NPR

Niegs wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 4:12 pm 2005 wasn't just a few years ago then?

I'm a few years off, but I meant the first generation who went straight from school into rugby with no uni / trade quals. I don't know if Wilkinson ever took a class at Durham, but didn't a lot of his generation have something else going for them? Lewsey was famously Army, but looking at some others, maybe all those born around 77-80 were the first true pros in that regard?

Enzedder wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 4:49 pm

Niegs wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 4:12 pm 2005 wasn't just a few years ago then?

I'm a few years off, but I meant the first generation who went straight from school into rugby with no uni / trade quals. I don't know if Wilkinson ever took a class at Durham, but didn't a lot of his generation have something else going for them? Lewsey was famously Army, but looking at some others, maybe all those born around 77-80 were the first true pros in that regard?

Agree - Nick Farr-Jones Aussie side was full of degrees from memory. Not such a thing now as these guys are signed up once they're weaned.

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 4:56 pmWait, are you saying Joe Marler didn't go to University?

epwc wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 4:57 pm Maro Itoje definitely completed his degree at SOAS

Niegs wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 4:12 pm 2005 wasn't just a few years ago then?

I'm a few years off, but I meant the first generation who went straight from school into rugby with no uni / trade quals. I don't know if Wilkinson ever took a class at Durham, but didn't a lot of his generation have something else going for them? Lewsey was famously Army, but looking at some others, maybe all those born around 77-80 were the first true pros in that regard?

sockwithaticket wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 6:24 pm The Premiership should be much more tuned into the BUCS system. Academies seem to have a pretty high fail rate and it would benefit the players to go through a degree or other training and then start playing pro rugby after that. Most of them would also have pretty much finished any drastic physical development by the end of their degree, whereas the lads in academies from the age of 14 can be a bit of a stab in the dark.


We hear stories from absolute gems of players like Launchbury and Freeman about being released from one academy or another and yet managing to become top flight players nonetheless. Freeman's just done an interview with 02 inside line where he talked about being behind others in his academy class when it came to gym work, he just wasn't developing as quickly - but look at him now! There has to be some merit in waiting 'til these guys reach a greater degree of physical maturity. On the other end of it I remember reading an interview with Jacob Umaga's dad Mike where he said he was constantly having to reassure academy coaches that, based on him and uncle Tana, Jacob would eventually fill out. He obviously didn't, but there's still a role for him on a professional rugby team nonetheless.

Imagine the talent that's being allowed to fall by the wayside because those young men don't yet have the mental fortitude to fight through their disappointment or the bloody-mindedness to disagree with the assessment of people they would consider experts in their field (academy coaches).

Going back to the fail rate, in the 20 years I followed Wasps I'd regularly check on who was coming through in the academy and senior academy squads on the club website and it felt like never more than a fraction ever made it to the first team with an even smaller number ever establishing themselves. There's got to be a better way of doing things.

Former Scotland rugby union captain Stuart Hogg has been sentenced to a five-year non-harassment order and fined after breaching bail.
Hogg had his sentence for abusing his estranged wife over the course of five years deferred until January 9.
He earlier admitted breaching bail conditions by repeatedly contacting his ex-partner, Gillian Hogg, in June.

SaintK wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2024 12:48 pm Is he likely to face jail time in Janauary or does it depend on if he behaves between now and then?

Former Scotland rugby union captain Stuart Hogg has been sentenced to a five-year non-harassment order and fined after breaching bail.
Hogg had his sentence for abusing his estranged wife over the course of five years deferred until January 9.
He earlier admitted breaching bail conditions by repeatedly contacting his ex-partner, Gillian Hogg, in June.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ex-sc ... t-order/

Insane_Homer wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2024 1:08 pm He's already clearly demostrated he can't control himself by breaching bail condidtions, who the fuck actually thinks he's going to abide by the five-year non-harassment order?

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:56 pm Another abuser of women who is welcomed with open arms to France to follow the likes of Olding & Jackson.

Blackmac wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 2:37 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:56 pm Another abuser of women who is welcomed with open arms to France to follow the likes of Olding & Jackson.

The commentary around the Pelicot trial is certainly trying to highlight that there appears to be a trivialisation of domestic and sexual abuse.

