2024/2025 Not Heineken Cup

[topofthemoon]

Rugypass have managed to get not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 stories out of the same incident.

[topofthemoon]

Rugypass have managed to get not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 stories out of the Pollock incident.

[SaintK]

Anyway, moving on from Saturday. EPCR have found anoither way of fucking about with the top "European" rugby tournament.

The board of European Professional Club Rugby – having been embarrassingly bounced into making the announcement earlier than intended – has just confirmed that, every four years, a World Club Cup will replace the knockout stages of its flagship men’s competition. The eight Champions Cup quarter-finalists will be joined by seven teams from Super Rugby Pacific and one Japanese participant.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025 ... p-rugby

[Simian]

Anyway, moving on from Saturday. EPCR have found anoither way of fucking about with the top "European" rugby tournament.

The board of European Professional Club Rugby – having been embarrassingly bounced into making the announcement earlier than intended – has just confirmed that, every four years, a World Club Cup will replace the knockout stages of its flagship men’s competition. The eight Champions Cup quarter-finalists will be joined by seven teams from Super Rugby Pacific and one Japanese participant.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025 ... p-rugby

I’ve heard this is all Pollock’s fault.

[robmatic]

Anyway, moving on from Saturday. EPCR have found anoither way of fucking about with the top "European" rugby tournament.

The board of European Professional Club Rugby – having been embarrassingly bounced into making the announcement earlier than intended – has just confirmed that, every four years, a World Club Cup will replace the knockout stages of its flagship men’s competition. The eight Champions Cup quarter-finalists will be joined by seven teams from Super Rugby Pacific and one Japanese participant.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025 ... p-rugby

That sounds really unnecessary.

[SaintK]

Probably. He managed to make the UBB victory parade as well

[Slick]

Probably. He managed to make the UBB victory parade as well

That's got to be fake? If not, it's seriously shite

[Slick]

Anyway, moving on from Saturday. EPCR have found anoither way of fucking about with the top "European" rugby tournament.

The board of European Professional Club Rugby – having been embarrassingly bounced into making the announcement earlier than intended – has just confirmed that, every four years, a World Club Cup will replace the knockout stages of its flagship men’s competition. The eight Champions Cup quarter-finalists will be joined by seven teams from Super Rugby Pacific and one Japanese participant.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025 ... p-rugby

That sounds really unnecessary.

You say that, but wait until you see the crowds flocking to Qatar for Sale v Moana Pasifika

[Margin__Walker]

Probably. He managed to make the UBB victory parade as well

That's got to be fake? If not, it's seriously shite

Amazing if real. Imagine taking the time to carry on like that rather than celebrate being at the pinnacle of club rugby.

Rent free.

[SaintK]

Probably. He managed to make the UBB victory parade as well

That's got to be fake? If not, it's seriously shite

You'd hope it was 'shopped. Can't be sure as he onviously got under their skin quite badly!!!

[Kawazaki]

Interesting that they write "We Are Champions" in English on their bus.

Henry V really left his mark on the French didn't he.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Interesting that they write "We Are Champions" in English on their bus.

Henry V really left his mark on the French didn't he.

One can only hope the champions of Europe can survive such a barrage. And we'll just put to one side champion as a word looks, well, French

[SaintK]

Sorry Hollie, you just fucked that up; that was the reddest of red cards.

Underhill cited
That's his season done. It will be a second ban for the same offence in a few months

[OomStruisbaai]

Oh the French won (again) just let be a bunch of cunts …again.

Look like they won their first World Cup.

[Lobby]

Probably. He managed to make the UBB victory parade as well

That's got to be fake? If not, it's seriously shite

Amazing if real. Imagine taking the time to carry on like that rather than celebrate being at the pinnacle of club rugby.

Rent free.

Poirot's now been cited for attacking Pollock

"Tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) confirmed that Jefferson Poirot had been charged by citing commissioner Tim Lowry with "committing an act contrary to good sportsmanship in contravention of law 9.27".

The EPCR said Poirot's alleged act was "dangerous and had the potential to cause serious harm".

Poirot will attend a disciplinary hearing by video conference on Thursday and faces a ban if found guilty."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 0gxl9xg9jo

He might have to tone down his celebrations and mimicking of Pollock during the disciplinary hearing.

[Slick]

Oh the French won (again) just let be a bunch of cunts …again.

Look like they won their first World Cup.

