Back Porch FanHouse

Yellow Card After Hard Tackle Causes Controversy in Rugby

Michael David Smith — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

Australian rugby player Wycliff Palu got a yellow card in a match this week for a hard tackle on Ireland's Robert Kearney, and the hit -- and penalty -- have been a major source of contention among rugby fans.

Most fans seem to agree that it was a hard, brutal -- but legal -- hit, and that Palu didn't deserve his time in the "sin bin." But the international rugby community -- much like the NFL -- is increasingly attempting to take the hardest, most dangerous hits out of its sport. TheAustralian.com reports:

The issue of illegal tackles was highlighted at the annual IRB high performance referee conference in London in the week leading up to the Wallabies-Ireland Test.

The world's top referees and referee managers expressed a commitment to stricter policing of illegal tackles in open play and at the ruck.

When referees and their managers focus their attention on a particular infringement, they tend to find it.

There only had to be a hint of an illegal tackle to send Kaplan reaching into his pocket for a yellow card.

The interesting thing from an American perspective is that compared to what we're used to seeing in American football, that hit really doesn't look all that rough. As much as Europeans like to joke that American football players are sissies because they put on body armor before playing a contact sport, the truth is just the opposite: Football helmets allow players to hit each other much harder than rugby players hit each other.

The Wall Street Journal has suggested that helmets ought to be eliminated from American football in order to make the game safer. If the hit Palu put on Kearney is as hard as it gets in rugby, that sounds like a good idea.

Yellow Card After Hard Tackle Causes Controversy in Rugby originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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International Rugby Board Vows to Eradicate Eye Gouging

Michael David Smith — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

A South African rugby player gouged the eyes of an opponent during a game on Saturday, setting off a raging controversy in the rugby world.

Schalk Burger, who plays for South Africa's national team, gouged the eyes of Luke Fitzgerald, a player for the British and Irish Lions. The International Rugby Board took immediate action against Burger and described eye gouging as "particularly heinous" but South Africa's coach refused to condemn the action and said it is part of the game.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said he didn't think Burger did anything wrong, prompting British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan to say, "To me that it is never part of the game, I could never condone actions like that. ... Because for me you can't see that and say it's a part of the game that I would ever want to be associated with."

The International Rugby Board released the following statement:

"The IRB is firmly of the view that there is no place in Rugby for illegal or foul play and the act of eye gouging is particularly heinous," the board's statement said.

"In light of recent high profile cases, the IRB is launching a review of the existing disciplinary sanction structure to send out the strongest possible message that such acts of illegal/foul play will not be tolerated. ...

"In light of recent cases, the IRB will review whether the scope of the appeal should in the future extend to other appropriate parties, including the IRB itself."

Burger has been suspended for eight weeks for the action. He is the 10th rugby player in the last two years to be suspended for eye gouging.

International Rugby Board Vows to Eradicate Eye Gouging originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rugby Coach Fines Himself $10,000 for Drunken Night Out

Ryan Wilson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:50:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby, Action Sports, Outdoor Sports

Here's what I know about rugby: it involves tight-fitting clothing, and a lot of guy-on-guy action. So, right, I'm no expert. But you really don't have to know the rules to appreciate this story.

According to the Herald Sun, Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler fined himself $10,000 and issued a public apology after the pressures of the job caused him to temporarily lose his mind.

Police were called to Townsville's Holiday Inn early on Friday morning after two female guests reported a "creepy man'' with a "hairy chest'' - wearing only shorts - was trying to get into their room.

Police arrived at 3.15am to find a "very drunk'' Fittler still outside the room. Fittler got out of the elevator at the wrong floor and shook the room's door, mistaking it for his.

To be fair, all guys are considered creepy at 3:15 in the morning -- hairy chest or otherwise -- when they're trying to break into a hotel room. As for how it got to the point where the coach was drunk off his ass, team owner Nick Politis explained: "Brad hardly drinks, he never drinks ... It's against his nature, it's silly. 'He's probably a bit stressed out with the way we're going, which you can't blame him. We all are."

And when Politis was asked about Fittler's job prospects going forward, he only offered this: "I'm not going to go down that road, we've been through it before. "It's unfortunate, it's disappointing, it's not his nature, he made a mistake. What are we going to do, hang him? He feels bad enough, believe me. He rang me and apologised. I'm disappointed just as much as he is.''