Blackmac wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 2:37 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:56 pm Another abuser of women who is welcomed with open arms to France to follow the likes of Olding & Jackson.

The commentary around the Pelicot trial is certainly trying to highlight that there appears to be a trivialisation of domestic and sexual abuse.

Former Scotland rugby union captain Stuart Hogg has been given a one-year community payback order after he admitted a domestic abuse charge against his estranged wife.

The 32-year-old was previously given a five-year non-harassment order and fined £600 after breaching bail conditions.

He had admitted shouting and swearing and acting in an abusive manner towards his wife Gillian.

Appearing at Selkirk Sheriff Court, he was given a payback order - meaning he will do supervised work in the community - and a non-harassment order was imposed again.

inactionman wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 11:27 am Assume this doesn't mean he'll be out sweeping roads

Former Scotland rugby union captain Stuart Hogg has been given a one-year community payback order after he admitted a domestic abuse charge against his estranged wife.

The 32-year-old was previously given a five-year non-harassment order and fined £600 after breaching bail conditions.

He had admitted shouting and swearing and acting in an abusive manner towards his wife Gillian.

Appearing at Selkirk Sheriff Court, he was given a payback order - meaning he will do supervised work in the community - and a non-harassment order was imposed again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj0r0jv9114o

Deepsouth wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 11:51 am Yeah but he's a scumbag,,,,

Slick wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 5:32 pm

Niegs wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 4:12 pm 2005 wasn't just a few years ago then?

I'm a few years off, but I meant the first generation who went straight from school into rugby with no uni / trade quals. I don't know if Wilkinson ever took a class at Durham, but didn't a lot of his generation have something else going for them? Lewsey was famously Army, but looking at some others, maybe all those born around 77-80 were the first true pros in that regard?

Josh actually had an Army bursary to go to university. Think he did his final exams on an England tour if I remember correctly!

Paddington Bear wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 1:14 pm Looks like he hasn’t slept in days and has been on a hell of a bender - hopefully someone is looking out for him

Paddington Bear wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 1:14 pm Looks like he hasn’t slept in days and has been on a hell of a bender - hopefully someone is looking out for him

Biffer wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 11:43 am

inactionman wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 11:27 am Assume this doesn't mean he'll be out sweeping roads

Former Scotland rugby union captain Stuart Hogg has been given a one-year community payback order after he admitted a domestic abuse charge against his estranged wife.

The 32-year-old was previously given a five-year non-harassment order and fined £600 after breaching bail conditions.

He had admitted shouting and swearing and acting in an abusive manner towards his wife Gillian.

Appearing at Selkirk Sheriff Court, he was given a payback order - meaning he will do supervised work in the community - and a non-harassment order was imposed again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj0r0jv9114o

He'll get away with doing some rugby coaching for kids or some such.

fishfoodie wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 6:35 pm Pathetic !

Not even a suspended sentence to make sure that if/when he breaches any of the orders again, he'll be guaranteed some gaol time.

His ex-girlfriend of three years, Jilly O’Donnell, told of not realising Hogg was still with his wife until she saw him on television revealing he and Gill were expecting their fourth child together.

Exeter is a relatively small place and whispers of domestic problems were widespread well before his final months with the Chiefs. When he abruptly announced his retirement in July 2023, less than two months before the start of last year’s Rugby World Cup, he cited physical wear and tear – “I feel I have a 70-year-old man’s body before my time” – as the primary reason. Behind the scenes, though, it is understood the collective mood in Scotland’s camp improved significantly after Hogg, no longer a guaranteed starter, stepped aside.

Uncle fester wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 11:24 am Knew he is a dirtbag but this...
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... al-compass

His ex-girlfriend of three years, Jilly O’Donnell, told of not realising Hogg was still with his wife until she saw him on television revealing he and Gill were expecting their fourth child together.

Exeter is a relatively small place and whispers of domestic problems were widespread well before his final months with the Chiefs. When he abruptly announced his retirement in July 2023, less than two months before the start of last year’s Rugby World Cup, he cited physical wear and tear – “I feel I have a 70-year-old man’s body before my time” – as the primary reason. Behind the scenes, though, it is understood the collective mood in Scotland’s camp improved significantly after Hogg, no longer a guaranteed starter, stepped aside.

Uncle fester wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 11:30 am He's also a distant relation of George Best apparently?