Never stop Saffering

[Kawazaki]

That's got to be fake? If not, it's seriously shite

Amazing if real. Imagine taking the time to carry on like that rather than celebrate being at the pinnacle of club rugby.

Rent free.

Poirot's now been cited for attacking Pollock

"Tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) confirmed that Jefferson Poirot had been charged by citing commissioner Tim Lowry with "committing an act contrary to good sportsmanship in contravention of law 9.27".

The EPCR said Poirot's alleged act was "dangerous and had the potential to cause serious harm".

Poirot will attend a disciplinary hearing by video conference on Thursday and faces a ban if found guilty."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 0gxl9xg9jo

He might have to tone down his celebrations and mimicking of Pollock during the disciplinary hearing.

I don't think the French player did anything wrong.

Poor form from Pollock and the Saints coaches to whine about this.

[Torquemada 1420]

It’s funny though, how of all the potential red card decisions that we’ve all been commenting on recently, where it looks like there’s an instruction for them to avoid reds wherever possible, it was the woman that you went off on a rant about.

But it’s not about her being a woman, obviously, you say that so it must be true.

It is about her being selected for virtual signalling quota-itis rather than competency which is a problem created by EPCR and not me. I can sympathise with Damian Vidagany.

[Oxbow]

If Poirot has been cited they must have spotted something, so it's a bit early to say he did nothing wrong.

Poor form from Pollock and the Saints coaches to whine about this.

This seems a bit pot kettle black given the way you're still banging on about Digwall's pass (which did look forward, yes).

[Torquemada 1420]

Sorry Hollie, you just fucked that up; that was the reddest of red cards.

Underhill cited
That's his season done. It will be a second ban for the same offence in a few months

Yeah. The "go to school and have your 1st effort watered down" certainly paid dividends in terms of player safety.

Game has gone mental. You see de Groot's effort for the Landers on Friday? Apparently a deliberate head butt is not even worthy of a citing.

Maybe when the 1st court case is settled for brain damage, the brain damaged officiating will improve.

[Kawazaki]

If Poirot has been cited they must have spotted something, so it's a bit early to say he did nothing wrong.

Poor form from Pollock and the Saints coaches to whine about this.

This seems a bit pot kettle black given the way you're still banging on about Digwall's pass (which did look forward, yes).

Completely different. Pollock likes the shithousery side of being a backrower (which is great). Whining about the reaction to it is not a great look and will not go down well amongst fellow players.

[Uncle fester]

It’s funny though, how of all the potential red card decisions that we’ve all been commenting on recently, where it looks like there’s an instruction for them to avoid reds wherever possible, it was the woman that you went off on a rant about.

But it’s not about her being a woman, obviously, you say that so it must be true.

It is about her being selected for virtual signalling quota-itis rather than competency which is a problem created by EPCR and not me. I can sympathise with Damian Vidagany.

You're way out of line here torq. She's been one of the better refs for a few years now.

[Torquemada 1420]

If Poirot has been cited they must have spotted something, so it's a bit early to say he did nothing wrong.

Poor form from Pollock and the Saints coaches to whine about this.

This seems a bit pot kettle black given the way you're still banging on about Digwall's pass (which did look forward, yes).

A lot of chat on Fre discussion channels about Pollock: soshull meejuhhh prior to the game and yapping during.
a) I read a few English comments including PR (yes) which basically said "if you dish it out, you should expect to take it".
b) That said, a simple "look at the scoreboard mate" or "another however many years" would have sufficed. All some of the UBB
players have done is to prove how much Pollock managed to get under their skins. Brian Moore-esque.

I have a little insight into Pollock since he was at Stowe and then Buckingham and let's just say the lad isn't lacking in self belief
nor letting anyone who cares to listen, telling how good he is. He's a confident young man but needs to learn to deal with what was suggested in a).

[Torquemada 1420]

You're way out of line here torq. She's been one of the better refs for a few years now.

FM, she is terrible every time I watch her. Whether on the field or in the TMO position. Completely incompetent. And by kerrrist, she isn't short of competition for clueless officiating.

[Uncle fester]

I don't think any ref on the planet meets your exacting standards.

[Torquemada 1420]

Completely different. Pollock likes the shithousery side of being a backrower (which is great). Whining about the reaction to it is not a great look and will not go down well amongst fellow players.

This. Although given how childishly UBB have reacted, maybe he will be encouraged to try harder!!!