Translation: thanks for coming. And while the 10 grand fine was a nice gesture, Fittler might have been better off keeping the money. He'll probably need it.

Rugby Coach Fines Himself $10,000 for Drunken Night Out originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Rugby Players Brawl in Romania

Michael David Smith — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

Nine players have been suspended by the Romanian Rugby Federation after a brawl broke out in the opening minutes of a game between league rivals Dinamo Bucaresti and Farul Constata in Bucharest on Saturday.

Pushing and shoving began in a scrum and escalated into punching, and eventually most of the players on both teams were involved. The game eventually was finished (Dinamo Bucaresti won) but only after referees ejected two players.

ITN reports that the Romanian Rugby Federation suspended two Farul players and seven Dinamo players, plus the Dinamo trainer, the Farul president and a Farul coach. All of the suspensions are for between seven and ten games. The Rugby Federation issued a statement saying it "condemned the players for conduct devoid of fair-play."

Video: Rugby Players Brawl in Romania originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Throwing a Fake Penis at People Is Apparently Acceptable in Australia

Shane Bacon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

When you're famous, anything goes, and that includes hitting females with a fake penis while moseying around the business district in Melbourne.

Australian Football Player Brendon Fevola, obviously wired with a different style of humor than me and my friends, was just walking around Fed Square in Melbourne, Australia on Monday wearing pink lingerie and a sex toy strapped around his waist. You know, for the fans.

Carlton AFL star Brendan Fevola has escaped without even a slap on the wrist after he flung a fake penis at women near Melbourne's CBD yesterday. Police spokeswoman Mia Paterson said they were not investigating the incident because no one had issued a complaint.

"Fev had a foot-long dildo hanging out of his pink muu-muu in full public view outside the bar," said a witness who asked not to be named. "I saw him hit a couple of girls on the head with it. It was a bit off-putting."

Ah yes, in years to come, when robots take over the planet Earth and we are all subjected to slavery, the conversations will turn to the good old days when we could just roam the streets hitting girls with dildos. These acts will never die in our hearts.

Lucky for everyone still reading this story, there is actually a short video of the event someone captured on their cell phone. This is the first time I've ever been excited cell phones have the video feature. It is after the jump, and be warned, it is NSFW (or Thanksgiving dinner).

H/T: With Leather

Throwing a Fake Penis at People Is Apparently Acceptable in Australia originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Four Minutes of Pornography Slips Into Kids' Rugby Game; Parents Surprisingly Not Thrilled

Will Brinson — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby, TV and Movies, Youth Sports

Pornography is very popular these days with the American working class (Woo! Stimulus checks!). But that does not make it FCC approved. And it certainly is not an acceptable mixer with children's rugby in New Zealand. But that's what parents and fans of the kid's sport were treated to while watching a live broadcast of "Grassroots Rugby" on the New Zealand television channel Prime.

A spokesman for Prime Television on Monday blamed a mixup in "distribution processes" for the error which inserted the hardcore segment in the regular program "Grassroots Rugby."

The segment was intended to air on an adult pay-per-view channel.

Did You See That?

Fans watch as a ball that popped loose out of New York Yankees' Johnny Damon's glove rests momentarily on the fence before dropping to the ground during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball action Friday, July 4, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in New York. Damon made a leaping attempt on a hit by Red Sox's Kevin Youkilis. Two runs scored on the play. Damon left the game after the play. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Julie Jacobson, AP

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 05: Jockey Craig Durden rolls after falling from Toulouse Lautrec the first time around in the Cleanevent Grand National Steeplechase during the Cleanevent Grand National Steeple Day meeting at Flemington Racecourse on July 5, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

Mark Dadswell, Getty Images

Chaunte Howard clears the bar during the women's high jump final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., Friday, July 4, 2008. Howard finished in first place to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic team. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Charlie Riedel, AP

Seattle Mariners center fielder Jeremy Reed dives to catch a fly ball from Detroit Tigers' Gary Sheffield in the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 3, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Elaine Thompson, AP

In this photo provided by Six Flags St. Louis, Robbie Knievel jumps 25 Dodge cars at Six Flags St. Louis, traveling at approximately 85 mph off of a 25-foot ramp and flying some 25-feet into the air on Thursday, July 3, 2008, in St. Louis, Mo. Robbie dedicated the jump to his Dad, Evel Knievel. (AP Photo/Six Flags St. Louis, James Visser)

