Around The Leagues - Where Are We Now?

So, it is the start of October and with pre-season games, we have probably been back playing rugby for at least eight weeks. What does appear to be true is that Rugby is growing in popularity.

On Wednesday night in Leeds over 11,000 spectators watched the University of Leeds play Leeds Metropolitan University in their annual varsity rugby game. This was the biggest crowd to date for the varsity rugby at Headingley.

The BUCS rugby union leagues kick off this coming Wednesday and we will be sure to bring you news and views, catching up with Alex Keay (Director of Rugby (DOR) at Durham University), Rob Jones (coach at MMU), Dave Peet (coach at Liverpool University) and Aarron James (DOR at Bath University) to name a few.

We will also be doing a regularly weekly podcast with our own Austin Halewood and Max Ashcroft. Scheduled to join them are Harry Sanders and Ollie Evans from Bath University plus Simon Hammersley  from Durham University.

In other rugby union news, a few players are incapable of keeping out of the headlines: O’Connor, Cipriani, Henson and Fearns. The game is getting a higher profile and with the players becoming better known to the general public, and the proliferation of mobile phone cameras comes the need for responsibility.

The big rugby news seems to be the impending demise of the Heineken Cup. As travelling rugby union fans, this competition has taken us to some of the most wonderful rugby locations and left us with unforgettable rugby memories. We have made new rugby friendships and seen the greatest rugby theatre. At home we have spent our Saturdays and Sundays glued to our Sky TV.

We have followed Will Greenwood, Dewi Morris, Stuart Barnes and Alex Payne around the grounds. It now seems highly likely this will be ripped from our grasp by an Anglo-French pact and a new broadcaster. Let us hope that rugby continues to thrive and grow; the new breed of rugby billionaire must ensure the game is inclusive not elitist.

Taking a quick look at some other leagues in England (we do promise in future round ups we will drill further down the leagues and include more rugby from Wales, Scotland and Ireland), the start to the season is best described  a "mixed bag".

Saracens lead the Premiership as many predicted but did we think Worcester would be bottom? In the Championship the red hot favourites were Bristol Rugby with Andy Robinson at the helm. The club’s ambition came through loud and clear when we interviewed Ben Mosses for TalkingRugbyUnion in early September. On Sky TV, they have put in big performances but are they living up to their tag as favourites?

Rotherham Titans seem to have a settled coach in Lee Blackett this season and, despite their stash not arriving on time, are top of the Championship. The Nottingham versus London Welsh game was also broadcast by Sky TV and it was a huge thrill to see RedPanda7s man Ed Styles score a try in the corner.

Sadly as the commentary team remarked, Nottingham Rugby have financial pressures and are only able to keep 23 on their rota and that group is a mix of full professional and semi-professionals. Nevertheless, coach Martin Haag does have a good “black book” of contacts from his England age grade days and his time at Bath Rugby.

London Welsh looked strong and well organised and will bounce back after last season’s troubles. One step lower are the National Leagues (National 1, National 2N and National 2S) and our early season observation would be that these leagues are getting much stronger.

Good players are being dual registered, players who have put education before academies are playing at this level and new young coaching talent is emerging.

In National 1, Fylde Rugby have brought back Brian Ashton; surely one of rugby’s most creative thinkers. He will work alongside Head Coach, Mark Nelson and this weekend they take on Doncaster Knights. The Knights came down from the Championship this season but appear to have been able to finance a fully professional set up.

The Knights have legendary dual code coach Clive Griffiths in charge. It is exciting to think of Ashton and Griffiths going head to head this weekend in what is the third tier of English Rugby. Fylde play some of the most fluent running rugby in any tier and whether it’s win or lose. Just look at last week’s 50-45 loss to Worthing!

Fylde have pace and experience across their back line; do keep an eye open for Oliver Viney at full back. In the pack, they seem to have strength in depth between 4 and 8 but it is their front row that will be targeted by the Knights. Last season Fylde managed to lose at least 3 props to other clubs with alarming ease plus some retirements. They have recruited Adam Lewis but the new scrum laws are proving tough.

This game just shows the strength in depth in English Rugby. Wherever you watch this weekend keep us posted; we welcome your rugby news.

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