Oval’s Post

My new article for Total Rugby Analysis looks at Spain winger Martiniano Cian, who has recently starred for his nation in the 2024 Rugby Europe Championship. I've broken down his game and shown how he has fitted into Los Leones' tactics. Comments welcome as always. #sports #sport #sportsjournalism #sportsanalysis #rugbyunion #rugby #rugbyunionanalysis #rugbyanalysis #rugbyeuropechampionship #rugbyeuropechampionship2024 #spain #spainrugby #martinianocian #tactics #analysis #tacticalanalysis #teamanalysis #scoutreport #playeranalysis #rugbyunionjournalism #rugbyjournalism

My new article for Total Rugby Analysis looks back at the weekend's Six Nations Rugby action and picks out three more talking points from the three games. Comments welcome as always. #sports #sport #sportsjournalism #sportsanalysis #rugbyunion #rugby #rugbyunionanalysis #rugbyanalysis #sixnations #sixnations2024 #scotland #scotlandrugby #france #francerugby #england #englandrugby #ireland #irelandrugby #tactics #analysis #tacticalanalysis #teamanalysis #scoutreport #playeranalysis #talkingpoints #rugbyunionjournalism #rugbyjournalism

Winner Takes it All Series at the Madrid Rugby Sevens! 🌟 The 2024 HSBC SVNS season is set to reach a thrilling conclusion at the World Rugby Sevens Series Grand Final in #Madrid! The top 8 teams will compete in a 'winner takes all' series to crown the Series Champions, while the bottom 4 teams will face off against the top contenders from the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series to secure their place in the 2025 HSBC SVNS series. Excitement is in the air as RugbyDAO prepares for an epic showdown! Men’s teams like Unión Argentina de Rugby, FFR - Fédération Française de Rugby, and South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby), along with women’s teams from Rugby Australia, Rugby Canada, and New Zealand Rugby, are all set to compete for championship glory. Meanwhile, teams such as Kenya Rugby Union and Unión de Rugby del Uruguay are determined to challenge the USA Rugby and Real Federación Española de Rugby for a coveted spot in the 2025 HSBC SVNS series. Prepare for an electrifying display of #skill and #determination as these top teams vie for supremacy and a place in the next season. Who will take home the championship, and who will secure their spot for the future? 🏉🏆 #HSBCSVNS #RugbySevens #Rugby #RoadTo2025 Web3 Sports Ventures Photo Credit: Kiwis in Spain

My new article for Total Rugby Analysis picks out three talking points from the third round of the 2024 Six Nations Rugby Championship, looking at some of the positives and negatives that each team needs to be aware of. Comments welcome as always. #sports #sport #sportsjournalism #sportsanalysis #rugbyunion #rugby #rugbyunionanalysis #rugbyanalysis #sixnations #sixnations2024 #wales #walesrugby #scotland #scotlandrugby #italy #italyrugby #tactics #analysis #tacticalanalysis #teamanalysis #scoutreport #talkingpoints #rugbyunionjournalism #rugbyjournalism

My new article for Total Rugby Analysis looks at Federazione Italiana Rugby, who have shown a lot of progress during the 2024 Six Nations Rugby. I've broken down their tactics under new head coach Gonzalo Quesada and have shown why they have become a much tougher team to play against under him. Comments welcome as always. #sports #sport #sportsjournalism #sportsanalysis #rugbyunion #rugby #rugbyunionanalysis #rugbyanalysis #sixnations #sixnations2024 #italy #italyrugby #tactics #analysis #tacticalanalysis #teamanalysis #scoutreport #rugbyunionjournalism #rugbyjournalism

A Clash of Titans: The All Blacks vs. Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup Finale The Bledisloe Cup finale between the All Blacks and Australia stands as a significant chapter in rugby history, showcasing a rivalry steeped in tradition and competition. As these two nations… #AllBlacks #BledisloecupFinale #ClashofTitans #Wallabiesa >>> Read more

https://lnkd.in/etRfAxUR I think that I read over a 100 comments on this and a number of related articles. And ultimately I come down in favour of the process as the Tier 2 Board includes existing Championship representation. In addition, selection of the two new clubs is based on a set of criteria that is consistent with creating a sound foundation including: (1) Minimum Operating Standards. (2) Finanacial Viability. (3) Player base, competiveness, commercial and geography. So the clubs' proposals should have to demonstrate that they are viable and have an expansion agenda. Interestingly, this would suggest that they should not all be based in south or west London as they would be competing against possibly Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club and definitely Harlequins and Saracens Group so in conflict with arguably (2) and certainly (3). But it does suggest London Irish Rugby Club, Wasps and Worcester Warriors might meed to adopt a flexible, franchise style approach to hit the mark. But I would like to know: (a) Who will be on the tender panel? (b) How will the money be used? (security or investment elsewhere in the levels below Premiership Rugby, other ways of improving supporter and player involvement). (c) More detailed criteria...at present it lacks the credibility of a properly robust process with a level playing field. And interestingly if any previously wound up clubs were to exist in a new format but with the same investors or using collateral from the previous incarnation, what would England Rugby and the Rugby Players Association have to say about unpaid rugby debts? So good start, but would definitely like more information as I am sure many other supporters would too.

My new article for Total Rugby Analysis looks at Super Rugby Pacific's defending champions Crusaders, who won in midweek but who had lost all five of their matches before that to leave them bottom of the table. I've looked at where they have been going wrong and why they can still climb the table as the campaign goes on. Comments welcome as always. #sports #sport #sportsjournalism #sportsanalysis #rugbyunion #rugby #rugbyunionanalysis #rugbyanalysis #superrugbypacific #superrugby #crusadersrugby #crusaders #robpenney #tactics #analysis #tacticalanalysis #scoutreport #teamanalysis #rugbyunionjournalism #rugbyjournalism

How to watch the 2024 Rugby Championship

World Rugby have announced that Japan will this year host the inaugural Finals series of the revamped format of the Pacific Nations Cup. Contested between Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Canada, the USA and Japan, the tournament will provide these countries with an annual tournament of a similar stature to the Six Nations and Rugby Championship. This year’s competition will see two pools of three teams play in a round-robin format between August 23 – September 7, with each team playing host to one test match on home soil. The Pacific Island giants of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga will compete in Pool A, while Canada, Japan and the USA will fight it out in Pool B. All teams will then make their way to Japan to contest the Finals series. The Finals will consist of a Fifth Place Play-Off and two Semi-Finals in which the four top-ranked teams will compete for a spot in the Final. The Fifth Place Play-Off and Semi-Finals will be played in Tokyo across the weekend of September 14 and 15. The following weekend the action moves to Osaka for the Third Place Play-Off and winner-takes-all Final on the weekend of September 21. Commenting on the announcement, Brave Blossoms Head Coach, Eddie Jones said: “The Pacific Nations Cup is really important for Japan because it allows us to play regular tests against strong countries in tournament conditions, which is great practice for the players for Rugby World Cup.” “The Pacific Nations Cup fits in right next to the Rugby Championship and Six Nations in providing that regular competition for Pacific nations. Having finals is also a good way for players to experience games that have consequences, and it is great for Japan to host them in the first year, showing why it is a great rugby country.” https://lnkd.in/g47pTpFB