James Visser, Six Flags St. Louis / AP

San Diego Padres' Michael Barrett, center, is helped by an unidentified trainer, left, and manager Bud Black after Barrett was hit in the bridge of the nose by a foul tip in the third inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Denver on Wednesday, July 2, 2008. (David Zalubowski, AP)

David Zalubowski, AP

Serena Williams of the US., reacts after winning her Women's Singles semifinal match against China's Zheng Jie on the Centre Court at Wimbledon, Thursday, July 3 , 2008. (Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP)

Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP

BHP Billiton China President Clinton Dines holds a Beijing Olympic Games gold medal before an official handing over ceremony in Beijing July 3, 2008. The Beijing organisers took possession of the 3,000 medals for next month's Olympics in a ceremony near Tiananmen Square on Thursday, 36 days before the start of the Games. (David Gray, Reuters)

David Gray, Reuters

OMAHA, NE - JULY 02: Brendan Hansen competes in the preliminary heats of the 200 meter breaststroke during the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials on July 2, 2008 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. (Donald Miralle, Getty Images)

Donald Miralle, Getty Images

This handout provided by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. shows the baseball Barry Bonds launched for his record 756th home run, now branded with an asterisk, at the Hall of Fame, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. (National Baseball Hall of Fame/AP)

National Baseball Hall of Fame/AP

Yeah, so, um, whoops? On the bright side of things, at least it puts the whole Janet Jackson - Nipplegate thing in perspective. Because, apparently, this was not just a little side boob getting flashed, it was the full hardcore pornography.

The downside is parents are going to complain and steer their kids away from your station. The upshot, though, is that by combining kids' sports and porn, Prime has corned the market on the coveted "creepjob" demographic.

And now the totally work safe video (sorry...) of the not so thrilled parents being interviewed.

H/T: Steady-Burn

Four Minutes of Pornography Slips Into Kids' Rugby Game; Parents Surprisingly Not Thrilled originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Austrian Rugby Team Gets Naked

Jes Golbez — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:42:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

Normally when a team gets blown out 48-0 in a game of rugby, their first inclination would be to go to the nearest watering hole and down a few beers to drown out the pain.

The Austrian rugby team, however, decided to do something a little different and shed their clothes. (It's safe for work, don't worry)

The Austrian Rugby team has responded to their 48-0 thrashing by Lithuania on Saturday by staging a mass striptease in the capital, Vilnius, on Saturday night.

"Yes, these were the men we played against on Saturday ... I guess the defeat could have prompted them to do that," Lithuanian rugby federation President Aleksandras Makarenka told Reuters.

Delfi quoted the Vilnius police chief as saying stripping in public could be considered an act of hooliganism -- but by then the Austrian team had gone home.

Well, after doing a public striptease, it's certainly hard to remember that your team got thrashed. Of course, I'm sure the men didn't expect somebody to have a video camera handy to capture the action. Whoops!

Video: Austrian Rugby Team Gets Naked originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Sat, 10 May 2008 11:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Zealand Rugby Player Cory Jane Takes 'Clearing Kick Square in the Face'

Michael David Smith — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

In case you're wondering, yes, a rugby player taking a "clearing kick square in the face" really is as funny as it sounds:

That was Cory Jane of the Wellington Hurricanes on the receiving end of a kick from Kurtley Beale of the New South Wales Waratahs. Here's how one rugby reporter described it:

Moment of the match: We can go for any of the tries, but early in the game Hurricanes fullback Cory Jane was pole-axed by an attempted clearance from Waratahs flyhalf Kurtley Beale - and that without even making much of an attempt to charge it down. All he got for his 'effort' was a bloodied nose and some jeers from the crowd for what they call a 'falcon' in Australia - hitting the ball with your head without intending to do so!

From Deadspin via Green and Gold Rugby.

New Zealand Rugby Player Cory Jane Takes 'Clearing Kick Square in the Face' originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Other Big Upset This Weekend

Irishoutsider — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

Covering rugby for AOL this afternoon is a bit of an American indulgence at this point. Anyone following the Six Nations Rugby tournament was already well aware of Saturday's outcomes before Chris Berman went rumbling and stumbling to 12 hours of Sunday Super Bowl coveage. However, for the rest of us swimming in the American media stream, Das FanHaus is going back back back back to the big match between Wales and England.

