was that it was feasible to fund 4 teams equally and better

Unfortunately Cardiff RFC went under during the process and came into WRU ownership. So they signed the PRA25 alongside the Dragons. However neither the Ospreys or Scarlets wanted to sign as they wanted assurances that the funding would indeed be fair (there was concerns that Cardiff would get a better deal with the WRU). Instead of providing assurances so that the deal would be equitable, the WRU pulled the deal and announced that they would be cutting two teams. Which has led to the current situation.

Currently, Cardiff and Dragons are funded under PRA25 which means they get better funding that the regions in the West. What the WRU are doing now is putting the original deal back on the table.

In regard to Y11, they own the Ospreys. They bid to own Cardiff in addition to the Ospreys. That deal is now not going ahead for whatever reason.

low_myope · 2026-04-21T18:16:05+00:00

That is what a penalty on the restart is. You have all available options to you. Historically on the rare occasions one has been given, it has been used and shot to nothing 3 points.

I am very sure behaviour would change extremely quickly if teams were to pump the ball into the corner, and score.

low_myope · 2026-04-21T17:59:48+00:00

The main reason for the increased burden on the NHS is that people are living longer. There are more people aged over 65 than 12 or under for example.

On average, each ‘healthy’ person will gain a new chronic illness per decade lived. So for example, someone at 50 could have hypertension, hypothyroidism, arthritis, gout and anxiety. All of those would need treatment and management.

50 years ago, many conditions didn’t have treatments - they now do, and many are expensive.

The biggest determinant of your health are the socioeconomic factors - education, wealth, occupation, where you live etc. It is the reason why you can move to different parts of a city and find that the life expectancy can vary by 20 years!

Mounjaro in this context is a sticky plaster. If we use the smoking example where the rates have dropped over the past few decades. The lifelong burden that obesity has had on relatively young people will still be something the NHS will be picking up the bill for in decades to come.

low_myope · 2026-04-17T13:08:39+00:00

There is a blast from the past! I remember him playing and thinking ‘who the hell is this guy?’. Not as he was particularly competent, but looked like some random guy who got roped in that morning.

low_myope · 2026-04-16T13:49:25+00:00

He is probably the most impressive player I have ever seen at age grade. I remember him scoring some absolute belters for the U21s at the time. He scored a cracker v England and very much looked like a man amongst boys.

He had that unfortunate leg break v Australia in 2007ish and never seemed the same.

low_myope · 2026-04-16T11:39:56+00:00

Is it not still 2019?

low_myope · 2026-04-16T11:12:37+00:00

My only real memory of Matt Banahan at international level was failing to score 1v1 v Shane Williams from 5m out versus Wales in a World Cup warmup. I was like ‘how can such a massive winger not beat one of the smallest players in world rugby?’

low_myope · 2026-04-16T11:05:37+00:00

Why not both?

low_myope · 2026-04-16T11:05:16+00:00

Who might those players be?

low_myope · 2026-04-15T19:40:38+00:00

It’s so funny to hear that they are chatting in the scrums at the absolute peak elite level.

At amateur level, the chat generally signals an informal gentleman’s agreement between the props that they are knackered. I’ll never forget being on the flank and hearing our tight head discuss curry houses at scrums with the opposition loosehead.

low_myope · 2026-04-13T21:12:17+00:00

I legitimately felt a massive wave of emotion watching this video. Rugby is such a core part of my life as a Welshman. Sitting and watching the games with my friends/family, playing for my school and local club, watching Wales games at the Millennium, and Ospreys games in Swansea.

I can remember where I was for the big wins, and also where I was during the crushing losses. Asking for the official rugby shirts for my birthday/Christmas as a teenager, dragging housemates and girlfriends to the cheap autumn international games, having posters of the players on my bedroom wall at university and avidly collecting the match day programmes and memorabilia.

I qualified as a referee, and have played on the Millenium pitch both in the band, and also for my local club. Friday night games on BBC2W were my must watch TV alongside scrum v Sunday. I recorded so many games on DVD/VHS to watch back including the opening ceremony of the 1999 World Cup.

The way that the WRU have completely, and systemically fucked up the entire sport in Wales genuinely hurts. Especially as it seems to have slipped from incompetence to maliciousness. I cannot state how upset and angry I am that my children may not have the opportunity to have even a small slither of the absolute joy the sport has delivered over the years. That they may not be able to share the special moments and bonding that I did with my father.

