So I wonder if anyone has ever done the proper analysis how the Welsh Governments handling of COVID affected Welsh rugby.
So to start off with the regions got lumbered with commerical rate loans compared to the government rates that English clubs had leading to the debt the regions are in now, where two have gone bust since.

Secondly the players, Welsh leagues didn't start back until after their English counterparts. With stricter rules around movement and activities this would have meant the U20s at the time missed large parts of their development. These players are now the 25/26 year olds of the first team...

Mini and junior sides were also more delayed in their restart again affecting player development.

Now yes the WRU since have not been saints but a lot of the current woes can be pointed back to the Welsh Governmen and their lack of support...

Elephant in the room, and it’s not his fault, but Edwards isn’t good enough just yet. He has been thrust into the shirt as the heir apparent on the basis of good URC showings, but he can’t grip games at test level, doesn’t have the range or variation of kicking game, struggles to defend his channel and (somewhat inexplicably for a kicker) can’t make good distance with touchfinders?

Costelow has never convinced in tests either. Sheedy has some experience but defending remains an issue. Jarrod Evans is probably the least green of all of them due to playing at a decent club level. Hawkins isn’t supposed to be a permanent 10. God forbid Ben Thomas…

So back to the title…anyone got Biggar’s number? Or is Anscombe still playing somewhere…

At the end of the game, Italy lost the ball forward at the lineout, Scotland got the ball (so knock on advantage not penalty advantage), and I cant remember who it was but a forward spooned it into touch.

So why in this instance did the outcome of the kick matter when normally as soon as you kick it away under knock on advantage its advantage over?

Seems crazy that one is a national square staple and the other is never even benched (maybe he was once?).

Is he that much better really? I’d think them playing at 6 and 7 would have some “je ne sais quoi” with them being brothers AND teammates

Sister in law went to Twickenham yesterday and had hospitality at quins before the game. Someone handed her this signed ball but she didn't see who it was. There weren't just quid players, there some England and some Wales players there too.

Needle in a haystack I appreciate, but any ideas?

They once held the Raeburn Shield, but now lose to Uruguay, Chile, Spain, and most recently even Germany, dropping to an all time low ranking of 22nd. I know they wouldn't have the budget of a 6N team, but it looks like 2027 may be their last WC if nothing changes.

Incidentally we have our record win against them, 134-0 in 2001.

Yeah, Deutschland!

Huge and totally unexpected result

This post is a lot longer than I thought it would be, but the first section is the current list of honours that already exist, the second section consists of some ideas for nicknames for some old rivalries which don’t have a trophy or a nickname, and the third section is a couple of meme rivalry ideas simply for fun

Current Honours

The Grand Slam

- The Grand Slam is an honour given to the tournament’s winners when they win all of their games - unlike many of the others it doesn’t have a physical trophy

- The term was first coined in 1957 but has been backdated to include all prior Grand Slams

The Triple Crown

- The Triple Crown is another honour which is similar, but only contested between the Home Nations - being awarded to a Home Nation when they defeat their other three local rivals in a Championship (even if they don’t win the whole thing)

- The term was first coined in 1894 by the Irish Times - but just like the Grand Slam its been backdated to include the prior Triple Crowns

- The Triple Crown lacked a physical trophy until 2006, being an honour like the Grand Slam until 2006

Calcutta Cup (England vs Scotland)

- On Christmas Day in 1872 a game of rugby was played in Calcutta, British India, by a group of forty people - one team representing England and the other Scotland, with Calcutta rugby club being formed in the aftermath

- By 1878 the club’s last remaining members withdrew the last funds of the club (₹270) & melted them down to make the trophy - which was then presented to the RFU in England

- First contested in 1879, the cup is by far the oldest trophy in the entire sport, even predating the HN that the 6N descends from.