Much had been said about the heavily favored English team, and the relative ease with which they would dispatch their Welsh brethren. Favored by as much as 25 points, roughly 4-5 American touchdowns, the match was considered an afterthought well into the proceedings. With England leading 19-6, the Welsh came storming back scoring 20 unanswered points in 15 minutes. While the English had the talent and dominated the statistics to that point, they were unable to stop the onslaught and overcome their relatively sloppy play. Wales, to their credit, played a fairly flawless game, conceding few errors to the favorites. The win was their first at England in 20 years.

The match was an auspicious start to this years Six Nations Championship, with France dominating Scotland and Ireland squeaking by Italy. Week 2 begins this Saturday as Wales moves one step closer to a British sweep with a home match against Scotland while Ireland heads to France. England will try to right itself Sunday at Italy.

(HT: BBC Sport)

The Other Big Upset This Weekend originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Zealand Rugby Bans Borat Bikini

Irishoutsider — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:13:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

Scouring the internet for some kind of explanation, for any of this, we kept coming up with the same story. We don't really understand a word of it, but maybe its because we're both American and not really rugby fans. Apparently, Kiwi rugby fans enjoy wearing the "Borat" style of bikini (at right) to rugby matches. So many people, in fact, that the authorities felt compelled to ban the clothing-style from rugby competitions in plea to the fans' "sense of decency," citing that rugby will be a "family event." There could be some kind of awful costume malfunction, and no one wants that, not one bit. Still, we're trying to figure out how people thought this was a good idea in the first place.

(HT: The Sun)

New Zealand Rugby Bans Borat Bikini originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian Rugby Team Requires Australian Rules Weight Training

Irishoutsider — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

Das FanHaus is constantly trying to break down the barriers of unfortunate national stereotypes, but we will never hesitate to pounce on those instances that remind us why they exist in the first place. Pounce like a snarky ring-tailed lemur we will, or perhaps some kind of comic relief meerkat. The Super 14's Western Force are the latest victims of internet woodland justice for mistreating the lovably endangered quokkas of the Australian veldts and scrublands.

A quokka is a small marsupial weighing between 2.5kg and 5 kg, and is unable to be fruitful and multiply due to a copper deficiency. Their natural predators are foxes and domestic cats, who apparently control Western Australia's trace copper market with iron paws. Now, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph, quokkas can add rugby training to their woes, the adorable scamps being tossed about for resistance work.

The most confusing thing about this to Das FanHaus is the relatively light weight being used to train burly rugby players for their battles in the trenches, scrums, and mauls of the Super 14. The little guys can't weigh more than 5 kg, and that's like 11lbs or three-quarters of a stone. Why not use an actual stone? I'm sure they're easier to find and behave more like a rugby ball.

Australian Rugby Team Requires Australian Rules Weight Training originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Africa Wins Rugby World Cup

David J. Warner — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

England's surprising run in the Rugby World Cup didn't quite have its fairy tale ending, as Percy Montgomery kicked four penalty goals to lead South Africa to a 15-6 win in the Final. The Springboks hoisted the Webb Ellis trophy for the first time since 1995.

Truth be told, this Final lacked the excitement of previous matches, as both teams settled into a field position battle. Neither allowed a try during the game.The change in strategy was good for England, who lost a 36-0 blowout to South Africa early in the competition.

The Springboks, however, still dominated the lineout and forced England into enough errors to create scoring opportunities for Montgomery, whose accurate kicking ensured South Africa would finish the competition undefeated. The only more impressive nation throughout this World Cup was Argentina, who lost only to the Springboks in the semifinals and upset host nation France twice for a third-place finish. There is talk that Argentina will be invited to join the Tri Nations competition with South Africa, Australia and New Zealand as early as next summer.

This will likely be the final Rugby World Cup before rugby unions around the world adopt the new Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), which were designed to bring more free-flowing play to rugby. This game probably could have used them. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the ELVs impact the game and the countries that play it.

South Africa Wins Rugby World Cup originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bryan Habana: South Africa's Devin Hester

David J. Warner — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

Whenever Chicago Bears return specialist Devin Hester gets the ball, you stop to pay attention, because he could score at any time. The same might be said for Bryan Habana, the South African rugby union star who is currently the leading try scorer (8) in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. As you can see from that video clip, whenever Habana gets the ball and a little bit of space, he has the potential to take it to the house.