[Torquemada 1420]

I don't think any ref on the planet meets your exacting standards.

I do think the standard is at an all time low. Clearly not helped by the continual interference by the powers that be and the continuation of the SH and NH thinking they should independently operate the interpretation of the laws.
There are some refs who are excellent, including the child (Ridley), Maxwell-Keys (sp) and Amashukeli. Most of the rest are middling which is hardly surprising given the opening gambit. Brace is just an outright cheat.

[robmatic]

It’s funny though, how of all the potential red card decisions that we’ve all been commenting on recently, where it looks like there’s an instruction for them to avoid reds wherever possible, it was the woman that you went off on a rant about.

But it’s not about her being a woman, obviously, you say that so it must be true.

It is about her being selected for virtual signalling quota-itis rather than competency which is a problem created by EPCR and not me. I can sympathise with Damian Vidagany.

You're way out of line here torq. She's been one of the better refs for a few years now.

As far as Scottish refs go, she should have been getting games ahead of Mike Adamson well before now.

[SaintK]

If Poirot has been cited they must have spotted something, so it's a bit early to say he did nothing wrong.

Poor form from Pollock and the Saints coaches to whine about this.

This seems a bit pot kettle black given the way you're still banging on about Digwall's pass (which did look forward, yes).

A lot of chat on Fre discussion channels about Pollock: soshull meejuhhh prior to the game and yapping during.
a) I read a few English comments including PR (yes) which basically said "if you dish it out, you should expect to take it".
b) That said, a simple "look at the scoreboard mate" or "another however many years" would have sufficed. All some of the UBB
players have done is to prove how much Pollock managed to get under their skins. Brian Moore-esque.

I have a little insight into Pollock since he was at Stowe and then Buckingham and let's just say the lad isn't lacking in self belief
nor letting anyone who cares to listen, telling how good he is. He's a confident young man but needs to learn to deal with what was suggested in a).

Blimey!
My first club

[Biffer]

It’s funny though, how of all the potential red card decisions that we’ve all been commenting on recently, where it looks like there’s an instruction for them to avoid reds wherever possible, it was the woman that you went off on a rant about.

But it’s not about her being a woman, obviously, you say that so it must be true.

It is about her being selected for virtual signalling quota-itis rather than competency which is a problem created by EPCR and not me. I can sympathise with Damian Vidagany.

So it is to do with being a woman.

[Biffer]

If Poirot has been cited they must have spotted something, so it's a bit early to say he did nothing wrong.

Poor form from Pollock and the Saints coaches to whine about this.

This seems a bit pot kettle black given the way you're still banging on about Digwall's pass (which did look forward, yes).

A lot of chat on Fre discussion channels about Pollock: soshull meejuhhh prior to the game and yapping during.
a) I read a few English comments including PR (yes) which basically said "if you dish it out, you should expect to take it".
b) That said, a simple "look at the scoreboard mate" or "another however many years" would have sufficed. All some of the UBB
players have done is to prove how much Pollock managed to get under their skins. Brian Moore-esque.

I have a little insight into Pollock since he was at Stowe and then Buckingham and let's just say the lad isn't lacking in self belief
nor letting anyone who cares to listen, telling how good he is. He's a confident young man but needs to learn to deal with what was suggested in a).

He might get it knocked out of him a few training sessions into the Lions tour.

[PornDog]

It’s funny though, how of all the potential red card decisions that we’ve all been commenting on recently, where it looks like there’s an instruction for them to avoid reds wherever possible, it was the woman that you went off on a rant about.

But it’s not about her being a woman, obviously, you say that so it must be true.

It is about her being selected for virtual signalling quota-itis rather than competency which is a problem created by EPCR and not me. I can sympathise with Damian Vidagany.

You're way out of line here torq. She's been one of the better refs for a few years now.

I wouldn't give one iota of credence to Torq's opinions on any referee! The guy is properly off with the fairies.

[SaintK]

If Poirot has been cited they must have spotted something, so it's a bit early to say he did nothing wrong.



This seems a bit pot kettle black given the way you're still banging on about Digwall's pass (which did look forward, yes).

A lot of chat on Fre discussion channels about Pollock: soshull meejuhhh prior to the game and yapping during.
a) I read a few English comments including PR (yes) which basically said "if you dish it out, you should expect to take it".
b) That said, a simple "look at the scoreboard mate" or "another however many years" would have sufficed. All some of the UBB
players have done is to prove how much Pollock managed to get under their skins. Brian Moore-esque.