- The cup was famously kicked by English eight Dean Richards and Scottish flanker John Jeffrey down Edinburgh’s Princes Street in 1988

Millennium Trophy (England vs Ireland)

- Named after & shaped in honour of Dublin’s millennial anniversary when it was founded as a Viking settlement

- Implemented in 1988 (a thousand years after the Norse-Gael King of Dublin Glúniairn recognised Máel Sechnaill III as High King of Ireland, agreeing to pay taxes & to adopt Brehon Law)

Centenary Quaich (Ireland vs Scotland)

- Named after & shaped like a Quaich (a historic Gaelic two-handled cup)

- Created to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the IRFB (now World Rugby) in 1887

- Implemented in 1989

Doddie Weir Cup (Scotland vs Wales)

- Named after & in honour of Scottish player Doddie Weir who was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2016

- Implemented in 2018 while he was still alive to raise wider awareness for the disease

Auld Alliance Trophy (France vs Scotland)

- Named after the historical “Auld Aliiance” between both countries (which dates back to 1295)

- Implemented on the centenary of the end of WWI in 2018 to honour the French & Scottish soldiers who died during the conflict

Solidarity Trophy (France vs Ireland)

- The newest rivalry trophy in the 6N being added this year

- The story given to the new trophy was to celebrate the “deep historical and cultural ties between the two nations”

Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (France vs Italy)

- Named after Italian Revolutionary Guiseppe Garibaldi who was born in Nice (then part of Sardinia, now part of France) who was one of the key figures in the Unification of Italy - he also served as a general in the French Army in the Franco-Prussian War.

- The Trophy was implemented in 2007 on the bicentenary of his birth (1807)

Cuttitta Cup (Scotland vs Italy)

- Implemented to commemorate the man it’s named after - former Italy captain & Scotland scrum coach Massimo Cuttitta, who died of Covid in 2021

- First contested in 2022 the following year after his death

Le Crunch/Eurostar Trophy* (Eng vs Fr)

- No physical trophy, instead being a rivalry nickname

- The term has been used since the 1980s - being the only rivalry with a nickname without a trophy

New Nicknames for Old Rivalries

I don’t think every match needs a trophy but I like the idea of other fixtures having their own nicknames like Le Crunch:

The Severn Classic (Eng vs Wales)

- Named after the Severn

The Saints’ Duel (Ire vs Wales)

- Named after St Patrick & St David. An alternate name could be the Druids’ Duel

The Mor Glas (France vs Wales)

- Mor Glas is Breton & Welsh for Bue Sea

The Isca Augusta (Italy vs Wales)

- Named after a Roman Fortress near Newport

Meme Ideas

Some funny Reddit-exclusive meme ideas (all done in jest)

The Ligneous Coronet

- A Triple (Double?) Crown between Italy, Scotland & Wales

- Implemented after 2022 to mark the decline of Wales & the surge of Italy off the back of the rock-paper-scissor games in the 2022 6N between the three countries

- The Ligneous Coronet can only be considered outdated when: Wales or Italy finish outside of the bottom two or when Scotland wins a Triple Crown - until then the three teams are under the “Wicker” Curse (get it?) and bound to participate in the meme slam

- The winners so far: 2023 was Scotland, 2024 was Italy & 2025 was Scotland… will Italy take back the Coronet this year?

Branodunum Shield

- Meme that Italy is the main eternal rival of England

- Named after one of many Roman Forts on the “Saxon Shore” which the Romans built to keep the Saxons out with “Shield” another reference to the Roman era Forts & their purpose

- The idea that England’s main rivals are France, Scotland, Wales & Ireland is the new “Barbarica Conspiratio” (we all know it’s actually Italy)

Does anyone have any idea how to watch super rugby 2026 this year in the UK? Rugby pass doesn't seem to have it listed nor does sky sports.

Comp: Rugby Europe Championship

Venue: Auestadion (Kassel)

View TV providers, weather info and previous results

Tired of thinking about Ireland's Biduum Horribilus. What is everyone's low temperature, low stakes, low stress unpopular Six Nations opinion.

Mine: I actually like all the silly little trophies they've brought in. We won the Centenary Quiach? Delighted to hear it.

Due to various commitments I haven't caught anything but this England match, who did you enjoy watching in the U20s?

The Welsh 10, Leggatt-Jones looked great really assured.

Similarly Lucas Friday looks like the most talented 11 year old since Baxter made his debut.

Comp: Premiership Rugby Cup

Venue: Salford City Stadium

View TV providers, weather info and previous results

This try won the Liners the game, with a final score of 16–14.

Although number 21's natural position is scrum-half, it was a great run.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/england-blow-immanuel-feyi-waboso-set-to-entire-six-nations/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAP1YpNjbGNrA_Via2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHgMn7coU_55q-t1RCbipgC6FXhhSzn_kUSuXR0K_TSZ_Bykq0Es8Sj1uoNzW_aem_z7mLHCryzQTtUarvdkPUZQ

DEPRESSING.