Habana will be one of the key figures in Saturday's Rugby World Cup final between heavily favored South Africa and England. South Africa is the favorite here because they leveled England, 36-0, in a pool stage match. However, that's England's only loss in this competition, and they scored two big upset wins over Australia and France in the knockout stage to reach the final, so this game could be a bit closer. Stopping Habana will be a key priority for England. That's no easy task.

Someone needs to get Hester and Habana in a commercial together, like adidas did with David Beckham and Reggie Bush. A foot race between those two would be fun to watch.

Bryan Habana: South Africa's Devin Hester originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Want to Watch the Rugby World Cup Final Live in America? Pay Up or Find a Pub

David J. Warner — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:22:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

The Rugby World Cup Final is set, and England upset home nation France, 14-9, to win the right to defend its 2003 World Cup title on Saturday against rugby union powerhouse South Africa, who obliterated Argentina, 37-13.

The Final will be played at the Stade de France on Saturday. If you're in America, however, and you subscribed to Setanta Sports in part because they advertised that they would show all 48 matches of the Rugby World Cup ... well, they never promised to show them all live, and guess what? They won't show the Final live, either. You'll have to spend $30 to get it over pay-per-view or go to a pub that's willing to shell out some ungodly sum of money to show the game to its customers.

It was a little disingenuous of Setanta to promote its Rugby World Cup coverage so heavily, then not even bother to show the Final as it happens. Instead, they're airing the 3rd-place match between France and Argentina on Saturday afternoon, then showing the Final on Sunday at 5:00 PM ET -- the exact same time that it will be shown on Versus, by the way. By that time, anyone will be able to look online or on their phones and find not only the final score, but commentary and video highlights.

I know Setanta is a small network trying to bring international sports to a largely apathetic American audience, but this just seems a little greedy, doesn't it?

Want to Watch the Rugby World Cup Final Live in America? Pay Up or Find a Pub originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Russell Crowe Is Taking His Rugby League Club to Jacksonville

David J. Warner — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

Russell Crowe loves rugby league. He wants America to love rugby league, too. In fact, he wants you to love it so much that he's bringing his National Rugby League club, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, to America for a test match. The Souths are scheduled to play the Leeds Rhinos, an English rugby league powerhouse, on January 26.

Where will this somewhat historic match take place? Jacksonville, Florida. It's being hosted by the Jacksonville Axemen, a local rugby league team that I didn't know existed until this match was announced, so this marketing plan worked perfectly for them -- so perfectly, in fact, that ticket requests seem to be pouring in.

As of Monday afternoon the Axemen had reported that tickets had been sold to people in 36 different states and from 6 other countries. Although they had expected some from Canada, Australia and the UK, they have been surprised at ticket orders from Germany, Sweden and Portugal.

Wouldn't it be a little ironic if the one city that can't sell out an NFL game ends up filling a stadium for a rugby league match? Clearly, those are some dedicated fans of the game. After all, they won't be going to see any cheerleaders.

Russell Crowe Is Taking His Rugby League Club to Jacksonville originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rugby Is the Southern Hemisphere's Game

David J. Warner — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:45:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

If the 2007 Rugby World Cup has proven anything so far, it's this -- countries in the Southern Hemisphere are a lot better at rugby union than their Northern Hemisphere counterparts.

The New Zealand All Blacks have been ludicrously dominant in Pool C so far, defeating Italy by 62 points and Portugal by 95. South Africa is owning Pool A after a 59-7 win over Samoa and a stunning 36-0 over 2003 champs England. Australia has a 91-3 win over Japan and a 32-20 win against Wales in Pool B. Even Argentina, which is not considered a power at rugby union, shocked the world with a 17-12 upset of France, which they followed with a 33-3 win over Georgia in Pool D.

At this point, it looks quite likely that those four teams will win their pools and advance to the quarterfinals of the knockout stage. Given the way some of the European teams are playing -- words such as "dismal", "disarray" and "poor" are being tossed around, but only as laterals, please -- it could be an all-Southern Hemisphere semifinals. I suppose this half of the world is more focused on other forms of football.

I wonder if Argentina's surprisingly play will reignite talk of that country turning Tri Nations into Quad Nations. That might be fun.

(H/T: With Malice)

Rugby Is the Southern Hemisphere's Game originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rugby Reporter Attacked By Drunken Morons

David J. Warner — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

A handful of Melbourne Storm fans, emboldened by there 40-0 blowout of the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League Finals Series, somehow decided that the proper celebration for this big win was to beat up a TV reporter. While being filmed.