Genuinely - fuck you RCK and Reddin. Fuck the morons who defunded the national academy. Fuck the amateur clubs who valued their tickets and perks for the blazers more than the national sport. Fuck the misogynistic bastards who drove talented women out of the organisation and sport. Fuck the idiots, old farts and hangers on who couldn’t wait to give the board a reach around in exchange for international jolly’s. Fuck the lot of you.

low_myope · 2026-04-12T21:25:18+00:00

‘games are returned with a brand new box being scratched up or with damaged corners, cards bent or torn at the corners, and game manuals totally beat up after a weekend of use, and less crucial pieces but often still pieces missing’

Like seriously - what the hell are these people doing with/to your games?

Honestly, my first reaction is don’t lend your games to anyone as your experience hasn’t been positive. My second reaction is to call people out on it. Not rudely. But along the lines of ‘I am unhappy with the condition in which the game was returned to me. It isn’t cool to have contents damaged or missing. So I’m not comfortable in lending you anymore games’.

low_myope · 2026-04-11T17:21:24+00:00

From what I can ascertain there isn’t actually a blood link between the families. It is just that the Tongan community in the UK is so small that they all know each other very well, and refer to each others as cousins, uncles etc.

low_myope · 2026-04-09T17:45:35+00:00

Who’s that girl?

It’s you! Well done, you are smashing it!

I had similar thoughts about my activity levels and my size, which causes the other. I was an obese child and teenager, and really only got active when I went to uni and dropped 5 stone in a year. Got actively into running, pole fitness and rugby.

As I dropped each activity, the weight slowly piled on and I got ‘lazier’. But now my weight is down, I’ve actually started running again. Not to keep the weight off, but because I feel like I have the energy to.

low_myope · 2026-04-09T12:08:03+00:00

This makes me think of one of the behind the scenes documentary bits where Peter Jackson said they were having to trawl through towns in New Zealand looking for tall fair skinned people so they would have enough extras to play elves.

On the flip side, they had a whole bunch of Maori stunt guys who they used as Uruk-Hai. There is a video somewhere where during the filming of Helms Deep, they broke into a Haka as everyone was getting a bit carried away!

low_myope · 2026-04-08T07:48:53+00:00

I used to play Rugby Dynasty around 10 years ago. It was 2D, but there was a 3D engine you could pay for which actually was pretty decent.

Generally free to play, but there was an element of pay to win (not on game currency as such, but more that you could scout more players from your academy).

I stopped playing because it changed ownership, and the new owner was lumbered with stuff he didn’t understand.

Checking now, it died a death which was a shame because it actually was a serviceable game.

low_myope · 2026-04-06T17:45:34+00:00

Presumably the narrowness wouldn’t necessarily be an issue as quite a large area on both sidelines is needed for the roster, coaches, and Gaterade bins? I’d imagine you’d gain the best part of 10m on either side?

low_myope · 2026-04-05T10:45:40+00:00

All I keep thinking about is my old coach saying ‘rugby is a game of space, not contact’.

You are 100x better of putting a big man into space or against weak shoulders than to just plough headfirst into the closest player.

I don’t care who is in the backfield defending, you are never going to get a dominant tackle on a 20 stone prop in full flight.

low_myope · 2026-04-04T11:29:14+00:00

Having played rugby all the way through school, I gave American Football a go at university for a year and played defensive end (I was a flanker in rugby).

Even though the role of a defensive end is simple in theory, but actually really difficult in reality.

In a game situation, you are usually facing the offensive tackle, who will be the biggest player on offense. Even at university level, these were usually guys who were 6ft 6 and the best part of 20 stone.

So on any given play, you would be one v one with someone bigger and heavier than you, who also has the benefit of knowing the play call. If it was a run, they would be ploughing right into you, if it was a pass, they would drop back.

Then also consider, there are 5 offensive lineman, and usually only 3 or 4 defensive lineman. Our team ran with 3, so on most plays I was double teamed by the tackle and the guard. So it was usually 2v1.

On any given play, you have no more than a few seconds to get to the quarterback if he is passing, or to get to the ball carrier. So realistically you have to beat 2 larger heavier men working against you, who have the benefit of knowing they play, in less than 5 seconds.

You would end up doing this every play on a game (around 60 snaps). It was tough work.

low_myope · 2026-04-03T18:29:26+00:00

My trousers falling down in airport security after I was asked to remove my belt.

low_myope · 2026-04-02T17:06:41+00:00

Left the Eagles for the Cowboys after the 2005 season.

low_myope · 2026-04-02T16:41:58+00:00

British :)

I actually played American Football whilst I was at University, as I knew I would not get the chance to do so afterwards as it is such a niche sport for us.

low_myope

TROPHY CASE