I have a little insight into Pollock since he was at Stowe and then Buckingham and let's just say the lad isn't lacking in self belief
nor letting anyone who cares to listen, telling how good he is. He's a confident young man but needs to learn to deal with what was suggested in a).

He might get it knocked out of him a few training sessions into the Lions tour.

That would have happened at Saints and in camp with England if true

[Sandstorm]

Pollock is going to be a great player, but he’s also full of himself and is probably going to less popular around the rest of the world than Sexton.

[Uncle fester]

It is about her being selected for virtual signalling quota-itis rather than competency which is a problem created by EPCR and not me. I can sympathise with Damian Vidagany.

You're way out of line here torq. She's been one of the better refs for a few years now.

I wouldn't give one iota of credence to Torq's opinions on any referee! The guy is properly off with the fairies.

I like to pull him back in line every now and then.

[SaintK]

Sorry Hollie, you just fucked that up; that was the reddest of red cards.

Underhill cited
That's his season done. It will be a second ban for the same offence in a few months

Yep, season over

Underhill accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but did not accept that it warranted a red card. But the independent disciplinary committee upheld the complaint from Lyon, finding that Underhill had tackled Davit Niniashvili in a dangerous manner that warranted a red card.

Referee Hollie Davidson had, controversially, only handed Underhill a yellow card in the 26th minute of the match.

Because of Underhill’s admission of foul play and his remorse, the six-week ban for a mid-entry point offence was reduced by two weeks to four. However, Underhill’s poor disciplinary record – he was sent off in the Round of 16 clash against Pau, ironically when Davidson was the referee – counted against the ban being cut any further.

As a result, Underhill will miss this weekend’s final match of the regular season at Saracens, which he was likely to be rested for anyway, as well as the home semi-final on Friday, June 6th, and if Bath make it to the Allianz Stadium, the Gallagher Premiership final eight days later.

[Sandstorm]

Sorry Hollie, you just fucked that up; that was the reddest of red cards.

Underhill cited
That's his season done. It will be a second ban for the same offence in a few months

Yep, season over

Underhill accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but did not accept that it warranted a red card. But the independent disciplinary committee upheld the complaint from Lyon, finding that Underhill had tackled Davit Niniashvili in a dangerous manner that warranted a red card.

Referee Hollie Davidson had, controversially, only handed Underhill a yellow card in the 26th minute of the match.

Because of Underhill’s admission of foul play and his remorse, the six-week ban for a mid-entry point offence was reduced by two weeks to four. However, Underhill’s poor disciplinary record – he was sent off in the Round of 16 clash against Pau, ironically when Davidson was the referee – counted against the ban being cut any further.

As a result, Underhill will miss this weekend’s final match of the regular season at Saracens, which he was likely to be rested for anyway, as well as the home semi-final on Friday, June 6th, and if Bath make it to the Allianz Stadium, the Gallagher Premiership final eight days later.

What remorse??? "I don't think it was a red...."

2 reds in a month and he still only gets 4 weeks off? Judiciary is fucked!!

[Torquemada 1420]

It’s funny though, how of all the potential red card decisions that we’ve all been commenting on recently, where it looks like there’s an instruction for them to avoid reds wherever possible, it was the woman that you went off on a rant about.

But it’s not about her being a woman, obviously, you say that so it must be true.

It is about her being selected for virtual signalling quota-itis rather than competency which is a problem created by EPCR and not me. I can sympathise with Damian Vidagany.

So it is to do with being a woman.

On the basis that she has been selected on criteria other than competence, yes, EPCR made it about her being a woman.
I don't give a flying f**k what denomination she is as long as she was fit for purpose, which she was not.
That really isn't hard to grasp and your Trump-esque attempts at interpretation do you a disservice. But to be clear, I rarely hold any truck on quotas over merit appointments in any scenario.

[Torquemada 1420]

What remorse??? "I don't think it was a red...."

2 reds in a month and he still only gets 4 weeks off? Judiciary is fucked!!

I read that too and thought "WTAF?". Rugby continues to make a complete f**king arse of itself.

[Torquemada 1420]

Pollock is going to be a great player, but he’s also full of himself and is probably going to less popular around the rest of the world than Sexton.

If one thing might undermine (other than injury) that path, it's him becoming singled for attention. Let's see how he goes next season now everyone knows who he is.