I think these same intoxicated idiots were in London last May. Alcohol and football brings out the best in everyone, doesn't it?

(H/T: Lion in Oil)

Rugby Reporter Attacked By Drunken Morons originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Press Boycott Informs Everyone About the Rugby World Cup

David J. Warner — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

I do not believe that the members of the International Rugby Board are complete idiots.

Yes, they looked quite foolish in trying to place limits on the amount of photos and videos that news agencies could use in discussing the Rugby World Cup in France. The Associated Press, Reuters, Getty Images and other news agencies responded with a full-on press boycott. They're suspending all coverage of the Rugby World Cup until the IRB lifts the restrictions.

The French government, in its desperation to show the world it can host a major sporting event successfully, is pushing IRB officials to get their heads out of their derrières and let the media do their jobs. The IRB, however, isn't budging, claiming they have broadcast rights to protect and "would not be swayed by unreasonable demands and threats of non-attendance."

But guess what? This whole row with the media has lots of people talking about the Rugby World Cup. It's not good publicity, but it's publicity nonetheless, and if not for this little squabble with the media, some folks might not know this event is happening right now.

If the IRB relents on its in the next few days, we'll know that this was part of a grand strategy to let everyone know the World Cup is on. Of course, if they don't relent, they are complete idiots. You don't say no to major press outlets giving your sporting event free publicity. That's bad for business, and it's not going to stop hundreds of clips from this event showing up on YouTube. If this goes on into next week, MJD should deduct massive ShruteBucks from them.

(H/T: Techdirt)

UPDATE (9/7): The press boycott is off. Video restrictions are still in place, but the photo restrictions have been relaxed. This may have been stealth marketing genius at work, folks.

Press Boycott Informs Everyone About the Rugby World Cup originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are You Ready for the Rugby World Cup?

David J. Warner — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby, The Word

The 2007 Rugby World Cup begins tomorrow in France, and if you've ever wondered how American football's ancestor is played, you can get all the basics from your friends at EA Sports.

That video, which comes from EA Sports' Rugby 05 video game, probably taught me more about the rules of rugby union than watching actual games. It might come in handy if you plan on watching any of this event -- which may be hard to do in America if you don't have Setanta Sports and don't want to give Media Zone $50 to watch over the webternets. (Why there's no Rugby 08, especially in a World Cup year, remains a mystery to me.)

Speaking of America, the USA Eagles are fielding a team this year, though they're stuck in Group A with England and South Africa who are clear favorites to advance to the knockout stage. The best the Eagles can hope for is a third-place finish, which will automatically qualify them for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The Eagles open their World Cup campaign against England at 11:45 ET on Saturday. England, however, will be without ace kicker Jonny Wilkinson, who twisted his ankle in training this week. Wilkinson made the famous drop goal that won England the Cup in 2003, so his absence will hurt, but you have to think that an Eagles win over England will still be an Appalachian State-sized upset. (Yes, I'm using that phrase a lot this morning. Get used to it.)

UPDATE: There's an actual preview of the Rugby World Cup over at With Malice. Go check it out.

Are You Ready for the Rugby World Cup? originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tri Nations Finale: All Blacks Wallop Wallabies

David J. Warner — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby

All rise for the victors' national anthem.

New Zealand's All Blacks appear ready for the Rugby World Cup after knocking off Australia, 26-12, in a rain-soaked Tri Nations finale in Auckland. It was a close, defensive match most of the way, with 24 of the first 27 points scored on penalty kicks.

The key play, though, came in the 54th minute, when All Blacks reserve Brendan Leonard flew past an Australian ruck and and got a key intercepting, which set up the game's lone try by Tony Woodcock five minutes later ...

What? Yes, his name is actually Tony Woodcock. Stop giggling.

The try broke the game open for the All Blacks, who capitalized on key second-half mistakes by Australia. The Wallabies conceded 13 penalties to New Zealand's 5, and Daniel Carter went 7-for-7 on penalties for the All Blacks. His only miss of the night came on the conversion attempt after the try.

Without a doubt, New Zealand now stands as the favorite to win the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in France in September. Das FanHaus promises to find as many awesome YouTube highlights as possible for this big international event.

Tri Nations Finale: All Blacks Wallop Wallabies originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Sat, 21 Jul 2007 18:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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